1977 NCAA Tournament
The 1977 Tournament was based on the final AP rankings. Last years Champion, Maryland did not qualify. Runner up USC was the #16 seed and they were beat by Texas in the first round. All the favored teams won in the first round. Some posted huge scores. #1 Notre Dame put up 65 on San Diego State. #5 Penn State scored 51 against Nebraska. #8 Pittsburgh posted 30 against Michigan. Only one first round game was within a touchdown, that was #2 Alabama's 42-35 win over Stanford. The favorites all prevailed in the 2nd round as well, though Notre Dame and Texas each got by with three point wins. Arkansas shut out Kentucky and Alabama had no problem with Oklahoma. That resulted in a final four featuring all different teams from last season.
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National Semi Final #1 (Texas Longhorns @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish)
December 24, 1977 @ Notre Dame Stadium, Temp 22, Clear, Wind 6 mph - slight crosswind
Notre Dame built a 14-3 first quarter lead and never trailed as they defeated Texas 21-16. The Longhorns just could not overcome their four turnovers, two of which led directly to touchdowns.
Texas did score first, taking the opening kick off and cashing in with a 23 yard Russell Erxleben field goal. On Notre Dame's 2nd play from scrimmage they gave the ball right back to Texas when Vagas Ferguson fumbled at his own 39 yard line. Bruce Scholtz fell on the ball for Texas giving them a great opportunity to build a lead. However, Bob Golic intercepted Randy McEachern's pass intended for Lam Jones to thwart the Longhorns. The Fighting Irish then took the ball drove down the field, taking the lead on a 2 yard TD run by Jerome Heavens. Later in the first quarter McEachern was sacked by Ken Dike and Ross Browner recovered at the Longhorn's 13 yard line. The Longhorn defense forced the Irish into a 4th and goal from the 4 yard line and Notre Dame kept their offense on the field. It paid off as Heavens scored his 2nd TD of the quarter on a 4 yard run. It was 14-3 Irish after one quarter. The defenses then controlled play for most of the 2nd quarter. Then around the six minute mark, the Longhorn offense started to move the ball with Earl Campbell doing most of the work. Campbell would eventually find the end zone on a 3 yard run. Erxleben missed the extra point. At the half, Notre Dame leads 14-9. The score remained that way until around the halfway point of the 3rd quarter. Texas began a drive from their own 17 yard line and after picking up one first down, they ran an end around play with Alfred Jackson. Jackson fumbled the ball and Ted Burgmeier recovered for the Irish at the Texas 36 yard line. It took the Irish just a couple of minutes to cash in as Joe Montana hit Kris Haines with a 6 yard TD pass. Notre Dame now leads 21-6 and takes that lead into the 4th quarter. Just when the Irish looked to be comfortable, things became a little dicey. Campbell had fumbled give Notre Dame the ball around midfield. They drove down to the Texas 12 yard line and were looking for the knockout score. It didn't happen. Ferguson fumbled at the 7 yard line and Lance Taylor recovered for Texas to keep hopes alive. That turnover put new life into the Longhorn offense. They came back on the field on the first play McEachern and Jackson hooked up on an 86 yard pass play. It was short pass the Jackson hauled in and broke for big yardage. Two plays later Campbell scored his 2nd touchdown of the day. With the point after it was now a 21-16 game with 7:20 still to play. Notre Dame got the ball back and were able to kill off about five minutes of clock before having to punt the ball back to Texas. Joe Restic came through with a magnificent punt, a 51 yard effort that went out of bounds at the Texas 5 yard line. Four complete passes mixed in with a sack got the Longhorns to their own 45 yard line and 48 seconds left. After a couple of incomplete passes, McEachern hit Gil Harris at the Irish 30 yard line. 15 seconds still remained. McEachern tried twice more to connect with Jones, but to no avail. Notre Dame hangs on for a 21-16 win and a spot in the championship game for the first time. MVP: Jerome Heavens FB (Notre Dame). Rushing: 85 yards, 2 TD, Receiving: 2 catches, 11 yards Net yards were 346-344 in favor of Notre Dame...Campbell had 119 yards rushing and 2 TD's...McEachern was 7/21 for 170 yards, sacked twice and threw a pick...Montana was 16/34, 203 yards, sacked once and threw a TD...Alfred Jackson had two catches for 105 yards...Ken MacAfee caught six passes for 123 yards...Ricky Churchman had 11 tackles...Bob Golic had 11 tackles and an interception. |
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National Semi Final #2 (Arkansas Razorbacks @ Alabama Crimson Tide )
December 24, 1977 @ Bryant-Denny Stadium, Temp 30, Cloudy, Wind 6 mph - slight crosswind
Alabama uses two late scores to roar back from behind and stun their old rival Arkansas 26-17.
