The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 28

28 THE BOSTON GLOBE SATURDAY. NOVEMBER 26. 1983 BC blackout sets a record 7" 1 1 7T v'J I ft fey 1 5 1 -r ill i- S. 4 ss 6k r. y- 1 -4, V- i but the network swung immediately to the SMU-Arkansas game until the picture in South Bend.

was restored. That blackout went unnoticed here because CBS was televising BC-Holy Cross locally- Yesterday's blackout may have been a bonanza for WRKO, the radio outlet for Boston College. The station, which had a portable battery pack for backup, also used phone lines, and the broadcast by Gino Cappelletti and Dan Davis continued uninterrupted. The blackout also provided a small bonus for ABC, which was broadcasting the Army-Navy game from Pasadena, Calif. Yesterday was the only time during the season that two college games overlapped on television.

Just before the blackout, Tom Staudt of General Motors was preparing to appear on camera to announce the car maker's annual scholarship award. He had traveled from Sarasota, for the appearance. He will have a shorter trip next Saturday when he makes his presentation during CBS' telecast of the Florida-Florida State game. Overseeing the blackout situation for CBS yesterday were two Boston College alumni Kevin O'Malley, executive producer of college sports for the network, and Len DeLuca, director of program, planning. By Jack Craig Globe Staff The 43-minute television blackout during the Boston College-Alabama game on CBS yesterday was the longest in the three decades of televised football, college or professional.

The BC-Alabama game disappeared from the screen from midway into the halftime break until the start of the fourth quarter. Five minutes into the third period, CBS provided audio with play-by-play announcer Lindsey Nelson and analyst Jack Snow by patching together a telephone line, a common method of radio broadcasting. That was no problem for Nelson, who began his career as a football announcer before television. CBS managed to insert all of its commercials for the telecast, despite losing one-fourth of the game. Dave Cawood, assistant executive director of the NCAA, authorized longer and more frequent commercials, subject to the on-field referee's approval.

Four two-minute and two one-minute commercials were run, but because of the frequent timeouts and scoring plays, the sponsor breaks did not impede play. The second-longest blackout occurred last Saturday during the regional telecast of the Air Force-Notre Dame game. That blackout, also on CBS, lasted 20 minutes, Steve Lubischer (left) recovers the fumble by Alabama's Ricky Moore (26) that set up BC's winning touchdown, globe photo by frank O'Brien psVMi 1,1 Turnovers turn back Tide; BC finishes with 9-2 record team, he was going to do it now. At the outset of the game, the Crimson Tide had won the coin toss, kicked off. held the Eagles to six plays and tackled BC punter John Mihalik at his 17 after a high snap.

On third-and-goal from the 1, linebacker Steve DeOssie slid through the line and tackled Goode at the 2, forcing Alabama to settle for a field goal and it was only 3-0. BC safety Tony Thurman (one interception) recovered Alabama's first fumble at the Tide 41 but the Eagles couldn't move. "The first half was freezing and it started to snow," said Flutie (14 of 29 for 198 yards, 1 TD and an interception). "But throwing. I felt fine.

My release felt really good. The problem early was that guys were a little upset they didn't move the ball, but they were happy to be on the sideline. It was cold and we had trouble getting over it. And we knew we BC, 20-13 This fumble recovery was one of five that BC made yesterday in its 20-13 victory over Alabama. GIOBE PHOTO BY DAVID L.

RYAN Seniors go to head of class had things wide open. We were just making one mistake per drive." BC's defense compensated with five turnovers (BC had two). Lubischer's first sack stopped Alabama in the second quarter, holding the Tide to another field goal. "Every once in a while, one of them would say, 'Boy, It sure is and we would say, 'Hey. we're having a warm spell said DeOssie, who claimed he ripped the midsection from his jersey at halftime, baring his stomach to the cold "to give them something to think about." BC thought the game was over when Lewis threw incomplete on fourth and 16 from BC's 34 with less than four minutes left.

When Flutie rolled past the right hash and ended his third-and-seven scramble wasn't going to take a chance and unload at the left sideline, 21 yards downfleld at the Alabama 41, the Tide had run out of timeouts and BC had about two minutes to run out. Then Blestek fumbled and the Tide recovered at its 15 with 1:25 left. Lewis tripped dropping back and went down at his 5. An apparent BC safety was nullified because the play had been ruled dead to let nose guard Mike Ruth hobble to the sideline on his relnjured ankle. His replacement, Roy Norden, pressured Lewis to an incompletlon on a two-man rush.

