SWC75
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This is another in my "fan fiction" posts about what a national championship playoff might ahve looked like if we'd had one in Divsion 1A going back to 1973, when the playoffs in the other divisions started. For a discussion of what this is and how it was done see this post:
http://syracusefan.com/threads/what-might-have-been-1973.3805/
FIRST ROUND (12/6/75)
At Columbus, Ohio OHIO STATE 36 MARYLAND 13
The Buckeyes blew out to a 28-0 halftime lead and coasted through the second half to easily defeat Maryland. The Scarlet pounded the Terps for 279 yards rushing and used that to set up another 234 yards passing in outgaining the visitors 513-275. Pete Johnson pounced for 85 yards in 10 carries and scored on a 14 yard first quarter burst. Archie Griffin added 82 yards on 13 carries and scored on a five yard run. But the star was Brian Baschnagel who gained 26 yards on two carries, including a 9 yard score and went deep to catch touchdown passes from Cornelius Greene of 78 and 79 yards. Larry Dick threw a couple of late TD passes for Maryland but it was much too little and too late.
At Norman, Oklahoma OKLAHOMA 31 CALIFORNIA 10
The Sooners broke out of a 10-10 tie with three fourth quarter touchdowns, aided by four California turnovers. The visitors shocked the home team with a first quarter field goal and a 21 yard pass from Joe Roth to Wesley Walker. But the Oklahoma defense, led by the Selmon bothers, Lucious, LeRoy and Dewey, shut down the bears and their great running back, Chuck Muncie, after that. Horace Ivory went over from the one just before halftime to tie it. Joe Washington’s five yard run early in the fourth gave the Sooners the lead. Quarterback Thomas Lott scored on a sneak to cap another drive and Ivory ran 6 yards for the final score. Oklahoma ran for 234 yards and forced four turnovers.
At Tuscaloosa, Alabama FLORIDA 13 ALABAMA 10
The Gators shocked the Tide with a 50 yard touchdown pass from Don Gaffney to the well-named Willie Wilder. Alabama marched up and down the field,. Rushing for 223 yards and passing for 202 more but, thanks to the Florida defense led by linebacker Sammy Greene, they could only pinch in one touchdown. On a one yard run by Willie Shelby and field goal. The Gators had gotten two second quarter field goals by David Posey. Shelby had 159 yards rushing to no avail.
At Ann Arbor, Michigan MICHIGAN 13 UCLA 0
The Wolverine defense shut down the UCLA wishbone, holding them to 182 yards rushing and 210 overall and keeping them away from the Michigan goal line. The home team struggled as well but Rick Leach found Mark Schmerge for a 19 yard TD pass on their opening drive. Second and fourth quarter field goals by Bob Wood weren’t even necessary.
At Lincoln, Nebraska NEBRASKA 20 GEORGIA 7
The passing of Bulldog quarterback Ray Goff led two long drives- one with the opening kick-off that led to missed field goal and one late in the third quarter that resulted in a three yard touchdown run by Glynn Harrison. In between the Cornhuskers dominated with Tony Davis and Mote Anthony scoring on short runs and Mike Coyle kicking a field goal to take a 17-0 lead. They closed out the scoring with another Coyle field goal in the fourth period. The Huskers out ran the Dogs, 238-56.
At Tempe, Arizona ARIZONA STATE 17 ARKANSAS 14
The Razorbacks appeared in control of the game, leading 14-6 after three quarters and driving in the fourth. But a hard hit by All-Americans Mike Haynes and Larry Gordon separated Jerry Eckwood from the ball. The Sun devils then went on a 79 yard drive to tie the game on a 10 yard pass from Fred Mortensen to John Jefferson and two point conversion from the same two players. They got the ball back but threw an interception. A clipping penalty put the ball on the Arkansas 3. The Hogs had to punt and Mike Haynes was hit late after the return. This set up a 29 yard field goal by the coach’s son, Danny Kush to win it. Eckwood had run for two scores for the Razorbacks and Freddy Williams one for the Sun Devils.
At College Station, Texas COLORADO 7 TEXAS A&M 3
The Buffaloes stampeded the Aggie’s wishbone, holding A&M to only 115 while rushing for 238 themselves. All the scoring came in the third period, when Kelly Davidson kicked A&M’s 35 yard field goal and then Colorado took the subsequent kick-off and drove down the field for their score, a 25 yard run by Billy Waddy, who ran for 161 yards on the day.
