1977 Sun Bowl (December)
| MVP | Charles Alexander (RB), LSU Gordy Ceresino (LB), Stanford |
|---|---|
The 1977 Sun Bowl game was a post-season college football bowl game between the LSU Tigers and the Stanford Cardinals played on December 31, 1977 at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas. It was the 43rd edition of the Sun Bowl.
LSU running back Charles Alexander ran for 197 yards and a first half touchdown, but Stanford's defense held the Tigers scoreless in the second half, and quarterback Guy Benjamin threw for 269 yards and three touchdowns on the day to lead the Cardinals to a 24–14 victory.
Teams
Stanford Cardinals
Stanford finished the regular season tied for second place in the Pac-8 conference under first-year head coach Bill Walsh, and was making its first ever non-Rose Bowl postseason appearance. The Cardinals were noted for their pass-heavy offense, led by Sammy Baugh Trophy-award winning quarterback Guy Benjamin, wide receiver James Lofton, and freshman running back Darrin Nelson.[1]
LSU Tigers
LSU finished third in the SEC behind long-time coach Charles McClendon. The Tigers were led by running back Charles Alexander, the number two rusher in college football behind Heisman Trophy winner Earl Campbell.[1]
Game summary
After holding Stanford on its first possession, LSU marched 80 yards in nine plays and scored on a short pass play. Stanford answered on a long pass from Benjamin to Lofton to tie the score and added a Ken Naber field goal to move ahead, 10–7. Just before halftime, LSU running back Alexander scored on a seven-yard run to retake the lead, giving him 123 yards for the half. He would end with 197 yards on the day, establishing a new Sun Bowl rushing record, surpassing Tony Dorsett's 142 yards. He was named the game's offensive most valuable player.[2]
The second half was all Stanford. Benjamin threw two more touchdown passes, a short 2-yarder to Lofton and a 20-yard pass to Nelson. Benjamin ended the day 23 for 36 passing for 269 yards and three touchdowns, a Sun Bowl record. Lofton had 4 receptions for 79 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, Stanford held LSU scoreless in the second half, and intercepted three passes. Linebacker Gordy Ceresino recorded 22 tackles to lead the Cardinals, and was named the game's defensive MVP.[2][3]
Scoring
First quarter
- LSU - Mike Quintela 3-yard pass from Steve Ensminger (Mike Conway kick)
Second quarter
- Stanford - James Lofton 49-yard pass from Guy Benjamin (Ken Naber kick)
- Stanford - Naber 36-yard field goal
- LSU - Charles Alexander 7-yard run (Conway kick)
Third quarter
- Stanford - Lofton 2-yard pass from Benjamin (Naber kick)
Fourth quarter
- Stanford - Darrin Nelson 20-yard pass from Benjamin (Ken Naber run)
Aftermath
Walsh would lead Stanford to another bowl appearance the next season in the 1978 Bluebonnet Bowl, and then was hired as head coach of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers, eventually leading them to three Super Bowl titles. Walsh returned to Stanford in 1992 and coached the Cardinal for three seasons and one bowl victory. Stanford's football program slid after Walsh's departure, and they would not return to a bowl for 8 years when they earned a berth in the 1986 Gator Bowl. Receiver Lofton played 15 years in the NFL (mostly with the Green Bay Packers) and, like Walsh, is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
McClendon coached two more seasons for LSU, leading them to postseason appearances in the 1978 Liberty Bowl and 1979 Tangerine Bowl, and then retired from coaching. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986.
References
- ^ a b "Offense key to Sun Bowl". Observer-Reporter. December 31, 1977. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
- ^ a b "Cardinals win a duel in the sun". Register-Guard. January 1, 1978. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
- ^ "1977 Sun Bowl" (PDF). Stanford Football Media Guide. Stanford Athletics. p. 161. Retrieved January 13, 2014.