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Featured Moment: November 8, 1980
With seconds remaining, Georgia wide receiver Lindsay Scott eluded four
defenders and ran 74 yards after the catch to give the Bulldogs a
momentous
victory over Florida on Nov. 8, 1980. UGa QB Buck Belue celebrated
afterwards.
This report researched
and written by College Football Hall of Fame Curator and Historian Kent
Stephens
Published by Bonesville.net on
Nov. 3, 2012
FEATURED MOMENT
November 8, 1980:
The 1980 Georgia-Florida matchup created many memorable moments in
Jacksonville. Playing on national television, the game showcased the
talents of Georgia freshman running back Herschel Walker, and the future
Hall of Famer would rush for 238 yards and score on a 72-yard run. But
late in the game the 20th-ranked Gators held a 21-20 lead over the No. 2
Bulldogs when they punted to the Georgia eight yard line with 95 seconds
to play. On third down, Bulldog quarterback Buck Belue scrambled to find
Lindsay Scott open at the 26. From there Scott eluded four Gators and
raced the remaining 74 yards down the far sideline on the 93-yard pass
play. While the play itself is memorable, so is the call of Georgia
radio voice Larry Munson, who would go on to win the 2003 Chris Schenkel
Award. The victory propelled the Bulldogs to an undefeated season, an
SEC Championship, and the 1980 national title.
OTHER NOTABLE DATES
November 5, 1960:
In Minneapolis, No. 3 Minnesota knocked off top-ranked Iowa 27-10 to
take over the top spot in the polls. The play of Gopher Hall of Famers
Tom Brown and Sandy Stephens proved to be the difference. Brown made a
critical third down five-yard tackle for loss at the Minnesota six yard
line and Stephens’ quarterback sneak ended an 81-yard drive that put
Minnesota ahead for good. The Gophers would finish the regular season
8-1 as AP National Champions, losing on New Year’s Day to Washington in
the Rose Bowl. Iowa would also finish 8-1, ranked No. 3.
November 6, 1937:
In Houston, No. 16 Arkansas held a safe 20-12 lead over Rice with three
minutes to play, when Ernie Lain, passing from his own 40, connected
with Ollie Cordell, pulling the Owls within one point. With 35 seconds
to play, Rice was on the Razorback 35 when Lain again faded to pass,
connecting with Cordell to complete a 26-20 come from behind victory.
Rice went on to win the Southwest Conference and defeat Colorado and
future NFF Gold Medal winner Byron ”Whizzer” White in the Cotton Bowl to
finish the season 6-3-2 and No. 18 in the country. The Hogs finished
6-2-2 and ranked No. 14.
November 7, 1925:
Future College Football Hall of Famers Benny Friedman and Bennie
Oosterbaan had emerged at Michigan as perhaps college football’s first
great passing combination, but on this day a stout Northwestern defense
and a driving rainstorm at Chicago’s Soldier Field halted a Wolverine
offense that scored 56 points the previous week. When Friedman fumbled
the slick ball off a punt, the Wildcats recovered and kicked a short
field goal. Late in the contest, Northwestern took an intentional safety
rather than risk a blocked punt in the 3-2 win. The three points scored
by Northwestern were the only points the Wolverines gave up the entire
season.
November 9, 1996:
At the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, the Memphis Tigers were outgained by
future Campbell Trophy winner Peyton Manning and the Tennessee
Volunteers by 228 yards, but the Tigers made enough plays to stun the
No. 6 Vols 21-17. Tiger DB Keith Spann returned an interception 77 yards
to set up the first Memphis touchdown. Trailing in the third quarter,
Kevin Cobb returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown. Even though the
replay showed his elbow touching the ground, the Tigers had now pulled
even. QB Qadry Anderson led Memphis on a 70-yard drive, sealing the
upset with a three-yard TD pass to Chris Powers with 34 seconds
remaining, giving the Tigers their first-ever win over Tennessee. The
victory broke Memphis’s four-game losing streak and the Tigers went on
to finish 4-7. The Volunteers went on to win the Citrus Bowl and finish
10-2 with a No. 9 national ranking.
November 10, 1928:
During Knute Rockne’s brilliant career, only the 1928 season could be
considered mediocre. In a season in which the Irish would finish 5-4,
this day marked the annual clash with Army at Yankee Stadium. The
undefeated Cadets featured Hall of Fame halfback Chris Cagle. At the
half, the underdog Irish and Cadets were tied 0-0. In the locker room
Rockne gave his famed “Win One for the Gipper” speech, relaying George
Gipp’s death bed wish. History will never know whether Gipp made such a
plea or Rockne fabricated the story to fire up his team. With most of
the team in tears, Notre Dame took the field in the second half and
overcame a 6-0 deficit to win 12-6. Army was at the ND one-yard line as
time ran out. The Irish lost their next two games by a combined 33
points. Army finished 8-2.
November 11, 1989:
Despite North Carolina State quarterback Shane Montgomery throwing an
NCAA-record 73 passes, the 22nd-ranked Wolfpack was upset 35-26 by Duke,
coached by Steve Spurrier, in Durham, NC. Duke QB Dave Brown threw for
374 yards and Randy Cuthbert ran for 158 yards. Blue Devil wide receiver
Clarkston Hines, a 2010 Hall of Fame inductee, caught two TD passes to
set an all-time career touchdown receptions mark with 35, as Duke held
off N.C. State. Duke went go on to share the ACC title with Virginia,
while the Wolfpack finished 7-5.
11/03/2012 02:11 AM |
