1978 Sugar Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1978 Sugar Bowl
, part of the 1977 bowl game season, took place on January 2, 1978, at the Louisiana Superdome
in New Orleans, Louisiana
. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference
(SEC) and the Ohio State Buckeyes
, representing the Big Ten Conference
(Big 10). Alabama won the game 35–6.
in week two. On November 19, bowl officials announced that Alabama would face Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl. The appearance marked the eighth for Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, and their 31st overall bowl appearance. It was also the Tide's first bowl game against a Big 10 opponent, and their second overall game against a Big 10 opponent.
in week three and a 14–6 loss to the Michigan Wolverines
to close the regular season. On November 19, bowl officials announced that Michigan would play in the Rose Bowl
and that Ohio State would face Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. The appearance marked the first for Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl, and their 12th overall bowl appearance.
touchdown run to cap a 10 play, 76 yard drive. On their next offensive possession, Bama scored again on a 27-yard Jeff Rutledge
touchdown pass to Bruce Bolton to take a 13–0 lead at the half. Rutledge had his second touchdown of the evening on a 3-yard pass to Rick Neal. Following a successful two-point conversion
pass to Nathan, Alabama led 21–0 going into the fourth quarter. The Buckeyes scored their only points of the game early in the fourth when Rod Gerald threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Jim Harrell, and after a failed two-point try cut the Alabama lead to 21–6. Bama closed the game with a pair of touchdown runs. The first was scored by Major Ogilvie on an one-yard run and the second by Johnny Davis on a seven-yard run to make the final score 35–6.
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
, part of the 1977 bowl game season, took place on January 2, 1978, at the Louisiana Superdome
Louisiana Superdome
The Mercedes-Benz Superdome, previously known as the Louisiana Superdome and colloquially known as the Superdome, is a sports and exhibition arena located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA...
in New Orleans, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. 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 Ohio State Buckeyes
1977 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1977 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1977-1978. The Buckeyes compiled a 9–3 record, including the 1978 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana, where they lost 35–6 to the Alabama Crimson Tide.-Schedule:-1978 NFL...
, representing the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
(Big 10). Alabama won the game 35–6.
Alabama
The 1977 Alabama squad finished the regular season as SEC champions with a record of 10–1. The only defeat was a 31–24 loss to the Nebraska Cornhuskers1977 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 1977 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska in the 1977 college football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.-Schedule:...
in week two. On November 19, bowl officials announced that Alabama would face Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl. The appearance marked the eighth for Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, and their 31st overall bowl appearance. It was also the Tide's first bowl game against a Big 10 opponent, and their second overall game against a Big 10 opponent.
Ohio State
The 1977 Ohio State squad finished the regular season as co-Big 10 champions with a record of 9–2. Their only defeats were a 31–24 loss to the Oklahoma Sooners1977 Oklahoma Sooners football team
The 1977 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football 1977 NCAA Division I-A season. Oklahoma Sooners football participated in the former Big Eight Conference at that time and played its home games in Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium where...
in week three and a 14–6 loss to the Michigan Wolverines
1977 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1977 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1977 college football season. The team's head coach was Bo Schembechler...
to close the regular season. On November 19, bowl officials announced that Michigan would play in the Rose Bowl
1978 Rose Bowl
The 1978 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 2, 1978. It was the 64th Rose Bowl Game. The Washington Huskies, champions of the Pacific-8 Conference, defeated the Michigan Wolverines, champions of the Big Ten Conference, 27–20...
and that Ohio State would face Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. The appearance marked the first for Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl, and their 12th overall bowl appearance.
Game summary
After a scoreless first quarter Alabama scored the first points of the evening on an one-yard Tony NathanTony Nathan
Tony Curtis Nathan is an American football coach and former running back.Nathan was a running back from Alabama who was selected in the third round of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, with whom he played from 1979-1987...
touchdown run to cap a 10 play, 76 yard drive. On their next offensive possession, Bama scored again on a 27-yard Jeff Rutledge
Jeff Rutledge
Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge is an American football coach and former professional quarterback. He is currently the head football coach at Pope John Paul II High School in Hendersonville, Tennessee.-Early years:...
touchdown pass to Bruce Bolton to take a 13–0 lead at the half. Rutledge had his second touchdown of the evening on a 3-yard pass to Rick Neal. Following 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...
pass to Nathan, Alabama led 21–0 going into the fourth quarter. The Buckeyes scored their only points of the game early in the fourth when Rod Gerald threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Jim Harrell, and after a failed two-point try cut the Alabama lead to 21–6. Bama closed the game with a pair of touchdown runs. The first was scored by Major Ogilvie on an one-yard run and the second by Johnny Davis on a seven-yard run to make the final score 35–6.