I broke three fingers on my right hand watching this game. Or maybe it was just one finger but the story has gotten better. That final pass to Robin Weber when I left up in my living room jamming my hand into the ceiling.
one of the best games of all time, although I was an Alabama fan as an 8 yr old and pulling for Bama, I now love the wing T offense that Notre Dame ran..ironically I went to school at Auburn still think the Wing T is a great offense that will work at any level
I’m a diehard ND fan but wife graduated at Auburn. I have nothing but respect for Bama because ND and Bama are easily the two greatest college football programs of all time. I hate when people divide us from north and south-we are all Americans 🇺🇸
In the early and mid 70s Alabama would beat up on everybody in the SEC but in the Bowl games they got it handed to them. Texas,Nebraska and ND beat them.
Down by 2 with 3-4 minutes left in the game - why did Bear not accept the roughing the kicker call on 4th down, and give Bama a chance to take the lead? Giving the ball back, even on their own one yard line with so little time left and trailing by two points is bizarre. A couple first downs and the game is lost…
Roughing the punter was only 15 yard penalty in cfb back then. It was not accompanied with an automatic first down. Alabama takes the penalty it would have been 4th and 5. Alabama pinned ND deep on their own 1 yard line with 3 and half minutes to go. If Alabama had held ND they would have gotten the ball back on NDs 45 yard line or somewhere there close with minute to go for a field goal at 10 or somewhere there abouts.
This was the first college football national championship after I started following sports as a kid. I have to admit I wasn't that interested, because I disliked both teams. (I was more interested in the Penn St Orange Bowl - which was disappointing, because the Heisman Trophy winner Cappelletti had a poor game rushing). However, this game has a somewhat historical moment. The person who scored the touchdown from the play at 20:00, Wilbur Jackson, was the first African-American to receive a football scholarship from Alabama. He was actually one of 2 to be the first to play for Alabama, because the other, John Mitchell, was a JuCo transfer. Other notable people in this game. One of the QBs for Alabama was Richard Todd, who had a nice career with the Jets. The then freshman ND defensive lineman, Ross Browner, went on to have a storied college career, and is on the all-time Bengals team. Finally, the TE for ND, Dave Casper is in both the college and pro football Halls of Fame.
I was baffled by Bear's decision at the time, too. Alabama faced a 4th and 19. Back then, roughing the kicker was merely a 15-yard penalty and not an automatic first down. Gant's punt carried 69 yards down to the ND 1. Bear chose field position over possession.
Faced with 4th and 4 in your own territory or field position, Bear Bryant chose to give ND the ball at the one with 3 and a half minutes to play. Still sound crazy?
pude 1963, ..... No Bear was 0-4 against Notre Dame. I believe Bear Bryant was 1-6 against Texas. He did not beat Texas while at Alabama, but did beat Texas when he was coach at Texas A&M.
Manny, Alabama was awarded the UPI National Championship prior to the bowl game that year. It was one of two Alabama National Championships awarded prior to the bowl, and then Alabama would go on to the lose the bowl. After this game, UPI decided to join the AP and wait until after the bowl games to determine a National Championship. It is a legit championship for Alabama. So, yes, they should claim it.
Bummer that a 4 team playoff wasn't around. Michigan vs Notre Dame and OSU vs. Alabama in the semis. Winners play for it all in Miami. PS- I have never heard Howard Cosell say so few words in my life! 😂
The odds of making a 4th&5 after a 5 yd loss, an incomplete pass, and 5 yd qb sack would be, with 3 minutes to go, might be 20 pct, especially with the offense they had then. If you take the punt, the odds are about 5-10 they get a safety and take the lead, the ball, and the clock. The odds stopping them before one first down is about 55 pct. ND was penalized on 3rd down, a ghastly mistake, if they lost, but Tom Clements hits Robin Weber for a first down, presaging Eli Manning to Mario Manningham by 35 years. It was a tough call with both options being close. What if there was no roughing the kicker penalty? Would you still go for it? The score and time is still the same and if you fail you still need to force a 3 and out. I may have gone for it, I was 13 at the time and a USC fan, but Bama was not built for 4th&5. The Tide should have played better defense on that 3rd down. P.S. The completion to Dave Casper on the go ahead FG drive was the more important play. Without it, they probably don’t take the lead. And without the lead, they probably don’t win. I be smart.
