Uncharacteristic
end national title
By RICK WEBER
Daily Collegian Sports Writer
NEW ORLEANS, La. Mistakes,
penalties, field position problems, lack
of execution, specialty team breakdowns
• . not the kinds of things you would
::, - eXpect from a Penn State football team,
~ -e - s _pecially this year's edition. But they
we're costly contributors to the 14-7 loss
to Alabama that derailed Penn State's
#eemingly unstoppable' national title
train.
",.'We made a lot of mistakes and had
-some
,big plays killed by penalties and
;.;.:mental errors things we didn't do the
rtihole season long," defensive captain
Suhey said. "You just can't afford
mg. fl:make those when you're playing a
•:(qam as good as Alabama."
The initial problem for the Lions was
their poor field position. They started
their first drive on their own 13-yard line
Viand when they were unable to move the
ball, they punted. While Alabama also
got stalled on its drives, it was able to pin
the Lions near their own goal-line,
forcing them to start succeeding drives
on
,the 20, 4, 12 and 20 again. Penn State
*vasn't executing on offense and the
viscious cycle repeated itself over and
over again.
• ' Still, the Lions weren't behind. Then,
-with just 1:11 left in the first half, the
Tide took advantage of timeouts called
. by Joe Paterno and went 80 yards for the
q - ahead touchdown.
OW:Some writers questioned the move.
Paterno explained that he felt the Lions•
cpuld stop Alabama, get the, ball back,
• and kick a field goal. In any case, the
USC No. lin UPI poll; Lions fourth
NEW YORK (UPI)
California is No. 1.
Alabama toppled previously top
ranked Penn State 14-7 in the Sugar
Bowl game that was billed as the
battle for the championship because
the Nittany Lions went into the game
ranked No. 1 and Alabama was rated
N 0.2. The Crimson Tide registered
the same number of first place votes
as USC 15 but failed to achieve
as much second place support while
drawing 491 points.
Heralded by their own coach, John
Robinson, as "one of the greatest
teams in USC history," the Trojans
edged Alabama by only five points
Tuesday in balloting by the UPI
board of ,coaches to capture the
national football championship in the
closest race staged for the title in 12
years.
By heating Michigan 17-10 in the
New Year's Day Rose Bowl, USC
Trojans tops according to formula
ATLANTA (AP)— Southern
California has been selected by The
Atlanta Journal to receive the
newspaper's first award honoring the
top football team in the nation picked
by a specially devised formula.
The formula was developed by Dr.
John F. Stegeman, an Athens, Ga.,
Lions return with heads held high
Joe Paterno and his Nittany Lions returned home last night without a Sugar
Bowl victory or a national' title. But a small gathering of fans were on hand to
congratulate the Lions for their 11-1 season and to show them they still loved
them.
Crimson Tide's touchdown was a
crushing blow to Penn State.
"You should never let anyone score at
a time like that because it's
demoralizing to go in at halftime down
by seven when you should have been
tied," flanker Bob Bassett said.
Bassett said that although the Lions
felt confident that the adjustments they
made at halftime would get them back
into the game, something was missing.
"When we went out the second half,
the enthusiasm didn't seem to be there,"
he said. "I just had a bad feeling going
out. You could feel it wasn't there,
whatever 'it' is. We walked down and I
felt we should be a little more up."
Penalties hurt the Lions badly in the
second half. They were penalized five
times for 35 yards in the half and most of
them were illegal motion penalties. The
penalties proved to be even more costly
because they sometimes nullified big
gains.
Late in the third quarter, the specialty
team error surfaced at a most inop
portune moment. Penn State had tied the
game with a touchdown and was gaining
momentum when Alabama's Lou Ikner
returned a punt 62 yards to Penn State's
11-yard line, setting up the winning
touchdown. The longest punt return
against the Lions all season had been
just 10 yards.
. "The punt return really killed us,"
Pa terno admitted. "We just outkicked
the coverage. You can outpunt your
coverage and that's what happened."
But if you're looking for the big
breakdown, look no further than the
Southern
collected 496 points from the 35
coaches, despite a controversial
touchdown by running back Charles
White, who television showed fum
bling the ball just before he went in
for the score.
