Peach Bowl
1974
Texas Tech 6
Vanderbilt 6
In the 7th Peach Bowl game, Vanderbilt, making its first bowl
appearance in 19 years, locked horns with Texas Tech in a defensive
struggle that ended in a tie. It was not known at the time, but the 1974
Peach Bowl would be the last game for Steve Sloan to coach Vanderbilt.
The 1974 Commodores entered the seventh annual Peach Bowl in Atlanta
Stadium with a 7-3-1 record. Only 31,695 fans were in attendance with
the majority belonging to Vanderbilt. Their opponent was Texas Tech, who
was coached by Jim Carlen. It was known that this would be Carlen’s last
game at Tech, as he would become the new head coach at South Carolina.
Both defenses would dominate the game. Defensive tackle Dennis Harrison
was a Commodore freshman and dominated on defense to earn MVP honors.
His blocked field goal attempt was a key factor in preventing a
Commodore loss.
Late in the first half, Vanderbilt quarterback David Lee, overthrew a
pass to Walter Overton that was intercepted in the Red Raider end zone.
A few plays later, Jay Chesley picked off a Tech pass returning the ball
to the Rader 14-yard line. The short drive stalled and Mark Adams booted
a Vandy field goal good for 30 yards. The Commodores led, 3-0. Randy
Olsen made an endzone interception to negate a Vanderbilt drive with 5
minutes remaining in the first half. Tech then drove 79 yards to the
Commodore 1 yard line with :47 seconds remaining in the first half, but
Vandy mounted a goal line stand. On first and goal, Tech running back
Larry Isaac was stopped for no gain. With one timeout and the clock down
to 14 seconds, Isaac was stymied again for no yards gained. Only two
seconds remained when the Raiders attempted another rush into the
stubborn Vandy line. The results were the same as Tech failed to advance
the ball on third down and the clock expired. The 12,000 Vanderbilt fans
roared as the outstanding defensive stand occurred in their end zone.
Midway through the third quarter, Tech drove from their own 7 to the
Vanderbilt 10 and Brian Hall tied the game with a 26 yard field goal.
Later, a Tech fumble gave Vanderbilt another scoring opportunity at the
Raider 18-yard line. After three plays failed to make a first down,
Adams kicked a 26-yard field goal and a 6-3 Commodore lead with 5:11
left in the game. Laurence Williams took the Vanderbilt kickoff 54 yards
(a then Peach Bowl record) to set up Tech’s final field goal. The
Raiders eventually kicked a 35-yard field at the 2:27 mark to finalize
the score at 6-6. Tech and Hall did have a chance to win the game in the
fourth quarter, but the 265 pound freshman, Harrison, blocked a 33-yard
4th quarter field goal attempt.
Several
Peach Bowl records were recorded that day in the “fewest” category. They
include: times penalized, one each; points scored both teams, 12; passes
completed both teams, 8 (Tech 3, Vandy 5); yards passing both teams, 95
(Tech 35, Vandy 60); yards total offense both teams, 541 (Tech 341,
Vandy 200); first downs one team, Vandy 10.
Vanderbilt was led in rushing by Jamie O’ Rourke with 76 yards. Isaac and
Cliff Hoskins led the Raider rushers with 101 and 116 yards
respectively. Because of the deadlocked game, Peach Bowl officials
announced that duplicate champions trophies would be awarded.
“We get a trophy which we will put in McGugin Center that will serve to
remember this bowl team,” said Sloan. “But we don’t need the trophy to
remember this team. Vanderbilt fans everywhere will recall this year and
this football team. And they will be as proud as I am. “I just want
everyone to know that being associated with this Vanderbilt football
team, you guys have worked so hard, has given me my biggest thrill as a
player or as a coach. I’m thrilled to be a part of this team. Sloan,
only 30 years old, shocked the Vanderbilt community by announcing weeks
later that he was leaving the Commodore program for the now vacated
coaching position at Texas Tech. Sloan was Carlen’s replacement.
It is regarded as one of the most boring bowl games ever, but it was a classic defensive battle.
Mark Adams kicks one of his two field goals for Vandy.
Commodore Walter Overton reaches to snare a pass.
Vanderbilt's Dennis Harrison goes up in an attempt to block pass
The low scoring tie didn't earn many accolades from fans
Attendance- 31,695
Scoring Summary
Second Quarter
VU- FG Adams 31
Third Quarter
TT- FG Hall 26
Fourth Quarter
VU- FG Adams 26
TT- FG Hall 35
Individual Statistics
Rushing
VU- O'Rourke 17-76, Sadler 8-31, Garcia 4-21
TT- Hoskins 13-116, Isaac 20-101, Garner 9-38
Passing
VU- Lee 5-14-60
TT- Dunevan 3-8-35
Receiving
VU- Burton 2-36, O'Rourke 2-15, Mathers 1-9
TT- Felux 2-21, Williams 1-14
