FOOTBALL'S WEEK
As the 1962 season ended Saturday, USC—an easy victor over Notre Dame—kept its position as the nation's best team (see page 20). Mississippi won, too. Along with Dartmouth, these were the only major-college teams to finish the year unbeaten and untied.
The bowl picture was further clarified. Booked into Philadelphia's Liberty Bowl were Heisman Trophy winner Terry Baker and Oregon State (8-2), to play Villanova (7-2) on December 15. As expected, Alabama (9-1) will meet Oklahoma (8-2) in the Orange Bowl. Mississippi (9-0) accepted an invitation to the Sugar Bowl to play Arkansas (9-1), and Georgia Tech (7-2-1) agreed to meet Missouri (7-1-2) in the Bluebonnet Bowl. The Gator Bowl finally found an opponent for Penn State (9-1)—Florida (6-4)—but the Gotham Bowl was still looking for someone to play Miami (7-3).
THE EAST
THE TOP THREE:
1. PENN STATE (9-1)
2. DARTMOUTH (9-0)
3. NAVY (5-5)
While Navy routed Army 34-14, Boston College was busy clobbering old rival Holy Cross 48-12. The brash Eagles treated Holy Cross' Pat McCarthy with atrocious disrespect. They rushed him unmercifully and picked off four of his passes. Meanwhile, Quarterback Jack Concannon, when he wasn't running the frustrated Crusaders ragged with his roll-outs, passed over them for long yardage. He pitched three touchdown passes while completing 16 of 26 for 194 yards.
Rutgers, in its rebuilding year, was simply no match for revitalized Virginia. The slick Cavaliers thumped the Scarlet 41-0.
THE SOUTH
THE TOP THREE:
1. MISSISSIPPI (9-0)
2. ALABAMA (9-1)
3. LSU (8-1-1)
For a while Mississippi's first perfect season and fifth SEC title hung by a slender thread. Outhit, outhustled and even outscored by underdog Mississippi State, the Rebs finally struggled to a 7-6 lead on Halfback Louis Guy's one-yard plunge and Billy Carl Irwin's placement kick. But it was still anybody's game until the last quarter. Then second-string Quarterback Jim Weatherly, after perfect fakes to two receivers running left, turned his right end for 43 yards to put Ole Miss ahead 13-6.
Life was much easier for Georgia Tech and Alabama. Tech merely turned Billy Lothridge loose against Georgia and followed him to a 37-6 victory. Running and passing out of the T and Coach Bobby Dodd's new shotgun, Lothridge scored three touchdowns, kicked a 42-yard field goal and four extra points. Alabama softened up Auburn with Butch Wilson's 92-yard opening kickoff return, then spent the rest of the day hammering the poor Tigers until they succumbed 38-0. Obviously pleased, Coach Bear Bryant said, "I just want to sit here, breathe deep and enjoy this Auburn thing." Tennessee, too, finished on a happy note. Led by sophomore Tailback Wayne Bush, who passed for two touchdowns, the Vols trounced Vanderbilt 30-0.
Miami scored twice on Nick Ryder's plunges in the first quarter and then had to fight for its life against Florida. The plucky Gators struck back to take a 15-14 lead, but, in the end, they couldn't handle Miami's George Mira. He passed the Hurricanes into field-goal position in the last quarter, and Bobby Wilson, who had earlier kicked two points after touchdown, obliged with a 20-yarder that beat Florida 17-15.
THE MIDWEST
THE TOP THREE:
1. WISCONSIN (8-1)
2. OKLAHOMA (8-2)
3. MINNESOTA (6-2-1)
With the Big Eight title safely tucked away, Oklahoma was loose and frisky against Oklahoma State. On the fifth play of the game, talented Quarterback Monte Deere rolled out to his right and ran 22 yards for a touchdown. Before the long afternoon was over, Deere had passed for 137 yards and three more touchdowns. Joe Don Looney, Jim Grisham and the other strong-legged Oklahoma backs had trampled over the helpless Cowboy linemen for 463 yards, and the Sooners won their seventh straight, 37-6.
THE SOUTHWEST
THE TOP THREE:
1. TEXAS (9-0-1)
2. ARKANSAS (9-1)
3. TCU (6-4)
SMU Coach Hayden Fry, who is fond of coining sayings ("Be a wild Mustang—not a tame pony"), almost convinced his players that they were wild enough to upset TCU—but not quite. The Frogs discovered that the SMU line was vulnerable, and Tommy Crutcher, a bull-shouldered 205-pounder, battered away at the soft spots for 125 yards and the touchdowns that won for TCU, 14-9.
Baylor's Don Trull had himself a passing field day against Rice. He completed 16 of 25 for 239 yards and two scores to set SWC records for completions (125), yardage gained (1,627) and total offense (1,736). Even more important, the Bears beat Rice 28-15.
Halfback Bobby Brezina breezed 73 yards for a score on Houston's first play and the Cougars chewed up Cincinnati 42-14.
THE WEST
THE TOP THREE:
1. USC (10-0)
2. WASHINGTON (7-1-2)
3. OREGON STATE (8-2)
USC's win over Notre Dame was only the icing. UCLA, despite a none-too-gentle pushing around by Utah, managed to win 14-11 to round out the most successful season for West Coast teams in years. Behind 9-6 and backed up to their own one in the last quarter, the harried Bruins gave up a safety and then came back to win on Carl Jones's 22-yard pass to Mel Profit.
[originallink:10513716:45595]
PHOTO
LINEMAN OF THE WEEK: Alabama Center Lee Roy Jordan gleefully smashed Auburn runners, opened gaping holes and blocked a kick.