(Ed. Note: This is the fourth in the series of digital postcards commemorating 75 years of the FWAA All-America Team.  The first FWAA All-America Team was published in 1944 during World War II and is the second longest continuously published team in major-college football.)  

In 1969, the Chicago Cubs blew a nine-game lead in the final two months of the season and lost the National League pennant to the New York Mets … Neil Armstrong (the astronaut, not the former Chicago Bears coach) had a better year than Cubs manager Leo Durocher when he became the first person to step on the moon on July 21 … Woodstock Music and Art Fair was held on Max Yasgur’s Dairy Farm in New York State … John Wayne won his only Academy Award for his portrayal of U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn in “True Grit.”

With President Richard Nixon in attendance, top-ranked Texas came from behind to beat No. 2 Arkansas, 15-14, in a battle of unbeatens in the regular season … Notre Dame made its first bowl appearance in 45 years, losing to the Longhorns, 21-17, in the Cotton Bowl, giving Texas the national title … Oklahoma halfback Steve Owens won the Heisman Trophy … Michigan finished 8-3, lost 10-3 to USC in the Rose Bowl, and Bo Schembechler in his first season with the Wolverines  was chosen as the FWAA’s Coach of the Year … Purdue’s Mike Phipps was the All-America quarterback … Other notables were Jim Otis (Ohio State), John Tatum (Ohio State) and Mike McCoy (Notre Dame).

Go to http://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa/awards/allamerica/alltime.pdf to see the entire list.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FszLa0AhBxI

COTTON BOWL NUGGET

Steve Worster, an All-American in Texas’ Wishbone offense, rushed for 155 yards on 20 carries and Texas came back from deficits of 10-0 and 17-14 to capture the national title with a 21-17 victory over Notre Dame. FWAA All-American offensive lineman Bob McKay helped that Longhorn attack function. Joe Theismann threw for 231 yards (17 of 27, 2 interceptions, 2 touchdowns) for the Irish.

1969 FWAA Selectors

• Joe Concannon, Boston Globe
• Bob Hurt, Daily Oklahoman
• Edgar Allen, Nashville Banner
• Bob Pille, Chicago Sun-Times
• Dave Campbell, Waco News-Tribune
• Paul Zimmerman, Los Angeles Times
• Dick Herbert, Raleigh News & Observer