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Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

1999 HALL OF FAME

David Hodge

  • Position Linebacker, Houston
  • Hometown Clute, Texas
  • Classic Memories 1977 Classic: Houston 30, Maryland 21; 1979 Classic: Notre Dame 35, Houston 34; 1980 Classic: Houston 17, Nebraska 14; 1977 Defensive Statistics: Tackles: 12 tackles, 6 unassisted 1979 Defensive Statistics: Tackles: 15 tackles, 6 unassisted 1980 Defensive Statistics: Tackles: 8 tackles, 3 unassisted 1979 Interceptions: 1 interception, 10 yards 1979 Fumbles: 1 recovery

Biography

It was impossible to deceive the Cougars' David Hodge. No matter where his opponents tried to run or throw, he always wound up at the football. In three Classic appearances, the Houston linebacker made 35 tackles. He began with 12 stops against Maryland in the 1977 Classic. Then, against Notre Dame in the 1979 game, Hodge made 15 tackles, recovered a fumble and snagged one interception. A year later, in the Cougars' dramatic last-second upset of Nebraska, he added to his career total with a solid eight-tackle performance versus the Huskers. With his efforts in '79 and '80, Hodge became only the second player ever to win back-to-back MVP honors at the Cotton Bowl.