College Football Extra – Touchdown Tom’s Holiday Bonus
You belong to the city,
You belong to the night
“Living in a river of darkness
Beneath the neon light”
It was the year the “The Golden Girls” premiered on television and the cartoon “Calvin and Hobbs” debuted in newspapers. Tragically, it was a year of several hijackings and plane crashes, one of which killed a well-known American singer-songwriter.
Two baseball players became the 17th and 18th major league pitchers to win 300 games. And it was the year of the Live Aid and Farm Aid Concerts and the discovery of the ozone hole.
What year was it?
On the very first day of the year, the Internet’s Domain Name System was created. Later in January, the San Francisco 49er’s beat the Miami Dolphins, 38-16, to win Super Bowl XIX. A week later, the single “We Are the World” was recorded by USA for Africa.
Early in February, the border between Gibraltar and Spain was reopened for the first time since Francisco Franco closed it in 1969. Two weeks later, the first episode of the long-running British soap opera “East Enders” was broadcast on BBC One television.
On February 20, Minolta released the Maxxum 7000, the world’s first autofocus, single-lens reflex camera. Two days later, Whitney Houston released her debut album.
The first week in March, an 8.0 Richter scale-magnitude earthquake hit Santiago and Valparaiso, Chile, leaving 177 dead, 2,575 injured, 142,489 homes destroyed and one million people homeless. On the same night in the U.S., “Moonlighting” premiered on ABC.
A day later, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved a blood test for AIDS. The test continues to be used today to screen blood donations in the United States.
“The sun goes down
The night rolls in
You can feel it starting
All over again”
In mid-March, Mikhail Gorbachev became the General Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party and leader of the Soviet Union. Five lionesses at the Singapore Zoo were put on birth control after the lion population increased from two to 16.
Still in mid-March, “Mr. Belvedere” debuted on ABC, and Associated Press reporter Terry Anderson was taken hostage in Beirut. He wasn’t released until almost seven years later.
On March 18, Australia’s longest-running soap opera “Neighbours” debuted on Seven Network. A week later at the 57th Academy Awards, “Amadeus” won for Best Picture. F. Murray Abraham was named Best Actor for his role in “Amadeus,” and Sally Field won Best Actress for her role in “Places in the Heart.”
On the last day of March, “Wrestle Mania” debuted at Madison Square Garden.
In Lexington, Kentucky, on the 1st of April, Villanova defeated Georgetown, 66-64, to win the NCAA Basketball Tournament. A week later, Wham became the first Western pop group to perform in China.
On April 10, Madonna launched her very first tour, “The Virgin Tour,” in Seattle, Washington. The next day, the U.S.S. Coral Sea collided with the Ecuadorian tanker ship Napo off the coast of Cuba.
In mid-April, Bernhard Langer won the Masters Golf Tournament, beating out runners-up Seve Ballesteros, Raymond Floyd and Curtis Strange by two strokes. South Africa ended its ban on interracial marriages.
The Soviet Union performed a nuclear test in eastern Kazakhstan, and on the same day, the FBI and ATF raided and confiscated guns at the Confederate States of America compound in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
As April was coming to a close, Coca Cola changed its formula and released New Coke. The response was overwhelmingly negative and the original formula was back on the market in less than three months.
“The moon comes up
And the music calls
You’re getting tired of
Staring at the same four walls”
During the first week of May, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, Spend A Buck won the 111th running of the Kentucky Derby. The horse was ridden by jockey Angel Cordero, Jr. On the same day, the 30th Eurovision Song Contest took place in Gothenburg, Sweden. Norway won with the Bobbysocks’ song “La det swinge.”
In the middle of the month, an explosive device sent by the Unabomber injured John Hauser at the University of California in Berkeley. Meanwhile, scientists of the British Antarctic Survey announced discovery of the ozone hole.
On May 18, at Wembley Stadium in London, Manchester United beat Everton, 1-0, to win the FA Cup. On the same day, at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, Tank’s Progress won the 110th running of the Preakness Stakes. Pat Day was the jockey.