At State College, Pennsylvania TEXAS 26 PENN STATE 24
The Longhorns escaped State College with a wild win. Neither team had consecutive scores as the lead went from 7-0 to 7-7 to 10-7 to 10-14 to 17-14 to 17-21 to 20-21 to 20-24 to the 26-24 final. Earl Campbell ran for 183 yards on 24 carries, scoring on runs of 1 and 16 yards. But it was Raymond Clayburn who scored the winner from two yards out. The extra point was blocked but Penn State couldn’t get into field goal range before the clock ran out. Jimmy Cefalo scored twice for the Nittany Lions.
SECOND ROUND (12/13/75)
At Columbus, Ohio OHIO STATE 7 TEXAS 3
In a game played during a snowstorm the Buckeyes, perhaps a little more used to the conditions, slogged out a 7-3 win. But they had to have a little luck to do it. Texas scored on a 28 yard field goal by 28 yard field goal by Russell Erxleben in the second quarter. That stood up until there was 2:38 left in the game when Erxleben stood on his won 7 yard line to receive a snap for the punter. The ball slipped through his frozen fingers. He picked it up and started to run but was tackled at the 11. Cornelius Greene then lofted a pass to big tight end Jimmy Moore, (6-6 265) for the winner. State had out-rushed the Longhorns 173-108 and out-passed them 158-65 but without that final break, they were going down to defeat.
At Norman, Oklahoma OKLAHOMA 20 COLORADO 0
This was rematch of a regular season game the Sooners had won 21-20. They had fewer problems this time roaring to a 20-0 halftime lead and then coasting through a scoreless second half. Joe Washington was held to 82 yards in 23 carries but scored on a 76 pass from Steve Davis that put the game out of reach. Horace Ivory had the other score on a 1 yard run.
At Tempe, Arizona ARIZONA STATE 28 FLORIDA 27
The Gators found the desert uninviting and dropped a wild one to the home team. Florida quarterback Don Gaffney got the only score of the first period on a 4 yard run. He got hurt and had to be replaced by Jimmy Fisher. Arizona State scored in the third on a one yard run by Freddie Williams but the kick was blocked. Fisher hit Wes Chandler for a 21 yard score to make it 14-6. State responded with an 11 yard pass from Dennis Sproul to John Jefferson. Sproul then threw to tight end Bruce Hardy to tie it. An 18 yard run by Williams gave them the lead late in the third. Fisher threw a 22 yarder to Derrick Gaffney to tie it early in the fourth. Sproul threw 19 yards to Larry Mucker to make it 28-21 and set up a wild ending. Fisher moved the Gators down the field and then, with 1:16 to go, threw a pass that was tipped by All American linebacker Larry Gordon and went through the arms of three defensive backs before Chandler made a finger-tip catch in the end zone. Fisher was sacked on the two point conversion attempt but the Gators got the ball back on and onside kick. They moved down the field and set up a 34 yard field goal attempt to win it. But normally reliable David Posey just missed the uprights to the left and the Sun Devils moved on. The Gators just went home.
At Ann Arbor, Michigan NEBRASKA 13 MICHIGAN 6
It snowed in Ann Arbor as well. The difference was a 14 yard third quarter run by Tony Davis for the only touchdown. The rest was all field goals. Mike Coyle hit a 25 yarder to open the scoring and a 28 yarder to end it. Bob Wood scored from 42 and 37 yards for the Wolverines. Nebraska outgained the home team 316-214.
SEMI-FINALS (12/20/75)
At Columbus, Ohio NEBRASKA 14 OHIO STATE 13
The Buckeyes dominated most of the game, outgaining the Conrhuskers, 367-239, but they had 5 turnovers to Nebraska’s 4 in a very sloppy game played on a sloppy field. Monte Anthony scored form the 2 in the first period. The home team got the next three scores, a 36 yard pass from Corny Green to Lennie Mills. And field goals of 19 and 30 yards by Tom Skladany. But a long fourth quarter drive ended with a 17 yard run by Tony Davis and Mike Coyle kicked the winner.
