University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols Head to 69th Annual SBC Cotton Bowl Classic
December 05, 2004 | Football
Dec. 5, 2004
AD Mike Hamilton | Coach Fulmer
Tennessee and Texas A&M meet for the first time in more than 47 years when the 2005 SBC Cotton Bowl kicks off Jan. 1 in Dallas. The Vols' bowl appearance is their 45th all-time and sixth at the legendary Texas bowl site.
UT turned in a 9-3 season and advanced to its fourth Southeastern Conference Championship Game in eight years Saturday in Atlanta. Texas A&M finished 7-4 under head coach Dennis Franchione and tied for third in the Big 12 Conference South standings.
"We're excited to be part of the 69th annual SBC Cotton Bowl," UT Athletics Director Mike Hamilton said. "Dallas is a great place to visit and the Cotton Bowl committee and Rick Baker are nothing but class acts.
"Phillip and his staff have done a tremendous job getting this team ready to play. We are proud of our SEC Eastern Division championship and I think our fans will rally around this team with a great showing in Dallas."
In the only previous football meeting between Tennessee and Texas A&M, neither team scored a touchdown and Paul "Bear" Bryant coached the Aggies. The Vols punched across a 17-yard field goal from Sammy Burklow with 5:30 left to play for a 3-0 victory at the 1957 Gator Bowl.
"Tennessee and the Cotton Bowl have a long history together, as this is our sixth trip to the Cotton Bowl," Hamilton said. "Some of our greatest players and greatest football moments are part of this game's outstanding New Year's Day tradition."
This year's SBC Cotton Bowl also marks the renewal of the coaching rivalry between UT's Phillip Fulmer and A&M's Franchione, who split two games during Franchione's two-year tenure at Alabama. The Vols won 35-24 over the Crimson Tide in 2001 before dropping a 34-14 decision the next season.
"Dennis has done just a fantastic job in a short time turning their program around to where they're accustomed," Fulmer said. "We're excited to be playing a team like Texas A&M. They have a fabulous tradition, as great of a tradition as any in the country. There's the 12th Man, their stadium and their fan support."
Tennessee is 2-3 all-time at the SBC Cotton Bowl, making appearances in the 1951, 1953, 1969, 1990 and 2001 Classics. The Vols' six bowl appearances in Dallas are second-most on the team's postseason ledger, trailing only UT's seven trips to the Sugar Bowl.
"We are ecstatic about the chance to return to the great City of Dallas," Fulmer said. "The Cotton Bowl is renowned in the bowl lineup and we're excited to be a part of its history."
SBC Cotton Bowl tickets are $75 each. UT season ticket holders should have received a priority bowl ticket application that has their customer and pin number to order tickets online. The deadline for placing priority bowl ticket orders is Friday at noon Eastern time.
Orders will be received online at utsports.com, via overnight mail, by phone, or applications can be dropped off at the ticket office this week from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Non-season ticket holders also can purchase tickets through these methods.
Last year, UT fans purchased 23,000 bowl tickets in the first 72 hours.
"I encourage our fans to buy their tickets through the University of Tennessee, as that is the means by which we gain recognition from the bowl itself," Hamilton said. "Tickets sold by the institution make a difference, as it relates to potential future bowl bids."
There is no ticket purchase limit and fans buying four or more tickets to the SBC Cotton Bowl automatically are entered into a drawing for one of five pairs of season tickets for the 2005 Tennessee football season, along with a VIP Dallas Bowl Practice Pass for two.
Tennessee's total of 45 bowl appearances ranks second nationally. The Vols have played in 16 consecutive bowls, the third-longest active streak behind Michigan (30) and Florida State (22). Fulmer has taken the Vols to postseason play in each of his 13 seasons as head coach.