Robinson was proclaiming the
national title for USC after the
Trojans beat Michigan on the basis of
a victory over Alabama earlier this
season.
Oklahoma, a 31-24 Orange Bowl
winner over Big Eight Conference
rival Nebraska, received the other
five place votes and 467 points for
third place. Penn State not only had a
19-game winning streak halted by
Alabama, but slipped to fourth place
with 424 points.
Four weeks ago when the regular
season ended the teams ranked 1
through 4 were Penn State, Alabama,
USC and Oklahoma.
physician, and it considers point
totals, won-lost records, as well as the
strength of the schedules and results
from news service polls.
Called the Stegeman Cup, it is
given in the name of Stegeman's late
father, H.J. Stegeman, a former head
mistakes
dreams
most stunning illustration of Penn
State's problems its inability to bang
the ball across the goal-line from the
one-yard line on two successive tries
with about seven minutes left in the
game. Actually, the Lions needed to
move the ball just 10 inches on the
second try.
"Alabama just guessed right and
pinched everybody in towards the
middle, gambling that we would be
coming with a dive or a sneak," center
Chuck Correal said. "They blew both
linebackers up the middle. We just didn't
have enough men to block the number of
defenders they were sending on those
plays.
"I was confident we would do it. I'm
always confident when we're that close.
But I feel if you can't stymie a defender
and blow him back a little bit, you don't
deserve to be national champs."
The final error, and maybe the most
costly, was a penalty against the Lions
for too many men on the field after they
had forced Alabama punter Woody
Umphrey to shank a punt out of bounds
on the Tide 20. The infraction allowed
Alabama to keep possession of the ball
when State could have been just 20 yards
from a touchdown.
That was the culmination of a day of
mistakes that were so uncharacteristic
of Penn State. A team that had lived by
playing flawlessly died by doing the
opposite.
"We just didn't play our game,"
Correal said. "It's just too bad that those
things had to happen for us in a game
where all the marbles were riding on it."
"We're very pleased, obviously,"
said Robinson when he learned that
UPI had picked USC as the national
champion for the fifth time. The
Trojans previously won in 1962, 1967,
1972 and 1974.
Michigan was picked fifth in the
final rankings with 330 points, a sixth
place tie was created between Notre
Dame and Clemson as each drew 285
points, Nebraska was voted into the
No. 8 position on 223 points, Texas
was made No. 9 with 200 points and
Arkansas was a shade back in 10th
place with 199 points.
Houston was picked No. 11 by the
coaches as the Cougars headed the
second 10 with 145 points, followed by
UCLA (106), Purdue (97), Missouri
(92), Georgia (61), Stanford (59),
Navy (23), Texas A&M (21) and a
19th placed tie at 16 points between
North Carolina State and Arizona
State.
coach and athletic director at the
University of Georgia.
Second choice was Alabama,
followed by Oklahoma and Penn
State.
The newspaper said the cup will be
presented to Southern California
later this month.
By HARRY GLENN
Daily Collegian Sports Writer
Joe Paterno stepped off the bus in
front of the Ice Pavilion, smiling as
usual, even though Monday the Nittany
Lions lost what had been called the
biggest game in his 13 years here.
"We didn't win all the marbles," Joe
told a small cheering crowd outside the
team's lockerroom, "but we'll be back
up there again."
The team returned to town shortly
after the United Press International
coach's poll was released. The poll listed
the University of Southern California
first, Alabama second, Oklahoma third
and Penn State fourth. The Associated
Press poll of sportwriters will be
released this morning.
Paterno said the results of the poll
didn't surprise him.
"I'm never surprised with the polls,"
he said. "I can never figure them out."
Because he says he does not believe in
the polls, Paterno does not cast a vote for
UPI.
About 50 people were there to cheer for
the returning team. Most stood in the
rapidly declining temperatures for an
hour waiting for a brief look at the
players. A crowd also greeted the
players in Harrisburg following their
return flight from New Orleans.
Most of the Lions smiled as they
quickly filed passed the onlookers. But
they expresssed appreciation for those
who did come out.
"This shows that people still believe in
you," Mike Guman said. "It's great and
really makes you feel good."
"It was nice of them to come out and
see us," Tom Bradley said.,"We really
have great fans."
