Thursday, December 19, 2019

College Football Extra - And Then Suddenly, Last Summer


College Football Extra – Touchdown Tom’s Holiday Bonus

‘And then suddenly, last summer’ 


What year was it? 

The Internet began and the 3D printer was invented. The first mobile cellular telephone call was made, the Swatch was introduced, and compact discs went on sale for the first time in the United States. 

It was the year when three iconic television shows said farewell, airing their final episodes. America West Airlines began operation. And it was a year of firsts: the first Hooters opened, and the first American woman and the first African-American flew in space. But it was a sad year for Madrid. 

“It happened one summer
It happened one time
It happened forever
For a short time” 

The year began on a Saturday and on that day, the migration of ARPANET to TCP/IP was officially completed, marking the beginning of the Internet. 

A good two weeks later, the International Olympic Committee restored Jim Thorpe’s Olympic medals. The medals were presented to Thorpe’s family. A day later, high-ranking NAZI war criminal Klaus Barbie was caught and arrested in Bolivia. 

Near the end of January, Lotus 1-2-3 was released for IBM compatible computers, while on the same day, former Alabama football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant died. 

On the last day of the month, in the Rose Bowl, in Pasadena, California, the Washington Redskins beat the Miami Dolphins, 27-17, in the Super Bowl. Redskins running back John Riggins was named the most valuable player. 

Late in February, a special commission of the United States Congress released a report critical of America’s internment of the Japanese during World War II. 

On the last day of February, the final episode of “M*A*S*H” aired, setting a record for the most-watched television episode. The show reached a total audience estimated at 125 million, a record that remains unsurpassed. 

March began and the first collection of Swatch watches were introduced in Zurich, Switzerland. The next day, compact discs went on sale for the first time in the United States. A week later, the 3D printer was invented by Chuck Hull. 

Late in March, “Little House on the Prairie” aired for the last time, while Motown celebrated its 25th anniversary with the television special “Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever.” During the show, Michael Jackson performed “Billie Jean” and introduced the moonwalk. 

During the first week in April, the Space Shuttle Challenger was launched on its maiden voyage – the STS-6 mission. On the same day, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, NC State, coached by Jim Valvano, beat Houston, coached by Guy Lewis, 54-52, to win the NCAA basketball championship. 

Just a week later, in Augusta, Georgia, Spain’s Seve Ballesteros won the 47th Masters Tournament. It was his second Masters win. Ben Crenshaw and Tom Kite finished in a second-place tie, four strokes behind Ballesteros. 

That night, in Los Angeles, California, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, “Gandhi” was named the Best Picture at the 55th Academy Awards ceremonies. Ben Kingsley was named Best Actor for “Gandhi,” and Meryl Streep was named Best Actress for “Sophie’s Choice.” 

Before April would come to an end, Target Corporation, Minnesota’s largest retailer, expanded into California, opening 11 stores. David Bowie’s 15th album, “Let’s Dance,” was released. It became Bowie’s biggest selling album of all time. And the United States embassy in Beirut was bombed, killing 63 people. 

“A place for a moment
An end to a dream
Forever I loved you
Forever it seemed” 

On the 7th of May, Sunny’s Halo, ridden by jockey Eddie Delahoussaye, won the 109th running of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky. Three days later, the final episode of “Laverne & Shirley” aired on television. 

On May 11th, Aberdeen beat Real Madrid, 2-1, to win the European Cup. Aberdeen became only the third Scottish team to win a European trophy. Three days later, Dundee United was crowned the champions of Scotland for the first time in the team’s history. Dundee United won the Scottish Premier Division on the final day of the league season at Dens Park, the home of their city rivals Dundee. 

In mid-May, the New York Islanders beat the Edmonton Oilers, four games to none, to win the Stanley Cup. Three days later, two separate research groups independently declared that a novel retrovirus may have been infecting people with HIVAIDS. 

Late in the month, “Return of the Jedi” opened in theaters. Manchester United won the FA Cup, beating Brighton & Hove Albion, 4-0, at London’s Wembley Stadium. And an explosion at an unlicensed  fireworks operation near Benton, Tennessee, killed 11 people and injured one. The blast could be heard 20 miles away. 

On the last day of May, the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Los Angeles Lakers to win the NBA championship in a four-game sweep. The 76ers Moses Malone was named the most valuable player. 

During the first week of June, at the French Open Tennis Tournament in Paris, America’s Chris Evert won the women’s singles title, beating Yugoslavia’s Mimi Jausovec. The next day, France’s Yannick Noah won the men’s title, beating Sweden’s Mats Wilander. 

Summer was underway and while not yet able to listen to the games on the radio, college football fans were listening to “I Won’t Hold You Back” by Toto; “Photograph” by Def Leppard; “Always Something There To Remind Me” by Naked Eyes; “Solitaire” by Laura Branigan; “Let’s Dance” by David Bowie; “Rio” by Duran Duran; “Flashdance – What  Feeling” by Irene Cara; “My Love” by Lionel Richie; “Overkill” by Men At Work; “She’s A Beauty” by The Tubes, and “Faithfully by Journey. 

A few days later in June, Britain’s Conservative government, led by Margaret Thatcher, was reelected by a landslide majority. In mid-June, Pioneer 10 passed the orbit of Neptune, becoming the first man-made object to leave the vicinity of the major planets of the solar system. 

