So much went wrong leading up to the last bowl game played at Yankee Stadium, that it isn’t hard to understand why another hasn’t taken place there in nearly 50 years.

The 1962 Gotham Bowl was played in front of only a couple thousand fans who braved frigid temperatures to be there. Those who did witness it, whether in person or on television, watched a thrilling back-and-forth game played between two teams that fought to the final second, though, as Nebraska squeaked past Miami (Fla.) 36-34.

A newspaper strike in New York couldn’t have come at a worse time for those who ran the Gotham Bowl. The game needed attention and publicity more than ever, but there was none, leading to little hype or excitement for a game between two national powers.

During the actual game that couldn’t have been further from the case.

If anything, the lack of attention and coverage gave Nebraska head coach Bob Devaney a way to motivate his team. In his pregame speech to the team, Devaney used that under-appreciation card to pump up the Cornhuskers.

‘Nobody’s going to be watching you,’ he told them. ‘You’re not going to get any press coverage. This is like a back-alley fight and the toughest team’s going to win.’

Nebraska won, and according to Devaney’s declaration, was the toughest team. But the Cornhuskers weren’t the toughest by much. When Nebraska would score, the Hurricanes would answer right back.

The first half was highlighted by a 92-yard touchdown run by Nebraska’s Willie Ross on a kickoff return that put the Huskers up 13-12. Miami started to orchestrate a scoring drive as soon as it got the ball back, getting down to the Nebraska one-yard line. That set up a touchdown run by halfback Nick Ryder. A Hurricane two-point conversion gave it a 20-13 lead.

The Cornhuskers tied it up at 20 on a six-yard pass to Mike Eger with 42 seconds left in the half. For as much success as Nebraska had on offense, Miami quarterback George Mira did everything he could to keep the Huskers from pulling away.

Mira and the Hurricanes retook a 27-20 lead with six minutes left in the third quarter, after Miami recovered a Nebraska fumble at the Huskers’ 21-yard line. The Huskers then drove 70 yards for a touchdown and two-point conversion to go back up 28-27.

On Miami’s next drive, Mira threw an interception that gave Nebraska the ball at the Miami 39. A one-yard touchdown run by Ross gave Nebraska a 36-27 lead, the largest lead for either team in the game. Miami scored once more at the 10-minute mark in the fourth quarter close within 36-34, but couldn’t muster another scoring drive in the final minutes.

Miami’s Mira won the MVP award despite being the losing quarterback. There was little question that he deserved it, as he completed 24 of 46 passes for 321 yards and two touchdowns.

The fact that the game itself had everything it needed to be one of the most exciting and memorable football games to ever be held at Yankee Stadium didn’t mean it was a success monetarily. Without the attention due to the newspaper strike, and with the low attendance, the game ended up losing about $50,000, closing the chapter of bowl games to be played at the old Yankee Stadium.

– Compiled by Asst. Copy Editor Chris Iseman, cjiseman@syr.edu

Published on December 28, 2010 at 12:00 pm

Contact Chris: cjiseman@syr.edu | @chris_iseman