As you surely know, we are set to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide on New Year's Day in the Sugar Bowl, which is round one of the inaugural College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes have never beaten Alabama, although we have met on the field three times in the past.
The first time Ohio State took on Alabama was at the end of the 1977 season, also in the Sugar Bowl, pitting two of college football's legendary coaches against each other: Woody Hayes and Bear Bryant. At Ohio State, Woody Hayes had won five national championships and thirteen conference titles; at Alabama, Bear Bryant had won four national championships and eleven conference titles.
The Buckeyes were ranked No. 5 to start the season in 1977, so the national title was certainly within reach. The trouble with this season, though, came with a one-point, last-second loss to No. 3 Oklahoma early on and a loss to Michigan in the final game of the year. No. 4 Michigan won the Big Ten and went to the Rose Bowl, where they lost to the No. 13 Washington Huskies. Ohio State (ranked No. 8) went on to the Sugar Bowl to face No. 3 Alabama.
The game was dominated by the Crimson Tide, although the first quarter was scoreless. Alabama opened the game driving 61 yards to the Ohio State three yard line, but was stopped on fourth and goal. Ohio State did not come close to scoring in the first quarter. Alabama's first second quarter drive ended in a touchdown, putting them up 7-0. Ohio State was forced to punt on their next possession and Alabama put together another touchdown drive to go up 13-0 (they missed the PAT).
The Buckeyes found some rhythm and started driving the ball, with the help of running back Ron Springs, who turned the corner and went 42 yards to get the ball to the Alabama 12 yard line. Soon faced with a fourth and seven on the five yard line, Woody decided to go for it, calling a short pass to Jim Harrell, who was brought down at the three, a yard short of the first down. Half time came and the score remained in Alabama's favor: 13-0.
Alabama put the game out of reach late in the third quarter, scoring on a 67-yard drive and converting for two to go up 21-0. It seems that Bear Bryant outsmarted Woody Hayes by setting up the offense in a wishbone (and other sets that look like run plays) and passing the ball while the linebackers are looking for the run. Also the Crimson Tide defense blew up a lot of Ohio State plays in the third quarter.
Finally, at the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Buckeyes scored a touchdown (on a beautiful catch from Jim Harrell). We went for two and could not convert, so the score became 21-6. The Crimson Tide scored two more touchdowns before the end of the game, making the final score 35-6. This, along with the loss to Michigan, was a disappointing end to a season that started out with a lot of potential.
After all of the bowls were settled at the end of the 1977 season, No. 1 Texas had lost to No. 5 Notre Dame, No. 2 Oklahoma had lost to No. 6 Arkansas and No. 4 Michigan had lost to No. 13 Washington. This left the pollsters with a mess to deal with. The AP and UPI both ranked Notre Dame No. 1 and Alabama No. 2. Back then, there was a Notre Dame bias, whereas today the SEC bias would have probably put Alabama ahead of Notre Dame and given them the 1977 national title.
By the way, this week Eleven Warriors has a great look at all of our Sugar Bowls.
The first time Ohio State took on Alabama was at the end of the 1977 season, also in the Sugar Bowl, pitting two of college football's legendary coaches against each other: Woody Hayes and Bear Bryant. At Ohio State, Woody Hayes had won five national championships and thirteen conference titles; at Alabama, Bear Bryant had won four national championships and eleven conference titles.
The Buckeyes were ranked No. 5 to start the season in 1977, so the national title was certainly within reach. The trouble with this season, though, came with a one-point, last-second loss to No. 3 Oklahoma early on and a loss to Michigan in the final game of the year. No. 4 Michigan won the Big Ten and went to the Rose Bowl, where they lost to the No. 13 Washington Huskies. Ohio State (ranked No. 8) went on to the Sugar Bowl to face No. 3 Alabama.
The game was dominated by the Crimson Tide, although the first quarter was scoreless. Alabama opened the game driving 61 yards to the Ohio State three yard line, but was stopped on fourth and goal. Ohio State did not come close to scoring in the first quarter. Alabama's first second quarter drive ended in a touchdown, putting them up 7-0. Ohio State was forced to punt on their next possession and Alabama put together another touchdown drive to go up 13-0 (they missed the PAT).
The Buckeyes found some rhythm and started driving the ball, with the help of running back Ron Springs, who turned the corner and went 42 yards to get the ball to the Alabama 12 yard line. Soon faced with a fourth and seven on the five yard line, Woody decided to go for it, calling a short pass to Jim Harrell, who was brought down at the three, a yard short of the first down. Half time came and the score remained in Alabama's favor: 13-0.
Alabama put the game out of reach late in the third quarter, scoring on a 67-yard drive and converting for two to go up 21-0. It seems that Bear Bryant outsmarted Woody Hayes by setting up the offense in a wishbone (and other sets that look like run plays) and passing the ball while the linebackers are looking for the run. Also the Crimson Tide defense blew up a lot of Ohio State plays in the third quarter.
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| Ohio State wide receiver Jim Harrell is brought down by Alabama defenders in the 1977 Sugar Bowl. |
Watch a video of the Alabama-Ohio State Sugar Bowl here:
After all of the bowls were settled at the end of the 1977 season, No. 1 Texas had lost to No. 5 Notre Dame, No. 2 Oklahoma had lost to No. 6 Arkansas and No. 4 Michigan had lost to No. 13 Washington. This left the pollsters with a mess to deal with. The AP and UPI both ranked Notre Dame No. 1 and Alabama No. 2. Back then, there was a Notre Dame bias, whereas today the SEC bias would have probably put Alabama ahead of Notre Dame and given them the 1977 national title.
By the way, this week Eleven Warriors has a great look at all of our Sugar Bowls.
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