Cowboys needed replay in ‘64
Oklahoma State hosts Kansas on Saturday night, and no matter the final outcome, the game isn’t likely to be the wildest OSU-KU game in Stillwater. On Oct. 24, 1964, the Jayhawks came into Lewis Field 2-0 in the Big Eight, but the surprising Cowboys were 3-0. A crowd of 36,500 turned out, a big number for 1964, and OSU threatened to remain atop the league.
KU led 14-7 late in the game and set up for a field goal, but OSU blocked the kick, and Jack Jacobson returned it 60 yards for a touchdown with 44 seconds left. Believing the special-teams charm still flowed, coach Phil Cutchin called for a fake extra point. Holder Glenn Baxter tossed a pass to Tony Sellari, who was popped by two Jayhawks at the goal line. Officials ruled Sellari was stopped short, while the Cowboys argued vehemently. After a six-minute delay in which the officials conferred, the call stood.
That night, a rumor spread through Stillwater, and beyond, that officials had looked at photos of the disputed play and, in conjunction with the coaches, had reversed their call and OSU had won 15-14. Of course, the rumor was false.
The Cowboys never recovered, losing four of their final five games. But they were close: 27-14 at eventual league champ Nebraska, 17-14 at Kansas State and 21-16 at home vs. Oklahoma. Some 40 years later, replay review came to college football. But too late for Cutchin’s Cowboys.
Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1. You can e-mail him here and follow him on Twitter @BerryTramel.
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Replay, and I am glad you did not call it “instant replay” sucks in any sport. I would like to know the percentage of calls that are overturned by replay. The UMPS, REF’S usually get it right. Geeez why not just play computer games and the heck with the real games? Human error is what makes for great arguments in the bar, or house or sport talk all the next week. You guys who love replay want to take all the fun out of the game. Then you blame it on, “there is a lot of money riding on these games” YUK!!!!