INTERCOLLEGIATE FOOTBALL RESEARCHERS ASSOCIATION ™

The Historian ™

ISSN: 1526-233x Vol. 1 No. 11 Established: Jan. 2008

Tex Noel, Editor ([email protected])

http://www.secsportsfan.com/college-football-association.html

(Permission to use has been granted by the author .) likely ensured a tie and the national title. On the two-point play, Turner Gill’s After 50 years, two-point pass was batted away. conversion still ensures “After the fact, people seemed to drama know with certainty how things would play out,” Osborne said. By BLAIR KERKHOFF “But how would our team have The Kansas City Star felt if we settled for a tie when we LINCOLN, Neb. He made the could have won the game and most famous two-point somebody else was voted conversion call in college football national champion?” history, and the decision failed. Nebraska had the chance To this day, does because the two-point not regret the moment that likely conversation entered college cost Nebraska the national football in 1958. But nobody at championship for 1983. the time considered the potential of final moment dramatics. “I always assumed that if you’re going to win a national Instead, officials were seeking championship, you play to win, ways to increase scoring. not to tie,” said Osborne, today “It’s become such a strategy the Cornhuskers’ athletic thing, but people weren’t director. thinking in those terms at the It’s the 50th anniversary of the time,” said John Adams, the rule that gave Nebraska the former NCAA secretary-rules opportunity to edge ahead of editor. Miami in the Orange Bowl on In 1957, the average team’s Jan. 2, 1984. The top-ranked scoring in a game had fallen to Cornhuskers lost 31-30 when 15.6 points, the lowest since Osborne passed up a sure-bet 1941. At the rules committee extra point with 48 seconds meeting in 1958, the first remaining — a point that in the pre-overtime era would have The College Football Historian-2- Wilkinson’s Sooners, but when they scored the game’s first suggestion to punch up scoring touchdown, Royal went for two involved field-goal kicking. and got it. Texas went on to win “Teams weren’t kicking them,” 15-14. The game changed the Adams said. “So we talked about series, as Texas won 12 of 13. moving the goalposts from the Others believed the play would end line to the goal line.” only make the strong stronger. But that was nixed for safety “The Illinois folks thought Woody issues. Remember, goalposts Hayes would go for two and make used to rise from the field like it every time from that short of metal corn stalks. distance,” Adams said. “Widening the goalposts was After all, Hayes, the legendary considered, but sentiment Ohio State coach, perfected what started to grow for the two-point opponents called a “3 yards and conversion,” Adams said. a cloud of dust” ground game. The committee talked about If he did, it wouldn’t have been placing the ball at the 5, but unusual. In 1958, teams quickly agreed a try for two should start became infatuated with the at the same place as an extra- opportunity to score more points. point kick snap — halfway That season, there were more between the 2 and 3. two-point conversation attempts Among those on the committee than extra-point kicking tries. who liked the idea and were part In 578 games that season, teams of the unanimous approval were went for two 1,371 times, Oklahoma coach converting 613 for 44.7 percent, and former Alabama and Duke and attempted 1,295 kicking coach Wallace Wade. extra points. But the leading proponent was The fad faded as the math Michigan coach Fritz Crisler. He evidence piled up. Over the long said after the rules committee haul, the one-pointer was a meeting that the two-point play better bet than the two, and by “will add drama to what has been 1965, college football was down the dullest, most stupid play in to 331 two-point attempts. the game.” But that didn’t stop Nebraska There were concerns. and Kansas from maximizing Texas coach called their scoring opportunities in himself a purist and didn’t