The 1941 Orange Bowl was a postseason college football game played on January 1, 1941, at the Miami Orange Bowl stadium in Miami, Florida. The contest matched the Texas A&M Aggies, representing the Southwest Conference (SWC), against the Georgia Bulldogs of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Texas A&M won the game by a score of 14–7.
Background
- Texas A&M Aggies: Entered the bowl with a 9–1 record, having secured the SWC championship. The Aggies were coached by Homer H. Norton.
- Georgia Bulldogs: Entered with a 10–0 record, having captured the SEC title under head coach Wally Butts.
Game Summary
- Date: January 1, 1941
- Venue: Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
- Attendance: Approximately 35,000 spectators
- Scoring by quarter:
- First quarter: Georgia 0, Texas A&M 7
- Second quarter: Georgia 0, Texas A&M 0
- Third quarter: Georgia 7, Texas A&M 0
- Fourth quarter: Georgia 0, Texas A&M 7
Texas A&M took an early lead on a 26‑yard touchdown run by halfback John Kimbrough. Georgia responded in the third quarter with a 4‑yard rushing touchdown by halfback George Brodie. In the final period, Texas A&M restored a two‑point margin when John Kimbrough scored again on a short run, securing the victory.
Aftermath
- The win marked Texas A&M’s first Orange Bowl triumph and contributed to the program’s reputation as a national power in the early 1940s.
- Georgia’s loss ended its unbeaten season; the Bulldogs finished the year ranked in the top ten of contemporary polls.
Historical Significance
The 1941 Orange Bowl was the seventh edition of the Orange Bowl, a bowl game inaugurated in 1935. It was part of the broader trend of postseason bowl games that grew in prominence during the early 20th century, serving both athletic and economic interests for host cities and participating institutions.
References
- Orange Bowl official archives, game records (accessed 2023).
- College Football Data Warehouse, 1940 season summary (archived).
- Contemporary newspaper reports, The Miami Herald (January 2, 1941).