Texas A&M Football: A Journey Through Aggie Bowl History
The first time A&M beat Alabama was in 1968 at the Cotton Bowl Classic. The final score was 20-16.
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1968 Cotton Bowl
Texas A&M and Alabama met at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas on New Year’s Day.
The Aggies had defeated t.u. earlier in the 1967 season by a score of 10-7 and were Southwest Conference Champions.
Alabama was led on the field by an old friend of Texas A&M, Paul “Bear” Bryant. Bryant coached for the Aggies from 1954-1957 before headed home to his alma-mater, the University of Alabama.
Texas A&M was led by Gene Stallings ’57. Stallings was one of the “Junction Boys” under Coach Bryant and led the team to their first Southwest Conference title since 1939. After a successful playing career in College Station, Stallings followed his coach to Tuscaloosa where he served as a Defensive Assistant Coach from 1958-1964. He helped Alabama win two National Championships but then packed up headed back to his home, Texas A&M.
Edd Hargett led the Aggies throughout the close match-up throwing two touchdown passes in the first half. The Crimson Tide held Texas A&M scoreless in the second half but it wasn’t enough. Aggies won 20-16.
The student beat the teacher, and the teacher could not have been prouder. Coach Bryant is said to have carried Coach Stallings off the field to celebrate his former students first bowl victory.