One day later, John Anthony Walker Jr. was arrested by the FBI for passing classified naval communications to the Soviet Union. A few days afterward, Thomas Patrick Cavanaugh was sentenced to life in prison for attempting to sell stealth bomber secrets to the Soviet Union.
As May was coming to an end, Bangladesh was hit by a tropical cyclone and storm surge which killed 10,000 people. Thirty-eight spectators were killed in rioting in the stands during the European Cup final between Liverpool and Juventus at Heysel Stadium in Brussels, Belgium.
On May 30, the Edmonton Oilers won the Stanley Cup, beating the Philadelphia Flyers, 4 matches to 1. The next day, 51 tornadoes touched down in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Ontario, killing 77.
Early in June, “Larry King Live” debuted on CNN. About a week later, at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, Crème Fraiche won the Belmont Stakes. Eddie Maple was the jockey.
On June 9, Mats Wilander defeated Ivan Lendl to win the French Open men’s singles title. The day before, Chris Evert defeated Martina Navratilova to win the women’s singles title. Also on June 9, the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Boston Celtics, 4 games to 2, to win the NBA championship.
“You’re out of your room
And down on the street
Moving through the crowd
In the midnight heat”
A few days later, in Auburn, Washington, police defuse a Unabomber bomb sent to Boeing. The very next day, TWA Flight 847, carrying 153 passengers from Athens to Rome, was hijacked by a Hezbollah fringe group. One passenger, U.S. Navy Petty Officer Robert Stethem, was killed.
Summer was underway and while not yet able to listen to the games on the radio, college football fans were listening to “In My House” by the Mary Jane Girls; “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” by Tears For Fears; “Fresh” by Kool and The Gang; “Everything She Wants” by Wham; “Walking On Sunshine” by Katrina and The Wave; “Suddenly” by Billy Ocean; “Things Can Only Get Better” by Howard Jones; “One Lonely Night” by REO Speedwagon, and “Smuggler’s Blues” by Glenn Frey.
At the Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Andy North won the U.S. Open golf championship. North beat out runners-up Dave Barr, Tze-chung and Denis Watson by one stroke.
Meanwhile, the radio stations were playing “Voices Carry” by ’Til Tuesday; “Say You’re Wrong” by Julian Lennon; “Heaven” by Bryan Adams; “The Search Is Over” by Survivor; “Lucky In Love” by Mick Jagger; “Angel” by Madonna; “Would I Lie To You?” by the Eurythmics; “Tough All Over” by John Cafferty and The Beaver Brown Band; “Crazy In The Night (Barking At Airplanes)” by Kim Carnes; “Sussudio” by Phil Collins; “You Give Good Love” by Whitney Houston, and “Sentimental Street” by Night Ranger.
On June 17, John Hendricks launched the Discovery Channel in the United States.
As June came to a close, Air India Flight 182, a Boeing 747, was blown up by a terrorist bomb 31,000 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, south of Ireland, on a Montreal to London to Delhi flight, killing all 329 aboard.
The next day, Space Shuttle Discovery completed its mission, best remembered for having Sultan bin Salman Al Saud, the first Muslim and first Arab in space. And on the same day, the famous U.S. Route 66 was officially decommissioned.
“Back to the Future” opened on July 3 in American theaters and ended up being the highest-grossing film of the year in the United States. The next day, on July 4, Ruth Lawrence, 13, achieved a first in mathematics at Oxford University in England. She became the youngest British person ever to earn a first-class degree and the youngest known graduate of Oxford University.
As the summer air grew thicker and warmer, the DJs were playing and college football fans were listening to “The Goonies ‘R’ Good Enough” by Cyndi Lauper; “Find A Way” by Amy Grant; “Raspberry Beret” by Prince and The Revolution; “A View To A Kill” by Duran Duran; “Centerfield” by John Fogarty; “Just As I Am” by Air Supply, and “Not Enough Love In The world” by Don Henley.
