Miracle Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1980 Holiday Bowl was a college football
bowl game
played December 19, 1980 in San Diego, California
. It was part of the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season
. The game is famous due to a furious fourth quarter rally - including a last-second "miracle" touchdown - that gave the BYU Cougars a 46-45 victory over the SMU Mustangs
. Thus, the game is known as the “Miracle Bowl”, especially among BYU fans.
was a young bowl game at the time, in only its third year. The 1980 Holiday Bowl pitted Brigham Young University
(BYU) against Southern Methodist University
(SMU). BYU entered the game with an 11-1 record. After losing the first game of the season (25-21 against New Mexico
), the Cougars won 11 straight games to claim the Western Athletic Conference
(WAC) Championship. BYU had overwhelmed most opponents with a high-powered pass-oriented offense led by future NFL
quarterback Jim McMahon
. The Cougars led the NCAA
in total offense (535.0 yards per game), scoring (46.7 points per game), and passing offense (409.8 passing yards per game) during the 1980 regular season.
In contrast, SMU entered the game with an explosive run-heavy offense, nicknamed the "Pony Express." The Mustangs were led by two star running backs, Craig James and Eric Dickerson
. Both James and Dickerson went on to careers in the NFL; Dickerson achieved superstar status with the Los Angeles Rams in the mid-1980's. The Mustangs entered the game with an 8-3 record, impressive considering they played in the tough Southwest Conference (SWC).
and 1976 Tangerine Bowl
as well as the first two Holiday Bowls (in 1978 and '79). For the first 56 minutes of the 1980 Holiday Bowl, it seemed the Cougars were destined for another defeat. BYU's defense couldn't handle SMU's offense, as James ran for 225 yards and Dickerson added 110. With just four minutes left in the game, the Mustangs scored to take a commanding 45-25 lead over the Cougars.
Many BYU fans started leaving the stadium. McMahon screamed at them, declaring that the game wasn't over yet. He promptly threw a touchdown pass to Matt Braga, and BYU recovered an on-side kick. The Cougars quickly marched down the field, ending the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run by Scott Phillips. SMU's lead had now been trimmed to 45-39. The Cougar defense forced the Mustangs to punt on the next possession, and BYU's Bill Schoepflin blocked the punt by SMU's Eric Kaife with 13 seconds left in the game. The Cougar offense took over at the 41-yard line, with a last chance to win the game.
After throwing two incomplete passes, McMahon launched a Hail Mary
into the end zone as time expired. Smothered by four SMU defenders, BYU tight end Clay Brown somehow managed to leap above them and haul in the football, scoring one of the most miraculous touchdowns in college football history. With the score tied, BYU's Kurt Gunther kicked the extra point to give the Cougars a "miracle" 46-45 victory.
BYU scored 21 points in the last 2 minutes and 33 seconds of the game. McMahon completed 32 of 49 passes for 446 yards to share MVP honors with SMU's James. The final statistics were remarkably even: SMU racked up 25 first downs and 446 total yards, while BYU finished with 23 first downs and 444 total yards.
's "Page 2" feature listed the 1980 Holiday Bowl as one of the top 10 greatest bowl games ever played.
The game was placed in NCAA Football
video games as a "College Classic", challenging players to recreate the ending. The challenge begins with the player as BYU, trailing 45-25.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
played December 19, 1980 in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. It was part of the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season
1980 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season saw Georgia take its first national title since World War II.The Georgia Bulldogs starred freshman running back Herschel Walker, who made his NCAA debut against Tennessee. Down 15-2 at halftime, Georgia sent in Walker, the third string running back at the...
. The game is famous due to a furious fourth quarter rally - including a last-second "miracle" touchdown - that gave the BYU Cougars a 46-45 victory over the SMU Mustangs
SMU Mustangs football
The SMU Mustangs football program is a college football team that represents Southern Methodist University . The team competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member Conference USA...
. Thus, the game is known as the “Miracle Bowl”, especially among BYU fans.
