Saturday, December 18
San Jose, CA
TBA
University of Memphis
28
at
9
San Jose State University
Tigers Rout San Jose State in Pasadena Bowl
Dec 18, 1971 | Football
PASADENA, Calif. — A hard-nosed defense that caused numerous San Jose State mistakes and an explosive offense that capitalized on those miscues led the Tigers to a 28-9 Pasadena Bowl rout over San Jose State before a sparse crowd of 15,244 in the Rose Bowl.
Memphis State, making its first major bowl appearance, trailed 3-0 early in the opening period until a blocked punt by Tom Carlsen, who was named the defensive player of the game, gave the Tigers a lead they would never relinquish.
The Tigers received the opening kickoff, and failing to move the ball, were forced to punt from their own 26-yard line. The Spartans drove the ball 19 yards and attempted a 42-yard field goal that fell short and was returned by the Tigers.
Following another failed drive, San Jose moved the ball to the Memphis 16-yard line before kicker Larry Barnes connected on a 33-yard field goal. It would be the only time that San Jose State would hold a lead in the game.
With 50 seconds remaining in the first quarter, Trojan punter John McMillan stood at his 15-yard line. Tiger defensive back Tom Carlsen blocked McMillen's punt and fell on the loose ball in the end zone for the score. Hal McGeorge added the point after, and Memphis had the lead 7-3.
The Tiger defense gained an air of confidence and stopped San Jose State on the ensuing series. Following a short Trojan punt, the Tigers took over at midfield.
With quarterback Al Harvey leading the offensive attack, the Tigers moved into scoring position. A 13-yard pass from Harvey to Dornell Harris, who was named the offensive player of the game, and runs by Harvey, Skeeter Gowen and Paul Wilson set up the Tigers at the 9-yard line. Harvey went the final nine yards on a run around right end. The 65-yard drive early in the second period gave Memphis a 14-3 lead at intermission.
The Tigers kicked off to begin the second half. San Jose State couldn't move but got a second chance when Gowen fumbled on Memphis' first offensive play. Bill Brown recovered on the Tiger 24 and a 14-3 Memphis lead looked very precarious. The Spartans moved all the way to the Tiger 2-yard line. But on fourth down, the Tiger defense buckled down by meeting running back Joe Hicks at the line of scrimmage and slamming him to the Rose Bowl turf to end San Jose's only real threat.
The third period featured strong defensive play by both teams and when the quarter came to an end, the score remained 14-3 in favor of the Tigers.
The final stanza opened with San Jose in control of the ball, but an interception and 27-yard return by the Tigers' David Johnson, his second of the game, put the ball at the Spartans' 18-yard line. Memphis tailback Gowen wasted no time in increasing the Memphis lead as he raced 18 yards to the end zone on the first play from scrimmage. The scoreboard read 21-3 in favor of the Tigers.
Lightning struck immediately for Memphis. On the Spartans' first play following the Tiger score, back Larry Lloyd fumbled and Memphis' Carl Taylor recovered.
Five plays later, Tiger fullback Clifton Taylor punched the ball in from the 1-yard line and Tiger fans rejoiced with a 28-3 lead and just 10 minutes remaining to play.
Frustration mounted for San Jose State as the Memphis defense continued its strong play. Forced to pass the ball with time running out, Tiger cornerback Walter Daggett picked off the Tigers' fourth interception of the afternoon to halt yet another Trojan drive.
San Jose's only touchdown was set up when a pass from center sailed over punter John Kidwell's head and was recovered at the Memphis 20-yard line. A quarterback keeper by Brad Metheany with 36 seconds left in the contest got the Spartans their only touchdown. The extra point attempt was wide to the left.
The victory over San Jose State marked the second bowl win for the Tigers in school history. The game also marked the end of an era in Tiger football history. Head coach Billy J. Murphy stepped down from his coaching position following the bowl win and dedicated his time to being the University's athletic director.
The former Marine compiled a record of 91-44-1 over his 14 seasons as head coach at Memphis.
Memphis State, making its first major bowl appearance, trailed 3-0 early in the opening period until a blocked punt by Tom Carlsen, who was named the defensive player of the game, gave the Tigers a lead they would never relinquish.
The Tigers received the opening kickoff, and failing to move the ball, were forced to punt from their own 26-yard line. The Spartans drove the ball 19 yards and attempted a 42-yard field goal that fell short and was returned by the Tigers.
Following another failed drive, San Jose moved the ball to the Memphis 16-yard line before kicker Larry Barnes connected on a 33-yard field goal. It would be the only time that San Jose State would hold a lead in the game.
With 50 seconds remaining in the first quarter, Trojan punter John McMillan stood at his 15-yard line. Tiger defensive back Tom Carlsen blocked McMillen's punt and fell on the loose ball in the end zone for the score. Hal McGeorge added the point after, and Memphis had the lead 7-3.
The Tiger defense gained an air of confidence and stopped San Jose State on the ensuing series. Following a short Trojan punt, the Tigers took over at midfield.
With quarterback Al Harvey leading the offensive attack, the Tigers moved into scoring position. A 13-yard pass from Harvey to Dornell Harris, who was named the offensive player of the game, and runs by Harvey, Skeeter Gowen and Paul Wilson set up the Tigers at the 9-yard line. Harvey went the final nine yards on a run around right end. The 65-yard drive early in the second period gave Memphis a 14-3 lead at intermission.
The Tigers kicked off to begin the second half. San Jose State couldn't move but got a second chance when Gowen fumbled on Memphis' first offensive play. Bill Brown recovered on the Tiger 24 and a 14-3 Memphis lead looked very precarious. The Spartans moved all the way to the Tiger 2-yard line. But on fourth down, the Tiger defense buckled down by meeting running back Joe Hicks at the line of scrimmage and slamming him to the Rose Bowl turf to end San Jose's only real threat.
The third period featured strong defensive play by both teams and when the quarter came to an end, the score remained 14-3 in favor of the Tigers.
The final stanza opened with San Jose in control of the ball, but an interception and 27-yard return by the Tigers' David Johnson, his second of the game, put the ball at the Spartans' 18-yard line. Memphis tailback Gowen wasted no time in increasing the Memphis lead as he raced 18 yards to the end zone on the first play from scrimmage. The scoreboard read 21-3 in favor of the Tigers.
Lightning struck immediately for Memphis. On the Spartans' first play following the Tiger score, back Larry Lloyd fumbled and Memphis' Carl Taylor recovered.
Five plays later, Tiger fullback Clifton Taylor punched the ball in from the 1-yard line and Tiger fans rejoiced with a 28-3 lead and just 10 minutes remaining to play.
Frustration mounted for San Jose State as the Memphis defense continued its strong play. Forced to pass the ball with time running out, Tiger cornerback Walter Daggett picked off the Tigers' fourth interception of the afternoon to halt yet another Trojan drive.
San Jose's only touchdown was set up when a pass from center sailed over punter John Kidwell's head and was recovered at the Memphis 20-yard line. A quarterback keeper by Brad Metheany with 36 seconds left in the contest got the Spartans their only touchdown. The extra point attempt was wide to the left.
The victory over San Jose State marked the second bowl win for the Tigers in school history. The game also marked the end of an era in Tiger football history. Head coach Billy J. Murphy stepped down from his coaching position following the bowl win and dedicated his time to being the University's athletic director.
The former Marine compiled a record of 91-44-1 over his 14 seasons as head coach at Memphis.
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