Fourth-and-20, 36 seconds left, and Lewis' fourth completion (out of 12) brought Alabama to its 33. Lewis overthrew Joey Jones down the left sideline, but Jones tripped. Interference was called on BC's Todd Russell and the Tide had first and 10 at the BC 35, six seconds left. They were one play too late. "I'm not taking anything away from BC.

because they have a real fine football team," said Ray BC Continued from Page 25 ran right, broke four tackles, cut across field and fumbled. Thomas recovered for BC at the 35. BC second-string tailback Ken Bell (Troy Stradford had suffered a hip pointer) ran 20 yards and Flu-tie ran 8. Second and goal from the 5. Flutie rolled right and passed to fullback Bob Biestek In the end zone to trail.

13-12. with 6:29 left In the game. The Eagles were still in trouble. Kevin Snow had missed badly on a 53-yard field-goal attempt with the wind, and twice on an an extra-point try (a roughing penalty had given him a second chance) after Steve Strachan's dive on fourth-and-1 had tied it. 6-6, with 19 seconds left In the first half.

Bicknell decided that Inconsistent Brian Waldron (3 of 7 field goals and 7 of 12 extra points before this game) would replace Snow, but "I didn't know If we were going to get back down there again." Bicknell said. So he decided to try a two-point conversion. But a BC illegal procedure penalty pushed the ball back to the 7. so Waldron kicked the extra point. No problem, 13-13.

Then Alabama fumbled (at the 33) for the sixth time. An Eagle (Lubischer) recovered for the fourth time. Flutie threw his 29th and final pass, to Brennan over the middle. "I knew I was going to get hit as hard as I did," Brennan said. He dove, caught the ball outstretched and was slammed to the ground.

But he had the ball and a first down at the Alabama 16. "That was one great, great catch," Bicknell said. "That was the turning point." Strachan ran outside and dove, pulling a hamstring at the 3. Bob Biestek ran behind tackle Mark MacDonald into the end zone. Waldron converted, BC led for the first time, 20-13, and if coach Ray Perkins was ever going to question his CotaM(t-2) 20 13 0 0 14 3 1 0 A-TMnF0 A-Tmira A Sn MocMd aunt ratum (TMn kkl BC BmMi I pmt torn FMK (WaMren kick) BC Btotttk i run (Waktran Uok) -DAM' 31 67 4-12-1 BC IS 43-152 193 63 14-2S-1 3-1 3-87 4-30 B3BMMMLUUMM Alt LA out popped defensive end David Thomas, who quickly pounced on the ball.

Less than five minutes later, with the ball resting on the BC 3. senior Steve Lubischer's beeper activated. And. as Alabama quarterback Walter Lewis dropped back to pass, Lubischer dropped him face down in a puddle on the 11. The Crimson Tide had to settle for three points.

Even with BC down. 13. In the fourth quarter, there was no hint of discouragement. "Maybe some of the younger kids were," said Blestek smiling, "but not Why. Alabama halfback Kerry Goode had barely coughed up the ball with 8:42 to play before the seniors had already signaled one of their men.

Need some help with that fum SENIORS Continued from Page 25 "You dream about making this happening, but you Just don't know if you'll ever get the chance." said the Eagles' tricaptaln. clutching his plastered left arm that has been broken since the third game of the season against Rutgers. "A chance as a senior is one you'll make sure works." It was. it seemed, a silent pact among the four-year guys. Sure, the Tangerine Bowl was nice, but it wasn't Alabama.

They wanted their last season to be remembered. And so the seniors wired themselves up. BC was down. 3-0. in the second quarter and Ricky Moore lost sight of the ball for a moment on the Eagles' 30-yard line, and the radar sounded.

The veterans were alerted and ble? There was Thomas again, who smothered the bouncing ball Just inside the Alabama 35. But the Eagles still needed a touchdown. Enter Blestek. who caught the TD pass to tie the game. The beepers, however, would not stop.

Ties are no good to seniors. So Lubischer recovered the sixth Alabama fumble at the Alabama 33, Brennan hung on to what Bicknell termed "a major league, turning-point catch" at the 16, and Biestek ran three long yards to clinch his final regular-season win. "Coach told us before the game that we needed to change the description of the adjective of this team from good to great." said Biestek. "It really got to me, you know that? You have only one senior year." .26 ..13 ..3 UA IN. BC Su adtord, BC LQ 22.