like 1962 at Lawrence. the change. But he changed his The Cornhuskers, led by future tune that season. The Longhorns Missouri coach Warren Powers, had lost six straight to defeated Gale Sayers’ Jayhawks The College Football Historian-3- Earlier this season, the Cornhuskers faced a more 40-16, and a two-point try immediate decision. With 29 succeeded after every seconds remaining at Texas touchdown. Tech, Nebraska scored a Kansas, like Nebraska, was touchdown to close to 31-30. involved in a celebrated Score sound familiar? conversion attempt of its own in But Nebraska coach Bo Pelini the Orange Bowl. had something Osborne didn’t — On Jan. 1, 1969, Penn State had overtime. The rule, on the books closed to 14-13 on a touchdown since 1996, has removed some with 15 seconds remaining. That drama from late-game decisions. appeared to be the final score In this case, the Cornhuskers when quarterback Chuck booted the extra point to force Burkhart’s conversion pass fell overtime. They lost 37-31. incomplete. Pelini’s decision wasn’t widely But the Jayhawks were penalized second-guessed by the fan base, for having 12 men on the field. just as Osborne’s wasn’t on the Given a second chance, halfback bigger stage a quarter-century Bob Campbell ran it in for the earlier. winning points. “Most of what I’ve heard over the Often, coaches have with them a years has been positive,” reminder card that suggests Osborne said. “I’m glad we had when to go for two based on the the opportunity to win it.” scoring and game time. But former Jayhawks coach Glen What is it about teams now in Mason didn’t need the card the Big 12 being on the wrong during his 1992 game at Iowa end of dramatic two-point State. conversions? Kansas looked doomed trailing Orange Bowl (Jan. 1, 1969) by 26 late in the third quarter. Penn State 15, Kansas 14 | Oh, When the Jayhawks scored what the pain for linebacker Rick appeared to be a meaningless Abernathy. He was the 12th man touchdown, Mason kept his on the field for the Kansas offense on the field, saying later defense that stopped Penn he had no idea what the card State’s two-point attempt. With a instructed in that situation. But new play a yard closer to the goal Kansas got the conversion, and it line, the Nittany Lions converted helped spark a 29-0 run to finish in the first big bowl victory of the game and complete the coach ’s career. greatest comeback in school history. Orange Bowl (Jan. 2, 1984) Miami 31, Nebraska 30 | The The College Football Historian-4- reviewed, Riley changed his mind and went for two. Yvenson 50th Orange Bowl ended Bernard barely got into the end dramatically. Nebraska closed to zone, but he gave the Beavers a one on Jeff Smith’s 17-yard run dramatic victory. on an option pitch, and coach Tom Osborne didn’t hesitate to Fiesta Bowl (Jan. 1, 2007) go for two. At the time, he didn’t Boise State 43, Oklahoma 42, know how third-ranked Auburn OT | Broncos coach Chris was faring against Michigan in Petersen knew his team was the Sugar Bowl (the Tigers won) gassed. The Sooners had forged and believed a tie wouldn’t be ahead 42-35 in overtime on looked upon favorably by voters. Adrian Peterson’s 25-yard run, Quarterback Turner Gill’s pass and Boise State answered with a was broken up, and Osborne was touchdown to close to one. But denied the national title. there would be no second overtime. One snap for the Sun Bowl (Dec. 29, 2006) trophy, and the Broncos got it on Oregon State 39, Missouri 38 | a Statue of Liberty play, with At first, Beavers coach Mike Riley running back Ian Johnson (left) decided to kick the extra point going untouched into the end with 22.1 seconds remaining and zone. force overtime. But while the game was stopped because of a * * * * timeout taken by the Tigers to have Oregon State’s touchdown telephoned each other to confirm Steve Greene has sent this the transmission as eager along about early college students in Middletown, CT had football radio broadcast…. the game decoded and read to them. Six weeks before Rutgers

