NCAAF – 1954 – Rice RB Dicky Moegle Running All Over Alabama In The Cotton Bowl + The Phantom Tackle
L EOctober 25, 2018
0 186 1 minute read
DOG ASIDE:
Richard Lee“Dicky” Moegle (born September 14, 1934) is a former American football halfback in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Francisco 49’ers, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Rice University in Houston….where he was a consensus All-American in 1954.
In 1953, he teamed up with fullback Dave “Kosse” Johnson….who was the nation’s second leading rusher….to win a share of the Southwest Conference title with the University of Texas….while registering 833 rushing yards with a 7.3-yard average….which led the nation. In the 1954 Cotton Bowl Classic against Alabama….Moegle was involved in one of college football’s most famous plays…..while Rice was leading 7–6….Moegle broke through on a sweep from Rice’s five-yard line….and was running down the sideline in front of Alabama’s bench on his way to a touchdown….when Alabama’s Tommy Lewis….without putting on his helmet….jumped off the bench and tackled Moegle….and seeing what happened….referee Cliff Shaw awarded a 95-yard touchdown on the play….as Rice went on to win the game 28–6. Dicky Moegle finished with 265 rushing yards….which was a Cotton Bowl Classic record until the 2008 game when Missouri’s Tony Temple rushed for 281 yards….when Moegle finished this game seen in the video herewith….with game records of 265 yards on 11 carries….for an average of 24.1 yards per attempt ….and 3 touchdowns. After this game, Moegle and Lewis later appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show to talk about the play.
As a senior, Dicky Moegle rushed for 905 yards….and led the nation in punt returns…..and finished his college career after setting 26 school records….including career touchdowns (22)….interceptions in a game (3…. and total points in a season (72)…..and in 1979 was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. In 1970, he was inducted into the Rice Athletic Hall of Fame….and in 1980 was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.
