1977 Sun Bowl (December)

The 1977 Sun Bowl game was a post-season college football bowl game between the LSU Tigers and the Stanford Cardinals played on December 31, 1977, at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas. It was the 44th edition of the Sun Bowl (43rd playing between collegiate teams).

1977 Sun Bowl
LSU Tigers Stanford Cardinals
(8–3) (8–3)
SEC Pac-8
14 24
Head coach: 
Charles McClendon		 Head coach: 
Bill Walsh
1234 Total
LSU 7700 14
Stanford 01077 24
DateDecember 31, 1977
Season1977
StadiumSun Bowl Stadium
LocationEl Paso, Texas
MVPCharles Alexander (RB), LSU
Gordy Ceresino (LB), Stanford
RefereeDonald Safrit (ACC)
Attendance31,318
United States TV coverage
NetworkCBS
AnnouncersPat Summerall (Play-by-Play)
Tom Brookshier (Analyst)
Burt Reynolds (Analyst)

LSU running back Charles Alexander ran for 197 yards and a first half touchdown, but Stanford's defense held the Tigers scoreless in the second half, and quarterback Guy Benjamin threw for 269 yards and three touchdowns on the day to lead the Cardinals to a 24–14 victory.

Teams

Stanford Cardinals
Main article: 1977 Stanford Cardinals football team

Stanford finished the regular season tied for second place in the Pac-8 conference under first-year head coach Bill Walsh, and was making its first ever non-Rose Bowl postseason appearance. The Cardinals were noted for their pass-heavy offense, led by Sammy Baugh Trophy-award winning quarterback Guy Benjamin, wide receiver James Lofton, and freshman running back Darrin Nelson.[1]

LSU Tigers
Main article: 1977 LSU Tigers football team

LSU finished third in the SEC behind long-time coach Charles McClendon. The Tigers were led by running back Charles Alexander, the number two rusher in college football behind Heisman Trophy winner Earl Campbell.[1]

Game summary

After holding Stanford on its first possession, LSU marched 80 yards in nine plays and scored on a short pass play. Stanford answered on a long pass from Benjamin to Lofton to tie the score and added a Ken Naber field goal to move ahead, 10–7. Just before halftime, LSU running back Alexander scored on a seven-yard run to retake the lead, giving him 123 yards for the half. He would end with 197 yards on the day, establishing a new Sun Bowl rushing record, surpassing Tony Dorsett's 142 yards. He was named the game's offensive most valuable player.[2]

The second half was all Stanford. Benjamin threw two more touchdown passes, a short 2-yarder to Lofton and a 20-yard pass to Nelson. Benjamin ended the day 23 for 36 passing for 269 yards and three touchdowns, a Sun Bowl record. Lofton had 4 receptions for 79 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, Stanford held LSU scoreless in the second half, and intercepted three passes. Linebacker Gordy Ceresino recorded 22 tackles to lead the Cardinals, and was named the game's defensive MVP.[2][3]

Scoring

First quarter
  • LSU - Mike Quintela 3-yard pass from Steve Ensminger (Mike Conway kick)

Second quarter

Third quarter
  • Stanford - Lofton 2-yard pass from Benjamin (Naber kick)

Fourth quarter
  • Stanford - Darrin Nelson 20-yard pass from Benjamin (Ken Naber run)

Aftermath

Walsh would lead Stanford to another bowl appearance the next season in the 1978 Bluebonnet Bowl, and then was hired as head coach of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers, eventually leading them to three Super Bowl titles. Walsh returned to Stanford in 1992 and coached the Cardinal for three seasons and one bowl victory. Stanford's football program slid after Walsh's departure, and they would not return to a bowl for 8 years when they earned a berth in the 1986 Gator Bowl. Receiver Lofton played 15 years in the NFL (mostly with the Green Bay Packers) and, like Walsh, is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

McClendon coached two more seasons for LSU, leading them to postseason appearances in the 1978 Liberty Bowl and 1979 Tangerine Bowl, and then retired from coaching. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986. Alexander played for the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XVI against Walsh's 49ers and is best known for being stopped inches short of the goal by San Francisco linebacker Dan Bunz on a third down pass in the third quarter with the 49ers leading, 20-7. The Bengals were held scoreless on that drive when Pete Johnson was stuffed on fourth down, helping the 49ers go on to a 26-21 victory.

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References
  1. "Offense key to Sun Bowl". Observer-Reporter. December 31, 1977. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
  2. "Cardinals win a duel in the sun". Register-Guard. January 1, 1978. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  3. "1977 Sun Bowl" (PDF). Stanford Football Media Guide. Stanford Athletics. p. 161. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
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