Round 1
(seed) year school - score
(102) 1994 Colorado - 42
(1947) 2000 USC - 17
2000 was the last year Paul Hackett coached at USC, and this might have been why. Despite a loaded roster (Carson Palmer, Troy Polamalu, Sultan McCullough, Kareem Kelly), the Trojans were never in this game. Rashaan Salaam (pictured) ran for 178 yards in a little over two quarters and the Buffalo backups saw plenty of action to make sure the starters stay healthy for what could be a deep run in this tournament.
(923) 2005 Minnesota - 30
(1126) 1988 Texas A&M - 26
In a battle of the running backs, Minnesota's Laurence Maroney got the better of A&M's Darren Lewis. Maroney was unstoppable on the Power Blast Right, even against Wrecking Crew linebackers John Roper and Aaron Wallace.
(614) 2002 Colorado - 29
(1435) 1997 North Carolina State - 24
Jamie Barnette hooked up with Torry Holt for two touchdowns and blocked a punt to set up another score, but the Wolfpack defense couldn't keep up with Jeremy Bloom.
(411) 1981 Arizona State - 31
(1638) 1984 Alabama - 15
The Sun Devil defense suffocated an Alabama offense that couldn't decide on a quarterback. Vince Sutton and Mike Shula each played significant minutes, but neither found a way around Jim Jeffcoat and Vernon Maxwell. However, Alabama head coach Ray Perkins laid the foundation for future Alabama teams to succeed in this tournament.
(358) 1990 Houston - 37
(1691) 1993 Illinois - 20
Illinois got after David Klingler early in the game, and for a while it looked like the Illini might be ready to pull the upset of the tournament. But that changed when Klingler found his rhythm in the second half and quickly put the game out of reach. RB Chuck Weatherspoon quietly had a solid game ensuring there would be no miracle comeback.
(667) 1995 Syracuse - 25
(1382) 1989 Oklahoma - 24
Freshman QB Donovan McNabb had the magic touch in this round one matchup against the Sooners. He found Marvin Harrison in the end zone twice in the first half and the 'Cuse defense held off a second half Sooner comeback that ended when RB Mike Gaddis was stopped on fourth down and inches.
(870) 1985 Arizona - 23
(1179) 1980 San Jose State - 17
RB Gerald Willhite accounted for 201 of SJSU's 243 total yards. Larry Smith's defense, paced by safety Chuck Cecil did enough against the rest of the Spartan offense to advance to the second round.
(155) 1986 Arizona State - 28
(1894) 1979 East Tennessee State - 13
John Cooper's Sun Devil defense was the story of the day. CB Eric Allen picked off two passes and the East Tennessee only managed 2 first downs in the first half.
(230) 1979 McNeese State - 22
(1819) 1978 North Carolina - 11
This was no upset. Artie Shankle (pictured) out-dueled Tar Heel RB Amos Lawrence by running for 133 yards and 2 touchdowns to lead the Cowboys. If you didn't think McNeese State would have a team in the second round of The Greatest Tournament of All Time, the '79 edition, which went 11-1, just proved you wrong.
(795) 1978 Miami (Ohio) - 20
(1254) 1998 Mississippi State - 19
Another Jackie Sherrill team bites the dust in Bracket #27. Safety Kirk Springs picked off freshman quarterback Wayne Madkin in the final minute to ensure a thrilling second round matchup between '78 Miami (OH) and '79 McNeese State.
(742) 2001 UCLA - 31
(1307) 2004 Toledo - 23
Bruin RB DeShaun Foster ran wild on the defenseless Rockets. Bruce Gradkowski and Lance Moore tried to keep up, but ran into a road block named Ricky Manning.
(283) 1980 Baylor - 26
(1766) 1977 Texas Southern - 14
The best Baylor team in the field, a shockingly loaded team, brushed off Texas Southern like they were a gnat. Walter Abercrombie rushed for 101 yards and 2 touchdowns while the Bear defense locked down. Mike Singletary is the name you know, but safety Vann McElroy led the way with 11 tackles.
