What Might Have Been: 1974

[SWC75]

This is another in my series of "fan fiction" posts on what a Divsion 1 championship tournament might have looked like if we'd had one from the time the other NCAA football divsions started theirs.
For the full background, look at this post:
http://syracusefan.com/threads/what-might-have-been-1973.3805/

The Situation:

ACC- North Carolina went 9-2 (286-210) but only 4-2 in the conference while Maryland went 6-0. Overall they were 8-3 (313-97) and beat the Tar Heels 24-12.
SEC- Alabama had another dominant year at 11-0 (318-83)
Big 10- Ohio State and Michigan were both 10-1 and 7-1 in the conference. The Buckeyes outscored their opposition 420-111 and beat the Wolverines, (324-75) 12-10.
Big 8- Oklahoma had the best team in the country at 11-0 (473-92) and were #1 in the AP poll but were still on probation.
SWC- Baylor (232-182), Texas (364-170), Texas A&M (222-131) and newcomer Houston (249-154) were all 8-3 but Houston wasn’t yet eligible for the tile and Baylor went 6-1 compared to 5-2 for the two others so they were the conference champs in a “flat” year.
Pac 8- USC was 9-1-1 (345-1525) and 6-0-1 in the conference.
Other Top Teams: Penn State was the top team in the East at 9-2 (281-122). Auburn was 9-2 (260-126). So was Notre Dame (305-136). Miami (Ohio) was unbeaten again at 9-0-1 (282-76). Arizona was another 9-2 team (263-174) but still in the WAC. Overall, it was kind of a “flat” year in college football after all the undefeated teams of the previous year.

What actually happened:

Miami (Ohio) again wound up in the Tangerine Bowl vs. an SEC team and again won, 21-10 over Georgia. Houston tied NC State in the Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl, 31-31. Maryland lost to a 6-3-2 Tennessee team in the Liberty Bowl. UNC lost to Mississippi State 24-26 in the Sun Bowl. Auburn crunched Texas 27-3 in the Gator Bowl. On new year’s Day, Penn State swamped Baylor 41-20 in the Cotton Bowl. A couple of 8-3 teams, Nebraska and Florida, met in the Sugar Bowl, the Huskers pulling it out 13-10.

The big games were the Rose and Orange Bowls. Notre Dame again beat the Tide in a squeaker, 13-11 in Miami. Southern California and Ohio State had traded two one-sided wins in the 1973 and 1974 Rose Bowls. In the 1/1/75 game, the Trojans pulled it out. That gave them the coach’s national title as they refused to vote for a team, (Oklahoma) that was on probation.

If we had the BCS:
With the Sooners ineligible, Alabama, #2 in the writer’s poll and #1 in the coaches poll, would have been in the big game. Their opponent would have been #3/#2 Ohio State. The Trojans and Wolverines would have watched it on TV.

What might have been:

Florida (8-3, 251-184) at Alabama (11-0, 318-83)
BYU (7-3-1, 296-183) at Ohio State (10-1, 420-111)
Texas A&M (8-3, 222-131) at Michigan (10-1, 324-75)
Miami (Ohio ) (9-0-1, 282-76) at USC (9-1-1, 345-125)
NC State (9-2, 286-210) at Auburn (9-2, 260-126)
Baylor (8-3, 232-182) at Penn State (9-2, 281-122)
Texas (8-3, 364-170) at Nebraska (8-3, 360-122)
Maryland (8-3, 313-97) at Notre Dame (9-2, 305-136)

Site for the title game: The Orange Bowl

Penn State did beat Baylor 41-20. The other match-ups aren’t as intriguing as the previous year but they would have produced some good games. More importantly, every legitimate contender not on probation would have been in the tournament.

