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This Date in College Football Belt History – October 8
The top-ranked, 4-0 Southern Cal Trojans of coach John Robinson hosted Bear Bryant’s 7th ranked, 3-1 Alabama Crimson Tide. Alabama had lost at Nebraska earlier & this game would go a long way in determining how their season would play out. Led by All-American TE Ozzie Newsome, QB Jeff Rutledge, & RB Tony Nathan the Crimson Tide’s offense was ready to claim their first Belt reign but the young defense would have to mature quickly to make the dream a reality. Nathan scored 2 touchdowns in the 4th quarter but it was Alabama’s LB Barry Krauss interception of a 2-point conversion pass that sealed the Crimson Tide’s 21-20 win & The Belt had a new champion. Southern Cal scored the only points of the 1st half when PK Frank Jordan hit a 32-yard field goal. Alabama took the lead in the 3rd quarter when All-SEC RB Johnny Davis carried in from 2 yards giving the Crimson Tide a 7-3 advantage. Jordan’s 23-yard field goal came before Nathan’s touchdowns runs of 1 & 13 yards as Alabama had a 21-6 lead early in the final quarter. Nathan’s second touchdown run was set-up by an interception of Southern Cal’s QB Rob Hertel when Crimson Tide’s DE Wayne Hamilton tipped a pass to DT Curtis McGriff giving Alabama the ball at the Trojans’ 8-yard line. Hertel connected with WR Calvin Sweeney on a 10-yard touchdown pass with 6:46 left to play. The 2-point conversion pass to RB Mosi Tatupu got the Trojans within 7 points at 21-14. After forcing an Alabama punt, Southern Cal went 79 yards with RB Lynn Cain scoring the touchdown on a 1-yard run with 0:39 left. Instead of settling for the tie, Coach Robinson chose to try for the win with a 2-point conversion. Hertel was pressured & his desperation pass, after being pressured by Hamilton, was intercepted by Krauss to secure the victory for the Crimson Tide. Rutledge threw for just 8 yards completing 2 of 4 pass attempts while Nathan rushed for 76 yards with his 2 scores. Hertel threw for 239 yards with a touchdown but 2 interceptions & WR Randy Simmrin had 6 catches for 120 yards in the loss. The Trojans dominated statistically but 10 penalties for 124 yards helped to stall several drives. Southern Cal finished the season 8-4 while the Crimson Tide finished 11-1, SEC Champions & ranked 2nd nationally. Southern Cal would play for The Belt again in 1978.
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