1974 NCAA Tournament
The 1974 Tournament was based on the final UPI rankings. Defending champ Alabama came in as the #2 seed but they were bounced in the first round by #15 Texas A&M. Last year's runner up Oklahoma did not qualify. The only other upset in the first round was a minor one as #9 NC State beat #8 Nebraska 22-14. Penn State shutout their first two opponents (Miami,OH and Texas AM) before falling to Ohio State 21-7 in the Semi-Finals. Michigan had a good run, beating Florida 28-7 and Notre Dame 21-0 before losing to USC in the other Semi-Final.
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National Semi Final #1 (Michigan Wolverines @ USC Trojans)
December 21, 1974 @ L.A. Coliseum, Temp 59, Partly Cloudy, Wind 6 mph - slight crosswind
This one began as an epic defensive struggle. USC received the opening kick and after about eight minutes of possession time, had to punt. Michigan followed with a three and out. USC then drove to the Wolverine 14yd line but did not attempt a field goal. They elected to go for it, but Pat Haden's pass for Junior Lee was incomplete.
From there on out the teams exchanged punts for most of the rest of the first half. Finally late in the first half Michigan put together their best drive. They found themselves first and goal at the USC 10yd line and 49 seconds to play. Dennis Franklin threw a pass away to stop the clock. Gordon Bell ran for 5yds, getting out of bounds. Franklin then threw incomplete for Jim Smith. Mike Lantry came on for a 22yd field goal attempt, but he missed it. At the half we are scoreless 0-0. Michigan got the ball first to start the 2nd half and again moved into USC territory. This time they stalled at the USC 32yd line. Again Lantry came on for a field goal try and again he missed it. The 2nd miss seemed to give USC's offense a little boost and they proceeded to drive to the Michigan 10yd line. Chris Limahelu kicked a 27yd field goal giving the Trojans a 3-0 lead. You started to get the feeling that a turnover somewhere was going to be big, and sure enough one came. On Michigan's first play on the ensuing drive, Scott Corbin fumbled at the Wolverine's 22yd line. Kevin Bruce recovered for USC, setting them up with great field position. Goinig for the quick strike, Haden threw to JK McKay on the first play and connected for a 22yd TD pass. USC now was up 10-0. The teams traded punts, and then the turnover bug bit Michigan again. Franklin tried for a quick toss to Smith, but Danny Reece stepped in front and picked off the throw. This gave USC the ball at the Michigan 37yd line as the game headed to the 4th quarter. The Trojans again were able to capitalize on the turnover as Haden ended up capping the short drive with a 2yd TD run. USC now leads 17-0 with 13:01 to play. Michigan did not fold up the tents though. They go down the field and find paydirt on a 3yd Gordon Bell TD run. It's 17-7 with still 8:06 to play. USC got the ball and reached the Wolverine's 32yd line before stalling. Limahelu came on for a long 49yd field goal try and his kick came up way short, keeping hopes alive for Michigan. Those hopes lasted for about three more plays. On the fourth play, Franklin threw another interception. Marvin Cobb does the honors at the Michgan 47yd line. USC runs three more plays before punting. Michigan gets the ball back with 2:06 remaining in the game. They are able to get into USC territory before failing on a 4th and 9 conversion attempt. USC takes over and Haden takes a knee to run out the clock. The Trojans are headed to their 2nd Championship game, dispatching Michigan 17-7. MVP: Pat Haden, QB (USC): 43yds, 1TD, 119 Rating, 13 rush yds and 1TD. Gordon Bell ran for 65yds and a TD for Michigan...Anthony Davis had 88yds rushing for USC...QB Dennis Franklin was 4/16 for 42yds and 2INT for Michigan...QB Pat Haden was 5/10 for 43yds and 2 TDs (one rushing) for USC. Harry Banks (11) and Dave Brown (10) led Michigan in tackles...Richard Wood had 14 tackles (1 stuff) and Marvin Cobb had 8 tackles and an interception for USC. |
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National Semi Final #2 (Penn State Nittany Lions @ Ohio State Buckeyes )
December 21, 1974 @ Ohio Stadium, Temp 26, Cloudy, Wind 12 mph - slight crosswind
The game did not start out well for the Buckeyes. They received the opening kick and on the first play from scrimmage QB Cornelius Greene fumbled and John Quinn pounced on the ball for Penn State at the Buckeye's 37yd line. The Nittany Lions couldn't take advantage and actually botched their punt when the snap sailed over the head of Brian Masella. Steve Luke ended up recovering for Ohio State at the Penn State 38yd line.