Epic game for the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP! #1 11-0 Alabama vs #3 10-0 Notre Dame. (#2 Oklahoma had a tie, and was on probation and ineligible to play a bowl game) First time EVER NOTRE DAME VS ALABAMA. Before the game, Bear Bryant called this game "the most important game in the History of the South." Why? Because of the Deep South History of Anti Catholic bigotry and hatred. The KKK was very anti Catholic. Bear and Bama fans also were irked and peeved that they thought ND got "special favor" from sportswriters in the NE and Midwest. He didn't mention the pro Bama sportswriters in the South, lol. Bear also thought he was robbed of a NC in 1966 when Bama's all white segregated team finished THIRD in both polls behind #1 ND and #2 Mich St. This despite Bama being gifted controversial NC in 64 and 65 (split w Mich St). To put it simply, there was a seething hatred of Notre Dame even though they had never played each other by Bear, the Bama fans and most of the Deep South. Finally, Bear and Bama fans wanted to try to catch Notre Dame in all time NC, so they desperately wanted to win this first meeting with everything on the line. It was a classic game, I remember watching it on TV as a young teenager. Epic ND WIN FOR THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!! The 2 best teams meeting in a NC game long before the playoff era. Ara>Bear. FINAL COLLEGE POLL OF THE YEAR (AP) 1. NOTRE DAME 11-0 (33 1st pl) 2. Ohio St 10-0-1 (11) 3. Oklahoma 10-0-1 (16) 4. ALABAMA 11-1 (0 1st pl votes) NOTRE DAME 1973 CONSENSUS NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 🏆 PERFECT SEASON BAMA LOST "THE MOST IMPORTANT GAME IN THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH" Notre Dame would play Bama again in a NYD Bowl in the 1974 season, the Orange Bowl. Ara, in his last game as ND coach, and Notre Dame AGAIN beat UNDEFEATED #1 Bear and Bama 13-11 TO SPOIL 2 POSSIBLE NC IN A ROW FOR BAMA. BEAR BRYANT WENT TO HIS GRAVE 0-4 VS NOTRE DAME. NOTRE DAME DIRECTLY COST BEAR AND BAMA FIVE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. (66, 73, 74, 77, 80) I LOVE IT!!☘☘☘☘☘☘☘☘☘
Fun Fact: This game has the highest TV ratings of any college game in history. Higher than the 1971 Oklahoma/Nebraska game. Higher than the 1969 Texas/Arkansas game and the 1966 Michigan / ND game.
??.. What are you referring to? If it was roughing the punter call the penalty was only a 15 yarder. There was no automatic first down in cfb back then for roughing the punter. Alabama would have been stuck with 4th and 5 yards to go for a first down on their side of the field.
@@johnhebert3855 ... Fair point. But, unlike Texas Alabama only needed a Field goal to win. Texas had to go for it. They needed to go all the way and stick it in the end zone for the win. Texas needed 7. Alabama needed only 3. It was a calculated risk. If Alabama could have held ND to a 3 and out series which they did a few times throughout the game Bama stood poised to get the ball back around Notre Dame's 45 maybe even 40-yard line. They would have had 80 seconds to get to ND's 20 yard line to kick a field goal for the win. Alabama lost 20 yards on the 3 previous plays before they punted. It almost worked. Alabama stuffed ND. It was 3rd and 19. Unfortunately for Alabama ND pulled off a Street to Peschel play. It was a Clements to Weber. As an Alabama fan all the kudos in the world to ND. It was a gutsy play.
Look, I hate Alabama as much as any righteous American should, but that's just a flat out mistruth. Alabama was desegregated by this time. Heck, if you watch the game, Kenneth, you can see black dudes PLAYING FOR ALABAMA!
They had just started allowing black kids to play a few years before. Heck every SEC school was ALL WHITE until the early 60s when the Federal Govt had to force the Racist Governors like Wallace to allow black students into the State Public Universities under Civil Rights laws. Bear realized when Bama got their azzes kicked by an integrated USC team chock full of black RB that they weren't going to be able to keep up with USC, Notre Dame, the B10 etc unless they allowed black kids to play. Purely about football success of course, not Civil Rights.
Coach Gary DiNardo playing in this game.
I broke three fingers on my right hand watching this game. Or maybe it was just one finger but the story has gotten better. That final pass to Robin Weber when I left up in my living room jamming my hand into the ceiling.
My dad booked a flight and we were on an airplane.... I'm still in therapy over that...
one of the best games of all time, although I was an Alabama fan as an 8 yr old and pulling for Bama, I now love the wing T offense that Notre Dame ran..ironically I went to school at Auburn
still think the Wing T is a great offense that will work at any level
Wishbone vs the Wing-T...that is old school football! I miss it
I’m a diehard ND fan but wife graduated at Auburn. I have nothing but respect for Bama because ND and Bama are easily the two greatest college football programs of all time.
I hate when people divide us from north and south-we are all Americans 🇺🇸
“They call Alabama the Crimson Tide
Call me Deacon Blues”
Steely Dan reference 👀.......nice
And they call Notre Dame the Fighting Irish, the 1973 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!
Love me some Steely Dan. I remember this game I was 12 years old.
This is game that Bama QB (backup?) Richard Todd, later Jets QB, CAUGHT a TD pass on a trick play.
