1978 Southern Cal @ Alabama One Hour

It's a hot and steamy day in Birmingham as the highly anticipated battle between the 7th ranked USC Trojans and the top ranked Alabama Crimson Tide took center stage on this college football Saturday. Charles White and Dennis Smith lead the Trojans while Tony Nathan and Barry Krause spearhead Alabama's forces. This game figures to have national title implications so sit back, relax, and enjoy this battle between two national powerhouse programs.

[@d-v-cez9152]

Ball security wasn't emphasized back then. RBs carried the ball like the proverbial loaf of bread...High and tight fellas, high and tight...🏈

[@ickystrashcan....anothersm9749]

John Robinson best . moment

[@Chessdaddy]

I was a freshman at Bama when this game was played and it was my first game to attend as a student. I still remember walking out of the stadium afterwards and feeling like the world had ended!

[@soulpatrolhawaii5409]

Why did Charles White not have the kind of NFL career that he had in college? Running behind a legendary line at SC, but didn’t have that advantage in the pros?

[@markbell335]

I had the opportunity to attend a USC vs Oregon game back in 1978 in the Los Angeles Coliseum. I was a guest of a student who's parents were instructors at USC. When I saw the size of the offensive line I thought, 'My God', these folks could take on the LA Rams. Sadly, I no longer follow sports. The money has outgrown the fans. Mark Bell

[@yeildo1492]

Anthony Munoz, widely regarded as the best NFL OL ever. Pat Howell 8 yrs in the league. Brad Budde 7 yrs (dad was a great NFL player) and Keith Van Horne 13 years.... That is some great recruiting. (Not to mention that some guy named Ronnie Lott did not start for SC. 1:05:43 Lott really puts one on Nathan) 56:35 still one of the greatest plays I've ever seen. 21;47 Watch Dwight Stephenson... now that is a block.... I love the sportsmanship that both teams showed. Helping guys up, a nod of respect. Both teams knew they were damn good and that the other team was damn good too.

[@Bamruff62]

OHF SEC, … I read the intro, and if I may point out you have the wrong USC Coach. John McKay was not the Coach of the USC Trojans. He had moved on to the NFL and was the coach of the new expansion team the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. John Robinson was the Coach of the USC Trojans in 1978.

[@ohfsec8584]

You are correct. I should've known better. I'm changing the description.

[@ickystrashcan....anothersm9749]

SC should have won this game by a lot more... There are NFL Hall of famers riding the bench for the trojans...marcus allen ..smoth

[@aaronrider4051]

Brad Budde, #71, USC right guard, what a stud!!!!!

[@jonhenson5450]

Are you from San Clemente?

[@aaronrider4051]

@@jonhenson5450 Far from it! I'm from Biglerville, Pennsylvania! But I can see a stud player when I see one!

[@jonhenson5450]

@@aaronrider4051 Oh I see. Budden later coached h.s ball in S.Clemente,CA. He was very popular there with players, thought you may be one his players,. Yea all S.C linemen we're super well coached.

[@Mantamm]

So, which team ended up being NC?

[@pete49327]

correct

[@lucasdurham6830]

Tie lol

[@RELopez-mk4ic]

Alabama gained the AP writers' poll and USC was picked by the UPI coaches poll. Now who do you think has a better perspective of the game writers or coaches? USC should have won both polls, they beat Alabama head-to-head that year!

[@jjhonecker7644]

2 bluebloods USC Alabama...another chapter in Sept

[@scottwhite1963]

This was the year Charles White ran all over us and Tony Nathan fumbles us to a loss. He had two critical ones.

[@brianjacob8728]

USC fumbled on the one. could have been worse.

[@RELopez-mk4ic]

How in the heck did the AP give Alabama the National Championship when Southern Cal beat them head-to-head! Southern Cal should have been the National Champions this year!

[@jiordone8563]

USC lost a game at ASU that year. Trojans had lost their starting center during the week before the game. The #2 center went down right before the game. The #3 center was hurt at the very beginning of the game so the Trojans were down to a #4 center who had little practice, and oh by the way, it was raining in Tempe so the Trojans could not get the offense going let alone get many of the snaps right.

