The Selma Times-Journal from Selma, Alabama • 6

I 6- THE SELMA TIMES-JOURNAL-SUNDAY, JANUARY 2, 1972 Nebraska Wins It 38-6 Orange Turns Sour For Crimson Tide MIAMI The sign read "The Tide Tried BUT THEY'RE By SAM EZELL Sports Editor STILL NO. 3: NEBRASKA NO. 1, OKLAHOMA NO. 2.33 And that just about summed up the 38th annual Orange Bowl Classic here Saturday night, won by Nebraska 38-6 over the previously undefeated Crimson Tide of Alabama. It was the powerful Cornbusker's 23rd victory in a row, 32nd straight game without defeat, 13th victory of the 1971 season and firmly entrenched them as the No.

1 college football team in the United States. Oklahoma, a 35-31 loser to Nebraska on Thanksgiving Day, crushed Auburn 40-22, Saturday afternoon in the Sugar Bowl in its bid to reclaim the No. 2 spot, held by the Crimson Tide prior to Saturday's Orange Bowl contest. Six different players joined in the touchdown parade for the Cornhuskers, who turned "battle of the century" into strictly a one-team show before a capacity live audience of 151 and millions more in an international television audience. The Huskers' all-time leading ground gainer and touchdown maker, Jeff Kinney scored from two yards out, speed merchant Johnny Rodgers dashed 77 yards with a punt and Jerry Tagge, Gary Dixon and Van Brownson scored on short plunges.

Rich Sanger booted a 21yard field goal and three extra points. Alabama's lone touchdown was scored on a keeper by Terry Davis in the third quarter after the Cornhuskers had assumed a commanding 28-0 lead in the first half. The Tide swung in Nebraska's favor with thunderbolt like quickness late in the first quarter as they first got the ball near midfield on a muffed Alabama punt attempt and then was presented their first scoring opportunity when they got the ball first and goal at the Alabama two after a pass interference penalty. The Huskers, favored by a touchdown, really didn't need the helping hand. Following the contest Alabama head Coach "Bear" Bryant said his Tide was defeated by a far superior team.

"They just toyed with us most of the time. They were one of the greatest if not the greatest team I have ever seen. They were better prepared than he explained. In. the Nebraska dressing room Cornhusker boss Bob Devaney, winningest active coach in college football, called it the biggest win in his career.

"Our defense created some breaks with good, hard tackling in the first half, and this helped a lot. No, I didn't think it would be easy." Then, perhaps looking toward the Associated Press' final poll of the season this week, Devaney said, "I think I would have to vote for Oklahoma for the No. 2 team in the nation." As so often happens in a contest such 'as this, the final statistics were misleading, showing Alabama with more first downs than Nebraska, 16-15, and only a short distance behind in total yards, 342-288. The Tide outgained Nebraska 241-183 on the ground. Kinney was the leading ground gainer in the contest with 99 yards in 20 attempts.

Tagge, who will likely be named top back of the game at the Orange Bowl banquet Sunday night, completed 11 of 19 passes for 159 yards. Johnny MusSO, who played little after the third period, led Alabama with 79 yards in 15 carries. Davis had 61, yards in 14 carries and Butch Hobson, who replaced Davis after the latter was injured in the fourth period, had 59 in 15 tries. The first two breaks of the ball game, both in favor of Nebraska, plus Johnny Rogers' 77- yard punt return on the final play of the first period gave the Cornhuskers from the Big Eight Conference a quick 14-0 lead over the Southeastern Conference champions, and the game took on the complexion of a rout early in the second quarter as the lead mounted. to 28-0.

First Alabama got a bad snap from center on a punting situation from the Nebraska 40. Kicker Gregg Gantt fumbled the ball, tried to run and was tackled for a seven yard This Hardy Heinz Insurance Real Estate City National Bank Bldg. Frank Hardy-Chris B. Heinz set the Cornhuskers up with the ball at their own 47. Then on a first down play from the Alabama 35, Gary Tagge threw to Woody Cox.

at the Crimson Tide two. The pass was incomplete but defensive Steve Williams bumped the recei ver, giving Nebraska a first down on the Tide 2 yard line. Jerry Kenney, who holds the Nebraska school record for touchdowns and yards gained in 2 points, Tagge hitting Maury Sanger made it 28-0 with 8:49 Damkroger in the end zone 1 for a left in the first half. 14-0 lead after one period. It appeared that it would rain The breaks continued to go in more than Nebraska touchdowns the favor of Nebraska's "Big in this 38th Orange Bowl ClasRed" in the second quarter as sic two hours before kickoff as Williams fumbled the ensuing the skies over the sunshine state kickoff at the Alabama 27, with opened and dumped gallons of John Peetrson recovering for water on the playing surface.

