The 1976 College All-Star Game
The
Pittsburgh Steelers and a thunderstorm rolled into Chicago in the summer
of 1976 for what would be the last of the Chicago Charities College
All-Star Football Games. Accepting the position of coach for the
All-Stars was Ara Parseghian. In 1975, Parseghian had retired from
coaching football at the University of Notre Dame where he had earned a
record of 95 wins, 17 losses and 4 ties. Among the players on the
All-Star team in 1976 were Jackie Slater of Jackson State, Joe
Washington of Oklahoma, Tony Galbreath of Missouri, brothers Lee Roy
Selmon and Dewey Selmon of Oklahoma, Larry Gordon of Arizona State, Kim
Bokamper of San Jose State and Mike Pruitt of Purdue. Despite the stormy
conditions, 52,095 people came out to Soldier Field on July 23, 1976 to
watch a game which some believed had lost its raison d’etre.
Tornado
warnings had been issued for all of Chicago and rain had drenched the
field as the contest began. The Steelers’ Roy Gerela kicked a 29-yard
field goal in the first quarter and kicked two more for 32 and 23 yards
in the second quarter ending the half with the score 9-0. By the third
period, the weather had begun to look menacing again and a strong wind
started to blow. The Steelers were beginning to gain momentum and after
a safety had increased the lead to 11-0, Franco Harris found the end
zone on a 21-yard end run. Tommy Reamon, formerly of the World Football
League, scored again for the Steelers in the third quarter on a 2-yard
run and, with Gerela’s conversions, the scoring would end at 24-0.
With 1:22 remaining in the third quarter, a cloudburst opened and the
field was flooded with rain. As the players were ordered off the field
the fans began spilling onto it, running and sliding on the slick
surface. Crowd control was lost and 12 minutes after play had ceased,
Commissioner of the NFL Pete Rozelle and Cooper Rollow of the Chicago
Charities canceled the game. The official reason was due to weather,
dangerous field conditions and risk of injury to both players and fans.
The Steelers had amassed 238 total yards and the All-Stars had gained
52. The Stars ventured into Pittsburgh territory only three times during
the game and two of those were on interceptions.
And thus the series ended. It had begun in 1934 and was played 42 times
in 43 years. The professionals won 31 games and the All-Stars won 9. The
1934 and 1936 games ended in ties. The professionals won in 1976 for the
twelfth straight time and many agreed that the series had outlived its
usefulness. But, as a showcase for talent, the series had more than
provided for its fans, who never stopped showing up to watch the Stars
come out to play.