At Norman, Oklahoma OKLAHOMA 34 ARIZONA STATE 17
The Sun Devils, seeing a chance at the national limelight, came out like gangbusters, taking a 17-0 first quarter lead on a 58 yard run by Freddie Williams, a 7 yard run by fullback Mark Lovett and a field goal by the coach’s son, Danny Kush. But Barry Switzer didn’t depart form his game plan. The Sooners completed only one pass all day but kept feeding the ball to Joe Washington, back-up Elvis Peacock. And fullbacks Jim Littrell and Horace Ivory. They ran for 330 yards while the Selmon brothers shut down the Sun Devils and Oklahoma won the last three quarters, 34-0. Washington had a 79 yard scoring run and Zac Henderson a 70 yard interception return.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME at the SUGAR BOWL (12/31/75)
NEBRASKA 14 OKLAHOMA 6
Nebraska had steamed into their regular season finale vs. Oklahoma at 10-0, having outscored their opposition 343-85. They were ranked #2 behind Ohio State. Oklahoma was coming off a 3-23 loss to Kansas and a shaky 28-27 win over Missouri. They were 9-1 and had outscored their opposition, 295-138, a less impressive margin, (and a comedown from 1974 when their team, which was on probation, had gone 11-0 and outscored their opposition, 473-92). The Huskers went into the fourth quarter at Norman with a 10-7, only to see it all slip away. A fumble on a sack of Vince Ferragamo by LeeRoy Selmon, a botched punt return, an interception and a fumble on a kick-off all led to Sooner scores. When the dust settled, Oklahoma had won and Nebraska’s perfect season was in ruins.
But the Huskers won their back to the title game, only to find the Sooners waiting for them again. They took full advantage of it. The Blackshirts held Oklahoma’s wishbone to 169 yards and the Sooners could complete only 2 passes for 33 yards. Nebraska ran for 282 yards and scored on a 39 yard run by Monte Anthony in the second quarter and a 9 yard run by Tony Davis in the fourth which game them a 14-0 lead. Oklahoma finally scored on a 2 yard run by Joe Washington but the Huskers held onto to the ball and ran out the clock to win the national championship.
The Nebraska band celebrated the win by playing “Marche Grandioso” over and over into the night:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lByTtesHxzA&feature=related
http://syracusefan.com/threads/what-might-have-been-1973.3805/
FIRST ROUND (12/6/75)
At Columbus, Ohio OHIO STATE 36 MARYLAND 13
The Buckeyes blew out to a 28-0 halftime lead and coasted through the second half to easily defeat Maryland. The Scarlet pounded the Terps for 279 yards rushing and used that to set up another 234 yards passing in outgaining the visitors 513-275. Pete Johnson pounced for 85 yards in 10 carries and scored on a 14 yard first quarter burst. Archie Griffin added 82 yards on 13 carries and scored on a five yard run. But the star was Brian Baschnagel who gained 26 yards on two carries, including a 9 yard score and went deep to catch touchdown passes from Cornelius Greene of 78 and 79 yards. Larry Dick threw a couple of late TD passes for Maryland but it was much too little and too late.
At Norman, Oklahoma OKLAHOMA 31 CALIFORNIA 10
The Sooners broke out of a 10-10 tie with three fourth quarter touchdowns, aided by four California turnovers. The visitors shocked the home team with a first quarter field goal and a 21 yard pass from Joe Roth to Wesley Walker. But the Oklahoma defense, led by the Selmon bothers, Lucious, LeRoy and Dewey, shut down the bears and their great running back, Chuck Muncie, after that. Horace Ivory went over from the one just before halftime to tie it. Joe Washington’s five yard run early in the fourth gave the Sooners the lead. Quarterback Thomas Lott scored on a sneak to cap another drive and Ivory ran 6 yards for the final score. Oklahoma ran for 234 yards and forced four turnovers.
At Tuscaloosa, Alabama FLORIDA 13 ALABAMA 10
The Gators shocked the Tide with a 50 yard touchdown pass from Don Gaffney to the well-named Willie Wilder. Alabama marched up and down the field,. Rushing for 223 yards and passing for 202 more but, thanks to the Florida defense led by linebacker Sammy Greene, they could only pinch in one touchdown. On a one yard run by Willie Shelby and field goal. The Gators had gotten two second quarter field goals by David Posey. Shelby had 159 yards rushing to no avail.
