1973 NCAA Tournament
The 1973 Tournament was based on the final UPI rankings. This tournament saw the change to a "bracket" format instead of re-seeding after each round. Auburn, who were champs in '70 and semi finalists in '71 and '72 did not qualify for the field this year. Defenses ruled in the opening round as Notre Dame, Michigan and Oklahoma all shutout their opponents. UCLA beat Texas in a minor first round upset. Texas Tech shocked #5 Penn State and Arizona State knocked out the defending champs, USC in the first round. The Elite 8 featured a grudge match between rivals Michigan and Ohio State, with the Wolverines pitching another shutout, coming out on top 13-0.
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National Semi Final #1 (Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ Alabama Crimson Tide)
December 22, 1973 @ Denny Stadium, Temp 51, Clear, Wind 4mph - slight crosswind
Alabama is appearing in their 3rd straight semi final. Neither team could get much offense going early on. It wasn't until late in the first quarter that Alabama was finally able to get on the board. They capitalized on a Tom Clements fumble that was recovered by John Croyle at the Irish 18yd line. 'Bama was able to get to the 6yd line, but had to settle for a 23yd Bill Davis field goal, giving them a 3-0 lead. On the very next Notre Dame play after the ensuing kick, Clements gave the ball back again to the Tide when his pass for Pete Demmerle was intercepted by Ricky Davis at the Irish 35yd line. He returned it 18yds down to the 17yd line. But again, the Irish defense did all they could and the forced the Tide to settle for another Davis field goal. 6-0 Alabama as we head to the 2nd quarter.
Notre Dame went three and out, and their bad fortune continued on the punt. Kevin Doherty boomed a 50yd punt, driving Robin Cary back to his own 9yd line. But you know the old saying about "out kicking your coverage..." Cary gathered himself and went 91yds for a touchdown. It was 13-0 early in the 2nd quarter. The Irish were finally able to put some points on the board a few minutes later. Alabama punted to Bob Zanot and he sprung a nice return of 36yds down to the 'Bama 32yd line. Adding to the return was a 15yd personal foul called on the Tide. That gave the Irish the ball 1st and ten at the 'Bama 17yd line. On the first play, Clements hit Demmerle for a 17yd scoring strike. The Irish were back in the game with the score now 13-7. Alabama got the ball back and drove to the Irish 18yd line, but this time Davis missed his field goal try and the score remained unchanged. Well...at least temporarily. Three plays later, Clements turned the ball over again! He fumbled on a run and Mike Dubose recovered for Alabama at the Notre Dame 47yd line. That led to 48yd Davis field goal and it was now 16-7. Alabama has scored nine points off of three turnovers by Clements. The score should be much worse but Notre Dame's defense has been outstanding, keeping them in the game. Alabama received the 2nd half kick and this time the offense did not stall out. They eventually find pay dirt on a 8yd TD run by Gary Rutledge and now lead 23-7. That drive broke the spirit of the Irish as after that neither team did much of anything. Notre Dame would get a touchdown late in the game after a long 17 play drive in the 4th quarter. Eric Penick dove in from a yard out, they went for two points but didn't make it. Final score, 23-13 Alabama wins and heads to the Championship game for the 2nd time in three years. MPV: Robin Cary PR\DB, ALA - 2 Tkl, Returns: 99yds TD |
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National Semi Final #2 (Michigan Wolverines @ Oklahoma Sooners)
December 22, 1973 @ Okla Memorial Stadium, Temp 46, Clear, Wind 8 mph - crosswind
The Wolverines come into this semi final game having outscored their opponents 34-0. Oklahoma is looking to get back to the Championship game for the 2nd year in a row.
Michigan got the ball first and went three and out. Oklahoma did the same. Michigan then got on the board first on the following drive. Mike Lantry connected on a long 54yd field goal to put Michigan up 3-0. Oklahoma got the ball back and answered by driving down to the Michigan 7yd line, but the first quarter ended, and Michigan's shut out streak was now at 9 quarters. After three runs netted no gain, Tony DiRienzo kicked a 24yd field goal to tie the game and put an end to Michigan's streak. Both defenses dominated the rest of the first half as neither team really came close to scoring. Oklahoma took a shot at a 62yd field goal at the end of the half, but DiRienzo was way short and the score remained tied at 3-3. The defenses remained in control in the 3rd quarter, but a mistake by Michigan set up Oklahoma to take the lead. The Wolverines were pinned back deep in their own territory at their own 4yd line when Ed Shuttlesworth was carrying the ball on a dive play and gained good yardage for a first down, but was stripped of the ball while being tackled and Dave Smith recovered for the Sooners on the Michigan 11yd line. The tough Michigan defense did their job, keeping the Sooners out of the end zone, but DiRienzo kicked a 19yd field goal to put the Sooners up 6-3. That score carried over into the 4th quarter. The Sooners had the ball at the start of the 4th quarter. After 11 quarters of outstanding defense, the Wolverines finally started to wear down. Oklahoma was able to put together a long 12 play drive, taking six minutes off the clock. Steve Davis capped the drive with a 4yd TD run putting the Sooners up 13-3 and 9:35 left in the game. The Wolverines never could muster any more points. The Sooners win 13-3 and head back to the Championship game. MVP: Tinker Owens End\KR, OKL 4 catches 53yds |
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National Championship (Alabama Crimson Tide v Oklahoma Sooners)
December 29, 1973 @ War Memorial Stadium, Temp 24, Partly Cloudy, Wind 11 mph - slight corsswind
An excellent championship match up was on tap. Alabama, the champs of 1971 look to become the first two time champion. Oklahoma, last years runner up, gets another shot the crown.
