national title 1966
- Thread starter oldford
- Start date
Well, ncaafootball.net gives Notre Dame and Michigan St. a share of the national championship that year. Notre Dame was awarded the AP and UPI polls among others, while Michigan St. was awarded the National Football Foundation's top spot. Of course, you know they played each other that year and game ended in a 10-10 tie with Notre Dame killing the clock at the end instead of going for the win.
Neither team went to a bowl that year, Notre Dame did not go to bowls back then, while MSU could not go to the Rose Bowl because they had been the year before. That brings us to the University of Alabama. The Crimson Tide had won the previous two AP national championships in 1964 and 1965 with records of 10-1 and 9-1-1. But in 1966 'BAMA went 11-0 with its closest game against Tennesse in Knoxville, an 11-10 win. Alabama thrashed Nebraska 34-7 in the Sugar Bowl to close out an undefeated, untied, an uncrowned 11-0 season.
You can be the judge of who deserved the title that year. Many 'BAMA fans, myself included, believe the Tide was neglected instead of Notre Dame because the AP voters where tired of Bryant's "quick little boys" winning every year. I believe Coach Bryant said as much himself. Many don't like the debate of "mythical championships," but I love college football history. Lesser programs poke fun of Alabama's claim of 12 National Titles, but 1966 is one year 'BAMA got cheated.
Neither team went to a bowl that year, Notre Dame did not go to bowls back then, while MSU could not go to the Rose Bowl because they had been the year before. That brings us to the University of Alabama. The Crimson Tide had won the previous two AP national championships in 1964 and 1965 with records of 10-1 and 9-1-1. But in 1966 'BAMA went 11-0 with its closest game against Tennesse in Knoxville, an 11-10 win. Alabama thrashed Nebraska 34-7 in the Sugar Bowl to close out an undefeated, untied, an uncrowned 11-0 season.
You can be the judge of who deserved the title that year. Many 'BAMA fans, myself included, believe the Tide was neglected instead of Notre Dame because the AP voters where tired of Bryant's "quick little boys" winning every year. I believe Coach Bryant said as much himself. Many don't like the debate of "mythical championships," but I love college football history. Lesser programs poke fun of Alabama's claim of 12 National Titles, but 1966 is one year 'BAMA got cheated.
BAMA absolutely deserved it in 1966. They were the best team without a doubt. That was probably the last year in which an all-white team deserved it, but that bunch did. They were incredibly quick and no team ever had better chemistry.
Coach Bryant went to his grave regretting the way that team got jobbed and I will too.
Coach Bryant went to his grave regretting the way that team got jobbed and I will too.
Yes that was ours! I will argue that as long as I live.
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"Alabama players don't win Heisman Trophies, Bama Teams win national championships"
(Paul "Bear" Bryant)
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"Alabama players don't win Heisman Trophies, Bama Teams win national championships"
(Paul "Bear" Bryant)
The 66' game with UT was indeed close. The Vols were at the 3 and missed a chip shot field goal. As you might imagine, many Vol fans still believe the field goal was good. The game was played in Knoxville so cries of home cooking are not valid. The 66' Vol team was good, but not great, and finished something like 8-4. The 66' game, in retrospect, was just another game in the UT/Bama rivalry where one side let a victory slide from its grasp in the final seconds. It happens on both sides.
As much as I hate to think of UT being an inch away from spoiling Bama's undefeated season, it irks me even more that the northeast intelligencia prevented a SEC national title and opted instead for media darling Notre Dame. My vote for the 66' national title goes to Bama.
As much as I hate to think of UT being an inch away from spoiling Bama's undefeated season, it irks me even more that the northeast intelligencia prevented a SEC national title and opted instead for media darling Notre Dame. My vote for the 66' national title goes to Bama.
It should also be noted that Notre Dame turned down a bowl bid in order to remain undefeated. RTR
I hardly think UT let victory "slide" from their grasp. BAMA did what they had to do to win the game which was played in monsoon like conditions. They scored 11 points in the 4th quarter under horrendous conditions. I don't remember UT giving them anything.
The FG attempt was just that, an ATTEMPT. FG's aren't like horseshoes, close isn't good enough.
The FG attempt was just that, an ATTEMPT. FG's aren't like horseshoes, close isn't good enough.
Classic Sports has a show with a play-back of the 66 NDvsMSU game with
Rocky Blier representing ND
Bubba Smith of MSU.
Blier says Bama got the shaft in the National Championship vote.
Smith says Bama could not have stayed on the field with MSU or ND in 66
(his reasoning "I killed one of their best O-linemen in an all-star game")
{well Bubba, I remember many pro games where you personally "killed" some O-lineman, but your Colts/Raiders lost the game---
point being, your reasoning doesn't hold water, it's a TEAM game, you should listen to Blier}
As for the utk game of 66--
two Bama drives were stopped after catches by recievers Perkins and Holman were called out of bounds.
Anyone that saw the game knows if they got a foot down in bounds or not, even the utk people with their orange colored glasses.
T7
Rocky Blier representing ND
Bubba Smith of MSU.
Blier says Bama got the shaft in the National Championship vote.
Smith says Bama could not have stayed on the field with MSU or ND in 66
(his reasoning "I killed one of their best O-linemen in an all-star game")
{well Bubba, I remember many pro games where you personally "killed" some O-lineman, but your Colts/Raiders lost the game---
point being, your reasoning doesn't hold water, it's a TEAM game, you should listen to Blier}
As for the utk game of 66--
two Bama drives were stopped after catches by recievers Perkins and Holman were called out of bounds.
Anyone that saw the game knows if they got a foot down in bounds or not, even the utk people with their orange colored glasses.
