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2001 GMAC BOWL

The matchup of future NFL quarterbacks pointed towards some offensive fireworks but no one was ready for the explosion that took place in Mobile at the 2001 GMAC Bowl.

Trailing 38-8 at the half, it looked as if Byron Leftwich and Marshall were overmatched against David Garrard and ECU. But two quick TDs in the third quarter opened the floodgates and a second half for the ages broke out. Two pick-six interceptions and a Leftwich running score capped a 28-point third quarter for the Thundering Herd.

The Pirates seemed to steady their ship in the fourth quarter and when Leonard Henry (195 yds, 3 TDs) rambled 55 yards for a touchdown, ECU looked in good shape with a 51-42 lead with just five minutes to play. But this game was far from over.

“I couldn’t give up,” Leftwich said. “That’s stupid. It makes no sense. We knew we could move the ball and score some points on these guys. It was just a matter of time when we were going to do it.”

The Herd scratched out a field goal from Curtis Head and then quickly retained possession. Leftwich went back to work and found Darius Watts for a touchdown with seven seconds remaining. When the extra point kick dramatically missed, the game moved into overtime.

Both teams scored in the first O.T. on running plays but when ECU was forced to settle for a field goal in the second extra session, Leftwich had his chance. He delivered, this time connecting with Josh Davis for an 8-yard score that sent Marshall’s players pouring onto the field in celebration.

The scoring included four defensive touchdowns, two by East Carolina in the first four minutes of the game and the two by Marshall in the third quarter.

Leftwich was the clear star of the day with an amazing 576 passing yards and four touchdowns. He’d use that effort as a springboard to a senior season where he led the Herd to an 11-2 finish once again, beat Louisville in another GMAC Bowl and finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting.

The game’s 125 points set a new record for the highest-scoring bowl contest, easily eclipsing Texas Tech’s 55-41 victory over Air Force in the 1995 Copper Bowl.

1965 Orange Bowl

The Lords of college football certainly owned a keen eye for timing when they decided to shine the prime-time television spotlight on a premier bowl game for the first time on New Year’s night in 1965.

The matchup of newly crowned national champion Alabama (10-0) and defending national champ Texas (9-1) paired two of the sport’s giants. Coaches Bear Bryant and Darrell Royal were at the top of their games and stars populated both benches. Put this mix on display at the Orange Bowl and it’s easy to see why NBC was happy that its $600,000 rights fee led to strong ratings and an appetite for more nighttime football.

The game itself revolved around the biggest star, Crimson Tide quarterback Joe Namath. The senior had injured his knee in the season’s fourth game but backup Steve Sloan took over and kept winning. Namath returned for short doses, and plenty of heroics, the rest of the season and the Tide rolled into Miami undefeated and the pick as the wire service’s national champs in an era when voting took place before the bowls.

Texas came to town owning plans to ruin the dream season, however. That’s what happened as the Longhorns jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead. Bryant countered with sending in Namath in the second quarter but the Tide trailed 21-7 at halftime.

The second half belonged to Namath. He could not run but he sure could pass, much to the delight of his future New York Jets coach, Weeb Ewbank, who watched from the press box. A touchdown pass to Ray Perkins and a field goal pulled ‘Bama to within 21-17 early in the fourth quarter. On the game’s final drive, Namath had his team first-and-goal from the six-yard line. Three dives moved the ball to the one. After some confusion in a timeout, Namath suggested that he take it across. As the ball was snapped and Namath moved to his right, Texas linebacker star Tommy Nobis dove in the same direction. The two disappeared in a pile of Crimson, white and burnt orange.

“One official said it was a score, but the referee said no,” said a livid Namath. “I guess you know whose side I was on.”