The Buckeyes converted that recovery into a 7-0 lead when Pete Johnson rumbled in from 14yds out. For the rest of the opening quarter the defenses carried play. Late in the first, Penn State did get to the Buckeye 33yd line but a fumble by Woody Petchel recovered by Ken Kuhn ended that drive. Into the 2nd quarter and the defenses continued to rule the day. Near the end of the half the Buckeyes found themselves in great position with a first and ten from the PSU 17yd line, but Archie Griffin fumbled and Greg Murphy recovered to save the day for the Nittany Lions. At the half, it's still just 7-0 Buckeyes. Midway through the 3rd Quarter OSU added to their lead courtesy of a 6yd TD run by Archie Griffin. Penn State responded by driving to the OSU 11yd line. Their drive stalled and Chris Bahr came on for a 28yd field goal try and he missed it. Heading to the 4th quarter OSU remains in front 14-0. A few minutes into the 4th Griffin scored his 2nd TD of the day with another 6yd TD run. 21-0 Buckeyes and it's beginning to look like the end for Penn State. After a PSU punt, the Buckeyes got the ball back and Greene fumbled again. Dave Hornfeck recovered for Penn State at midfield. This time the Nittany Lions were able to cash in as Tom Shuman threw an 11yd TD pass to Jerry Jeram making the score 21-7 with 6:41 to play. However, Penn State never saw the ball again. The Buckeyes ran 15 plays to finish out the game killing the rest of the clock. Ohio State wins 21-7 and heads to the Championship game for the first time. MVP: Archie Griffin HB\KR (Ohio St) 112yds, 2 TD PSU was only 3/14 on 3rd down, OSU was 10/18...Tom Donches led PSU with 83yd rushing...Griffin had 112yds and 2 TD, Greene had 76yd rushing but was just 2/10 passing...Shuman was only 3/18 for 56yd passing, with a TD...Bruce Elia had 14 Tackles, 3 Stuffs and 1 Pass Defended for OSU...Each team fumbled 3 times. |
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National Championship (USC Trojans v Ohio State Buckeyes)
December 28, 1974 @ The Orange Bowl, Temp 77, Partly Cloudy, Wind 8 mph - head/tailwind
The stage was set for an exciting Championship game and the two teams did not disappoint.
Ohio State took the opening kick and marched right down the field and finding the end zone on a 5yd run by Archie Griffin. The drive killed nearly half the first quarter, giving OSU a 7-0 lead. USC responded with a touchdown of their own. Anthony Davis runs in from 8yds out and it's 7-7. The Buckeyes go three and out and USC takes over at their own 20yd line. As they reach midfield the first quarter comes to an end. Continuing the drive now in the 2nd quarter, the Trojans find themselves with first and ten from the OSU 11yd line and look poised to take the lead. However, Trojan QB Pat Haden made a mistake trying to squeeze a pass into the end zone intended for Junior Lee. Steve Luke stepped in for the Buckeyes and picked off the pass ending the threat. The Buckeyes again set off on a long time consuming drive. This time they chew up almost eight minutes before settling for a 38yd field goal by Tom Klaban, putting OSU back on top 10-7. Just as they did in the first quarter, USC responds to the Buckeye score with a drive of their own. They reach the OSU 21yd line with just over a minute to play in the half and it looks like they will at least have a chance to tie the game. However, Haden would turn the ball over again. This time he coughed the ball up on a run. Bruce Elia recovered for OSU on their own 16yd line. The Buckeyes take a 10-7 lead into the locker room at the half. The Trojans get the ball to start the 2nd half, irritated over the events of the first half. They feel they should probably be winning the game at this point, had Haden not turned the ball over twice. USC takes the ball and in 7 minutes they drive 68yds to take the lead. Davis scores his 2nd TD of the game, this time on a 5yd run and the Trojans lead 14-10. It looked like USC would get a chance to add to that lead right away as Cornelius Green was picked off by Marvin Cobb at the OSU 34yd line on the ensuing drive. But it wasn't to be as Haden gave the ball right back on the next play, being intercepted by Tim Fox at the OSU 13yd line. The teams exchanged punts and the game heads to the 4th quarter with OSU in possession at the USC 42yd line. Griffin and Pete Johnson carried a couple of times and then Green provided a couple of big plays in the passing game. First he found Brian Baschnagel for 15yds down to the Trojan 20yd line. Then on the next play, he hit Mike Bartoszek for a touchdown giving Ohio State a 17-14 lead and 13:23 to play in the game. The Trojans went three and out and OSU took over after a punt at their own 40yd line. The Buckeyes kept the ball on the ground with Griffin, Champ Henson and Greene eating up chunks of yardage. They found themselves with a first and goal from the 10ydline. Henson carried for three yards and then on second down took an inside hand off and found the end zone for a 7yd TD run. The Buckeyes now had a 24-14 lead with 6:44 to play. The closest USC would get to scoring the rest of the way was a missed 49yd field goal by Chris Limahelu with only 13 seconds left in the game. Greene then took a knee to give Ohio State the 24-14 win and the 1974 Tournament Championship! MVP: Bruce Elia LB (Ohio St) 15Tkl, 4 Sack, 2 Forced Fumbles, 1 Recovery The OSU defense really clamped down on the Trojans in the 2nd half after USC had taken the lead. The next four USC drives were for a total of 1, 6, 3, and 3 plays resulting in an turnover and three punts....USC's Anthony Davis ran for 116yds and 2TDs...Ricky Bell added 57 rush yards for the Trojans...Haden was 10/20, 94yds, sacked 4 times and threw 2 picks...OSU's Archie Griffin ran for 81yds and a TD...Greene rushed for 49yds and was 3/5 for 45yds and TD passing. Two of his three completions came on back to back throws putting OSU back on top...Richard Wood had 12 tackles for USC...Arnie Jones and Bruce Ruhl each added 10 tackles for OSU to go along with Elia's MVP performance. |
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