(486) 1977 Central Michigan - 29
(1563) 1997 Arkansas - 12
Central Michigan RB Mose Rison ran by the overconfident Razorback defense time after time as the Chippewas blew out Arkansas in this opening round game. It wasn't Brandon Burlsworth's fault though.
(539) 1990 Nebraska - 30
(1510) 1982 Bowling Green - 16
Bowling Green DL Andre Young (pictured) was a force in the first half. He came out on a mission, and for a while it looked like the Falcons might be able to upset the Cornhuskers. But Mickey Joseph and Leodis Flowers finally got the option game going in the third quarter and put up two quick touchdowns to take a 23-16.
(998) 1995 Cincinnati - 24
(1051) 1999 Washington - 21
Rick Neuheisel and Marques Tuiasosopo couldn't find a way to beat Rick Minter's Bearcats. Cincinnati had an answer for every move the Huskies made. After a Tuiasosopo touchdown run gave UW a 21-17 lead with just over 2 minutes remaining, CB Anthony Vontoure was burned for a game winning 47-yard touchdown pass from QB Eric Vibberts to WR Robert Tate.
(27) 1988 Miami - 33
(2022) 1983 Texas A&M - 7
Miami hammered Texas A&M in this lopsided first round matchup. Steve Walsh threw for 332 yards and 4 touchdowns, and DL Bill Hawkins tacked on a safety for good measure to send Jackie Sherrill packing for the third time in this bracket.
Round 2 Matchups-
(102) 1994 Colorado vs (923) 2005 Minnesota
(411) 1981 Arizona State vs (614) 2002 Colorado
(358) 1990 Houston vs (667) 1995 Syracuse
(155) 1986 Arizona State vs (870) 1985 Arizona
(230) 1979 McNeese State vs (795) 1978 Miami (Ohio)
(283) 1980 Baylor vs (742) 2001 UCLA
(486) 1977 Central Michigan vs (539) 1990 Nebraska
(27) 1988 Miami vs (998) 1995 Cincinnati
(seed) year school - score
(102) 1994 Colorado - 42(1947) 2000 USC - 17
2000 was the last year Paul Hackett coached at USC, and this might have been why. Despite a loaded roster (Carson Palmer, Troy Polamalu, Sultan McCullough, Kareem Kelly), the Trojans were never in this game. Rashaan Salaam (pictured) ran for 178 yards in a little over two quarters and the Buffalo backups saw plenty of action to make sure the starters stay healthy for what could be a deep run in this tournament.
(923) 2005 Minnesota - 30
(1126) 1988 Texas A&M - 26
In a battle of the running backs, Minnesota's Laurence Maroney got the better of A&M's Darren Lewis. Maroney was unstoppable on the Power Blast Right, even against Wrecking Crew linebackers John Roper and Aaron Wallace.
(614) 2002 Colorado - 29
(1435) 1997 North Carolina State - 24
Jamie Barnette hooked up with Torry Holt for two touchdowns and blocked a punt to set up another score, but the Wolfpack defense couldn't keep up with Jeremy Bloom.
(411) 1981 Arizona State - 31
(1638) 1984 Alabama - 15
The Sun Devil defense suffocated an Alabama offense that couldn't decide on a quarterback. Vince Sutton and Mike Shula each played significant minutes, but neither found a way around Jim Jeffcoat and Vernon Maxwell. However, Alabama head coach Ray Perkins laid the foundation for future Alabama teams to succeed in this tournament.
(358) 1990 Houston - 37
(1691) 1993 Illinois - 20
Illinois got after David Klingler early in the game, and for a while it looked like the Illini might be ready to pull the upset of the tournament. But that changed when Klingler found his rhythm in the second half and quickly put the game out of reach. RB Chuck Weatherspoon quietly had a solid game ensuring there would be no miracle comeback.
(667) 1995 Syracuse - 25
(1382) 1989 Oklahoma - 24
Freshman QB Donovan McNabb had the magic touch in this round one matchup against the Sooners. He found Marvin Harrison in the end zone twice in the first half and the 'Cuse defense held off a second half Sooner comeback that ended when RB Mike Gaddis was stopped on fourth down and inches.