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Y. TO .6 72 0 ..4 37 0 0 0 23 27 Qotanl.A Eagles9 victory was practically short-circuited And what if the lights hadn't come back on? MADDEN Continued from Page 1 "What would you have done If the. lights hadn't come back on?" referee Jimmy Harper of the Southeastern Conference was asked. (meep)." said Harper. "That what I would have done.

(Bleep)." Harper said he hadn't given much thought to what he was going to do during that rush-to-judgment third quarter "because I was so caught up In the action," recalled the referee. "But don't get me wrong now; I knew It was getting dark. I figured we had only 10 or 15 minutes left at the most before It was going to be too dark to play. I was hoping I dare say 1 was almost praying those lights would come back on." So was Lindsey Nelson in the CBS-TV booth since the national telecast was knocked off the air and Jim Sllman, the producer of the telecast, had to delve Into his Manual for High School Broadcasters and patch together the only live telephone line from the booth to New York. After seven or elht minutes, Nelson was able to broadcast the game on a telephone line as feeder line at the Foxborough substation.

Back at Sullivan Stadium, nobody knew, anything except the darkness was gathering very quickly. "I'm really starting to get worried," Scotty Whiteiaw. the commissioner of the ECAC, was saying at 3:51 p.m. in the darkening pressbox. "There's nothing in the rulebook to cover this.

Another 15 minutes and it's going to be dark." Alabama, meanwhile, had blocked a Boston College punt and had returned It for a touchdown and a 13-7 lead. By now It was 3:53 p.m. and late In the third quarter, the darkness gathering very quickly, and Jack Joyce, the ECAC's supervisor of officials, was explaining the rules. "There Is no hard-and-fast rule to cover something like a blackout," said Joyce. "The only time I could remember something like this happening was during a girls' basketball game.

The only rule to cover It would be the general rule that the referee's judgment should rule on all matters. I would guess that If the lights don't come back on. the referee would rule the game Is a no-contest. Not so. Not definitely so.

"I would have told both teams to go back to their dressing rooms," said referee Harper. "I would have told both of them to go back In there and we would have waited 30 minutes for the lights to come back on." And what If the lights hadn't come back on? What If those sparkles from Mass. Electric hadn't been able to fix that downed feeder line and restore power by 3:55 p.m.? What If It had taken that crew another hour or two to fix the damage? "Then the game ends Just as the score was right then," said Harper. "That's all you can do. What you hope when you do that Is that the game Is lopsided and one team Is way ahead.

Let's see at the erird of the third quarter this score was Alabama In front, 13-6. now wasn't It?" Uh huh. So a serenade to that anonymous crew from Massachusetts Electric that Jumped Into the fray and repaired that downed feeder line in 43 minutes, bringing the lights back on at 3:55 p.m., late In the third quarter. They may not have known what they saved, but so what. Boston College owes you one "for Or maybe two.

It was done In the 1930s. The video, though, was still dark. "We Just went back 33 years and picked It up," said Nelson, the veteran announcer. "We used a telephone line like we used to in the old days of radio." Patriots owner Billy Sullivan had Just missed being trapped In the stadium elevators because he was about to head down for a TV Interview. But Arthur Davey.

the elevator attendant, and two waiters were not as fortunate: they were trapped In the darkened elevators when the power went out. Tom Staudt, the general marketing manager of the Chevrolet division of General Motors, was about to go on the air live with Nelson to discuss the Chevrolet scholarship program when the plug was pulled. Lights In the dressing rooms went out: the scoreboard clocks and the public address systems went dead. Time was again measured by a stopwatch and football was back In the pre-headset age. A marvel! A football game without electronics.

Football had returned to the primitive ages. Alabama coach Ray Perkins' 5-way telephone headset was now useless and the Crimson Tide's assistant coaches had been called back to the field from their useless A perches In the press boxes. Tom Coughlln, the BC quarterback coach, could no longer call his team's plays from the press boxes, and all the BC assistants except one were called back to the field. "Somebody came up with a walkie-talkie and so we left one guy up there," said Red Kelln, BC linebacker coach. "But he couldn't Jo much with It; all we were getting was very basic stuff like what formation Alabama was in.

That's all we could do." All Bicknell, the BC head coach, could do was tell his team to Ignore the rain, the snow and the Mackout "because If It gets dark and we finish the game In darkness, maybe we'll turn car lights on like you did when you wert a kid. I don't know If they believed me or not, but that was the only way to look at It." Meanwhile, an anonymous crew from Mass. Electric was repairing the clowned.