 

[SWC75]

FIRST ROUND RESULTS (12/7/74)

At Tuscaloosa, Alabama ALABAMA 17 FLORIDA 3
Despite both schools being in the SEC, the two teams had not played each other in 1974. The Gators gave the Tide all they could handle in a defensive battle, holding them to a 3-3 tie at halftime. But Willie Shelby, who ran for 128 yards on 25 carries, scored on two short runs, a 3 yarder in the third period and a 4 yarder in the fourth, to secure the win.
At Columbus, Ohio OHIO STATE 40 BRIGHAM YOUNG 6
Woody Hayes never liked the pass and put on a demonstration of what a great running team with a great defense can do to a great passing team. The Buckeyes ran for 300 yards and intercepted three Gary Sheide passes. To add insult to injury they scored on a 52 yard pass from Archie Griffin on the halfback option to Brian Baschnagel, over the defense that had been sucked in by having to defend the run.
At Ann Arbor, Michigan MICHIGAN 48 TEXAS A&M 26
The Aggies had considerable early success against the aggressive Michigan defense with their triple-option attack, (which had been invented by coach Emory Bellard), taking a shocking 26-21 halftime lead. But the Wolverine defense adjusted and shut A&M out in the second half. And they had a running game of their own, powering for 306 yards rushing and scoring four unanswered second half scores to win going away. Gordon Bell ran for 178 yards and scored twice while Rob Lytle ran for 124 yards and scored 3 times.
At Los Angeles, California SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 29 MIAMI (OHIO) 17
The Trojans expected to have an easy time with the Redskins and were shocked to find themselves down 7-14 after a quarter. Randy Walker topped two long drives with 2 and 3 yard runs sandwiched around a 27 yard run by USC’s Anthony Davis. But the Trojans took control in the second quarter, Davis scoring again from the 1, J.K. McKay catching a 5 yard TD pass and Chris Limahelu kicking a field goal, although the missed an extra point. Still the Trojans found the Redskin’s nationally ranked defense tough going in the second half. Miami pulled to within 23-17 with a third quarter field goal. The home team clinched it with foruth quarter scoring drive capped by former linebacker Ricky Bell going over from the 1. They tried for two but a pass was batted down. Walker ran for 168 yards and two scores but Davis more than matched that with 202 yards and 2 scores.
At Auburn, Alabama AUBURN 10 NORTH CAROLINA STATE 3
The Auburn Tigers scored 10 first quarter points within 21 seconds and used their defense to make it hold up against visiting NC State for a 10-3 win. The Wolfpack played pretty good defense themselves, holding Auburn to only 57 yards rushing. But the War Eagles intercepted 7 passes to continually thwart the visitors and move on in the national tournament. The only touchdown was cored on a 28 yard pass from Phil Gargis to Mike Henley, which came after a field goal by Greg Gillis and an interception by Pat Jones.
At State College Pennsylvania PENN STATE 41 BAYLOR 20
Penn State came back from a sluggish first half to storm to a 41-20 victory over SWC champion Baylor. Down 3-7 at halftime, they marched to 38 second half points, keyed by a 49 yard pass from Tom Shuman to Jimmy Cefalo, a three yard run by Cefalo and a 2 yard run by Shuman. They capped it off with Joe Jackson returning an onsides kick for a touchdown. (This game actually took place in the Cotton Bowl.)
At Lincoln, Nebraska TEXAS 21 NEBRASKA 17
Nebraska had trouble handling the Longhorn’s wishbone attack, which rolled up 331 yards rushing, including 155 yards from freshman Earl Campbell. Nebraska actually got off to a 10-0 lead on a 54 yard pass from David Humm to Dave Shamblin. But then the Longhorns began pounding away, scoring on three long drives, two of them in the fourth quarter, the last ending in a one yard plunge by Campbell to erase a 14-17 deficit.
At South Bend, Indiana MARYLAND 27 NOTRE DAME 22
The Terrapins shocked the Irish by rolling to a 24-6 first half lead and barely held off a furious rally to pull out the win. Louis Carter bolted 69 yards for a 7-0 lead. Ben Kinard scrambled for 18 yards and a second score. Avelini came back in and hit Walter White from 30 yards out to produce the early lead. Tom Clements led the comeback with a 47 yarder to Pete Demmerle and a 6 yard swing pass to Art Best. A missed extra point and a failed two point conversion were critical as Notre Dame needed a touchdown rather than a field goal at the end and couldn’t get one.