T7
This year was a little bit before my time. Just curious, what was Nebraska ranked going into the Sugar Bowl that year, and how highly were the huskers regarded that season? Tommy Mac or other old timers, I would appreciate your insight.....
Nebraska 66
Opened the season ranked #3.
Finished the regular season 9-1.
Lost the last regular season game to Oklahoma (10-9) at Norman.
Rainked in top 10 all season never lower than #8.
Final raiking #6 AP & #7 UPI.
Going into the Sugar Bowl, Nebraska's average weight pre man, was 35lbs. higher than Bama's.
T7
Opened the season ranked #3.
Finished the regular season 9-1.
Lost the last regular season game to Oklahoma (10-9) at Norman.
Rainked in top 10 all season never lower than #8.
Final raiking #6 AP & #7 UPI.
Going into the Sugar Bowl, Nebraska's average weight pre man, was 35lbs. higher than Bama's.
T7
Bama got jammed on the '66 NC because the voters could not stand the thought of Bama being a three time defending National Champion in the wake of the civil rights movement.
Bubba was an underachieving blowhard who probably reached his peak in the Police Academy movies.
The huge Nebraska linemen said that they were extremely frustrated by the BAMA O-linemen. Said that they were so quick and blocked at such precise angles that they could hardly move before they were taken out of the play.
This joke came out immediately after the Sugar Bowl........Seems Bob Devaney's little granddaughter crawled up in his lap and asked him to read her a bedtime story. He said "Sure sweetheart, what's the name of the story?" She replied "The Three Bears". Devaney turned pale and gasped "Oh my God, don't tell me there's two more of them".
The huge Nebraska linemen said that they were extremely frustrated by the BAMA O-linemen. Said that they were so quick and blocked at such precise angles that they could hardly move before they were taken out of the play.
This joke came out immediately after the Sugar Bowl........Seems Bob Devaney's little granddaughter crawled up in his lap and asked him to read her a bedtime story. He said "Sure sweetheart, what's the name of the story?" She replied "The Three Bears". Devaney turned pale and gasped "Oh my God, don't tell me there's two more of them".
A famous quote to add to this thread:
"Notre Dame plays politics,
Alabama plays football.
In your heart, you know we're No. 1."
I would love to have seen what would have happened had Alabama been able to play ND or MSU. No team has ever won three straight AP National Championships. Alabama should have from '64-'66.
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"I don't know if I'll ever get tired of football. One time I thought I might. If I ever get that notion, I think back to one day I was out there on the practice field wondering about whether I'd get tired of the sport then I heard the Million Dollar Band playing over there on the parade grounds. When they started playing "Yea, Alabama," I got goosebumbs all over me. I looked out there at those young rascals in those crimson jerseys, and I just wanted to thank God for giving me the opportunity to coach at my alma mater and be part of the University of Alabama tradition."
- Coach Paul Bryant, "Talk of the Tide"
"Notre Dame plays politics,
Alabama plays football.
In your heart, you know we're No. 1."
I would love to have seen what would have happened had Alabama been able to play ND or MSU. No team has ever won three straight AP National Championships. Alabama should have from '64-'66.
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"I don't know if I'll ever get tired of football. One time I thought I might. If I ever get that notion, I think back to one day I was out there on the practice field wondering about whether I'd get tired of the sport then I heard the Million Dollar Band playing over there on the parade grounds. When they started playing "Yea, Alabama," I got goosebumbs all over me. I looked out there at those young rascals in those crimson jerseys, and I just wanted to thank God for giving me the opportunity to coach at my alma mater and be part of the University of Alabama tradition."
- Coach Paul Bryant, "Talk of the Tide"
Here is another famous quotation about that season: Vince Lombardi, after winning the Super Bowl for the 1966 season, was asked if the Packers had removed all doubt as to who was the best football team in the world. Lombardi replied, "Well, I don't know. We haven't played Alabama yet!!"
I believe thee was a cartoon in many southern papers showing Coach Bryant climbing a flag pole outside the Notre Dame coaches office with the #1 signal being raised with one hand as the ND coach was voting for his team as #1. The MSU - ND game ended in a 10-10 tie with Notre Dame killing the clock at the end instead of going for the win; and we all know the Coach would have never settled for a tie. It was as if the ND coach already knew that it would be good enough for the east and midwest voters.
1966 was not a popular time for anyone outside the state of Alabama to side with Bama.
hickeyd - "Bama got jammed on the '66 NC because the voters could not stand the thought of Bama being a three time defending National Champion in the wake of the civil rights movement." I believe hickeyd got it on the nailhead.
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"May the Tide Be with You"
1966 was not a popular time for anyone outside the state of Alabama to side with Bama.
hickeyd - "Bama got jammed on the '66 NC because the voters could not stand the thought of Bama being a three time defending National Champion in the wake of the civil rights movement." I believe hickeyd got it on the nailhead.
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"May the Tide Be with You"
I worked with a MSU '69 grad, I mentioned the '66 ND/MSU tie and that the Vote was BS, It was like I had slapped his moma, his face turned beat red and I thought he was gonna soil his britches. On reflecting, there always was a stinch in the air when he came around.
The 66 BAMA Defense proved itself throughout the season, six shutouts, giving up 37 point for the year, not including the whooping 7 Neb was able to obtain. That side of the ball is what impressed me most of this team and Coach Bryant considered this one of his best teams he ever fielded. Does anyone else recall BAMA fans driving with their headlights on durring the day to show appreciation for the TIDE following the finale polls? When I've heard other fans and coaches complain about lack of respect in the polls I always refresh their memory of the only team that after 2 back to back National Championships and improve over those 2 years be ranked 3rd. Never happened before and chances are it will never happen again.
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