1962 Sugar Bowl - Alabama vs. Arkansas

This was Bear Bryant’s second trip to the Sugar Bowl, but his first with Alabama, one of the top defensive teams of all-time.



Arkansas coach Frank Broyles knew his team had its work cut out, though he also felt the Razorbacks could move on anybody’s defense. They had a weapon no one had been able to neutralize: halfback Lance Alworth, one of the nation’s most dangerous ball-carriers, running, receiving or returning kicks.


It took the Tide six plays to score as running back Mike Fracchia scurried past a defender who penetrated into the backfield, past another just beyond the line, and racing down the sidelines 43 yards to the Arkansas 12. On the next play, quarterback Pat Trammel faked a pass and then, around left end, ran it in.


Though the Tide kept pressure on the Hogs, Bama got no more points until late in the half when Butch Wilson intercepted Arkansas quarterback George McKinney and returned the ball 17 yards to the 20. Kicker Tim Davis booted the field goal and Alabama led 10-0 with four minutes to go.


Arkansas nearly got on the board late in the half, but a 42-yard run by Paul Dudley was wasted by a missed field goal.


In the second half, Razorback kicker Mickey Cissell had two more early chances. One of his field goals was blocked, the other was good, making it 10-3, the first points against Alabama since October.


In the final minutes, Arkansas finally managed some big plays - a 31-yard pass to Alworth, a 37-yard completion to Jim Collier at the Tide 40, and another pass that tantalizingly grazed Alworth’s fingertips in the end zone. However, Wilson deflected another pass, intercepted it and stepped out of bounds no more than four inches from the Alabama goal, essentially ending the game.


Alabama had won its first Sugar Bowl by allowing the Razorbacks only four real chances at the end zone, and holding Alworth to 15 yards rushing.