Football Daily on 31st of December

On December 31, 1973, college football fans were treated to a New Years' Eve celebration. Played at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, two undefeated heavyweights met in the Sugar Bowl as the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide faced the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Back then, the National Champions were declared in early December by the poll makers. Alabama sported an 11–0 record and received the crown as determined by the final UPI coaches poll. The Irish were also unbeaten, and after beating a mighty Miami eleven, the Golden Domers accepted their first-ever invitation to the Sugar Bowl.  This game was exciting and closely contested throughout. The Irish struck first blood, scoring on a Wayne Bullock 6-yard touchdown run, but missed the PAT kick. In quarter number two, the Tide grabbed the lead on a Randy Billingsley 6-yard scamper to the end zone. Notre Dame answered the bell on the following kickoff as speedster Al Hunter returned 93 yards for a touchdown. Just before the half 'Bama eroded the Irish advantage to make the score 14–10 late in the first half provided by a 39-yard Bill Davis field goal. Alabama retook the lead in the third quarter on a 5-yard Wilbur Jackson touchdown run. Punch for punch, Notre Dame got back on top with a 12-yard Eric Penick dash for six to make the score 21–17 entering the final period. Quarterback Richard Todd hauled in a 25-yard touchdown reception from Mike Stock from a rare Tide gadget play. However, Davis missed the extra point as Alabama assumed a 23–21 edge. Notre Dame drove and scored on a 19-yard field goal by placekicker Bob Thomas to go up 24–23 with 4:26 left in the contest. After ND's defense stepped up to make a stop, Alabama pinned Notre Dame back deep in Irish territory with the ensuing punt. As the punt play transpired, though, the Alabama punter was banged around a bit, and Notre Dame was flagged with a 15-yard roughing of the kicker. Not being an automatic first down in college football back then and 20 yards from the line to gain, the acceptance of the penalty yardage would have given Alabama a fourth and 5 on their own 45-yard line, only down one with mere minutes remaining. Coach Bear Bryant declined the foul and sent his defense out in hopes of causing a safety as Notre Dame set up shop on their 1-yard line. The Tide defense stuffed Notre Dame on two plays and forced 3rd and ten on their 1-yard line. However, on third and long, Coach Ara Parseghian called for Irish QB Tom Clements to throw long to seldom-used TE Robin Weber to give Notre Dame a first down and allowed them to run out the clock. ESPN stated that this is the 10th greatest game in college football's first 150 years.

We love Rose Bowl history as you can tell. This episode will wrap up the chats about the games and in particular about the 103rd through the 108th Rose Bowl games.

On this episode of the Football History Headlines, we discuss the Raiders first AFL Championship win and the legendary 1967 Ice Bowl Game as well as many more HOF Legendary stories.