“The traffic roars
And the sirens scream
You look at the faces
It’s just like a dream”
Still early in July, Boris Becker beat Kevin Curren to win the Wimbledon men’s singles title. The day before, Martina Navratilova beat Chris Evert to win the women’s singles title.
Three days later, the Greenpeace vessel Rainbow Warrior was bombed and sunk in Auckland Harbor, New Zealand, by French DGSE agents. A few days later, the Live Aid pop concerts in London and Philadelphia raised more than $75 million for famine relief in Ethiopia. The headline acts at the Philadelphia concert included a Led Zeppelin reunion.
The summer airwaves continued to be filled with music, including “People Are People” by Depeche Mode; “Rock Me Tonight (For Old Time’s Sake)” by Freddie Jackson; “Forever” by Kenny Loggins; “Glory Days” by Bruce Springsteen; “Who’s Holding Donna Now” by DeBarge; “What About Love?” by Heart; “State Of The Heart” by Rick Springfield; “Get It On” by The Power Station, and “If You Love Somebody Set Them Free” by Sting.
Later in July, it was announced that New Hampshire teacher Christa McAuliffe would become the first school teacher to ride aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger.
At the 114th British Open golf championship at the Royal St. George’s Golf Club in Sandwich, England, Sandy Lyle won the tournament by one stroke over Payne Stewart. Commodore launched the Amiga personal computer at the Lincoln Center in New York City.
On the second day of August, Delta Airlines Flight 191 crashed at Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Airport, killing 137 people. Two days later, Pitcher Tom Seaver of the Chicago White Sox became the 17th player to join the 300-win club.
About a week later, at the Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado, the PGA championship was won by Hubert Green. Green finished two strokes ahead of Lee Trevino. The next day, Japan Airlines Flight 123 crashed in Japan, killing 520 people. It was the worst single aircraft disaster in history.
Meanwhile, summer was coming to an end and college football fans couldn’t wait for the season to begin. Oklahoma was the No. 1 team in the preseason polls. The top songs on the radio were “Never Surrender” by Corey Hart; “I Wonder If I Take You Home” by Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam; “People Get Ready” by Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart; “Shout” by Tears For Fears, and “Freeway Of Love” by Aretha Franklin.
“Nobody knows where you are going
Nobody cares where you’ve been”
On August 22, in the Iran-Contra Affair, the first arms were sold and sent to Iran in exchange for hostages in Lebanon and profits for the Nicaraguan Contras. The public did not know about the arms sale.
Two days later, the left engine of British Airtours Flight 28M, a Boeing 737, caught fire while on its take off roll – 55 people were killed trying to evacuate the aircraft.
Just days before the first games of the season, college football fans were grillin’ and chillin’ to “St. Elmo’s Fire (Man In Motion) by John Parr; “Summer of ’69” by Bryan Adams; “The Power Of Love” by Huey Lewis and The News; “Mystery Lady” by Billy Ocean; “Life In One Day” by Howard Jones; “Invincible” by Pat Benatar; “We Don’t Need Another Hero (‘Thunderdome’)” by Tina Turner, and “Cherish” by Kool and The Gang.
The first smoking ban, banning smoking in restaurants in the United States was passed in Aspen, Colorado. On the final day of August, Richard Ramirez, the serial killer known as the Night Stalker, was captured in Los Angeles.
The first day of September, the wreck of the Titanic (1912) in the North Atlantic was located by a joint American-French expedition team. The next day, Hurricane Elena made landfall on the U.S. Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm.
Still early in September, Midwest Express Airlines Flight 105, a Douglas DC-9, crashed just after takeoff from Milwaukee, killing 31. Two days later, Ivan Lendl defeated John McEnroe to win the men’s singles at the U.S. Open Tennis tournament. The previous day, Hana Mandlikova defeated Martina Navratilova to win the women’s singles.
Michael Jackson purchased the publishing rights for most of the Beatles’ music for $47 million.
Meanwhile, the college football season was underway and fans were tailgating to “Live Every Moment” by REO Speedwagon; “Smokin’ In The Boys Room” by Motley Crue; “You’re Only Human (Second Wind)” by Billy Joel; “Dare Me” by The Pointer Sisters; “Money From Nothing” by Dire Straits; “Take On Me” by A-Ha; “Shame” by The Motels, and “Cry” by Godley & Crème.
