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An Era to Remember--'50s and '60s Football

In its 336th annual fall sports quiz, the Crimson sports cube takes you on a nostalgic journey through the gates, portals, sections, rows and seats of college football memorabilia. After having dealt with the early gridiron heroes and glamor boys in former quizzes, this autumn the sports cube staff focuses on the '50's and '60's, when fans witnessed the rise and fall and then rebirth of a strategy called platoon football.

And so, it's time once again for all you pseudo jocks to shine as bright as your hero as we leave the plastic world of domed stadiums and mod sod and return to the natural turf of yesteryear, where Ozzie and Harriet topped the Neilson Ratings, Danny and Juniors were grabbing gold records for ABC-Paramount, and football was king.

For the first puzzler we join Mr. Peabody and Sherman for a ride in the "Wayback Machine." The date: Jan. 1, 1951. The place: the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

1. Oklahoma, after losing its opener to Santa Clara in 1948, won 31 consecutive victories before facing Kentucky in this post-season classic. The Wildcats promptly shattered the string, 13-7, and Bud Wilkinson and his Sooners had to start all over once more. Who was the famous winning coach and his equally famous quarterback who engineered the upset?

2. Another team in the national spotlight during the early '50's was Princeton. Coached by Charley Caldwell, the Tigers built up a 24 game winning streak largely due to the running, passing, and kicking of an all-around back, who led the country in total offense and nabbed the Heisman Trophy. Who was this fabled back?

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3. One of the two famous backs who sparked Woody Hayes' "three yards and a cloud of dust" offense during the '50's?

4. Who was the coach who moved to the Pacific Coast from Vanderbilt to take command of U.C.L.A. and turned the lowly rated Burins into a national power? In six seasons his teams compiled a 42-11-1 record and in 1954 won the national championship.

5. In 1958, L.S.U. under coach Paul Dietzel won the national championship after winning 10 straight games. His offense, sporting All-American Billy Cannon, was nicknamed the 'White" team because this was the color of their practice jerseys, but what was the more inventive and famous nickname of his defense?

6. In 1960, the field goal increased in popularity as an offensive weapon. A record 224 field goals were kicked in major games and the leading booter was an Auburn player, who kicked 13 three-pointers, four of which provided the winning margin for his team. Who was he?

7. In 1963, Texas rode to the national title with a 28-6 victory over a Navy team led by All-American and Heisman trophy winner Roger Staubach in the Cotton Bowl. Texas was 10-0 going into the game and ranked number 1, while the Middies had dropped to number two by virtue of a 32-28 loss to what team?

8. Who was the Longhorn quarterback who commanded the Texas offense in that game or who was the 240 pound tackle who led the stubborn "Big T" defense and earned the "Lineman of the Day" award with 23 tackles?

9. In 1964, Notre Dame was driving for the national championship with only Southern California standing in the way. At halftime N.D. led, 17-0, but with chunky Mike Garrett denting the Irish defense with slashing runs, the Trojans came back. In the fourth quarter, the upset was accomplished with a 15 yard scoring pass from quarterback Craig Fertig to whom?

10. In the 1966 "Game of the Decade" between N.D. and Michigan State, who scored either the Spartans's or the Irish's touchdown?

Answers to Sports Quiz

1."Bear" Bryant and Babe Parilli. 2. Dick Kazmaier. 3. Howard "Hopalong" Cassady or Bob Ferguson. 4. Henry "Red" Sanders. 5. "The Chinese Bandits." 6. Bill Dyas. 7. Southern Methodist, 32-28. 8. Duke Carlisle or Scott Appleton. 9. Rod Sherman. 10. M.S.U.-Regis Cavender or N.D.-Bob Gladiaux. The picture is of Calvin Hill.

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