Coaches All-America Game

The Coaches All-America Game was a college football all-star event held annually from 1961 to 1976, concluding the season and supporting AFCA scholarships through ticket sales and TV rights. Initially hosted in Buffalo, New York (1961–1965), it moved to Atlanta Stadium (1966–1969) before relocating to Lubbock, Texas, at Jones Stadium from 1970 to 1975. Despite being a smaller city, Lubbock was chosen over larger venues due to its strong college football fanbase and potential attendance without competition from other entertainment.

The first game in Lubbock (1970) took place just 47 days after a tornado struck downtown, yet it set an attendance record with 42,150 fans. Over seven years, the games drew a total of 285,786 attendees. The series featured close competition between East and West teams, with notable outcomes including the West's 36-6 victory in 1974 and Barty Smith's injury in that game, which sidelined him early in his NFL career. In 1975, Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson debuted for the Dallas Cowboys. The series ended in 1976 as top players increasingly declined participation due to injury risks and limited benefits for NFL rookies and owners.

The game concluded with the West defeating the East 35-???