On September 10, Auburn replaced Oklahoma as the No. 1 team in the country. The next day, Pete Rose became the all-time hit leader in Major League Baseball, with his 4,192nd hit at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati.
“Cause you belong to the city
You belong to the night
Living in a river of darkness
Beneath the neon light”
In mid-September, Super Mario Bros. was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System, and Steve Jobs resigned from Apple Computer in order to found NEXT.
“The Golden Girls” premiered on NBC.
Also, the outcome of three college football games was decided by a field goal on the final play of the game: Clemson beat Virginia Tech 20-17 on a 36-yard field; Oregon State beat California 23-20 on a 20-yard field goal, and Utah beat Hawaii 29-27 on a 19-yard field goal.
On September 19, an 8.1 Richter-scale earthquake struck Mexico City, killing 10,000 people. Thirty thousand people were injured and 95,000 were left homeless. The next day, the capital gains tax was introduced in Australia.
Then on September 21, New Mexico State beat UTEP 22-20 with a 32-yard field goal on the final play of the game. The very next day, the Farm Aid Concert was held in Champaign, Illinois.
College football fans were celebrating their wins and mourning their losses to “Don’t Love My Number” by Phil Collins; “I Got You Babe” by UB40 and Chrissie Hynde; “Pop Life” by Prince and The Revolution; “Tonight It’s You” by Cheap Trick; “Freedom” by Wham; “There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart)” by the Eurythmics, and “Oh Sheila” by Ready For The World.
Near the close of September, Tennessee beat No. 1 Auburn 38-20. The next day, Iowa was named the No. 1 team in the country.
“MacGyver” debuted on ABC.
“You were born in the city
Concrete under your feet
It’s in your moves
It’s in your blood
You’re a man of the street”
On October 1, the Israeli Air Force bombed PLO headquarters near Tunis. Two days later, the Space Shuttle Atlantis made its maiden flight.
During the first week of October, the outcome of two college football games was decided by a field goal on the final play of the game: Mississippi State beat Memphis 31-28 on a 54-yard field goal by Artie Cosby, and Illinois beat Ohio State on a 38-yard field goal.
Pitcher Phil Niekro of the New York Yankees became the 18th player to join the 300-win club. The cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked in the Mediterranean Sea by four heavily armed Palestinian terrorists. One passenger, American Leon Klinghoffer, was killed.
In mid-October, Tulsa beat Long Beach State 37-35 with a with a 46-yard field goal on the final play of the game.
On October 19, No. 1 Iowa beat No. 2 Michigan 12-10 with a 29-yard field goal on the final play of the game in Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. The outcome of two other games was decided by a field goal on the final play of the game: Northwestern beat Wisconsin 17-14 on a 42-yard field goal, while Utah beat San Diego State 39-37 on a 42-yard field goal.
As Halloween approached, college football fans were carving their pumpkins to “Every Step Of The Way” by John Waite; “C-I-T-Y” by John Cafferty and The Beaver Brown Band; “And We Danced” by Hooters; “Dress You Up” by Madonna; “Saving All My Love For You” by Whitney Houston; “Four In The Morning (I Can’t Take It Anymore)” by Night Ranger; “Fortress Around Your Heart” by Sting; “Lonely Ol’ Night” by John Cougar Mellencamp; “Lovin’ Every Minute Of It” by Loverboy; “Love Theme From St. Elmo’s Fire” by David Foster; “Be Near Me” by ABC; “The Way You Do The Things You Do/My Girl” by Daryl Hall & John Oates with David Ruffin and Eddie Kendrick; “Sunset Grill” by Don Henley; “Dancing In The Street” by Mick Jagger & David Bowie, and “So In Love” by Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark.
Before October came to a close, the Kansas City Royals won the World Series, beating the St. Louis Cardinals, 4 games to 3.
