THE DUKE SINKS THE JOLLY ROGER

by Larry Carlson for  https://texaslsn.org

Texas had gone 10-0 and won the mythical national title declared after the regular season.  But except for a 28-7 whipping of then top-ranked OU back in October, UT seldom won in any kind of stylish, posed-for-a-picture way.  So as Texas prepared to host Navy, led by Heisman winner Roger Staubach, East Coast writer Myron Cope slammed the Horns as "the biggest fraud ever perpetrated on the football public."  Then just before kickoff, when the CBS TV crew introduced the Navy starters and turned to Middies' coach Wayne Hardin, he said something about "if the challenger

beats the champion, the challenger becomes the champion."  It was later reported that Longhorn players' necks steamed, red hot with competitive fuel percolating. When it was Darrell Royal's turn to talk, he was terse.  "We're ready," DKR said.

Boy, howdy, the Horns were ready.

Quarterback Duke Carlisle quickly hit wingback Phil Harris on a pair of counter flow plays across the field.  Those passes went for touchdowns of 58 and 63 yards, unheard of for the Texas playbook.  Harris, by the way, was joined by three former teammates from San Antonio's Thomas Jefferson High as Longhorns on a mission.  

Linebacker/OG Tommy Nobis, DB Anthony King and TB Hix Green all did plenty of damage to Navy that day. And Emmet Augustus Carlisle III, a.ka. "Duke" set a Cotton Bowl record with 267 total yards, even leading the Steers in rushing.

The stout Texas defense, spearheaded by Outland Trophy winner Scott Appleton, Nobis, George Brucks, Jim Hudson, Bobby Gamblin and King, suffocated Navy's feared offensive attack.  One writer later said that Staubach had to  wear Appleton like a necklace throughout the contest.  Jolly Roger, college football's premier scrambler, finished with minus 47 yards on the ground.   Texas cruised comfortably all the live-long day, leading by four TDs until the Midshipmen got a garbage score in the final period.  Texas 28  Navy 6.   The Horns' first national title was now topped with fluffy cotton.