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1971 Bowl Results Invite a Sea of Controversy
By JOE CARNICELLI UPI Sports Writer |
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Texas' 39-game winning streak, the longest in the nation- came to an end in the Cotton Bowl. Notre Dame avenged its defeat of a year ago with a 24-11 upset of the Longhorns.
The jinx belonged to Tennessee, which had lost its last three bowl games. The Volunteers wiped that out convincingly with a 34-13 rout of Air Force in the Sugar Bowl.
And the bad reputation belonged to Stanford, which put down a 19-year-old "playboy" image with a stunning 27-17 Rose Bowl upset of Ohio State.
The controversy was stirred by Nebraska, a 17-12 conqueror of Louisiana State in the Orange Bowl.
Texas, unbeaten during the regular season, has been declared national champion and Ohio State, also unbeaten during its nine-game schedule, was ranked second. The No. 3 team was Nebraska, winner of 10 games with only a tie with Southern California marring its record. Both Texas and Ohio State lost and the controversy may rage through until next season as to who should have been No. 1- Texas, Ohio State, Notre Dame or Nebraska.
Ara Parseghian, Notre Dame's coach, called his team's victory over Texas, "one of the biggest moments in Notre Dame athletic history”.
“I've been in a lot of locker rooms in my 21 years of coaching but the jubilation of our team today was something I haven't experienced in a long time."
Notre Dame's defense completely stymied Texas’ Wishbone-T and forced the Longhorns to turn over five of nine fumbles, four by All America back Steve Worster.
Quarterback Joe Theismann passed 26 yards to Tom Gatewood for one touchdown and ran three and 15 yards for two more to lead the Irish offensive.
We were just loose enough," said Theismann. "Yesterday I started to feel it building and I knew we were going to win."
The slender Notre Dame quarterback had one final shot: "To those people who said Ara could not win the big one- I'd like to see them explain this one."
Texas Conch Darrcll Royal said Notre Dame was "inspired and deserved to win. Defeats are good for anyone occasionally," he added, “but I feel miserable and don’t recommend it."
Texas’ 30 game streak was the third longest for a major college in history. The longest- 47 games by Oklahoma- was also stopped by Notre Dame.
Jerry Tagge directed Nebraska on a 67-yard drive in the last period and stretched over from the one for the deciding touchdown to lift the Cornhuskers over Louisiana State.
LSU had gone ahead 12-10 on Buddy Lee's 31-yard TD pass to Al Coffee as the third period ended.
"I think we're No. 1,” said Nebraska coach Bob Devaney. "I don't see how it could be any other way. I don't see how the Pope could vote for Notre Dame for No. 1."
Nebraska finished as the highest ranked undefeated team, ending at ll-0-l. Arizona State, the No. 8 team which walloped North Carolina in the Peach Bowl Wednesday night, finished 11-0 while No. 17 Toledo, an easy conqueror of William and Mary in the Tangerine Bowl, was 12-0.
Don McLeary ran for two touchdowns in the first nine minutes as fourth-ranked Tennessee built up a 24-0 lead and went on to rout Air Force.
The Tennessee defense limited All America receiver, Ernie Jennings, to only two receptions and intercepted three Bob Parker passes to fashion the rout.
Bill Battle, Tennessee's 29-year-old rookie coach, was recommended for a new five year contract by University President Edward J. Boling. Battle, the youngest major college head football coach in the country, led the Vols to a 10-1 record this season.
Bowl action continues today with Mississippi meeting Auburn in the Gator Bowl. Archie Manning leads Ole Miss while Pat Sullivan will quarterback Auburn.
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New
Year's Day, college football's annual extravaganza, saw a winning
streak, a jinx and a bad reputation get wiped out and thus opened the
flood gales for a sea of controversy. 
