The 1969 College All-Star Game
Probably
the most controversial win in the series’ history occurred during the
game played on August 1, 1969 at Soldier Field in Chicago. A crowd of
74,208 fans, the largest since the late 1950s, gathered to watch the
graduates of college football meet Joe Namath and the Super Bowl
champion New York Jets in the annual College All-Star Game. Otto Graham
was back again to coach the All-Star team for the ninth time. On his
team that year were Greg Cook (MVP) of Cincinnati, Terry Hanratty of
Notre Dame, Fred Dryer of San Diego State, Ed Podolak of Iowa, Jim
Seymour of Notre Dame, Jerry LeVias of Southern Methodist, Bill Bergey
of Arkansas State and Roger Wehrli of Missouri. Noticeably absent from
this game were Heisman Trophy winner O.J. Simpson of USC and Heisman
runner-up Leroy Keyes of Purdue. The score at the end of the game was
26-24 in favor of the Jets, but some still debate that conclusion as a
misinterpretation of the dead ball rule, which deprived the All-Stars of
a legitimate touchdown.
The Jets’ Jim Turner kicked two field goals for 43 and 16 yards in the
first quarter to take the lead 6-0. After a 76-yard drive with Namath at
the helm, Matt Snell powered into the end zone from the three. With
Turner’s extra point, the score was 13-0 at the end of the first half.
The opening of the third quarter saw Jim Turner kick another 42-yard
field goal increasing the Jets’ lead, 16-0, eerily reminiscent of the
previous season’s Super Bowl. Midway through the third period, however,
Altie Taylor of Utah State returned a kickoff 78 yards to the Jets’ 19
and the tide seemed to turn in favor of the All-Stars. Gene Washington
of Stanford scored one play later on a 17-yard pass from Greg Cook. Roy
Gerala of New Mexico State added an extra point to make the score 16-7.
Later in the same period, Rudy Redmond of Pacific managed to intercept a
pass and return it 52 yards for a touchdown. But it was called back by
an official who applied the college dead ball rule. The game was being
played under the pro rule. Redmond had hit the turf, but should not have
been called down as he was untouched.
Still
in the third quarter, Namath was again intercepted, which helped set up
a 28-yard field goal by Gerala and the score was 16-10. Before the end
of the quarter, the Jets’ Snell went wide on a 35-yard run for a TD.
Turner converted. The two teams had combined for 27 points in the third
quarter. Going into the fourth and behind 23-10, the All-Stars’ Cook
completed a 54-yard pass to Taylor to reach the Jets’ 12-yard line. On
the next play, Cook passed to Bobby Klein of USC for the touchdown.
Gerala converted to tighten the score 23-17. As the period progressed,
Turner added a fourth (record-tying) field goal from 13 yards out giving
the Jets a 26-17 lead. But the All-Stars continued to play and with
tempers flaring between both squads, Cook threw a 19-yard pass to Jerry
LeVias of Southern Methodist who scored and Gerala’s extra point made
the score Jets 26 - All-Stars 24.
Some All-Star series’ records were established during this controversial
game, including the longest kick-off return (pro or college) by Altie
Taylor of Utah State for 78 yards, most All-Star touchdown passes (3) by
Greg Cook of Cincinnati. Jim Turner of the Jets tied the most field
goals (pro or college) and the Jets set the record for most first downs
(28).
