1976 NCAA Tournament
The 1976 Tournament was for the first time based on the final AP rankings. Last years Champion, Arizona State did not qualify. Runner up Oklahoma was beaten in the Elite Eight. The first round produced only two minor upsets. #11 Alabama beat #6 Ohio State 14-13 and #10 Georgia defeated #7 Texas A&M 26-20 in overtime. In the Elite Eight, 8th seeded Maryland bounced the top seeded Pitt Panthers 13-3. Other than that the favorites held, setting up an exciting final four in which two of the three games went into overtime.
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National Semi Final #1 (Houston Cougars @ Maryland Terrapins)
December 18, 1976 @ Byrd Stadium, Temp 39, Clear, Wind 4 mph - slight crosswind
There was a slight scheduling mishap so due to a conflict at Houston the game was played at Maryland. (The scheduling mishap was me not paying attention.)
It was a tale of two halves as Houston dominated the first half, building a 21-0 lead. But it Maryland turned the tables in the second half and came roaring back for a 28-21 stunning win. The Cougars scored touchdowns on three of their first four possessions while Maryland turned it over on two of their first four possessions. Houston's first drive ended with Maryland's Ken Roy intercepting Danny Davis in Maryland territory. The Terps drove right down into Houston territory looking to cash in on the turnover, but Maryland's Mark Manges threw an interception at the Cougar 24 yard line.Paul Humphreys picked off the pass and found no one in his way as he raced 76 yards for a touchdown. But wait, there were penalty flags down. Houston is called for holding on the return so they will get the ball at their own 47 yard line. It took them just five plays to score a touchdown that counted as Davis hooked up with Donald Bass for a 21 yard scoring strike. After a Maryland punt, Houston scored again on an 11 yard TD run by Dyral Thomas. On Maryland's very next play from scrimmage, Tim Maddox fumbled and Reid Hansen recovered for Houston at the Maryland 22 yard line. The first quarter comes to a close with the Cougars driving, up 14-0. Just three plays into the 2nd quarter Davis scrambled into the end zone for a 3yd TD and it was 21-0 Houston. After that both teams really didn't do much and the game remained 21-0 at the half. Little did Houston know, but the game was about to change drastically. Houston received the 2nd half kick and picked up one first down before punting. Maryland took over at their 31 yard line and went down the field for their first points of the game. Tim Wilson scored on a 16 yard run to make it 21-7. The Cougars went three and out and again Maryland got the ball and went right down the field. This time they found pay dirt via the air as Manges connected with Chuck White for an 8 yard TD pass. It's now 21-14 with just 57 seconds left in the 3rd quarter. On the ensuing kick off Emmett King coughed up the ball at the Cougar 23 yard line. The Terps recover and start the 4th quarter in prime position to tie the game. And tie the game they did. Manges scores on a 5yd run and Maryland has come from 21 points down to tie the game up at 21-21. The teams exchanged punts until Maryland began a possesion with 6:07 to play in the game from their own 21 yard line. They work their way down the field, helped along the way by a flagrant face mask penalty, and with 2:15 to play in the game Wilson scores his 2nd TD of the game on a 7 yard run. 28-21 Terps. Houston returned the kick to their 30 yard line and put their two minute offense into gear. Down the field the Cougars came. Davis hit Eddie Foster for 17 yards then later, made a big 24 yard pass to Robert Lavergne for 24 yards helping the Cougars to convert a first and 25 after an offensive pass interference call. The Cougars set themselves up with first and ten from the Terps 14 yard line and under a minute to play. A four yard run then an incomplete pass left them with 3rd and six from the 10. Davis was forced to scramble on third down and lost a yard. On 4th and 7 Davis threw under the coverage to Foster. Foster was able to gain five yards but came up two yards short. Maryland takes over and takes a knee to end the game, sending them to their first Championship game appearance, 28-21. MVP: Tim Wilson, FB (Maryland): 59yds, 2TD, Winning 7yd TD run 2:07 4th. Weird stat of the game, all three of Houston's scoring drives were five plays long. The Cougars didn't have a drive of more than six plays until the last one of the game (11)...Maryland ran 84 plays to Houston's 60 and had over a 15 minute edge in time of possession...Maryland was 10 of 16 on 3rd down...Maryland had 10 penalties for 101 yards...Houston's Paul Humphreys had 25 tackles, INT, Sack, and Stuff... |
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National Semi Final #2 (Michigan Wolverines @ USC Trojans )
December 18, 1976 @ The L.A. Coliseum, Temp 58, Partly Cloudy, No wind
Two schools that have had some tournament success looking for a little more. Michigan has been to the semi finals twice before, losing to Oklahoma in '73 and these Trojans in '74. USC has made it to the Championship game twice and looks to return for a third time.