At Ann Arbor, Michigan MICHIGAN 13 UCLA 0
The Wolverine defense shut down the UCLA wishbone, holding them to 182 yards rushing and 210 overall and keeping them away from the Michigan goal line. The home team struggled as well but Rick Leach found Mark Schmerge for a 19 yard TD pass on their opening drive. Second and fourth quarter field goals by Bob Wood weren’t even necessary.
At Lincoln, Nebraska NEBRASKA 20 GEORGIA 7
The passing of Bulldog quarterback Ray Goff led two long drives- one with the opening kick-off that led to missed field goal and one late in the third quarter that resulted in a three yard touchdown run by Glynn Harrison. In between the Cornhuskers dominated with Tony Davis and Mote Anthony scoring on short runs and Mike Coyle kicking a field goal to take a 17-0 lead. They closed out the scoring with another Coyle field goal in the fourth period. The Huskers out ran the Dogs, 238-56.
At Tempe, Arizona ARIZONA STATE 17 ARKANSAS 14
The Razorbacks appeared in control of the game, leading 14-6 after three quarters and driving in the fourth. But a hard hit by All-Americans Mike Haynes and Larry Gordon separated Jerry Eckwood from the ball. The Sun devils then went on a 79 yard drive to tie the game on a 10 yard pass from Fred Mortensen to John Jefferson and two point conversion from the same two players. They got the ball back but threw an interception. A clipping penalty put the ball on the Arkansas 3. The Hogs had to punt and Mike Haynes was hit late after the return. This set up a 29 yard field goal by the coach’s son, Danny Kush to win it. Eckwood had run for two scores for the Razorbacks and Freddy Williams one for the Sun Devils.
At College Station, Texas COLORADO 7 TEXAS A&M 3
The Buffaloes stampeded the Aggie’s wishbone, holding A&M to only 115 while rushing for 238 themselves. All the scoring came in the third period, when Kelly Davidson kicked A&M’s 35 yard field goal and then Colorado took the subsequent kick-off and drove down the field for their score, a 25 yard run by Billy Waddy, who ran for 161 yards on the day.
At State College, Pennsylvania TEXAS 26 PENN STATE 24
The Longhorns escaped State College with a wild win. Neither team had consecutive scores as the lead went from 7-0 to 7-7 to 10-7 to 10-14 to 17-14 to 17-21 to 20-21 to 20-24 to the 26-24 final. Earl Campbell ran for 183 yards on 24 carries, scoring on runs of 1 and 16 yards. But it was Raymond Clayburn who scored the winner from two yards out. The extra point was blocked but Penn State couldn’t get into field goal range before the clock ran out. Jimmy Cefalo scored twice for the Nittany Lions.
SECOND ROUND (12/13/75)
At Columbus, Ohio OHIO STATE 7 TEXAS 3
In a game played during a snowstorm the Buckeyes, perhaps a little more used to the conditions, slogged out a 7-3 win. But they had to have a little luck to do it. Texas scored on a 28 yard field goal by 28 yard field goal by Russell Erxleben in the second quarter. That stood up until there was 2:38 left in the game when Erxleben stood on his won 7 yard line to receive a snap for the punter. The ball slipped through his frozen fingers. He picked it up and started to run but was tackled at the 11. Cornelius Greene then lofted a pass to big tight end Jimmy Moore, (6-6 265) for the winner. State had out-rushed the Longhorns 173-108 and out-passed them 158-65 but without that final break, they were going down to defeat.
At Norman, Oklahoma OKLAHOMA 20 COLORADO 0
This was rematch of a regular season game the Sooners had won 21-20. They had fewer problems this time roaring to a 20-0 halftime lead and then coasting through a scoreless second half. Joe Washington was held to 82 yards in 23 carries but scored on a 76 pass from Steve Davis that put the game out of reach. Horace Ivory had the other score on a 1 yard run.