[@reubenblanco3021]

It was an undeserved co championship .

[@Bamruff62]

USC beat Alabama at the beginning of the season and were duly rewarded for it in the polls. But 3 weeks later USC gets blown out by an UNRANKED Arizona St. and fell back down in the polls. No excuses. USC had a bye before the Arizona St. game. They had 2 weeks to heal up and prepare for ASU. Alabama ran the board after this game and went on to beat the sole undefeated and undisputed #1 team in a post season Bowl game. That gets you a split NT. Alabama won the AP Poll hands down. The 1978 FWAA Grantland Rice trophy along with the 1978 NFF Macarthur Bowl are sitting over there in the Paul Bryant Museaum as well. Alabama tied USC in the UPI for the most FIRST place votes. There was a 15-15 split for the #1 vote between Alabama and USC. USC won the UPI due to the fact they received 1 more SECOND place vote than Alabama edging Alabama out by 5 points in the total vote count 496 to 491. But USC did not get more #1 votes than Alabama in any final poll that year.

[@RELopez-mk4ic]

@@Bamruff62 Who won the head-to-head matchup? USC brother, and let me put a huge period on that.

[@Bamruff62]

@@RELopez-mk4ic , ... I don't begrudge USC a share of the Title. I'm not saying USC should have gotten nothing. I'm only saying Alabama was equally deserving a share of the 1978 National Championship. Alabama finished the regular season ranked #2 in the polls and went on to beat the sole undefeated #1 team in the 1979 Sugar Bowl. That right there gets Alabama the National Championship. That right there would have won Alabama a UNANIMOUS N.C. under any other circumstances. USC only got a share of the championship due to their early regular season win over Alabama., a share they wouldn't have gotten otherwise. Their record and Rose Bowl win had nothing to do with it. What put USC over the top was their early regular season win over Alabama. Fine. Fair enough. I'm not saying USC should have got nothing. But that Bama-USC game was not that all decisive. It wasn't that all-encompassing. What the heck kind of game was this? It wasn't a championship game. It wasn't a playoff game. College football had a polling system not a playoff system. Games played later in the season are weighted more than games played at the beginning of the season. Bowl Games trump early regular season games. It's always been that way. It has worked against Alabama on a number of occasions. Looks like UPI Coaches Poll basically designated an Early regular season game as their Championship game. They gave an early regular season game NC status and weight. That's what it boils down to. Okay. Fine. But it's not Alabama's fault there was no playoff. It's not Alabama's fault the conferences had those Bowl Game tie-ins. The system was what it was. And Alabama had plenty of a top resume to get a share of the title.

[@sugarbutterflourcake]

Any time Bama loses, it's a great day!

[@willwilco]

Doesn't happen very often.

[@scottwhite1963]

You must be miserable all the time. It very rarely happens..

[@mrabon3761]

@@scottwhite1963 You must have a suck life then

[@leewilcox5848]

When USC Football was something to see, not the Helton created dumpster fire it has become.

[@Jiltedin2007]

Hopefully Lincoln Riley will clean up the mess Clay Helton made.

[@ickystrashcan....anothersm9749]

USC used to be plauged by 15 yd holding penalties in the tailback U era. Marcus and Charlie had fumble issues as well.at times..... But they both were special and some of the greatest ever,.. the penaltiy became 10 yards in 83 or so...

[@ickystrashcan....anothersm9749]

SC...offensive line is completely crushing Alabama on every play....bear coached his team .. yby ourth quarter Alabama so tired Charles White gets 6 yards before touched,..SC completely in another class Talent wise....these teams were some of the greatest trojan teams ever...NFL talent at every position...all pros ..Hall of famers ...the whole o line were NFL all pros ..talented fast scary guys e

[@ickystrashcan....anothersm9749]

Lynn Cain who beat out Marcus Allen at fullback... stud for the Atlanta falcons...grat fb

[@joseleston1913]

rich dimler bayonne high school all time great

[@ccth22]

Wow I didn’t know Dimler was a Jersey guy! He was a tough...