Michigan took the opening kick and on their third play, Rick Leach fumbled and Vinny Van Dyke recovered for USC at the Michigan 30 yard line. It took USC 10 plays to cover 30 yards, but they did, capped by a Dave Farmer five yard TD run. Glen Walker missed the extra point, and it was 6-0 USC. Michigan responded on their next drive by going 68 yards in 13 plays, capped by a 1 yard TD run by Harlan Huckleby. With the extra point, Michigan was on top 7-6 as the first quarter ended. After a punt by USC, Michigan added to their lead on a 37 yard field goal by Bob Wood, 10-6 Michigan. Neither team could sustain much offense for most of the rest of the 2nd quarter, but Michigan did get another field goal just before time expired giving them a 13-6 lead at the half. USC started the 2nd half with a short possession ending in a punt. Michigan got the ball for the first time in the half and found pay dirt with a two yard run by Rob Lytle. Michigan now lead 20-6 and were in control of the game. The game moved to the 4th quarter with the same score. USC started the 4th quarter with the ball and on a drive that featured Ricky Bell chewing up big yardage (13, 7, 8, 25) and saving the day with a key fumble recovery at the Michigan 6yd line, the Trojans cashed in with a Vince Evans to Randy Simmrin TD pass. The score was now 20-13 with 10:47 to play. Michigan went three and out and on the first play after the punt, Evans hit Shelton Diggs with a 56 yard pass setting up USC at the Wolverine's 19 yard line. Give plays later Evans tossed his 2nd TD pass of the game, this one to Diggs and the game was now tied 20-20. On Michigan's first play after the kick off, Leach threw to Jim Smith who fumbled at their own 26 yard line. Clay Matthews recovered for the Trojans giving them a prime chance to take the lead. However, four plays later Walker missed a 37 yard try and the score remained 20-20. Michigan took over at their own 20 yard line and 3:26 on the clock, plenty of time for a game winning drive. With 1:53 left, Leach hit Smith for a 13 yard gain to the USC 30 yard line. Three runs later and Michgan was at the Trojan 20 yard line and 1:21 left. Russell Davis and Lytle combined on two runs to give Michigan a first and goal from the 10 yard line and 45 seconds left. On the next play, Lytle ran into the middle to set up the field goal, but he was hit and stripped of the ball. Matthews again was in the right place at the right time and he fell on it at the 8 yard line to save the game for USC. This one is going to overtime. The Trojans got the ball first to start overtime. On a 3rd and seven from, Evans and Simmrin combined on a big 13 yard play for a first down. Two plays later Charles White scored on a 6 yard run to make it 27-20. Michigan now knew it had to score a TD to force a 2nd overtime. On their 2nd play, Leach was scrambling and got stripped of the ball from behind. Rod Martin fell on the ball for the Trojans and USC had the 27-20 victory and a trip to their third Championship game. Michigan fumbled the ball on their last three possessions of the game. MVP: Charles White, RB\KR (USC): 18yds, TD, 1 Catch, 3yds, 16 Return Yds, Winning 6yd TD in Overtime Rob Lytle rushed for 92 yards...Harlan Huckleby rushed for 60, Rick Leach rushed for 72 (fumbled twice)...Ricky Bell rushed for 131 yards...Shelton Diggs caught four passes for 93 yards and a TD...Dennis Thurman had 20 tackles for USC....Calvin O'Neal had 13 tackles for Michigan... |
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National Championship (Maryland Terrapins v USC Trojans)
December 25, 1976 @ The Louisiana Superdome, Temp 62 in the dome, Outside Temp 62
Merry Christmas from the Sugar Bowl as the surprising Maryland Terrapins will take on the USC Trojans for the 1976 Tournament Championship. This is USC's third trip to the big game and Maryland's first.
