Navy football players were none too happy about being denied an opportunity to play in the prestigious Cotton Bowl in 1956.
The Midshipmen were invited to the Cotton Bowl after completing the regular season with a 6-1-2 record. However, Vice Admiral William R. Smedberg III, the academy superintendent, turned down the bid – declaring that Navy did not go to bowl games in years it did not beat archrival Army.
Navy had played Army to a 7-7 tie that was disappointing for both sides.
“You had a lot of very unhappy football players,” standout halfback Harry Hurst said of not being allowed to play in the Cotton Bowl.