The 1970 College All-Star Game
In
1970 Otto Graham was back for his tenth and final All-Star Game. No
other man had devoted as much time or coached the All-Stars as often in
the series’ 36 year history. The Kansas City Chiefs prepared for only
five days before the game scheduled on July 31 before a crowd of 69,940
fans. The threat of a strike by the NFL Players Association against the
owners had become a reality and following the game the Chiefs disbanded
to join the strike. Coach Graham’s team played fairly well during the
game, notably on defense. Some of his players that year included Bruce
Taylor (MVP) of Boston, Mike Phipps of Purdue, Dennis Shaw of San Diego
State, Al Cowlings of USC, Ron Shanklin of North Texas State, Bob
Anderson of Colorado, Art Malone of Arizona State, Cedric Hardman of
North Texas State, Mike McCoy of Notre Dame, Mike Reid of Penn State and
Charlie Waters of Clemson.
On their second possession, the Chiefs’ Len Dawson, a former All-Star
himself from 1959, threw a 36-yard pass to wide receiver Frank Pitts for
the game’s
first
score. Jan Stenerud kicked the extra point. Later in the same period,
Stenerud kicked a 43-yard field goal to give the Chiefs a 10-0 first
quarter lead. In the second period, Willie Lanier intercepted an
All-Star pass and returned it 15 yards setting up a run around left end
by Warren McVea for another Chiefs’ touchdown. Stenerud converted. Also
in the second period, Jim Kearney intercepted another All-Star pass and
returned it 65 yards for a touchdown. Stenerud kicked the extra point
and the Chiefs had wrapped up the victory by halftime with a lead of
24-0. Mike Delaney of American International College, a left-footed
soccer style kicking specialist, booted a 29-yard field goal to give the
All-Stars their only points of the evening, making the final score 24-3.