At Tempe, Arizona ARIZONA STATE 28 FLORIDA 27
The Gators found the desert uninviting and dropped a wild one to the home team. Florida quarterback Don Gaffney got the only score of the first period on a 4 yard run. He got hurt and had to be replaced by Jimmy Fisher. Arizona State scored in the third on a one yard run by Freddie Williams but the kick was blocked. Fisher hit Wes Chandler for a 21 yard score to make it 14-6. State responded with an 11 yard pass from Dennis Sproul to John Jefferson. Sproul then threw to tight end Bruce Hardy to tie it. An 18 yard run by Williams gave them the lead late in the third. Fisher threw a 22 yarder to Derrick Gaffney to tie it early in the fourth. Sproul threw 19 yards to Larry Mucker to make it 28-21 and set up a wild ending. Fisher moved the Gators down the field and then, with 1:16 to go, threw a pass that was tipped by All American linebacker Larry Gordon and went through the arms of three defensive backs before Chandler made a finger-tip catch in the end zone. Fisher was sacked on the two point conversion attempt but the Gators got the ball back on and onside kick. They moved down the field and set up a 34 yard field goal attempt to win it. But normally reliable David Posey just missed the uprights to the left and the Sun Devils moved on. The Gators just went home.
At Ann Arbor, Michigan NEBRASKA 13 MICHIGAN 6
It snowed in Ann Arbor as well. The difference was a 14 yard third quarter run by Tony Davis for the only touchdown. The rest was all field goals. Mike Coyle hit a 25 yarder to open the scoring and a 28 yarder to end it. Bob Wood scored from 42 and 37 yards for the Wolverines. Nebraska outgained the home team 316-214.
SEMI-FINALS (12/20/75)
At Columbus, Ohio NEBRASKA 14 OHIO STATE 13
The Buckeyes dominated most of the game, outgaining the Conrhuskers, 367-239, but they had 5 turnovers to Nebraska’s 4 in a very sloppy game played on a sloppy field. Monte Anthony scored form the 2 in the first period. The home team got the next three scores, a 36 yard pass from Corny Green to Lennie Mills. And field goals of 19 and 30 yards by Tom Skladany. But a long fourth quarter drive ended with a 17 yard run by Tony Davis and Mike Coyle kicked the winner.
At Norman, Oklahoma OKLAHOMA 34 ARIZONA STATE 17
The Sun Devils, seeing a chance at the national limelight, came out like gangbusters, taking a 17-0 first quarter lead on a 58 yard run by Freddie Williams, a 7 yard run by fullback Mark Lovett and a field goal by the coach’s son, Danny Kush. But Barry Switzer didn’t depart form his game plan. The Sooners completed only one pass all day but kept feeding the ball to Joe Washington, back-up Elvis Peacock. And fullbacks Jim Littrell and Horace Ivory. They ran for 330 yards while the Selmon brothers shut down the Sun Devils and Oklahoma won the last three quarters, 34-0. Washington had a 79 yard scoring run and Zac Henderson a 70 yard interception return.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME at the SUGAR BOWL (12/31/75)
NEBRASKA 14 OKLAHOMA 6
Nebraska had steamed into their regular season finale vs. Oklahoma at 10-0, having outscored their opposition 343-85. They were ranked #2 behind Ohio State. Oklahoma was coming off a 3-23 loss to Kansas and a shaky 28-27 win over Missouri. They were 9-1 and had outscored their opposition, 295-138, a less impressive margin, (and a comedown from 1974 when their team, which was on probation, had gone 11-0 and outscored their opposition, 473-92). The Huskers went into the fourth quarter at Norman with a 10-7, only to see it all slip away. A fumble on a sack of Vince Ferragamo by LeeRoy Selmon, a botched punt return, an interception and a fumble on a kick-off all led to Sooner scores. When the dust settled, Oklahoma had won and Nebraska’s perfect season was in ruins.
But the Huskers won their back to the title game, only to find the Sooners waiting for them again. They took full advantage of it. The Blackshirts held Oklahoma’s wishbone to 169 yards and the Sooners could complete only 2 passes for 33 yards. Nebraska ran for 282 yards and scored on a 39 yard run by Monte Anthony in the second quarter and a 9 yard run by Tony Davis in the fourth which game them a 14-0 lead. Oklahoma finally scored on a 2 yard run by Joe Washington but the Huskers held onto to the ball and ran out the clock to win the national championship.
The Nebraska band celebrated the win by playing “Marche Grandioso” over and over into the night:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lByTtesHxzA&feature=related