"It seems like the whole season was
lost for a lot of people," Rich Milot said.
"The people here show that not
everybody feels that way."
The crowd gathered slowly after a
local radio station urged listeners to
come out and meet the team. Mo'st of the
crowd was students, but there were
The usually accurate arm of quarterback Chuck Fusina Boivl game where mistakes cost Penn State the national
threw four interceptions. It was illustrative of the Sugar title.
Lions compile only 19 yards rushing
Sugar Bowl stats tell the story
Penn state '
First Downs
Yards Hushing (att.-yards) :38-19 60-208
Yards Passing 163 91
Total Offense 182 221)
Return Yardage 68 146
Passes tall.-comp -int 1 30-15-4 15-11-2
Punts-Average 10-38.7 10-3811
Fumbles-Lost 2-0 2-1
Penalties-Yards 8-51 11-75
Possession Time 27 00 33 00
Third Down Conversions 4-17 6-21
First Quarter
No Scoring
Second Quarter
Alabama Bolton 30 pass from Rutledge (McElroy
luck)
Third Quarter
Penn Slate Fitzkee 17 pass from Puma ( Bahr kick
Alabama Ogilvie 8 rim) McElroy kick
Fourth Quarter
No Scoring
some town residents there with blue and
white shakers, and children with signs
and autograph books.
One student supporter said she came
even though she is not a football fan.
"I've never been to a game before,"
Liz Kukielka (13th-film) said. "I just felt
the team needed support."
Brian Dell (Bth-vocational industrial
education) said the team still had a good
season even with the loss.
"You're behind them when they win,"
he said, "so you've got to be behind them
when they lose."
• It was a quiet trip back from New
Orleans a few players said.
"Everybody is in a thinking frame of
mind," Bradley said. Most of us are
pretty down. It was a very quiet trip."
"Everybody is trying to keep things in
perspective," Milot said.
Millen agreed saying, "We lost, but
everyone realizes the sun will rise again
tomorrow. We still had a tremendous
season."
The two hour flight to Harrisburg and
the two hour bus ride to State College
gave many of the players time to replay
the game in their minds.
"Alabama has a fine team," Bradley
said, "but we have a better team."
"If we had played a decent game, we
would have beat them," Gene Gladys
said.
As far as the polls, none of the players
were surprised at Penn State's fourth
place finish. But most agreed that
Alabama should have been voted No. 1.
"I think Alabama should be the
national champions," Millen said.
"They beat us and we were the best
team."
Several players still have some college
all star games to play. Chuck Fusina and
Scott Fitzkee left yesterday from New
Orleans for the Hula Bowl in Hawaii.
For the rest of the team the season is
over. For the seniors, college careers
are over. But for the underclassmen,
there is always next year.
"Tomorrow we begin practice for next
year," Millen said.
Alabama
Penn State Suhey 10 carries for 48 yards; Guman
9 for 22; Moore 9 for 6, Fusina 7 for -64; Torrey 2 for 7,
Donovan 1 for 0
Alabama Nathan 21 carries for 127 yards
Whitman II for 51; Ogilvie 14 for 40. Jackson 4 for 4
Ikner 1 for 9; Rutledge 8 for -17: Shealy 1 for -0
Penn State Fustna 15 of 30 for 163 yards (one
touchdown)
Alabama Rutledge 8 of 15 for 91 yards tone
touchdown).
Penn State Bassett 2 for 28 yards, Torrey I for Id:
Suhey I for 2, Pankey 1 for 5, Guman 5 for 59, Fdzkee
3 for 38, Scovill 2 for 2I
Alabama Bolton 2 for 46 yards, Whitman 2 for 27
lkner 2 for 5: Nathan I for 5, Neal I for 8
Penn State— Mehl 11 unassisted and 6 assists for 17,
Clark 8 and 4 for 12: McCoy 3 and 2 for 5, Petruccio 4
and 2 for 6: Millen 8 and 2 for 10, Donaldson :3 and I for
4, Milot 3 and 0 for 3: Kubin 3 and 4 for 7, Lally 4 and :3
Few see comeback
win by Notre Dame
DALLAS (AP) It was as though
the football gods had decided to
reward anyone who had the courage
to brave the worst ice storm in three
decades and survive a minus eight
degree wind chill factor while sitting
on frozen seats.