The price of a first-class stamp was 22 cents, and the price of a gallon of gas was $1.09. A loaf of bread was 55 cents, a pound of bacon was $1.65 and the price of a dozen eggs was 55 cents.
“When you said goodbye
You were on the run
Trying to get away
From the things you’ve done”
Two days into November, Ohio State knocked off No. 1 Iowa 22-13. The next day, Florida was named the No. 1 team in the country.
The following week, Georgia beat No. 1 Florida 24-3. A day later Penn State became the No. 1 team in the country.
In mid-November, the Nevada del Ruiz volcano erupted, killing 23,000 people in the town of Armero, Colombia.
As the college football season was nearing an end, college football fans were singing to “I’m Going Down” by Bruce Springsteen; “I’m Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down” by Paul Young; “You Are My Lady” by Freddie Jackson; “Part-Time Lover” by Stevie Wonder; “Miami Vice Theme” by Jan Hammer; “We Built This City” by Starship; “Perfect Way” by Scritti Politti, and “Boy In The Box” by Corey Hart.
On November 17, the miniseries “Kane & Abel,” based on Jeffrey Archer’s bestselling novel, debuted on CBS. The next day, the comic strip “Calvin and Hobbs” debuted in 35 newspapers in the United States.
A few days later, Microsoft Corporation released the first version of Windows – Windows 1.0. Egypt Air Flight 648 was hijacked by the Abu Nidal group and flown to Malta, where Egyptian commandos stormed the plane. Sixty people were killed by gunfire and explosions.
At Thanksgiving, college football fans were stuffing themselves with turkey and pumpkin pie, while listening to “After The Fire” by Roger Daltrey; “One Night Love Affair” by Bryan Adams; “Head Over Heels” by Tears For Fears; “You Belong To The City” by Glenn Frey; “Never” by Heart; “Lay Your Hands On Me” by The Thompson Twins; “Broken Wings” by Mr. Mister; “Who’s Zoomin’ Who” by Aretha Franklin, and “Object Of My Desire” by Starpoint.
On the final day of November, in the Iron Bowl, Alabama beat Auburn 25-23 on a 52-yard field goal by Van Tiffin on the final play of the game.
The first day of December, the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable were released for sale to the public. A week later, Penn State (11-0) and Bowling Green (11-0) were the only two Division I teams to finish the regular season undefeated.
“Now you’re back again
And you’re feeling strange
So much has happened
But nothing has changed”
The consensus All-American first team offense consisted of wide receiver David Williams – Illinois (6-3, 195) Los Angeles, CA; wide receiver Tim McGee – Tennessee (5-10, 181) Cleveland, OH; tight end Willie Smith – Miami-Florida (6-2, 230) Jacksonville, FL; lineman Jim Dombrowski – Virginia (6-5, 290) Williamsville, NY; lineman Jeff Bregel – USC (6-4, 280) Granada Hills, CA; lineman Brian Jozwiak – West Virginia (6-6, 290) Catonsville, MD; lineman John Rienstra – Temple (6-4, 280) Colorado Springs, CO; lineman J.D. Maarleveld – Maryland (6-5, 300) Rutherford, NJ; lineman Jamie Dukes – Florida State (6-0, 272) Orlando, FL; center Pete Anderson – Georgia (6-3, 264) Glen Ridge, NJ; quarterback Chuck Long – Iowa (6-4, 213) Wheaton, IL; running back Bo Jackson – Auburn (6-1, 222) Bessemer, AL; running back Lorenzo White – Michigan State (5-11, 205) Fort Lauderdale, FL; running back Thurman Thomas – Oklahoma State (5-11, 186) Missouri City, TX; running back Reggie Dupard – SMU (6-0, 201) New Orleans, LA; running back Napoleon McCallum – Navy (6-2, 214) Milford, OH, and place kicker John Lee – UCLA (5-11, 187) Downey, CA.
Auburn running back Bo Jackson won the Heisman Trophy. Jackson was followed in the voting by (2) Iowa quarterback Chuck Long, (3) BYU quarterback Robbie Bosco, and (4) Michigan State running back Lorenzo White.