the Cornhuskers. Tagge hit An hour before kickoff rain Gary Dickson -for 20 yards to was still blowing in sheets the Tide 9 and four plays later across the Orange Bowl polysneaked the final yard for the turf surface but 15 minutes later The Selma Times Journal SPORTS a career, dove over right tackle on tine next play and the Huskers led 6-0 with 2:01 left in the period. Rich Sanger missed the extra point. Nebraska held Alabama on the next series and the Crimson Tide was forced to punt from its own 37. Gantt kicked to the Nebraska 23 where Rogers fielded the ball on one bounce, faked once, then twice to the outside and set sail for the Alabama end zone 77 yards away.

This time Nebraska elected to go for third touchdown of the contest. the rain was gone, and only, Sanger converted the extra traces of the downpour was evipoint for a 21-0 lead less than a dent at kickoff time. minute into the second period as Nebraska's overpowering deCrimson Tide boosters sat in fense limited Alabama to 1 shocked disbelief: five first downs in the first half, But more was yet to come. and four of them come late in After the ball swapped hands, the second quarter when quarSteve Bisceglia fumbled at the terback Terry Davis, who atAlabama 4 when tackled by Ne- tempted only 66 passes as the braska's All American middle Tide crushed regular season opguard Rich Glover, with Bo ponents, took to the air in an Terio claiming tine ball for the effort to get on the scoreboard. Cornhuskers.

Dixon gained two Despite the aerial effort of and then scored at right tackle. Davis and a couple of trick brA 32 FRUSTRATING EVENING FOR ALABAMA ALL-AMERICAN Johnny Musso injured in final quarter of bowl Bryant In Tribute To Orange Winners By MIKE RATHET Associated Press Sports Writer MIAMI (AP) Alabama Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant paid the ultimate tribute to Nebraska Saturday night after a humiliating Orange Bowl defeat while shouldering the entire blame for the worst -season loss of his 27-year career. think they are one of the greatest if not the greatest teams I've ever seen," Bryant said as smoke drifted from a cigarette dangling in his fingers. "We were beaten soundly by a far superior team. "They were better prepared than our team.

I feel like I had a real poor plan -not taking anything away from Asked why he felt his game plan was poor, Bryant replied: "The same people we played plays, Davis throwing to Wheeler who flipped to Johnny Musso in both occasoins, each good for first downs, Alabama still trailed the defending national champion Cornhuskers 28-9 at the half. Nebraska Alabama 15 downs 16 47-133 Rushes 58-241 159 Passing yardage 47 166 Return yardage 164 11-20-2 Passes 3-13-2 5-42 Punts 7-43 2 Fumbles lost 2 50 Yards penalized 58 Alabama's first serious bid of the game for a touchdown came on its first possession of the third period, but died in the arms of Joe Blahak, when he intercepted a pass in the Nebraska end zone. Alabama, after stopping Nebraska's initial series of the quarter, drove to the Cornhusker's 14. But Davis' toss to David Bailey in the end zone was underthrown, with Blahak intercepting. After again stopping the big Huskers, Alabama came rolling back behind the running of Davis, who carried for 28 yards and then for 14 for a first down at the Nebraska 10.

Bischeglia got three up the middle before Davis sprinted around the left side of the Nebraska defense to the three. Musso drove over right tackle, but didn't get a yard as he landed in the arms of Glover, bringing up a fourth down play. Davis ran the keeper to his left, and without faking followed a Musso block into the end zone with 5:49 left in the third period. Joe LaBue's bid for two points fell short, leaving Alabima 22 points behind with more than 20 minutes of playing time remaining. Nebraska bounced back behind the passing Tagge a nd rolled to the Alabama four before a third down pass into the end zone fell incomplete.

Sanger came in to kick a 21-yard field goal on the final play of the third quarter, boosting the Cornhusker's margin to 31-6 with 15 minutes left to play. The two teams then exchanged the ball in the opening minutes of the fourth perilod, with neither gaining a before Alabama started braska took over on downs down, work at its own 11. Musso the 39. The Tide held Nebraska to carried 14 yards to the Tide's second stringers on the next 30 before Davis' long pass tp ries and was in good field posiWheeler at the Nebraska 30 fell tion at the 30 following a 15 incomplete. Alabama then suf- yard personal foul penalty fered a damaging blow with a against the Huskers.

But Ben15 yard personal foul penalty, ny Rippetoe's first pass attempt putting the ball back on the of the game was intercepted by Tide 15. Jim Anderson and returned to On the next play Alabama the Alabama two. suffered a heavier blow with Nebraska sub quarterback when Davis left the game Brownson scored on a keeper a shoulder injury (11:08 two play's later and Sanger split remaining) after again sweeping three the uprights to push the Cornyards to his left. Butch Hobson, huskers margin to 32 points, in his first play of the game, 38-6, with 4:45 left. lost two on a passing attempt.

