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Message: [QUOTE="SWC75, post: 4284401, member: 289"] 1979 [URL unfurl="true"]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1979_NCAA_Division_I-A_football_rankings[/URL] [URL="http://www.tiptop25.com/fixing1979.html"]Fixing the 1979 AP Poll[/URL] The University of Alabama has a football history second to none. They became a national power in the 1920’s. Their 1925 team won their first national title and their 1930 and 1934 teams deserve a share of the title in those years. (I’m thinking of going back and doing the pre-1936 era and the Tide will be prominent in it.) In the years I’ve covered, they have bene in the mix in these years: 1945 when they lost to Army by 37 points for the title. 1961 when they lost to Louisiana State by 10 points in a semi-final. 1965 when they when they beat Arkansas by 6 but lost the title to Michigan State by 5. 1966 when they lost to the Spartans again in the semis by 3. 1973 when they beat Oklahoma by 1 but lost to Ohio State by 3 for the title. 1975 when they beat Arizona State by 18 but lost to Oklahoma by 2 for the title. 1977 when they lost to Penn State by 3 in the first round. 1978 when they lost to Oklahoma by 3 in the semis. By 1979, Alabama fans would have had enough of his. A strong argument could be made for their being recognized as national champion in 1979 without a playoff. The blew through 12 straight opponents by a combined 383-67, including a 24-9 victory over Lou Holtz’ 10-1, 6th ranked Arkansas team in the Sugar Bowl. Three other teams Ohio State and Florida State made it through the regular season 11-0 but the Buckeyes lost to Southern California 16-17 in the Rose Bowl and the upstart Seminoles were handled by Oklahoma, 7-24 in the Orange Bowl. The Sooners had lost to Texas 7-16. Brigham Young announced themselves on the national scene led by All-American QB Marc Wilson, (backed up by Jim Mc Mahon), running the table until Lee Corso’s Indian team beat them in a wild Holiday Bowl, 38-37. Two other teams had a single loss: Houston, who also lost to Texas, 13-21, (the Longhorns lost three other games), Pittsburgh who lost to North Carolina 7-17. Holiday Bowl: [MEDIA=youtube]ByflUDbxJQI[/MEDIA] Rose Bowl: [URL="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVZOtw82Ubw"]1980 Rose Bowl Ohio State vs USC No Huddle[/URL] Sugar Bowl: [URL="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1mz75t2U28"]1980 Sugar Bowl #2 Alabama vs #6 Arkansas No Huddle[/URL] Orange Bowl: [URL="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA0gWpgwc9c"]1980 Orange Bowl #4 Florida State vs #5 Oklahoma No Huddle[/URL] But there was one other team to consider. The Trojans were ranked #1 preseason, (I recall reading an article that said that will all the players they had gotten back from the previous year’s co-champs who had beaten Alabama in Montgomery), and through the first five weeks of the season when they were tied 21-21 Stanford team that went 5-5-1, (Bill Walsh had left for the 49ers but John Elway was still there). They then won out including that victory over Ohio State who had actually been #1 in the last regular season writer’s poll, not Alabama. In this fantasy trip through college football history, I’ve tended to ignore single ties: teams are 1 single point from a perfect record. That’s not the same as losing in my mind. I think there would be a clamor for the Tide and the Trojans to meet for the 1979 title. Alabama vs. Southern California Alabama beat Louisiana State 3-0 who lost to Southern California 12-17 = +2 for Southern California Alabama beat Baylor 45-0 who lost to Texas 0-13 who lost to Washington 7-14 who lost to Southern California 17-24 = +18 for Alabama Alabama beat Tennessee 27-17 who beat Notre Dame 40-18 who lost to Southern California 23-42 = +13 for Alabama Alabama beat Auburn 25-18 who beat Kansas State 26-18 who lost to Oklahoma 6-38 who beat Iowa 21-6 who lost to Ohio State 7-34 who lost to Southern California 16-17 = +29 for Southern California Alabama beat Arkansas 24-9 who beat Colorado State 36-3 who lost to Arizona 17-33 who lost to Southern California 7-34 = +5 Alabama Result: +5/5 = Alabama finally wins the national championship by 1 point! [/QUOTE]

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