1985 Cotton Bowl Classic

1985 Cotton Bowl Classic
Boston College Eagles Houston Cougars (9–2) (7–4) 45 28 Head coach:  Jack Bicknell Head coach:  Bill Yeoman AP 8
1 2 3 4 Total Boston College 17 14 0 14 45 Houston 7 7 14 0 28
Date	January 1, 1985
Season	1984
Stadium	Cotton Bowl
Location	Dallas, Texas
MVP	FB Steve Strachan (Boston College) LB Bill Romanowski (Boston College)
Attendance	67,381
United States TV coverage
Network	CBS
Announcers	Lindsey Nelson, Pat Haden and Ara Parseghian

The 1985 Cotton Bowl Classic was a postseason college football bowl game between the Houston Cougars and the Boston College Eagles.

Background

Doug Flutie gained national attention in 1984 when he quarterbacked the Eagles to a 47–45 win in what would be called Hail Flutie. Flutie left school as the NCAA’s all-time passing yardage leader with 10,579 yards, won the Heisman Trophy and was a consensus All-American as a senior. This was their first Cotton Bowl Classic since 1940. The Cougars shared the Southwest Conference title for the first time since 1979. They shared it with SMU despite beating them earlier in the season. While SMU was invited to the Aloha Bowl, the Cougars were invited to the Cotton Bowl, their first since 1980.

Game summary

The Eagles rolled to a 31-14 lead at halftime on Flutie's three touchdown passes (to three different receivers) and a Steve Strachan touchdown, despite the Cougars' two quick ways of scoring touchdowns, one of which occurring when Larry Shepherd caught a Gerald Landry pass for a touchdown with only 22 seconds left in the half. Raymond Tate narrowed the lead with his touchdown late in the third quarter. Audrey McMillian intercepted a Flutie pass and returned it 25 yards to make it 31-27 as the third quarter came to a close. But the Eagles scored with 5:45 remaining on a Steve Strachan touchdown run. Troy Stradford sealed the game with a touchdown run with 1:06 to go as the Eagles won their first Cotton Bowl Classic ever.

Aftermath

Neither team has appeared in the Cotton Bowl Classic since this game.