As was the case with most of the top teams in this tournament, defense would rule the day. During one stretch late in the first half and into the second half, Alabama would turn the ball over three straight times. Oklahoma received the opening kick and moved the ball fairly easily. They had themselves a first and ten from the 'Bama 14yd line. Three running plays gained five total yards. On 4th and five the Sooners went for it instead of trying a short field goal attempt. Steve Davis threw for Tinker Owens, but it was incomplete and the Sooners come away empty. Alabama took over at their own 9yd line and drove the length of the field, finding the end zone on a Paul Spivey 7yd run. The Tide go up 7-0. Oklahoma turned the ball over on their next drive. Waymon Clark fumbled on their own 42yd line. Mike DuBose recovered for the Tide putting them in great shape to add to their lead. They managed to reach the Sooners 12yd line early into the 2nd quarter before stalling. Bill Davis came on for a 29yd field goal and he hooked it left, keeping the score at 7-0. The teams exchanged punts and then the Sooners tied the game on a drive that ended with a 10yd TD run by Joe Washington. A couple more punts were exchanged and then Alabama made what could have been a very costly mistake near the end of the 1st half. With only 37 seconds reamaining, from their own 33yd line, Richard Todd's pass for John Sharples was picked off by Randy Hughes. Randy Berg ran for 18yds and Clark gained three more. With 12 seconds left Rick Fulcher attempted a 38yd field goal for the lead, but he missed it. At the half, it's still 7-7. Alabama received to start the 2nd half and put together an excellent drive that moved down to the Sooners 18yd line. On 1st and ten, Gary Rutledge kept the ball on a sprint out and was chased down from behind and stripped of the ball. Lucious Selmon recovered for the Sooners to stop the 'Bama threat. Oklahoma went three and out which ended up leading to a turning point in the game. Jim Littrell punted 37yds to the 'Bama 34. Returner Robin Cary broke past the first wave of tacklers and returned the ball 38yds to the Sooners 28yd line. On the next play Wilbur Jackson rumbled 24yds down to the 4yd line. Calvin Culliver gained two more yards and then Ellis Beck capped the short drive with a 2yd TD run. Alabama goes up 14-7. That would be the score into the 4th quarte With 6:11 to play in the game, Oklahoma began a drive from their own 20yd line. On 3rd and three Joe Washington broke a big 41yd run moving the ball to the 'Bama 32yd line. Billy Brooks followed that up with a 14yd run putting the ball at the Tide 18yd line. Davis ran for five. Tim Welch for one and Clark for one more. Now the Sooners were faced with a 4th and three and just 3:58 remaining in the game. The field goal really does no good, so they went for it. Washington got the call on a pitch play but the Alabama defense strung the play out. Before Joe could turn the corner he was dragged down for no gain. 'Bama takes over at their own 11yd line and 3:50 to play. On the first play Oklahoma was flagged for a personal foul. Alabama then picked up four consecutive first downs, making the Sooners burn all their time outs in the process. Rutledge was finally able to end the game with a couple of kneel downs. The Alabam Crimson Tide are the 1973 Tournament Champions. Their second title in three seasons. The Oklahoma Sooners now lose back to back Championship games. Alabama only had one penalty, Oklahoma had six..Wilbur Jackson had 56yds on 9 carries...Calvin Culliver had 45yds on 8 carries...Steve Davis had 85yds on 17 carries...Both teams Quarterbacks were a combined 7 for 14, for 104yds and 1 INT...Wayne Hall had 14 tackles...Rod Shoate had 17 tackles... MVP: Joe Washington HB\KR\PR, OKL Rushing: 109yds, 1TD, Returns: 31yds |
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