Remember When

With Alabama playing for a national championship tonight and my having already mentioned that former Notre Dame QB Tom Clements (pictured making the pass to Robin Weber) was one of my first heroes, I thought it best to post the recap I wrote about his shining moment: earning MVP honors in leading Notre Dame to a narrow win over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl on the last day of 1973--a win that would earn the Irish the national championship. Here it is from The USA Today College Football Encyclopedia:

Sugar Bowl (Dec. 31): Notre Dame 24 Alabama 23

Needing 1st down to seal win and national title, Notre Dame (11-0) turned to unlikely hero: backup TE Robin Weber. On 3rd down-and-8, deep in his own territory, Irish QB Tom Clements found wide-open Weber for 35y completion, which matched TEs number of receptions in entire regular season. Primary target on play was other TE Dave Casper, but Weber, who needed cortisone shot prior to game for his ailing knee, was too free to ignore against Crimson Tide's D which totally expected Irish to call conservative running play. With Alabama (11-1) O nailed in place with no positive y in 1st Q, Irish sprung misdirection elements of Delaware's Wing-T formation and opened scoring with FB Wayne Bullock's 1y TD run on drive that featured 3 straight completions/59y to WR Pete Demmerle. After exchange of TOs, Alabama QB Gary Rutledge led 52y drive that netted 7-6 lead. It was short-lived as ND frosh HB Al Hunter raced 93y with ensuing KO, and 2-pt conv pass to Demmerle gave Notre Dame 14-7 edge. Tide added FG before H and then took their opening possession of 2nd H to 5y TD run by HB Wilbur Jackson that climaxed 93y drive in 11 plays. Trailing 17-14, ND regained lead after LB Drew Mahalic returned FUM 9y to Alabama 12YL. Misdirection TD run by HB Eric Penick following huge block by Casper gave Irish 21-17 lead. Later, with Tide on ND 25YL, alternate QB Richard Todd handed off to HB Mike Stock, who threw back to Todd, all alone in left flat. Todd scored easily for 23-21 lead, but K Bill Davis missed crucial x-pt. Notre Dame next drove behind Clements--game's MVP with 74y rushing and 169y passing--who lugged it 3/25y and completed 30y pass to Casper (3/75y). K Bob Thomas then booted winning 19y FG, although Tide still had time to rally. Irish D held and forced punt, which was boomed 69y by P Greg Gantt to ND 1YL. At that juncture, Clements and Weber prepared to run out clock and enter ND lore. Alabama's mysterious bowl winless streak had reached 7 games.