Day of the Underdog

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

It was unsettling enough just meeting those purple elephants on the way to the TV set. For millions of red-eyed U.S. football fans, what happened afterward in the New Year's Day bowl games was far harder on the nerves. In one incredible, irrational day, college football's longest winning streak was snapped, all but one of the remaining undefeated major teams were beaten,* three schools' dreams of winning the national championship were shattered, and the No. 4 team in the nation became the No. 1 team--by beating the No. 3 team.

On the day of the underdog, only one favorite survived: Missouri, which beat Florida in the Sugar Bowl, though hardly in the expected manner. Bored fans were already moving toward the exits as the fourth quarter opened with Missouri leading 20-0. Then they started right back to their seats. Led by Quarterback Steve Spurrier, who completed 27 out of 45 passes for 352 yds., the aroused Gators fought on to score three last-period touchdowns, miss victory by the margin of three bungled conversions, 20-18.

Embarrassment All Around. That, as it turned out, was just a hint of things to come. The folks who run the Cotton Bowl at Dallas were more than a bit embarrassed when the best team they could find to oppose No. 2-ranked Arkansas, the winningest (22 straight) club in college football, was Louisiana State, which had struggled through a soso, seven-and-three season. Oddsmakers made Arkansas a nine-point favorite. They counted without a pint-sized (5 ft. 9 in., 164 lbs.) tailback from Cut Off, La., named Joe Labruzzo. Twice, deep in Arkansas territory, Labruzzo carried the ball on four straight plays. On both occasions he scored, and L.S.U. toppled Arkansas 14-7.

By comparison, No. 4-ranked Alabama's victory over unbeaten No. 3-ranked Nebraska in the Orange Bowl was too much of a massacre to class as an upset. Last season Coach Paul ("Bear") Bryant's Crimson Tide won all ten regular-season games and were voted the nation's No. 1 team--only to lose to Texas in the Orange Bowl. This season the Associated Press shrewdly decided to wait until the bowl-game results were in before issuing its final rankings. With Steve Sloan hitting on 20 out of 29 passes, Alabama coasted to a 39-28 victory--and won its second straight national championship.

Some Mismatch. 'Bama got a big assist from U.C.L.A. Going into the Rose Bowl at Pasadena, Calif., unbeaten Michigan State was the No. 1 team--and nobody in his right mind would have given a plugged nickel for the Bruins' chances. Michigan State's overpowering defensive line (244 lbs. per man) had held ten opponents to an average of 45.6 yds. rushing per game; on offense, the Spartans had averaged 32.1 points a game. What's more, they had already beaten the Bruins once 13-3. They were 14 1/2-point favorites, and Los Angeles newspapers went so far as to call the game "the mismatch of the century."

"I have myself brainwashed into believing we can win,'" said U.C.L.A. Coach Tommy Prothro--and his Bruins obviously shared the delusion. Outweighed by 13 lbs. per man, they intercepted three passes, recovered two fumbles, stopped Michigan State three times on fourth down with a yard or less to go. Only 19 and a sophomore, Quarterback Gary Beban scored two touchdowns, called most of U.C.L.A.'s plays himself (one exception: a successful onside kickoff, ordered by Prothro, that led to the Bruins' second TD), and going into the last quarter U.C.L.A. led 14-0. The shocked Spartans finally came out of their daze--too late. With seconds to go, they tried for a two-point conversion that would have tied the score. But Fullback Bob Apisa was dumped short of the goal line, and U.C.L.A. won 14-12.

*The lone exception: Dartmouth, which did not play in a bowl.

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