Background
The Holiday BowlHoliday Bowl
The Holiday Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I-A college football bowl game that has been played annually at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California, since 1978. Beginning with the 2010 playing the bowl will officially be known as the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl after...
was a young bowl game at the time, in only its third year. The 1980 Holiday Bowl pitted Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
(BYU) against Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
(SMU). BYU entered the game with an 11-1 record. After losing the first game of the season (25-21 against New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
), the Cougars won 11 straight games to claim the Western Athletic Conference
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
(WAC) Championship. BYU had overwhelmed most opponents with a high-powered pass-oriented offense led by future NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
quarterback Jim McMahon
Jim McMahon
James Robert "Jim" McMahon, Jr. is a former American football player. He played college football at Brigham Young University, where he was a two-time All-American and later in the professional ranks with the Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona...
. The Cougars led the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
in total offense (535.0 yards per game), scoring (46.7 points per game), and passing offense (409.8 passing yards per game) during the 1980 regular season.
In contrast, SMU entered the game with an explosive run-heavy offense, nicknamed the "Pony Express." The Mustangs were led by two star running backs, Craig James and Eric Dickerson
Eric Dickerson
Eric Demetric Dickerson is a former professional running back in the National Football League who in his career played for the Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Raiders, and Atlanta Falcons.-College career:...
. Both James and Dickerson went on to careers in the NFL; Dickerson achieved superstar status with the Los Angeles Rams in the mid-1980's. The Mustangs entered the game with an 8-3 record, impressive considering they played in the tough Southwest Conference (SWC).
Game
BYU had never won a bowl game in the entire history of the school, having lost the 1974 Fiesta Bowl1974 Fiesta Bowl
The 1974 Fiesta Bowl game was the fourth annual game featuring the football teams from Oklahoma State and BYU. It was cloudy with light rain in Tempe.-Scoring:First quarter:* BYU - Mark Uselman 30 yard field goal* BYU - Uselman 43 yard field goalSecond quarter:...
and 1976 Tangerine Bowl
1976 Tangerine Bowl
The 1976 Tangerine Bowl was held on December 18, 1976 featuring the Brigham Young Cougars and Oklahoma State Cowboys at the Citrus Bowl. BYU represented the Western Athletic Conference in only their second bowl game as a program, and Oklahoma State represented the Big 8 Conference. The game...
as well as the first two Holiday Bowls (in 1978 and '79). For the first 56 minutes of the 1980 Holiday Bowl, it seemed the Cougars were destined for another defeat. BYU's defense couldn't handle SMU's offense, as James ran for 225 yards and Dickerson added 110. With just four minutes left in the game, the Mustangs scored to take a commanding 45-25 lead over the Cougars.
Many BYU fans started leaving the stadium. McMahon screamed at them, declaring that the game wasn't over yet. He promptly threw a touchdown pass to Matt Braga, and BYU recovered an on-side kick. The Cougars quickly marched down the field, ending the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run by Scott Phillips. SMU's lead had now been trimmed to 45-39. The Cougar defense forced the Mustangs to punt on the next possession, and BYU's Bill Schoepflin blocked the punt by SMU's Eric Kaife with 13 seconds left in the game. The Cougar offense took over at the 41-yard line, with a last chance to win the game.
After throwing two incomplete passes, McMahon launched a Hail Mary
Hail Mary pass
A Hail Mary pass or Hail Mary route in American football refers to any very long forward pass made in desperation with only a small chance of success, especially at or near the end of a half....
into the end zone as time expired. Smothered by four SMU defenders, BYU tight end Clay Brown somehow managed to leap above them and haul in the football, scoring one of the most miraculous touchdowns in college football history. With the score tied, BYU's Kurt Gunther kicked the extra point to give the Cougars a "miracle" 46-45 victory.
BYU scored 21 points in the last 2 minutes and 33 seconds of the game. McMahon completed 32 of 49 passes for 446 yards to share MVP honors with SMU's James. The final statistics were remarkably even: SMU racked up 25 first downs and 446 total yards, while BYU finished with 23 first downs and 444 total yards.
Legacy
In 2003, ESPNESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's "Page 2" feature listed the 1980 Holiday Bowl as one of the top 10 greatest bowl games ever played.
The game was placed in NCAA Football
NCAA Football series
NCAA Football is a football video game series in which you play as any current Division I FBS college team. This game is developed by EA Sports. Because of NCAA rules, current college players are not permitted to be used as the cover athletes...
video games as a "College Classic", challenging players to recreate the ending. The challenge begins with the player as BYU, trailing 45-25.