Jackson also won the Walter Camp Award presented to the nation’s most outstanding college football player, while Chuck Long won the Maxwell Award presented to the country’s most outstanding football player.
The Outland Trophy for the best interior lineman went to Boston College nose guard Mike Ruth. The Lombardi Award for the best lineman or linebacker was won by Oklahoma nose guard Tony Casillas.
Oklahoma linebacker Brian Bosworth won the Dick Butkus Award for the nation’s best linebacker.
About two weeks into December, Arrow Air Flight 1285, a Douglas DC-8, crashed after takeoff from Gander, Newfoundland, killing 256 people – 248 of whom were U.S. servicemen returning to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, from overseeing a peacekeeping operation in the Sinai.
Two days later, in the first bowl of the post-season, Fresno State trounced Bowling Green, 51-7, in the California Bowl. The following week, in the Independence Bowl, Minnesota beat Clemson, 20-13, and in the Cherry Bowl, Maryland topped Syracuse, 35-18.
“You still don’t know where you’re going
You’re just a face in the crowd”
Some of the best albums of the year were “Silvertone” by Chris Isaak; “Centerfield” by John Fogerty; “Nightshift” by The Commodores; “No Jacket Required” by Phil Collins; “40-Hour Week” by Alabama; “Songs from the Big Chair” by Tears for Fears; “Real Love” by Dolly Parton; “Behind the Sun” by Eric Clapton; “Birdy” by Peter Gabriel; “Southern Accents” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers; “Vox Humana” by Kenny Loggins, and “Around the World in a Day” by Prince and the Revolution.
“Two Hearts” by Men at Work; “Be Yourself Tonight” by Eurythmics; “Brothers in Arms” by Dire Straits; “Brother Where You Bound” by Supertramp; “Unguarded” by Amy Grant; “The Ballad of Sally Rose” by Emmylou Harris; “The Dream of the Blue Turtles” by Sting; “Boys and Girls” by Bryan Ferry; “Empire Burlesque” by Bob Dylan; “Fables of the Reconstruction” by R.E.M.; “Little Creatures” by Talking Heads; “Wide Awake in America” by U2, and “Spoiled Girl” by Carly Simon.
“Mask of Smiles” by John Waite; “Flash” by Jeff Beck; “Old Ways” by Neil Young; “Freaky Styley” by Red Hot Chili Peppers; “Scarecrow” by John Cougar Mellencamp; “Listen Like Thieves” by INXS; “Afterburner” by ZZ Top; “Power Windows” by Rush; “Dog Eat Dog” by Joni Mitchell; “Standing on the Edge” by Cheap Trick; “That’s Why I’m Here” by James Taylor; “Ice on Fire” by Elton John; “Done with Mirrors” by Aerosmith; “Rock a Little” by Stevie Nicks,” and “Riptide” by Robert Palmer.
On December 22, in the Holiday Bowl, Arkansas edged Arizona State, 18-17,
With Christmas near and bowl games in the air, college football fans were doing their Holiday shopping to “The Night Is Still Young” by Billy Joel; “Girls Are More Fun” by Ray Parker Jr.; “Soul Kiss” by Olivia Newton-John; “One Of The Living” by Tina Turner; “Separate Lives” by Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin; “To Live And Die In L.A.” by Wang Chung; “Everybody Dance” by Ta Mara & The Seen; “Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves” by the Eurythmics & Aretha Franklin; “Sleeping Bag” by ZZ Top; “Alive & Kicking” by Simple Minds; “Conga” by The Miami Sound Machine; “Do It For Love” by Sheena Easton; “Wrap Her Up” by Elton John; “Emergency” by Kool & The Gang; “Election Day” by Arcadia, and “You’re A Friend Of Mine” by Clarence Clemons & Jackson Browne.
Two days after Christmas, Abu Nidal terrorists opened fire at the airports in Rome and Vienna, leaving 18 dead and 120 injured. On the same day, it was Baylor 21, LSU 7, in the Liberty Bowl.