The 43rd annual Cotton Bowl
Classic was a classic.
And the greatest spectator game in
its history was witnessed by maybe
10,000 diehard fans at the final gun,
clustered like Eskimos in the old
72,000-seat stadium. This was one
game when it took spartan soul to just
be a spectator.
When Joe Unis kicked the second
extra point it took two because
Notre Dame was penalized the first
time to hand the Fighting Irish a
35-34 victory over dazed Houston, it
climaxed the most incredible
comeback in Cotton Bowl annals.
And the Cotton Bowl, beset by bad
weather and a head-on collision with
the Sugar Bowl, needed a miracle
finish.
Most of the media attention was on
the Alabama-Penn State game.
The ice played havoc with the
Cotton Bowl parade. For the game
itself, there were some 40,000 no
shows, a record for a major bowl. Ice
Banks leads Duke to big win
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Forward
Gene Banks scored 18 points and got
seven rebounds Tuesday night, leading
top-ranked Duke to a 77-59 victory over
Davidson in a non-conference college
basketball game.
Banks made nine of his 12 field goal
attempts and center Mike Gminski
added 13 points and nine rebounds. Jim
Yards Hushing
Pass Receiving
The Daily Collegian Wednesday, Jan. 3, 1979-
for 7; G Harris I and 0 for I, Raper' I and 0 lot I,
Gilsenan 2 and I) for 2, Sulley I and for 4 e,
and I for 4, Jones 2 and I for :1, !Thuile 2 and a fin 2.
Guman I and 0 for I , Fusma I and 0 for I , ‘Visnitq‘ , Jo
and I for I
Alabama Braggs 4 unassisted and assisted lin 7
Gilhand 5 and 4 for 9. Hamilton 3 and 4 for 7. Krauss I.
and 2 for 8. Legg 4 and 2 for 6 MeGraff I and 0 for
Boyd I and 2 for 3. Lyons 3 and I for 4. 13 Smith I and I
for 2. Ogdwe I and 0 for 1, .1 Jones I and 0 for I,
Mauro 1 and 0 for I , Junior 4 and I lor 5 McNeal 1.111(1
0 for 4, Crumhley 2 and 0 for 2, Demeo 0 and 2 lot
Lyles I and 0 for I. Ma nnah nand I for I, Wing() I and°
for 3, Harris I and I for 2
Tackles for Losses
Penn Stale Mehl 2 for .0 yards. Lally 2 for i
Clark 2 for ID, Ragueci 1 for 4. Millen 1 for 6
Alabama Hamilton 2 for 17, Bragg 2 for 36..1imn
4 for 10, Legg 1 for 11, Mauro I for 9
l'asws Intel eppled
Penn Stale Milo! 1 for 55 yards, I' Ham, I for°
Alabama —J Ilarris 1 for 0, Legg I for 0, McNeal I
for 0, Clements 1 for 42
was scraped off the field and dusted
with salt.
Then came the bizarre start. Notre
Dame won the toss and took the wind.
Houston elected to kick.
Then the referees gave the ball to
Houston to kick WITH the wind
Notre Dame captain Bob Gogic got
that matter straightened out.
Houston jumped to a 34-12 lead and
Cotton Bowl officials could hear
television sets clicking off not to
mention the band of nomads drifting
away from the stadium to their cars
Notre Dame blocked a punt for a
touchdown and quarterback Joe
Montana ran for another
Houston Coach Bill Yeoman
decided to go for it on fourth-and-one
from the Cougars' 29 and failed
in the final 30 seconds.
Twenty-three points in just over
seven minutes climaxed by
Montana's 8-yard touchdown pass to
Kris Haines with 0:00 showing on the
clock gave the Irish and the Cotton
Bowl an official football miracle.
"The greatest comeback in Notre
Dame history," said Al hletic
Director Moose Krause
"The greatest comeback in Cotton
Bowl history," said Jim Brock of the
Cotton Bowl Athletic Association
Sparnarkel contributed 15 points fot
Duke.
Davidson was led by guard John
Gerdy with 28 points, the country's third
highest scorer, and center Jamie Hall
with 11.
Davidson tried to slow down the game
but trailed by 26-19 at the half.