HALL OF FAME

As one of the Cotton Bowl's famed "Rover Boys," Wilbur Evans commanded a presence over college football in the 1970s that opened doors everywhere he went. The most notable door Evans pried open was in South Bend when he and travel partner Field Scovell persuaded Notre Dame to break a self-imposed 45-year ban on post-season play. The Irish accepted the invitation and the dream matchup of Notre Dame vs. Texas in the 1970 Cotton Bowl became a football classic. It was quite a beginning for Evans who had been appointed as the bowl's first full-time executive director just months before. During his watch, the Cotton Bowl Classic staged three national championship games – 1970, 1971 and 1978. Evans’ eye for detail set the standard for all to follow in the bowl industry.

The name Kris Haines warms the hearts of Notre Dame fans all over the world thanks to his miracle catch against Houston in the 1979 Classic. Haines and his Irish teammates braved the ice and the cold to rally Notre Dame from a 22-point deficit in the game’s final eight minutes. Down the stretch, Haines grabbed a two-point conversion pass that brought the Irish within six points of the Cougars with 4:15 left to play. Minutes later, Haines stepped forward again to become Notre Dame’s man of the hour. Irish quarterback Joe Montana connected with his standout receiver on an eight-yard touchdown pass just as time expired. Haines made a diving catch in the corner of the end zone to tie the score at 34-34. The ensuing PAT added an exclamation point to an amazing 35-34 come-from-behind Irish victory.

Phil Harris played football like a math major...he knew how to compile big numbers. In the 1964 Classic, the Texas sophomore wingback shredded No. 2 Navy with a record shattering performance by catching three passes for 157 yards. He averaged 52.3 yards a catch and established an NCAA bowl record that has endured for 46 years. The game was just six plays old when Harris caught Navy by surprise. He hauled in a throwback pass from quarterback Duke Carlisle then raced 58 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. Harris' second score came on a tipped pass that he promptly turned into a 63-yard touchdown play for Texas. Harris may have been the youngest man on the field that day, but he played like a veteran in helping the Longhorns secure their first national title.

Alabama middle guard Warren Lyles saved his best effort of the season for the 1981 Cotton Bowl Classic. His coach, the legendary Paul "Bear" Bryant, sensed that Lyles would be the target of Baylor's point of attack. Minutes before kickoff in the Bama locker room, Bryant challenged his defenders to make a statement against the Bears. Obviously, his words touched a nerve because Lyles responded with a tremendous performance. He recorded eight tackles for the Crimson Tide, five of them were unassisted and resulted in 26 yards in losses. The Alabama defense totally disrupted the Baylor game plan, limiting the Bears to 158 yards in total offense, 54 yards rushing and forced seven turnovers. Lyles lived up to his coach's pregame challenge and helped lead the Crimson Tide to a compelling 30-2 victory.

Jackie Sherrill was a player’s coach. He knew exactly how to motivate them to reach a higher level come game day. A tireless worker, Sherrill constantly searched for new ideas to get his teams ready to play. In 1999, Sherrill joined an elite brotherhood of coaches when he guided Mississippi State to the Classic. In the process, he became the third of only four coaches to lead two different institutions to the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic. In the 1980s, after an 18-year absence, he led Texas A&M to three consecutive appearances in the Classic. The highlight was a memorable 36-16 victory over Auburn in the Cotton Bowl’s 50^th anniversary game in 1986. Sherrill taught his players to have high expectations, always be prepared, play together as one, and most of all, how to win.