Arkansas grabbed the early lead as they scored on their first possession of the game. After forcing Alabama to a three and out, they get a big play from Ben Cowins. He pops through the line on an inside run and nobody from Alabama could get to him. He races 54 yards for the score and it's 7-0 Arkansas. Neither team could do much else in the opening quarter and it ends that way, 7-0. It wasn't long into the 2nd quarter when Alabama got on the scoreboard. The cap off a long drive that started back on their 11 yard line and find the end zone on a Donnie Faust 3 yard run. Roger Chapman missed the extra point, so Alabama trailed 7-6. Arkansas answered that touchdown with a 25 yard field goal by Steve Little. Upping their lead to 10-6. Alabama comes right back on the field and drives down to the Arakansas 16 yard line before stalling. With just 43 seconds left in the half, Chapman kicks a 33 yard field goal to make the score 10-9 as the game heads to halftime. In the 3rd quarter, Alabama put together a nice drive moving from their own six yard line to the Arkansas 16 yard line. But on 3rd and seven Jeff Rutledge threw for Ozzie Newsome and was intercepted by Cornelius Smith. Unfortunately for the Razorbacks, they gave the ball right back to Alabama when Trent Bryant fumbled and Terry Jones recovered on the Razorback 14 yard line. The Razorback defense stiffened and Alabama had to settle for a 19 yard Chapman field goal, but they now had a 12-10 lead. That score carried over into the 4th quarter with Arkansas starting a drive from their own 22 yard line. The Razorback offense put together probably their best drive of the game. In ten plays they move down the field and cap the drive off with a 4 yard TD run by Ron Calcagni. With the extra point, they now have a 17-12 lead and 12:53 to play in the game. Alabama got the ball back looking to answer and they moved into Razorback territory. They reached the Arkansas 25 yard line when Larry Jackson made a big defensive play, sacking Rutledge and forcing a fumble. Jim Howard recovered for the Razorbacks with just 8:27 to play. Alabama's defense forced a three and out and after the Arkansas punt, took over at their own 29 yard line and 6:31 to play. Rutledge moved the Tide down the field and on a first and ten play from the Arkansas 30 yard line, struck for a big play connecting with Keith Pugh for a 30 yard TD pass. With the extra point, Alabama now leads 19-17 with 2:24 left to play. Alabama then does a great job on the kick coverage, tackling Gary Stiggers at the Razorback 4 yard line. Arkansas only needs a field goal to win, but starts deep in a hole. Three plays later disaster strikes the Razorbacks. Calcagni's pass intended for Danny Bobo is intercepted by Mike Tucker at the 14 yard line. Alabama just runs the ball up the middle to kill off the clock, but Johnny Davis pops through the line for a game icing touchdown with 1:16 left in the game. That makes the score 26-17 and that would be the final. Alabama scores twice, just over a minute apart, in the last 2:30 of the game to secure victory. Alabama heads to the championship game for the 3rd time, looking for their 3rd title. MVP: Johnny Davis FB (Alabama). Rushing 79 yards, TD, Receiving: 1 catch, 5 yards. Alabama was 5/11 on 3rd down, Arkansas just 1/6...Alabama led in Time of Possesion 39 mins to 21...For Arkansas, Ron Calcagni had 92 yards and a TD, Ben Cowins had 72 yards and a TD...For Alabama, Johnny Davis had 79 yards and a TD...Calcagni was 5/13 for 43 yards and 2 INT...Larry Jackson had 23 tackles and a sack for Arkansas. |
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National Championship (Alabama Crimson Tide v Notre Dame Fighting Irish)
December 31, 1977 @ The Rose Bowl, Temp 61, Clear, Wind 11 mph - croswind
It's a picture perfect setting at the Rose Bowl as Alabama and Notre Dame take the field to settle the 1977 tournament championship. It's the first appearance for Notre Dame and the the third for Alabama, having already won twice.