Bear (Bama) - ND trivia : 1st meeting Bama loses by 1, 2nd meeting Bama loses by 2, 3rd meeting Bama loses by 3
In the early and mid 70s Alabama would beat up on everybody in the SEC but in the Bowl games they got it handed to them. Texas,Nebraska and ND beat them.
Down by 2 with 3-4 minutes left in the game - why did Bear not accept the roughing the kicker call on 4th down, and give Bama a chance to take the lead?
Giving the ball back, even on their own one yard line with so little time left and trailing by two points is bizarre.
A couple first downs and the game is lost…
Roughing the punter was only 15 yard penalty in cfb back then. It was not accompanied with an automatic first down.
Alabama takes the penalty it would have been 4th and 5.
Alabama pinned ND deep on their own 1 yard line with 3 and half minutes to go. If Alabama had held ND they would have gotten the ball back on NDs 45 yard line or somewhere there close with minute to go for a field goal at 10 or somewhere there abouts.
@@Bamruff62 makes sense, didn’t realize the rules changed for roughing the kicker…
This was the first college football national championship after I started following sports as a kid. I have to admit I wasn't that interested, because I disliked both teams. (I was more interested in the Penn St Orange Bowl - which was disappointing, because the Heisman Trophy winner Cappelletti had a poor game rushing). However, this game has a somewhat historical moment. The person who scored the touchdown from the play at 20:00, Wilbur Jackson, was the first African-American to receive a football scholarship from Alabama. He was actually one of 2 to be the first to play for Alabama, because the other, John Mitchell, was a JuCo transfer.
Other notable people in this game. One of the QBs for Alabama was Richard Todd, who had a nice career with the Jets. The then freshman ND defensive lineman, Ross Browner, went on to have a storied college career, and is on the all-time Bengals team. Finally, the TE for ND, Dave Casper is in both the college and pro football Halls of Fame.
Refused roughing the kicker and you are down by one? LOL
I was baffled by Bear's decision at the time, too. Alabama faced a 4th and 19. Back then, roughing the kicker was merely a 15-yard penalty and not an automatic first down. Gant's punt carried 69 yards down to the ND 1. Bear chose field position over possession.
Faced with 4th and 4 in your own territory or field position, Bear Bryant chose to give ND the ball at the one with 3 and a half minutes to play. Still sound crazy?
Doesn't get any better than Bear vs. Ara. (And I'm an Ohio State grad.)
This was the night that I became a college football fan.
Let us not forget Bear Bryant was 0-7 against Notre Dame
pude 1963, ..... No Bear was 0-4 against Notre Dame. I believe Bear Bryant was 1-6 against Texas. He did not beat Texas while at Alabama, but did beat Texas when he was coach at Texas A&M.
@@Bamruff62 I stand corrected
@Cavalcade of Fred Couples no he was 2-2 against USC
Bear was also 0-3 vs Alabama
@@dnews9519 Saban is 2-0 against ND
RIP Art Best, Pete Demerle, and Willie Fry...
Alabama still tries to claim the title that year when Notre Dame beat them what bums they are.
Manny, Alabama was awarded the UPI National Championship prior to the bowl game that year. It was one of two Alabama National Championships awarded prior to the bowl, and then Alabama would go on to the lose the bowl. After this game, UPI decided to join the AP and wait until after the bowl games to determine a National Championship. It is a legit championship for Alabama. So, yes, they should claim it.
Tim Marsh nope
Tim Marsh I think it’s because your butthurt that FSU sucks and they are where they belong mediocre!
@@Manny______ College Football isn’t good without either a very good Florida State or Notre Dame for that matter.
@@tmarsh0307 they can claim it but it doesn't make it theirs
Bummer that a 4 team playoff wasn't around. Michigan vs Notre Dame and OSU vs. Alabama in the semis. Winners play for it all in Miami.
PS- I have never heard Howard Cosell say so few words in my life! 😂
The odds of making a 4th&5 after a 5 yd loss, an incomplete pass, and 5 yd qb sack would be, with 3 minutes to go, might be 20 pct, especially with the offense they had then. If you take the punt, the odds are about 5-10 they get a safety and take the lead, the ball, and the clock. The odds stopping them before one first down is about 55 pct. ND was penalized on 3rd down, a ghastly mistake, if they lost, but Tom Clements hits Robin Weber for a first down, presaging Eli Manning to Mario Manningham by 35 years.
It was a tough call with both options being close. What if there was no roughing the kicker penalty? Would you still go for it? The score and time is still the same and if you fail you still need to force a 3 and out. I may have gone for it, I was 13 at the time and a USC fan, but Bama was not built for 4th&5. The Tide should have played better defense on that 3rd down.
P.S. The completion to Dave Casper on the go ahead FG drive was the more important play. Without it, they probably don’t take the lead. And without the lead, they probably don’t win. I be smart.