Maryland received the opening kick and after picking up one first down, Mark Manges was intercepted by Ricky Odom. The Trojans will begin from the Terrapin 24 yard line. They cash in on a Ricky Bell two yard TD run and grab an early 7-0 lead. Maryland got the ball back and drove right down the field for a game tying score. Tim Wilson ran in from two yards out and the game is tied at 7-7. For the rest of the half, that would remain the score. The only team that came close to scoring was USC. With less than two minutes left in the half, Glen Walker missed a 34 yard field goal. At the half, the game is tied 7-7. The defenses continued to dominate into the 3rd quarter, then consecutive fumbles by Ricky Bell of USC and Steve Atkins of Maryland, found USC back with the ball. Finally, they piece together a drive and Vince Evans sneaks in from the one yard line putting USC back on top 14-7 as the game heads to the 4th quarter. Once again, Maryland responded after giving up a score. They put together a long 17 play drive that reached the USC 21 yard line. Mike Sochko came on for a 38 yard field goal but he missed it. So the game remained 14-7 with 8:38 to play. The Trojans got the ball back and milked about six minutes off the clock before having to punt. Maryland takes over at their own 20 yard line needing a touchdown to tie. Three straight completions and a time out moved the ball to the USC 41 yard line with 1:41 to play. A personal foul penalty on USC added 15 more yards and Maryland was in business at the Trojan 26 yard line. An incomplete pass, a 2 yard run and a 3 yard scramble left the Terps with 4th and five. Manges completed a 10 yard pass to Vince Kinney for a first down at the USC 11 yard line. 59 seconds now remained in the game. On the very next play Manges called his own number and he ran around end un-touched into the end zone. Sochko's extra point was good and the game was tied at 14-14. The Trojans ran a couple of plays and then attempted a Hail Mary play that was incomplete. This Championship game is heading to overtime. This is the 2nd Championship game to reach overtime. Alabama beat Nebraska in double overtime in 1971. USC got the ball first to begin the overtime. In just four plays Ricky Bell found his way into the end zone and USC had a 21-14 lead. The pressure now was back on the Terps as they needed a touchdown to keep the game going. Manges scrambled for three yards, Tim Maddox ran for one, and then Maddox again carried but for a loss of one. Maryland was now left with a 4th and 7 to keep the game going. Magnes promptly dropped back to pass and fired a 22 yard TD pass to Chuck White. The extra point was good and the game is tied back up at 21-21 and it's on to the 2nd overtime. Maryland began with the ball first and settled for a 24 yard Sochko field goal. USC got the ball needing a field goal to tie, or a touchdown to win. The Trojans picked up one first down, then Bell carried for three more yards. On 2nd down USC was called for a false start leaving them 2nd and 12. Mosi Tatupu carried for three yards making it 3rd and 9 from the Terps 13 yard line, well within field goal range at least. Instead of calling a run play, USC went with a pass. Evans threw for Randy Simmrin but Maryland's Ralph Fisher jumped the short route and picked off the pass. He fell to the ground with the ball and that was it. Maryland stuns USC 24-21 in double overtime to win the 1976 Tournament Championship. MVP: Mark Manges, QB (Maryland) 163 yards, TD, 133 Rating, 84 yards rushing, TD Steve Atkins had 79 yards rushing...Ricky Bell rushed for 65 yards...Charles White rushed for 53 and Mosi Tatupu rushed for 62...Vince Kinney caught six passes for 79 yards...Chuck White had 52 yards receiving and a TD...Dennis Thurman and Clay Matthews each had 13 tackles. |
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