He gained three on the next Nebraska 14 14 3 7-38 play, but was far short of the Alabama .0 0606 yardage needed for a first down, possession of Neb Kinney 2 run. Kick an all important the pigskin as the clock joined failed. the white shirted Cornhuskers Neb Rodgers 77 punt reof the Crimson turn. Damkroger pass from as an opponent Tide. Tagge.

Alabama's first break of the Neb Tagge 1 run. Sanger game came with 9:18 left in kick. the contest when Tom Surlas Neb Dixon 2 run. Sanger fell on a Van Brownson fumble kick. at the Alabama 48.

However, -Davis 3 run. Run failed. with Davis sitting on the bench Neb. FG Sanger 21. with his left arm taped to his Neb-Brownson 1 run.

Sanger side, the Tide's offense bogged kick. down just past midfield and Ne- A 78,151. No. 1 Nebraska Celebrating By HUBERT MIZELL Associated Press Sports Writer MIAMI (AP) Nebraska rejoiced at midfield of the Orange Bowl after locking up a- second straight national championship Saturday night and Alabama Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant showed his respect for the Cornhuskers by raising a salute amid shouts of "We're No. 1." -Nebraska smothered the Tide 38-6 in a showdown between the nation's two top-ranked college teams and Bryant looked like just another proud Cornhusker fan mobbing the red-shirted heroes.

"This is one of the greatest teams ever to play football," I Nebraska Coach Bob Devaney declared, toweling his chubby face after being thrown into the shower by his players. Asked when he became convinced the Huskers were among the game's greats, Devaney said: "Tonight." The victory, Bryant's worst defeat in a glorious 27-year coaching career was. Nebraska's 23rd straight and extended its nonlosing streak to 32 "Ater ranking Nebraska No. 1," Devaney said when pressed about national rankings. "I would put Oklahoma No.

2 and' maybe Colorado should be No. team, Glover said, "I guess we 3.33 hit a little too tough and a little All three are from the pow- too quick. As far as I'm conerful Big Eight Conference. Ok- cerned, the pressure was off lahoma, loser only to the Husk- after we whipped Oklahoma 35- ers, smashed Alabama's cross- 31." statee rival Auburn 40-22 in the Johnny Rodgers, who broke a Sugar Bowl. Colorado decked return for a touchHouston in the Bluebonnet Bowl 77-yard punt and fell only to Nebraska and down, said, "It started slowly, but then opened up and all I Oklahoma.

could see between me and the "The Big Eight is the tough- goal was that green carpet." est conference no contest, said massive Husker defensive Devaney said the Orange lineman Rich Glover. "Nebras- Bowl triumph "was probably ka is, of course, on top with Ok- our most important victory lahoma second and Colorado ever, but the Oklahoma garne definitely third." on Thanksgiving had. to be As for the beaten. Bamal more exciting." TED How This Newspaper Helps ULA With a defined audience DRUG BANK SHOP MARKET RADIO Any speaker knows that in order for him to get his message across to his audience with greatest effectiveness, he must first be familiar with that audience. That's why we make every effort to define our circulation audience with absolute accuracy and clarity with facts verified by audit.

We want you to know the size of your audience, where members of that audience live, what they pay, and other information designed to help you prepare more effective sales messages. tonight won 11 straight games for us. I don't think they went out there planning to get embarrassed and pushed around. Most of the time they just toyed with us. "I have to assume it all nappened because Nebraska was so great and I did such a poor job.

The downfall for Alabama, however, began with a pass interference penalty against defensive. back. Steve. Williams. disagreed with the call that set up Nebraska's first touchdown.

"I was running with him(the receiver) and was at the point where I was waiting for him. to go for the ball! Williams explained, "Hie tried to go for the ball and turned into me. I put hands up to show I didn't touch him. "I really didn't think it was interference." As for his fumble of a kickoff that led to Nebraska's third touchdown and a 21-0 lead, Williams said: "Somebody hit, me a good lick. I never saw him.

I don't remember anything more until the score was In another corner of the dressing room, halfback Johnny Musso seemed to be remembering every poor play. "We were so bad," he said. "They didn't force us into all those mistakes. We set 'em up. Everybody on offense will grade the lowest they have all year.

I believe we were up for the game got tight." And all the time he talked, his head was bowed and he. shredded his bright red jersey into thin strips and let them fall to the floor. Ask to see this information this week. The Selma Times Journal newspaper is. a.

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