SECOND ROUND (12/14/74)

At Tuscaloosa, Alabama ALABAMA 27 MARYLAND 17
The Terrapins hung with the defending champs for three quarters, taking a 17-13 lead into the final quarter. But the Tides’ relentless triple-option attack wore them down, producing 380 yards rushing and two fourth quarter touchdowns to finally subdue the visitors. Gary Rutlidge ran for 129 yards and Calvin Culliver for 101 more with 2 scores. Bob Avelini threw for 265 yards, but it wasn’t enough.
At Columbus, Ohio TEXAS 32 OHIO STATE 28
The Longhorns remembered their debacle of last year in the big horseshoe and came out determined to make up for it. The game was a defensive duel in the first half with the Longhorns taking a 9-7 lead into the half on a 22 yard run by Roosevelt Leaks, (the kick failed). Ohio State’s score came on a 14 yard pass from Cornelius Greene to 6-6, 262 Bubba France, a converted tackle playing very tight end. In the third quarter, Earl Campbell took over, bolting for 46 and 65 yard scores and got another on a 5 yard burst in the fourth quarter to give his team a 32-19 lead. The Longhorns then held on, using an intentional safety in the final seconds to punt the ball out of trouble. Campbell wound up with 172 yards on only 14 carries for 3 scores. Archie Griffin was held to 71 yards on 16 carries with no scores as Ohio State had to go to the air in the second half trying to make their comeback.
At Ann Arbor, Michigan MICHIGAN 42 PENN STATE 17
For the second straight year, Michigan roughed up Penn State in the Big House. The game was only 7-7 at the half but three turnovers by the Lions and four touchdowns by Chuck Heater, all from 1-2 yards out. The Wolverines converted three second half turnovers into scores. Gordon Bell ran for 157 yards, including a 20 yard score.
At Los Angeles, California SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 35 AUBURN 28
Pat Haden threw for 351 yards and two scores and ran for another while Anthony Davis ran for 108 yards and a score but they couldn’t subdue the visiting Tigers until Marvin Cobb took a punt back 55 yards for a score in the fourth period. Phil Gargis of Auburn passed for 180 yards and one score and ran for 95 and another score.

SEMI-FINALS

At Tuscaloosa, Alabama ALABAMA 13 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 12
The Crimson tide ran for 264 yards and the Trojans passed for 290 yards but both teams had problems in the red zone and could get only one touchdown apiece for their efforts. Danny Ridgeway and Chris Limahelu traded first half field goals. Calvin Culliver went over from the one in the third quarter but Anthony Davis answered with a 24 yard run early in the fourth. Midway through the final quarter, USC lined up for a 42 yard field goal. It was short and Alabama’s Ray Bolden tried to return it from out of the end zone. He barely made it out but was knocked backwards in the end zone and tackled. The safety gave the Trojans a 12-10 lead. One might think that bear Bryant would have gone to Richard Todd, his best passer but interested he sent Gary Rutledge, who was best at running the wishbone. They rode the ’bone down the field and set up a 31 yard field goal attempt on the game’s last play, which Ridgeway booted through the uprights for the 13-12 win.
At Ann Arbor Michigan TEXAS 14 MICHIGAN 7
It was a tight defensive duel all the way and both teams managed to neutralize each other’s powerful rushing attacks. Longhorn quarterback Marty Akins found Joe Aboussie in the end zone with a 6 yard second quarter pass. Gordon Bell of Michigan was held to only 33 yards in 16 carries but one of them was a 1 yard plunge to tie it just before halftime. Earl Campbell, held to 35 yards on 13 carries, decided it with a one yard run of his own in the fourth quarter.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME at ORANGE BOWL 1/1/75

ALABAMA 13 TEXAS 11
The Longhorns continued their excellent defensive play, holding the Tide’s strong running attack to 62 yards while gaining 185 of their own. But Alabama had the option of going to Richard Todd who threw for 194 yards and a touchdown while Texas just got 19 yards passing. Roosevelt Leaks opened the scoring with a four yard run. A botched extra point resulted in a two point conversion. When Billy Scott kicked a 21 yard field goal just before halftime the surprising Longhorns had an 11-0 lead, 30 minutes form a national title. Then Todd started the second half and the game changed. A 48 yard pass to sophomore Ozzie Newsome with a 48 yard pass for a third period score. Danny Ridgeway kicked the point but when Willie Shelby scored the go-ahead TD on a 9 yard fourth quarter run, the kick was blocked, leaving the game hanging in the balance. But the Tide was able to keep the Longhorns out of field goal range until the last play of the game when Schott’s shot from 50 yards out was short. Alabama had won it’s 30th consecutive game and it’s second straight national championship.

After the game, the Alabama players celebrated by singing their school fight song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdEUkJdrB5E&feature=related

 

[skurey]

As always great work!