Some of the popular movies of the year were “Witness;” “The Breakfast Club;” “The Sure Thing;” “Mask” “Desperately Seeking Susan;” “A View to a Kill;” “Fletch;” “The Goonies;” “Prizzi’s Honor,” and “Cocoon.”
“St. Elmo’s Fire;” “Back to the Future;” “Silverado;” “Summer Rental;” “Agnes of God;” “White Nights;” “Spies Like Us;” “The Jewel of the Nile;” “The Color Purple;” “Out of Africa,” and “Murphy’s Romance.”
“You can feel it
You can taste it
You can see it
You can face it”
Some of the better reads during the year included “The Talisman” by Stephen King and Peter Straub; “The Sicilian” by Mario Puzo; “Love and War” by John Jakes; “The Fourth Protocol” by Frederick Forsyth; “If Tomorrow Comes” by Sydney Sheldon; “Moscow Rules” by Robert Moss; “Mexico Set” by Len Deighton; “Proof” by Dick Francis, and “The Hunt for Red October” by Tom Clancy.
“Hotel Du Lac” by Anita Brookner; “The Lonely Silver Rain” by John D. MacDonald; “The Class” by Erich Segal; “Hold the Dream” by Barbara Taylor Bradford; “Jubal Sackett” by Louis L’Amour; “The Cider House Rules” by John Irving; “Lonesome Dove” by Larry McMurty; “Skeleton Crew” by Stephen King; “The Fourth Deadly Sin” by Lawrence Sanders, and “Fall From Grace” by Larry Collins.
“The Two Mrs. Grenville’s” by Dominick Dunne; “Lake Wobegon Days” by Garrison Keillor; “The Accidental Tourist” by Anne Tyler; “A Maggot” by John Fowles; “Texas” by James Michener; “Contact” by Carl Sagan; “The Immigrant’s Daughter” by Howard Fast; “The Secrets of Harry Bright” by Joseph Wambaugh; “The Red Fox” by Anthony Hyde, and “The Mammoth Hunters” by Jean M. Auel.
On December 28 – Arizona and Georgia tied 13-13 in the Sun Bowl, while Alabama downed USC in the Aloha Bowl, 24-3. In the Citrus Bowl, Ohio State clipped BYU, 10-7. Two days later, Washington got by Colorado 20-17 in the Freedom Bowl, and in the Gator Bowl, it was Florida State 34, Oklahoma State 23.
Well-known people who were born during the year included John David Booty; Joe Flacco; Cristiano Ronaldo; Joakim Noah, and Reggie Bush.
Also, Adrian Peterson; Keira Knightley; Kyle Busch; Chris Paul; Michael Phelps; Calvin Johnson; Evan Longoria, and Bruno Mars.
The consensus All-American first team defense consisted of lineman Tim Green – Syracuse (6-2, 246) Liverpool, NY; lineman Leslie O’Neal – Oklahoma State (6-3, 245) Little Rock, AR; lineman Tony Casillas – Oklahoma (6-3, 280) Tulsa, Oklahoma; lineman Mike Ruth – Boston College (6-2, 250) Norristown, PA; lineman Mike Hammerstein – Michigan (6-4, 240) Wapakoneta, OH; linebacker Brian Bosworth – Oklahoma (6-2, 234) Irving, TX; linebacker Larry Station – Iowa (5-11, 227) Omaha, NE; linebacker Johnny Holland – Texas A&M (6-2, 219) Hempstead, TX; defensive back David Fulcher – Arizona State (6-3, 228) Los Angeles, CA; defensive back Brad Cochran – Michigan (6-3, 219) Royal Oak, MI; defensive back Scott Thomas – Air Force (6-0, 185) San Antonio, TX, and punter Barry Helton – Colorado (6-3, 195) Simla, CO.
Famous people who passed away during the year included Henry Cabot Lodge Jr.; Marc Chagall; Scott Brady; Edmond O’Brien; Kay Kyser; Gale Sondergaard; Ruth Gordon; Taylor Caldwell; Laura Ashley; Axel Springer, and Lloyd Nolan.
