1975 Orange Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1975 Orange Bowl
, part of the 1974 bowl game season, took place on January 1, 1975, at the Miami Orange Bowl
in Miami, Florida
. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference
(SEC), and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish
, competing as a football independent. In a game dominated by both defenses, Notre Dame was victorious by a final score of 13–11.
against Notre Dame
. The appearance marked the seventh for Alabama in the Orange Bowl, and their 28th overall bowl game appearance.
against Alabama. The appearance marked the second for Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl, and their sixth overall bowl game appearance. The contest was also notable as being Ara Parseghian
's final game as Notre Dame head coach as he announced his resignation from the position December 15.
d a punt
that was recovered by Notre Dame's Al Samuel at the Crimson Tide 16-yard line. Five plays later, the Irish scored on a 4-yard Wayne Bullock touchdown
run to take a 7–0 lead. Their lead was extended to 13–0 midway through the second quarter after Mark McLane scored on a 9-yard touchdown run to cap a 17-play, 77-yard drive. A 21-yard field goal by Danny Ridgeway cut the lead to 13–3 at the half. After a scoreless third, the Crimson Tide scored a late touchdown on a 48-yard Richard Todd touchdown pass to Russ Schamun, and with a successful two-point conversion
closed the gap to 13–11. After a defensive stop, Alabama again got the ball on offense and was driving for a game-winning score when Todd threw an interception to Reggie Barnett effectively ending the comeback for the Tide.
Orange Bowl
The Orange Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It has been played annually since January 1, 1935 and celebrated its 75th playing on January 1, 2009...
, part of the 1974 bowl game season, took place on January 1, 1975, at the Miami Orange Bowl
Miami Orange Bowl
The Orange Bowl, formerly Burdine Stadium, was an outdoor athletic stadium in Miami, Florida, west of downtown in Little Havana. Considered a landmark, it was the home stadium for the Miami Hurricanes college football team...
in Miami, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC), and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish
1974 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team
The 1974 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame during the 1974 college football season. It was Ara Parseghian's final season as head coach.-Georgia Tech:...
, competing as a football independent. In a game dominated by both defenses, Notre Dame was victorious by a final score of 13–11.
Alabama
The 1974 Alabama squad finished the regular season with an 11–0 record and as conference champions. Following their victory over , Orange Bowl officials announced Alabama accepted an invitation to play in the Orange Bowl in a rematch of the previous year's Sugar Bowl1973 Sugar Bowl
The 1973 Sugar Bowl, part of the 1973 bowl game season, took place on December 31, 1973, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference , and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, competing as a football independent...
against Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
. The appearance marked the seventh for Alabama in the Orange Bowl, and their 28th overall bowl game appearance.
Notre Dame
The 1974 Notre Dame squad finished the regular season with a 9–2 record with losses coming against and USC. Following their victory over , Orange Bowl officials announced an invitation to play in the Orange Bowl was made to Notre Dame in a rematch of the previous year's Sugar Bowl1973 Sugar Bowl
The 1973 Sugar Bowl, part of the 1973 bowl game season, took place on December 31, 1973, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference , and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, competing as a football independent...
against Alabama. The appearance marked the second for Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl, and their sixth overall bowl game appearance. The contest was also notable as being Ara Parseghian
Ara Parseghian
Ara Raoul Parseghian is a former American football player and coach of Armenian descent. He served as the head football coach at Miami University , Northwestern University , and the University of Notre Dame , compiling a career college football record of 170–58–6...
's final game as Notre Dame head coach as he announced his resignation from the position December 15.
Game summary
Midway through the first quarter, Alabama's Willie Shelby fumbleFumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
d a punt
Punt (football)
In some codes of football, a punt is a play in which a player drops the ball and kicks it before it touches the ground. A punt is in contrast to a drop kick, in which the ball touches the ground before being kicked....
that was recovered by Notre Dame's Al Samuel at the Crimson Tide 16-yard line. Five plays later, the Irish scored on a 4-yard Wayne Bullock touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
run to take a 7–0 lead. Their lead was extended to 13–0 midway through the second quarter after Mark McLane scored on a 9-yard touchdown run to cap a 17-play, 77-yard drive. A 21-yard field goal by Danny Ridgeway cut the lead to 13–3 at the half. After a scoreless third, the Crimson Tide scored a late touchdown on a 48-yard Richard Todd touchdown pass to Russ Schamun, and with a successful two-point conversion
Two-point conversion
In American and Canadian football, a two-point conversion is a play a team attempts instead of kicking a one-point convert immediately after it scores a touchdown...
closed the gap to 13–11. After a defensive stop, Alabama again got the ball on offense and was driving for a game-winning score when Todd threw an interception to Reggie Barnett effectively ending the comeback for the Tide.