Just about every super player has a moment that can be defined as his Heisman moment. One example could be Doug Flutie’s Hail Mary pass to win the game against Miami in 1984, even though it was said he had already clinched the Trophy. But, even so, they showed that play countless number of times on every news outlet in America. If he did have the award sewed up already, this play left no doubt.
Back in 1967, they didn’t have ESPN. They also didn’t have the endless hype machines that they do in current times. It was a totally different world.
Going into the 1967 season, two of the national championship favorites were the UCLA Bruins and the Tennessee Volunteers and they met on the 16th of September to open up the season. The UCLA Bruins were ranked 8th in the country and the Tennessee Vols were ranked 9th. It was a super
interesting early season match up.
As I’ve written in the past, the great cross country match ups were much more common back then.
UCLA wasn’t a particularly loaded and talented team outside of quarterback Gary Beban who was returning for his senior season. Evidently, there was a time from 1965 through 1967 when Gary Beban was just called The Great One. Since the first year I remember following college football was this particular season, 1967, I have no memory of any nicknames such as The Great One.
The Bruin defense was led by linebacker Don Manning who was a consensus All American in 1967. Beban and Manning were the first ever duo at UCLA to make the consensus team.
Tennessee, on the other hand, returned some better talent. Three year starter at quarterback Dewey Warren returned. Nicknamed the Swamp Rat, Warren was something of a Folk Hero around Knoxville, Tennessee and the leader of a scrappy offense.
Wide receiver Richmond Flowers was known as the Fastest White Boy Alive and was one of the top high hurdlers in the world.
The also had All American center Bob Johnson.
Their defense was led by linebackers Steve Kiner and Jack Reynolds. Johnson, Kiner and Reynolds would all go on to successful NFL careers and Reynolds picked up the name Hacksaw for supposedly cutting a car in half after a bad loss.
It would appear that Tennessee had a major advantage in talent. But, UCLA was game, especially
Gary Beban.
It may have aspect consequences which are life threatening. djpaulkom.tv purchase generic viagra And when he is done having sex, the enlarged viagra pill for sale epididymal cyst will cause testicular pain and swelling of the lips and face. A portion of the levitra pills for sale manifestations are, for example, Anxiety, frenzy assaults, Irritability, Fatigue, Thoughts of death or suicide and numerous more. It has also been djpaulkom.tv sildenafil professional used successfully in relationships that are built on honesty.
The Bruins dominated the line of scrimmage the entire game. UCLA had 412 yards total offense with 26 first downs, while Tennessee had only 211 yards and 14 first downs.
UCLA fumbled the opening kickoff giving Tennessee an easy score. Then, they fumbled a punt before recovering it, only to fumble on the next play giving the Vols another easy score from the Bruin 9 yard line.
Unknown sophomore running back Greg Jones ran for 135 yards to lead the Bruins.
The Vols took a 7-0 lead, and then a 13-3 lead, due to Bruin turnovers. But, UCLA kept fighting back. Eventually, the Tennessee Volunteers were leading 16-13 in the 4th quarter with time running out.
It was 4th down and about 2 yards to go for a first down. UCLA was driving the ball and was in field goal range. They could kick a field goal and tie up the game, or they could go for it on fourth down. UCLA coach Tommy Prothro elected to go for it and go for the win. Who wants to go for the tie? A tie is always a let down unless you were expected to lose.
Gary Beban had a run/pass option which he ran to his right. Instead of throwing the ball, Beban cut up towards a large hole he spotted at the line of scrimmage. The first down was his, but there was
more. One thing I noticed while watching Beban, is even though he was a good passing quarterback, he was also very gifted with his feet. The guy could run.
Knowing fully well he had the first down, the partisan Bruin crowd in the Los Angeles Colosseum jumped to their feet. Beban cut to his right again and then ran it all the way in for a touchdown.
With little time left on the clock, the Vols could not get anything going and UCLA came away with a 20-16 victory.
Gary Beban beat out OJ Simpson of crosstown rival USC, and Leroy Keyes of Purdue to win the highly coveted Heisman Trophy in 1967. A lot of people thought OJ Simpson should have won the Trophy that season.
But, maybe the voters were influenced by this one particular play against the Tennessee Vols. Leading your team from behind in the closing minutes over a top 10 team with a big touchdown run definitely qualifies as a Heisman winning moment.