(870) 1985 Arizona - 23
(1179) 1980 San Jose State - 17
RB Gerald Willhite accounted for 201 of SJSU's 243 total yards. Larry Smith's defense, paced by safety Chuck Cecil did enough against the rest of the Spartan offense to advance to the second round.
(155) 1986 Arizona State - 28
(1894) 1979 East Tennessee State - 13
John Cooper's Sun Devil defense was the story of the day. CB Eric Allen picked off two passes and the East Tennessee only managed 2 first downs in the first half.
(230) 1979 McNeese State - 22(1819) 1978 North Carolina - 11
This was no upset. Artie Shankle (pictured) out-dueled Tar Heel RB Amos Lawrence by running for 133 yards and 2 touchdowns to lead the Cowboys. If you didn't think McNeese State would have a team in the second round of The Greatest Tournament of All Time, the '79 edition, which went 11-1, just proved you wrong.
(795) 1978 Miami (Ohio) - 20
(1254) 1998 Mississippi State - 19
Another Jackie Sherrill team bites the dust in Bracket #27. Safety Kirk Springs picked off freshman quarterback Wayne Madkin in the final minute to ensure a thrilling second round matchup between '78 Miami (OH) and '79 McNeese State.
(742) 2001 UCLA - 31
(1307) 2004 Toledo - 23
Bruin RB DeShaun Foster ran wild on the defenseless Rockets. Bruce Gradkowski and Lance Moore tried to keep up, but ran into a road block named Ricky Manning.
(283) 1980 Baylor - 26
(1766) 1977 Texas Southern - 14
The best Baylor team in the field, a shockingly loaded team, brushed off Texas Southern like they were a gnat. Walter Abercrombie rushed for 101 yards and 2 touchdowns while the Bear defense locked down. Mike Singletary is the name you know, but safety Vann McElroy led the way with 11 tackles.
(486) 1977 Central Michigan - 29
(1563) 1997 Arkansas - 12
Central Michigan RB Mose Rison ran by the overconfident Razorback defense time after time as the Chippewas blew out Arkansas in this opening round game. It wasn't Brandon Burlsworth's fault though.
(539) 1990 Nebraska - 30(1510) 1982 Bowling Green - 16
Bowling Green DL Andre Young (pictured) was a force in the first half. He came out on a mission, and for a while it looked like the Falcons might be able to upset the Cornhuskers. But Mickey Joseph and Leodis Flowers finally got the option game going in the third quarter and put up two quick touchdowns to take a 23-16.
(998) 1995 Cincinnati - 24
(1051) 1999 Washington - 21
Rick Neuheisel and Marques Tuiasosopo couldn't find a way to beat Rick Minter's Bearcats. Cincinnati had an answer for every move the Huskies made. After a Tuiasosopo touchdown run gave UW a 21-17 lead with just over 2 minutes remaining, CB Anthony Vontoure was burned for a game winning 47-yard touchdown pass from QB Eric Vibberts to WR Robert Tate.
(27) 1988 Miami - 33
(2022) 1983 Texas A&M - 7
Miami hammered Texas A&M in this lopsided first round matchup. Steve Walsh threw for 332 yards and 4 touchdowns, and DL Bill Hawkins tacked on a safety for good measure to send Jackie Sherrill packing for the third time in this bracket.
Round 2 Matchups-
(102) 1994 Colorado vs (923) 2005 Minnesota
(411) 1981 Arizona State vs (614) 2002 Colorado
(358) 1990 Houston vs (667) 1995 Syracuse
(155) 1986 Arizona State vs (870) 1985 Arizona
(230) 1979 McNeese State vs (795) 1978 Miami (Ohio)
(283) 1980 Baylor vs (742) 2001 UCLA
(486) 1977 Central Michigan vs (539) 1990 Nebraska
(27) 1988 Miami vs (998) 1995 Cincinnati
1 comment:
I loved the Arkansas "Clark Kent" that is awesome and a Mike Gaddis Highlight tribute......unbelievable. Do you think they have enough Apple Cup highlights on youtube you would think it was the national championship. Also by the way some of your pictures did not stay on was looking forward to Mickey Joseph :(
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