Neither offense moved the ball very well in the opening quarter. At least not until midway through when it was Alabama that struck first with a big play. On a first and ten play, Tony Nathan ran a sweep outside and Notre Dame's defense lost containment. The result was a 71 yard touchdown putting 'Bama up 7-0. That would be the only points of the first quarter but the Notre Dame had the ball and was driving as the game moved to quarter number two. The Irish capped that 15 play, 80 yard drive early in the second quarter with a Joe Montana to Jerome Heavens 13 yard TD pass. The extra point tied the game up at 7-7. After an exchange of punts, Alabama regained the lead on a 34 yard Roger Chapman field goal. 10-7 Alabama with 5:46 to play before the half. The Tide got the ball back with 3:15 remaining and put their offense into hurry up mode, hoping to add to the lead before halftime. With just over a minute and half remaining, Jeff Rutledge's pass for Keith Pugh was intercepted by Bob Golic at the Irish 39 yard line. Montana now led Notre Dame's offense into action. Pass plays of 15 yards to Dave Waymer and 19 yards to Ken MacAfee helped get the Irish first and goal from the Alabama 10 yard line with 40 seconds remaining. Heavens carried for nine down to the 1 yard line. Notre Dame called time out and then Montana found paydirt on a 1 yard sneak. The Irish take a 14-10 lead into the locker room. The third quarter started out with an exchange of punts, then Notre Dame turned the ball over on a Pete Pallas fumble at their own 13 yard line. Calvin Parker recovered the ball for Alabama giving their offense a starting position inside the Notre Dame twenty. Rutledge ran for three yards and Johnny Davis ran for two. After an incomplete pass on third down, Alabama elected to go for it on 4th down. Rutledge dropped back to pass but the rush forced him to scramble. He could only pick up a yard, giving the ball back to Notre Dame after the failed attempt. The Irish went three and out and a good return by Nathan set up Alabama at the Irish 46 yard line. Alabama reached the 14 yard line and appeared to take the lead on a Rutledge to Pugh pass but the Tide were called for holding, negating the score. That penalty turned out to be even bigger when three plays later Chapman missed a 32 yard kick. The Irish somehow remain in front 14-10. The penalty and missed kick loomed even larger as the Irish drive right down the field and score on a 3 yard run by Heavens at the start of the 4th quarter. It's now 21-10 Notre Dame. There were to be no fourth quarter magic in this one as the Notre Dame defense clamped down on Alabama not allowing them a first down the rest of the game. When Rutledge fumbled with 2:37 left in the game, that was it. Notre Dame ran out the clock and the celbrated their first tournament championship. 21-10 victors over Alabama. MVP: Jerome Heavens FB (Notre Dame) Rushing: 76 yards, TD, Receiving: 3 catches, 23 yards, TD For Alabama: Johnny Davis 69 yards rushing...Tony Nathan 73 yards rushing...Jeff Rutledge 5/13, 77 yards, INT...Ozzie Newsome 47 yards receiving For Notre Dame: Jerome Heavens 76 yards rushing, TD...Vagas Ferguson 57 yards rushing...Joe Montana 13/26, 157 yards, TD...Ken MacAfee 6 catches for 86 yards. |
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