played at Morgantown, WV, the Games “through the air” first Mountaineers were at Forbes started as coded radio Field in Pittsburgh on October 8, transmissions. According to the 1921. Harold Arlin, connected 1919 December Radio Amateur by wire from the stands back to News, Wesleyan defeated NYU KDKA, broadcast the first football 10-0 at Ohio Field on October 18, game by voice. On November 12 1919. A sports reporter wrote of the same year, New Haven down the action, handed it to a Register sports editor Dan messenger who ran to a Mulvey telephoned details of the telephone and called the NYU Princeton-Yale game to amateur physics lab where a wireless radio broadcaster Franklin telegraph created signals Doolittle who broadcast the transmitted by electromagnetic action from his Connecticut waves to the Wesleyan physics home on 1GAI (later to be lab. NYU and Wesleyan Back in the days when men were men, football players saw no The College Football Historian-5- need for helmets until.....

WDRC). The November 13, 1921 Just before the 1893 Army-Navy Sunday Times of New Brunswick game Navy Cadet Joseph Mason said its sports reporter and at Reeves was informed by his least two other radio owners in doctor that another blow to the town heard the broadcast and head would kill him, or at the phoned Yale’s 13-7 victory score very least, make him go insane. to the newspaper. Joseph Mason Reeves had an * * * * Annapolis shoemaker construct a Courtesy of the website: leather helmet to protect his THE LONGEST LIST OF THE LONGEST STUFF AT THE sanity and in the 1893 Army- LONGEST DOMAIN NAME AT LONG LAST.com Navy game Reeves became the first football player to wear a WORLD'S FIRST football helmet. FOOTBALL HELMET THE LONGEST LIST OF The helmet did not become THE LONGEST STUFF AT mandatory until the 1930's and THE LONGEST DOMAIN Dick Plasman of the Chicago Bears was the last professional NAME AT LONG LAST football player to play without a helmet in 1940. What was the world's first football helmet? * * * * Bo Carter, a Vanderbilt alumnus and former sportswriter for the Nashville Banner newspaper, sent this along regarding former Commodore coach, Dan McGugin. I got a better date for the passing of VU's McGugin - one obit had it on Jan. 23 (when it appeared in the Nashville newspaper), and it was actually Jan. 19, 1936, as reported in the story—must have been from a heart attack or stroke.

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Off the ESPN website: championship game and the Bowl shall select a replacement team from the BCS About the Bowl Championship Series pool of eligible teams. The pool will consist of any Division I-A team that is Should a BCS Bowl's host champion be ranked among the top 14 in the final ranked number one or two in the final BCS standings and has achieved at least BCS Standings, the number one- or two- nine wins during the regular season ranked team shall move to the national (excluding NCAA-exempted contests).

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How Poll Voters Cheat By Mike Riter, in The National Championship Foundation's 1980 Consensus Report. © N.C.F. Riter, used by permission

In most major polls, a first place of team B could make that team vote counts 20 points, a second number one by voting team A place vote, 19, etc. tenth, instead of second as all the other voters did who voted Let's say team A and team B are team B. And let's say all who clearly the two best teams in the voted for team A as number one country in an imaginary year. were fair about it and voted team And let's say that team A was B as number two. This is how the voted number one by most poll would look. voters. Two voters who were fans

Team A Poll Points First Place Votes 25 Times 20=500 Second Place votes 15 Times 19=285 Tenth place votes 2 Times 11=22 Total Poll Points 807

Team B Poll Points First Place Votes 17 Times 20=340 Second Place votes 25 Times 19=475 Total Poll Points 815

In this imaginary poll, 25 of the in the few years in at least two of 42 voters felt team A to be the the major polls, strongest while only 17 felt team B to be number one. Yet by place The National Championship team A tenth, two of the voters Foundation eliminates this type who voted for team B controlled of cheating by counting only the the entire poll. This type of first place votes instead of poll cheating has clearly taken place points. (Editor’s Note: NCF no longer releases annual reports.)

* * * * BOOK FOR SALE FOOT BALL: THROUGH Title: EVOLVEMENTS THE 1890/91 SEASON OF EARLY AMERICAN Author: Melvin I. Smith. appendices list short histories The College Football Historian-7- and the types of foot ball played by most of the teams found in This book is a 724 page the book. revision/extension to the author’s first book and includes The book can be obtained at the many more games found under publisher by going to: the name of foot ball played up www.authorhouse.com/bookstor through the 1890/91 season. e/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=50561 The games are separated by three major styles in their time. The It will be available in other kicking game/association bookstores by January 2009. football/soccer is the original style of foot ball. The second form AUTHORHOUSE, 1663Liberty of foot ball is the carrying Drive, Suite 200, Bloomington, IN game/Boston rules 47403. game/American rugby Book Order Dept. Tele. 888-280- game/English rugby union 7715; Fax. 812-961-3134. game/rugby. The third form of Shipping by UPS foot ball is the American collegiate game/American rugby * * * * football/football. By the 1905 Missing AP Ranked Teams period these games are known as soccer, rugby and football. All From 1962-67 the AP released only a games are divided into three Weekly and Final Top 10 poll. groups: colleges, independent clubs and high schools; plus In case anyone is interested, here are the divided into two and three teams were ranked 11-20 in the Final AP divisions by seasons. There also Polls, 1962-67. is a section with early leagues/conferences. Three

