This Date in College Football Belt History – January 4 »
January 4, 2006 – The top-ranked, 12-0 Southern Cal Trojans of coach Pete Carroll were attempting to become the first Belt holder to successfully defend The Belt in 2 consecutive BSC Championship games. While the Trojans dominated Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl the previous season, this season’s opposition was a much more balanced offensive unit in the 2nd ranked, 12-0 Texas Longhorns of coach Mack Brown. All season, pundits had pointed to this game as “the” game that everyone wanted to see & amazingly it lived up to those expectations. The teams combined for 1130 offensive yards but Texas’ All-American QB Vince Young led his team from a 12-point deficit with just 6:42 to play for a 41-38 win to claim The Belt & the BCS National Championship ending the reign of the favored Belt holders at 25 games; the 2nd longest reign in Belt history.
This Date in College Football Belt History – January 1 »
January 1, 1985 – For the first time in Belt history, the Fiesta Bowl was the site of The Belt championship battle. Coach Terry Donahue & the 14th ranked UCLA Bruins at 8-3 met the 13th ranked, 8-4 Miami Hurricanes of coach Jimmy Johnson. Miami had held The Belt earlier in the season having defeated Auburn in the opener but lost the title at Michigan two weeks later. This game featured 7 lead changes as both teams apparently left their defenses at home. UCLA’s RB Gaston Green, making his first career start, ran for 144 yards with 2 touchdowns while QB Steve Bono threw for 2 touchdowns & All-Pac 10 PK John Lee kicked 3 field goals including a 22-yarder with 0:51 to play in a 39-37 UCLA win.
This Date in College Football Belt History – December 31 »
December 31, 1973 – Bear Bryant’s top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide came to the Sugar Bowl with an 11-0 record & the UPI National Championship in hand. Before 1974, the UPI Coaches’ poll was voted prior to the bowl games. The Crimson Tide’s defense featured All-SEC LB Woodrow Lowe & All-SEC DB Mike Washington while the offense had All-American OT Buddy Brown, QB Gary Rutledge, & QB Richard Todd. In the first meeting between these two storied programs, the 3rd ranked, 10-0 Notre Dame Fighting Irish of coach Ara Parseghian were happy to defend The Belt to decide the true champion. The game featured six lead changes with a missed extra point by Alabama’s PK Bill Davis the difference in a 24-23 Notre Dame win.
This Date in College Football Belt History – December 30 »
December 30, 1981 – The Navy Midshipmen of coach George Welsh came to The Liberty Bowl with a 7-3-1 record having tied rival Army 3-3. The Ohio State Buckeyes of coach Earle Bruce were 8-3 & Big Ten Co-Champs having beaten rival Michigan 14-9. Navy’s RB Eddie Meyers rushed for 117 yards but his effort was not enough to overcome the Buckeyes’ balanced attack in a 31-28 Ohio State win.
This Date in College Football Belt History – December 16 »
December 16, 1974 – The 10th ranked Maryland Terrapins, coached by Jerry Claiborne, came to the Liberty Bowl with an 8-3 record & ACC championship in hand. They battled a 7-3-1 Tennessee Volunteer team coached by Bill Battle who had managed to hold The Belt through a tie with cross-state rival Vanderbilt. Maryland’s All-American DT Randy White, who won both the Outland Trophy & the Lombardi Award, led the Terrapins’ defense. The lack of offensive weapons & an 11-yard touchdown pass to Tennessee’s WR Larry Seivers with 2:38 to play doomed Maryland to a 7-3 loss.
This Date in College Football Belt History – December 7 »
December 7, 2002 – The 18th ranked, 9-3 Virginia Tech Hokies of coach Frank Beamer were the final obstacle between the top-ranked, 11-0 Miami Hurricanes of coach Larry Coker & a shot at their second consecutive BCS Championship. The Hokies had played six Belt games in their history but had never been victorious while the Hurricanes were on a 30-game Belt reign. Miami’s All-American RB Willis McGahee scored 6 touchdowns to lead the Hurricanes to a 56-45 victory.
This Date in College Football Belt History – December 2 »
December 2, 1978 – The 3rd ranked, 10-1 Southern Cal Trojans of coach John Robinson closed the regular season with a trip to meet the 6-4 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors coached by Dick Tomey. Playing without QB Paul McDonald who had an ankle injury, the Trojans overcame 14 penalties totaling 157 yards to claim a 21-5 victory over Hawaii behind the 152 yards rushing with a touchdown of All-American RB Charles White to retain The Belt.
This Date in College Football Belt History – November 30 »
November 30, 1991 – The 4-6 Houston Cougars of coach John Jenkins had their 2nd shot at The Belt this season as they met the 5-5 Texas Tech Red Raiders of coach Spike Dykes. The Cougars lost to Baylor earlier in the year. Texas Tech’s QB Robert Hall threw touchdown passes of 95 & 80 yards to All-SWC WR Rodney Blackshear to highlight the highest scoring game in Belt history; a 52-46 Red Raider victory.
This Date in College Football Belt History – November 25 »
November 25, 1972 – The 3rd ranked, 10-0 Michigan Wolverines of coach Bo Schembechler came to Columbus on a strong roll, having won 21 consecutive regular season games, to face coach Woody Hayes’ 9th ranked Ohio State Buckeyes who stood 8-1 with their only loss had coming at Michigan State. Ohio State had OT John Hicks to open holes for a freshman running back named Archie Griffin who rushed for 75 yards & a touchdown but it was the Buckeyes’ defense that saved the day with two goal line stands, 12 plays inside their 5-yard line, that secured a 14-11 Buckeyes’ victory & Ohio State’s first Belt championship.
This Date in College Football Belt History – November 18 »
November 18, 2006 – The 2nd ranked, 11-0 Michigan Wolverines with coach Lloyd Carr came to Columbus to meet the top-ranked, 11-0 Ohio State Buckeyes with coach Jim Tressel. The game marked the second time this season there was a match-up between teams ranked 1 & 2; Ohio State had claimed the Belt from second-ranked Texas in September. While the annual battle between the Buckeyes & Wolverines provided the typical drama, the specifics of the game were anything but typical for the two Big Ten powerhouses including the sudden passing of famed Michigan coach Bo Schembechler the day before the game. Ohio State’s Heisman Trophy winning, All-American QB Troy Smith threw 4 touchdown passes to 4 different receivers & the Buckeyes amassed 503 yards of total offense but they still had to withstand a spirited Michigan rally to retain the title with a 42-39 victory.
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