Future CFL legend Tom Clements
ARA you were great!
Epic game for the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!
#1 11-0 Alabama vs #3 10-0 Notre Dame. (#2 Oklahoma had a tie, and was on probation and ineligible to play a bowl game)
First time EVER NOTRE DAME VS ALABAMA.
Before the game, Bear Bryant called this game "the most important game in the History of the South."
Why?
Because of the Deep South History of Anti Catholic bigotry and hatred. The KKK was very anti Catholic.
Bear and Bama fans also were irked and peeved that they thought ND got "special favor" from sportswriters in the NE and Midwest. He didn't mention the pro Bama sportswriters in the South, lol.
Bear also thought he was robbed of a NC in 1966 when Bama's all white segregated team finished THIRD in both polls behind #1 ND and #2 Mich St. This despite Bama being gifted controversial NC in 64 and 65 (split w Mich St).
To put it simply, there was a seething hatred of Notre Dame even though they had never played each other by Bear, the Bama fans and most of the Deep South.
Finally, Bear and Bama fans wanted to try to catch Notre Dame in all time NC, so they desperately wanted to win this first meeting with everything on the line.
It was a classic game, I remember watching it on TV as a young teenager. Epic ND WIN FOR THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!! The 2 best teams meeting in a NC game long before the playoff era.
Ara>Bear.
FINAL COLLEGE POLL OF THE YEAR (AP)
1. NOTRE DAME 11-0 (33 1st pl)
2. Ohio St 10-0-1 (11)
3. Oklahoma 10-0-1 (16)
4. ALABAMA 11-1 (0 1st pl votes)
NOTRE DAME 1973 CONSENSUS NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 🏆
PERFECT SEASON
BAMA LOST "THE MOST IMPORTANT GAME IN THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH"
Notre Dame would play Bama again in a NYD Bowl in the 1974 season, the Orange Bowl.
Ara, in his last game as ND coach, and Notre Dame AGAIN beat UNDEFEATED #1 Bear and Bama 13-11 TO SPOIL 2 POSSIBLE NC IN A ROW FOR BAMA.
BEAR BRYANT WENT TO HIS GRAVE 0-4 VS NOTRE DAME. NOTRE DAME DIRECTLY COST BEAR AND BAMA FIVE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. (66, 73, 74, 77, 80)
I LOVE IT!!☘☘☘☘☘☘☘☘☘
Classic cover photo of one of the great plays in college football history
Fun Fact: This game has the highest TV ratings of any college game in history. Higher than the 1971 Oklahoma/Nebraska game. Higher than the 1969 Texas/Arkansas game and the 1966 Michigan / ND game.
Line play and running the ball was key. The Irish dominated.
Declining the running into the kicker penalty turned out to be a mistake.
Howard Cosell.... screwing up another game....Boy did ND throw a lot of defensive fronts at the Tide.
What a stupid decision. The Bear done lost his mind in the last 2.5 minutes!
??.. What are you referring to?
If it was roughing the punter call the penalty was only a 15 yarder. There was no automatic first down in cfb back then for roughing the punter. Alabama would have been stuck with 4th and 5 yards to go for a first down on their side of the field.
@@Bamruff62 You have to depend on your offense in that situation, down by one. Remember that legendary game four years earlier--Street to Peschel.
@@johnhebert3855 ... Fair point. But, unlike Texas Alabama only needed a Field goal to win. Texas had to go for it. They needed to go all the way and stick it in the end zone for the win. Texas needed 7. Alabama needed only 3.
It was a calculated risk. If Alabama could have held ND to a 3 and out series which they did a few times throughout the game Bama stood poised to get the ball back around Notre Dame's 45 maybe even 40-yard line. They would have had 80 seconds to get to ND's 20 yard line to kick a field goal for the win.
Alabama lost 20 yards on the 3 previous plays before they punted.
It almost worked. Alabama stuffed ND. It was 3rd and 19. Unfortunately for Alabama ND pulled off a Street to Peschel play.
It was a Clements to Weber. As an Alabama fan all the kudos in the world to ND. It was a gutsy play.
P
Segregated team loses to integrated team
Alabama had black players in 73 you racist
Alabama desegregated in 1970
Look, I hate Alabama as much as any righteous American should, but that's just a flat out mistruth. Alabama was desegregated by this time. Heck, if you watch the game, Kenneth, you can see black dudes PLAYING FOR ALABAMA!
They had just started allowing black kids to play a few years before. Heck every SEC school was ALL WHITE until the early 60s when the Federal Govt had to force the Racist Governors like Wallace to allow black students into the State Public Universities under Civil Rights laws.
Bear realized when Bama got their azzes kicked by an integrated USC team chock full of black RB that they weren't going to be able to keep up with USC, Notre Dame, the B10 etc unless they allowed black kids to play. Purely about football success of course, not Civil Rights.