AP Poll 1962 AP Poll 1963 AP Poll 1964 11. Georgia Tech 11. Miss State 11. Florida St. 12. Missouri 12. Syracuse 12. Syracuse 13. Ohio State 13. Arizona 13. Princeton 14. Duke 14. Memphis St. 14. Penn St. 15. Washington 15. Washington 15. Utah 16. Northwestern 16. Penn St. 16. Illinois 17. Oregon St. 17. USC 17. New Mexico 18. Arizona St. 18. Missouri 18. Tulsa 19. Miami (FL) 19. North Carolina 19. Missouri 20. Illinois 20. Baylor 20. Mississippi

AP Poll 1965 AP Poll 1966 AP Poll 1967 The College Football Historian-8- 11. Texas Tech 11. Florida 11. UCLA 12. Ohio State 12. Mississippi 12. Syracuse 13. Florida 13. Arkansas 13. Colorado 14. Purdue 14. Tennessee 14. Minnesota 15. Georgia 15. Wyoming 15. Florida St. 16. Tulsa 16. Syracuse 16. Miami (FL) 17. Mississippi 17. Houston 17. N. Carolina St. 18. Kentucky 18. USC 18. Georgia 19. Syracuse 19. Oregon St. 19. Houston 20. Colorado 20. Virginia Tech 20. Arizona St. * * * * In honor of…

• Sports Broadcasting Hall of • Arkansas football Fame announced its 2008 standouts Martine Bercher, class (college football only Jr., R.C. Thielemann and are listed): Marvin Bader, Jarrell Williams will Curt Gowdy, Teddy become the latest Nathanson, Vin Scully, inductees to join the Bob Seiderman and Arkansas Sports Hall of Charlie Steinberg Fame in Little Rock • College Football Hall of • Maryland added M Club Fame members Mike Ditka Foundation executive (Pittsburgh) and Gale director David Diehl, Sayers (Kansas) joined football stalwart Darryl Hill former Notre Dame All- and Maryland State Sen. America end Dan Mike Miller (for meritorious Shannon, and former service) to its athletics hall Buffalo Bills coach Marv of fame last Friday. Levy as inductees into the • Current Auburn head Chicagoland Sports Hall of coach Fame and late Alabama assistant • Football legend Larry coach/ longtime associate Gergley was inducted into AD Sam Bailey join football the University at Buffalo standouts Bobby Evans Athletics Hall of Fame. and Sammy Furo as • Former U.S. House of inductees into the Representatives member Southern Arkansas Hall of and Tulsa standout Steve Fame... Largent became the eighth • The NCAA Division II student-athlete in the Football Hall of Fame has history of Golden added Eric Davis of Hurricane football to have Jacksonville State and Rod his jersey retired Smith of Missouri The College Football Historian-9- Trophy and Division II NCAA Championship • Southern to its legendary banquet held in Florence, group. Induction will be Alabama. part of the Harlon Hill

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In Memory of...

Gene Hickerson, 73, All-SEC success as athletics director at standout at Ole Miss, died Saginaw Valley State Cleveland, Ohio…Craig Fertig, (Mich.)…Former Tennessee DL 66, former standout USC Chris Mims passed away at quarterback and at 38...Former Northeast Missouri Oregon State….Robert T. State RB Lenvil Elliott, 57. Becker, 73, who oversaw tremendous athletics growth and

* * * * Outing, 1909

The Funny side of football By George Jean Nathan

HIGH INTO THE AIR IN several seasons ago between the elevens of the University of Utah A STRAIGHT LINE FOR and Colorado College. THE CROSS-BAR AND VICTORY AND THEN It was at the crisis of the contest in the second half. Spectators EXPLODED were in a tense and highly wrought state of excitement and If it were possible to imagine that every eye was glued on the inanimate objects could have a Colorado fullback who had sense of humor, it would be fair assumed a position that clearly to assume that the oval leather indicated that he was about to ball with which the game of attempt a goal from the field. football is played has its full Back came the ball and the full- share. back caught it squarely with his good right toe. Examples of this are numerous and among them none is more Up it sailed, high into the air in a convincing than the instance of straight line for the cross-bar the ball's action in a game played and victory and then—exploded! * * * * The College Football Historian-10- THE FIELD (1936-2007): WHICH TEAM IS THE 1. 1944 Army BEST? 16. 1951 Tennessee MAJOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL (1883-2007) 9. 1996 Florida 8. 1991 Washington PART II 12. 1951 Maryland By Patrick M. Premo 5. 1994 Penn St.