Also, Simone Signoret; E.B. White; Rock Hudson; Nelson Riddle; Yul Bryner; Orson Welles; Johnny Olson; Morton Downey; Phil Silvers; Robert Graves; Anne Baxter; Ian Stewart; Roger Maris, and Ricky Nelson.
“You can hear it, hey
You’re getting near it, hey
You wanna make it, whoa
Cause you can take it, whoa”
At the year-end close the Dow Jones Industrial Average stood at 1,546.
The most popular TV shows of the year were “The Golden Girls;” “Growing Pains;” “Moonlighting,” “The Cosby Show;” “Cheers;” “Dynasty;” “Mr. Belvedere;” “MacGyver,” and “Family Ties.”
“Night Court;” “Murder She Wrote;” “Dallas;” “Miami Vice;” “Who’s the Boss;” “The A-Team;” “Cagney and Lacey;” “The Love Boat;” “Magnum, P.I.,” and “Hill Street Blues.”
During the last few days of the year and on New Year’s Eve, college football fans were partying, drinking, celebrating and singing to “Tonight She Comes” by The Cars; “Small Town” by John Cougar Mellencamp; “Walk Of Life” by Dire Straits; “Burning Heart” by Survivor; “Love Is The Seventh Wave” by Sting; “Goodbye” by Night Ranger; “Say You, Say Me” by Lionel Richie; “That’s What Friends Are For” by Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder; “Talk To Me” by Stevie Nicks; “A Love Bizarre” by Sheila E.; “It’s Only Love” by Bryan Adams & Tina Turner; “Spies Like Us” by Paul McCartney & Wings; “The Sweetest Taboo” by Sade; “Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground)” by Mike & The Mechanics; “I’m Your Man” by Wham; “Life In A Nothing Town” by Dream Academy, and “When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going” by Billy Ocean.
On New Year’s Eve, at the All-American Bowl, Georgia Tech downed Michigan State, 17-14, while Army trimmed Illinois, 31-29, in the Peach Bowl. In the last bowl game of the year, Air Force knocked off Texas 24-16 in the Bluebonnet Bowl.
At the 14th annual New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, aired on ABC TV, The Four Tops, The Judds, Barry Manilow, The Motels, Tears for Fears and The Temptations performed.
That same night, American singer/songwriter and actor Ricky Nelson died in a plane crash in De Kalb, Texas.
At the Cotton Bowl, on January 1, Texas A&M beat Auburn 36-16, while Michigan got by Nebraska 27-23 in the Fiesta Bowl. Tennessee blasted Miami (Florida) 35-7 in the Sugar Bowl and UCLA won the Rose Bowl, beating Iowa 45-28.
“You belong to the city
You belong to the night”
And finally Oklahoma handed Penn State its first loss of the season, downing the Nittany Lions 25-10 in the Orange Bowl.
Oklahoma, under coach Barry Switzer finished the season 11-1 and was crowned the national champion by the Associated Press, UPI and USA Today/ESPN polls. Oklahoma’s only loss during the season came on October 19 when the Sooners were upset by Miami (Florida) 27-14 in Norman.
“You belong
You belong”
“You Belong to the City” was written by Glenn Frey (of the Eagles) and Jack Tempchin, and was recorded by Frey during his solo career. It was written specifically for the television show “Miami Vice.” The song debuted on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart on September 14. It remained on the chart for 21 weeks, throughout the remainder football season. “You Belong to the City” nearly reached the top of the Hot 100 chart in November, peaking at No. 2, behind Starship’s “We Built This City.” All instruments on the song were performed by Frey, except the saxophone played by studio musician Bill Bergman, and the drum track by Michael Huey. While Frey performed this song live when touring with the Eagles, he stopped doing so in 2005. A version of the song was performed by the Eagles on their farewell tour.
The year and football season was 1985.
Merry Christmas!
Touchdown Tom
December 22, 2017
P.S. The next CFW – CFW Week 18 – will be posted on Thursday, December 28.
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