Can’t argue that point but SMU’s priority that day was to clinch the Cotton Bowl bid, after winning the SWC the prior year but was in their first probation battle. The tie gave them that spot. A loss wouldn’t have guaranteed them that at the time of the game. The coach coming in knew what was at stake and played it that way to ensure the team made good on its preseason goal.
@@aaronrider4051 the conference had multiple years of four teams ranked at the end of the season too. It was a 9 team league and they played less games then. Not as many chances for conferences as a whole to dominate rankings like today. The SWC didn't decline until everyone started getting hit with sanctions.
That missed FG stopped SMU from finishing 12-0... Also, it's weird that SMU could get anyone they wanted -- except, apparently, a punter. They had to use their star RB as a punter.
The way bowls were set up back then, SMU still would’ve played Pitt in the Cotton Bowl, and Penn State still was going to play Georgia in the Sugar. If SMU won this, would voters have given the Mustangs the #1 slot over the 11-1 Nittany Lions? I think they wouldn’t have. SMU (to borrow a line from Rodney Dangerfield, a comedian at the time) got NOO respect.
Wow I remember this game!
Tie cost SMU the National Championship
Only if they knew SMU was cheating...
My dad had a saying how did you know SMU was cheating. They were playing a game .
The biggest cheaters in college football history the SMU mustangs and there was absolutely no pass interference on that deep ball .
That turf looks like it hurts
This cost SMU the national championship! The voters treated a tie in the SWC like a loss in other conferences.
Can’t argue that point but SMU’s priority that day was to clinch the Cotton Bowl bid, after winning the SWC the prior year but was in their first probation battle. The tie gave them that spot. A loss wouldn’t have guaranteed them that at the time of the game. The coach coming in knew what was at stake and played it that way to ensure the team made good on its preseason goal.
As they should have treated it. The SWC cheated its butt off and still wasn't very good.
@@aaronrider4051 In the early 80s the SWC was maybe the best conference in college football
@@DMS-pq8 Well, that's crazy. 1982 was the best year for the SWC and it still only had 3 teams finish in the top 20 that year.
@@aaronrider4051 the conference had multiple years of four teams ranked at the end of the season too.
It was a 9 team league and they played less games then. Not as many chances for conferences as a whole to dominate rankings like today. The SWC didn't decline until everyone started getting hit with sanctions.
garbage, the ref that made the call at 21:50 had money on that game
That missed FG stopped SMU from finishing 12-0...
Also, it's weird that SMU could get anyone they wanted -- except, apparently, a punter. They had to use their star RB as a punter.
James was a very good punter though
The way bowls were set up back then, SMU still would’ve played Pitt in the Cotton Bowl, and Penn State still was going to play Georgia in the Sugar. If SMU won this, would voters have given the Mustangs the #1 slot over the 11-1 Nittany Lions? I think they wouldn’t have. SMU (to borrow a line from Rodney Dangerfield, a comedian at the time) got NOO respect.
They dropped from 2 to 4 behind PSU due to the tie. Had they beat us, that wouldn't have happened.
A tie? REALLY? 🤣
The controversial pass interference call at 21:50.
That was a horrific call. SMU deserved to lose this game.
@@aaronrider4051 Yes they did!
SWC promoted their Texas teams. But every time Texas was caught cheating that TCU and SMU should expect sanctions very soon.