In the last issue, I listed the 16 13. 1969 Ohio St. team fields for each of the Major 4. 2005 Texas College (1883-2007) tournaments (the winners of 3. 1956 Oklahoma each tournament will eventually 14. 1959 Syracuse play one another to determine the best ever): 6. 2001 Miami, FL 11. 1947 Michigan THE FIELD (1883-1936): 7. 1954 UCLA 1. 1886 Yale 10. 2005 USC 16. 1923 California 15. 1993 Florida St. 9. 1936 Minnesota 2. 1995 Nebraska 8. 1929 Tulane The results for the 1883-1936 12. 1926 Navy tournament were reported in the 5. 1895 Penn previous issue and, as you will recall, 1895 Penn won in a 13. 1932 TCU thriller over 1917 Georgia Tech, 4. 1934 Alabama 32-28.

3. 1917 Georgia Tech This article will reveal the 14. 1935 SMU outcome of the 1936-2007 tournament. As I stated in the 6. 1916 Pittsburgh past, I am using Tex Noel’s 11. 1920 Notre Dame rankings to pair these champions, with the proviso that 7. 1929 Colgate no individual school is 10. 1898 Harvard represented more than once in each tournament. 15. 1924 Dartmouth 2. 1889 Princeton ROUND ONE: The College Football Historian-11-

1944 Army had little problem THIRD PLACE: with 1951 Tennessee, winning The number one seed, 1944 40-21. 1991 Washington Army, was determined to redeem squeaked by 1996 Florida, 24- itself and won over 2001 Miami, 20. 1951 Maryland scored a FL, 24-14 to claim third place. minor upset of 1994 Penn St., 35-33, as Penn St.’s comeback CHAMPIONSHIP: attempt fell short. 2005 Texas had a surprisingly easy time over 2005 Texas put up 30 points 1969 Ohio St., 40-18. In the first against 1995 Nebraska, but it real stunner of this tournament, wasn’t enough as the 1959 Syracuse took down 1956 Cornhuskers scored 47 of their Oklahoma, the number three own. 1995 Nebraska is the seed, 33-24. 2001 Miami, FL, winner of the 1936-2007 Major won a close battle over 1947 College Tournament. Michigan, 21-18, scoring a last minute field goal to pull out the COMING UP: win. In another small upset, 2005 USC handed 1954 UCLA a Next month will see 1995 40-24 loss. 1993 Florida St. Nebraska, winner of the 1936- could not handle 1995 Nebraska, 2007 tournament, take the field losing 15-31. against 1895 Penn, winner of the 1883-1936 tournament. This ROUND TWO: game will crown the best Major College Football team in US 1944 Army continued on its history. In addition, there will be winning ways, downing 1991 a little surprise in store in that Washington, 38-30. 2005 Texas issue – I will also stage contests stopped 1951 Maryland’s upset between the number two plans, but only barely, 31-24. finishers, the number three 1959 Syracuse saw its upset placed teams, and the number dreams end as 2001 Miami, FL, four finisher. Thus we will have, won a close game, 28-24. A lot of in order, the eight best teams in points were put on the board the history of Major College before 1995 Nebraska eliminated Football. 2005 USC, 52-42. And, of course, the Penn- ROUND THREE: Nebraska winner will then take on 1996 Marshall to see which 1944 Army was finally defeated team is the all-time best, by 2005 Texas, 24-31. 1995 regardless of division. Nebraska won over 2001 Miami, FL, 27-19.

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EPILOGUE: Remember, if you were to conduct any of these tournaments again using my FAST-ACTION COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOARD GAME, your results will most likely vary. Just as in real life, when two teams play one another twice (or more) in the same season, the results are not always the same. [NOTE: As I have mentioned in the past, after 40 years of designing and distributing sports board games, I have decided to discontinue operations. Annual updates will no longer be prepared. My web site features a half-price close-out sale (except for the computer games) that will be on a first-come, first serve basis. Some games are in very short supply; in fact, the Major League Baseball game is already sold out. My web site address is: members.tripod.com/newaction. Payments with PayPal are welcomed. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected].]

* MERRY CHRISTMAS to all….and may 2009 be filled with joy, peace, good health and blessings every day throughout the year. ^