Let's actually talk about something relevant to today's AAC teams...

I just found this YouTube video reviewing the 1983 SMU season and Bowl controversy, when NBC refused to allow the #6 Mustangs to play in the Fiesta Bowl, instead relegating them to the Sun Bowl.

The analogy used at the beginning of the video used UC's CFP run last season... Of course, UC was not pushed to the side like the Ponies were.

Anyway, curious to hear from the SMU fans and their recollection of the events.

1983 SMU Bowl Controversy Video

(07-23-2022 09:54 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  Let's actually talk about something relevant to today's AAC teams...

I just found this YouTube video reviewing the 1983 SMU season and Bowl controversy, when NBC refused to allow the #6 Mustangs to play in the Fiesta Bowl, instead relegating them to the Sun Bowl.

The analogy used at the beginning of the video used UC's CFP run last season... Of course, UC was not pushed to the side like the Ponies were.

Anyway, curious to hear from the SMU fans and their recollection of the events.

1983 SMU Bowl Controversy Video

One more example of how SMU Athletics has been screwed.

The past is the past.

Yes, SMU unquestionably got hosed on the bowl selection in 1983.

It should be said, however, that their consolation prize was playing Alabama on CBS. (Sun Bowl, 12/28, no other college or pro football game played at the time). Instead of playing Pitt on NBC (Fiesta Bowl, 1/2, with the Cotton Bowl kicking off at the same time on CBS). Yes, Bama was 7-4 and unranked. Pitt was 8-2-1 and ranked about #14, IIRC. But still.

The Fiesta Bowl has a history of hosing. BYU wasn’t picked up in 1996 and played in the Cotton Bowl instead. But even worse in the 70’s the Fiesta Bowl placed their game on a Sunday, so they wouldn’t have to take the mandatory WAC champion, BYU. BYU won’t play on Sunday’s so they had to turn it down. So Instead the Fiesta Bowl took another WAC team. Guess who that was? Arizona St lol. How convenient.

(07-23-2022 11:59 AM)SMUstang Wrote:  

(07-23-2022 09:54 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  Let's actually talk about something relevant to today's AAC teams...

I just found this YouTube video reviewing the 1983 SMU season and Bowl controversy, when NBC refused to allow the #6 Mustangs to play in the Fiesta Bowl, instead relegating them to the Sun Bowl.

The analogy used at the beginning of the video used UC's CFP run last season... Of course, UC was not pushed to the side like the Ponies were.

Anyway, curious to hear from the SMU fans and their recollection of the events.

1983 SMU Bowl Controversy Video

One more example of how SMU Athletics has been screwed.

Really? As if your slush fund used to pay football players under the table from the mid 70’s through ‘86, prompting the NCAA to hand you the death penalty wasn’t enough, you guys took more shortcuts in basketball and golf years later and got penalized again. I know some P5’s were doing it also, but I’m not gonna feel bad for SMU for having to play ‘Bama rather than in the Fiesta Bowl in 1983.

Yeah they got screwed, but the world was about to collapse in on them anyway for what they were doing.

Thankfully the death penalty handed down to them fixed college football.

And nothing remotely close to that happens anymore.

Face it... We never would have gotten the movie "Necessary Roughness" without SMU...

It was frustrating, but no excuse. Play every game to win. A victory over Alabama strengthens your case for future bowl invitations. A good fan turnout and plenty of TV eyes can do the same. And its Alabama. Not as big as they are now, but certainly a much bigger and better opponent than we have faced in the modern era.

Thankfully, we took care of business at the Aloha Bowl against Notre Dame 27-20 in 1984

I watched it on TV - as my parents weren't comfortable with me driving the 760 miles across Texas by myself in my seasoned Datsun - remember those?

your mom wouldn't let u go, that's increbible

(07-25-2022 12:25 AM)templefootballfan Wrote:  your mom wouldn't let u go, that's increbible

I was teen living at home. They had allowed me to go with friends to games in Dallas, but all the way to El Paso by myself was too much. I lived in East Texas at the time. Some might call them strict by today's standards. I don't see it that way. Once in college, I had much more freedom.