Meanwhile, the radio stations were playing “Affair Of The Heart” by Rick Springfield; “Time (Clock Of The Heart)” by Culture Club; “Never Gonna Let You Go” by Sergio Mendes; “All This Love” by DeBarge; “Too Shy” by Kajagoogoo; “That’s Love” by Jim Capaldi; “Don’t Let It End” by Styx; “Family Man” by Daryl Hall & John Oates; “The Closer You Get” by Alabama; “I’m Still Standing” by Elton John, and “Come Dancing” by The Kinks. 

Later in June, Sally Ride became the first American woman in space aboard Space Shuttle Challenger on the STS-7 mission. Two days later, Larry Nelson won the 83rd U.S. Open golf tournament at the Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. Nelson beat Tom Watson by one stroke. 

Just two days into July, Martina Navratilova defeated Andrea Jaeger to win the women’s singles title at the 97th Wimbledon Championship in England. The next day, John McEnroe beat New Zealand’s Chris Lewis to take the men’s singles title. 

“One summer never ends
One summer never began
It keeps me standing still
It takes all my will” 

Two weeks later, Nintendo’s Family Computer, also known as Famicom, went on sale in Japan. 

As the summer air grew warmer and thicker, the DJs were playing and college football fans were listening to “Slipping Away” by Dave Edmunds; “Wishing (If I Had A Photograph Of You)” by A Flock Of Seagulls; “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)” by Eurythmics; “Saved By Zero” by The Fixx; “Baby Jane” by Rod Stewart; “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” by Michael Jackson; “(Keep Feeling) Fascination” by Human League, and “She Works Hard For The Money” by Donna Summer. 

In mid-July, at the 112th Open Championship at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England, Tom Watson won his fifth Open Championship. Watson finished one stroke ahead of runners-up Andy Bean and Hale Irwin. 

Two days later, Simon and Garfunkel began their North American summer tour in Akron, Ohio. 

The summer airwaves continued to be filled with music, including “China Girl” by David Bowie; “Is There Something I Should Know” by Duran Duran; “Stand Back” by Stevie Nicks; “Maniac” by Michael Sembello; “Every Breath You Take” by The Police; “Rock Of Ages” by Def Leppard; “Cuts Likes A Knife” by Bryan Adams, and “Hot Girls In Love” by Loverboy. 

On July 23rd, Air Canada Flight 143 glided to a landing in Gimli, Manitoba, after running out of fuel in mid-flight. That night, Diana Ross’s concert in New York City’s Central Park, attended by 800,000 fans, was cut short by a massive thunderstorm. 

On the first day of August, American West Airlines began operation out of Phoenix, Arizona, and Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Six days later, at the 65th PGA Championship, at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, Hal Sutton won the tournament, beating Jack Nicklaus by one stroke. 

“And then suddenly
Last summer” 

As summer was coming to an end, college football fans couldn’t wait for the season to begin. Nebraska was the No. 1 team in the preseason polls. The top songs on the radio were “The Border” by America; “Take Me To Heart” by Quarterflash; “Rock ‘N’ Roll Is King” by Electric Light Orchestra; “Dead Giveaway” by Shalamar; “How Am I Supposed To Live Without You” by Laura Branigan; “All Time High” by Rita Coolidge, and “I’ll Tumble 4 Ya” by Culture Club. 

In mid-August, singer Paul Simon married actress Carrie Fisher, and Hurricane Alicia hit the Texas coast, killing 22 people and causing $3.8 billion in damage. 

Just days before the first games of the season, college football fans were grillin’ and chillin’ to “The Safety Dance” by Men Without Hats; “It’s A Mistake” by Men At Work; “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love” by Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack; “After The Fall” by Journey; “Human Touch” by Rick Springfield, and “Lawyers In Love” by Jackson Browne. 

In the waning days of August, Guion Bluford became the first African-American in space, aboard Space Shuttle Challenger on the STS-8 mission.

As September began, Korean Airlines Flight 007 was shot down by a Soviet Air Force plane when it entered Russian air space near Moneron Island. All 269 on board were killed, including U.S. Congressman Larry McDonald.

A week or so later, at the 103rd U.S. Open Tennis Tournament, Martina Navratilova beat Chris Evert for the women’s singles title. The next day, Jimmy Connors defeated Ivan Lendl for the men’s singles title.

Meanwhile, the college football season was underway and fans were tailgating to “Don’t You Get So Mad” by Jeffrey Osborne; “Promises, Promises” by Naked Eyes; “Total Eclipse Of The Heart” by Bonnie Tyler; “Human Nature” by Michael Jackson; “Don’t Cry” by Asia, and “Far From Over” by Frank Stallone.

During mid-September, Huey Lewis and the News’s album “Sports” was released, while the Global Positioning System (GPS) was made available for civilian use.

Also, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Vanessa Williams became the first African-American to be crowned Miss America, and the heavy metal band KISS appeared in public without makeup for the first time.

“Sometimes I never leave
But sometimes I would
Sometimes I stay too long
Sometimes I would”

College football fans were celebrating their wins and mourning their losses to “Burning Down The Home” by Talking Heads; “Tell Her About It” by Billy Joel; “Making Love Out Of Nothing At All” by Air Supply; “Big Log” by Robert Plant; “True” by Spandau Ballet; “(She’s) Sexy + 17” by Stray Cats, and “Tell Her No” by Juice Newton.

Near the end of September, the Australian yacht, Australia II, won the America’s Cup, becoming the first successful challenge to the New York Yacht Club’s 132-year defense of the sailing trophy.

During the first week of October, Neil Kinnock was elected leader of the British Labor Party, and the first Hooters restaurant opened in Clearwater, Florida.

A few days later, Mark Bachrodt kicked a 47-yard field goal on the final play of the game to give Iowa State a 38-35 win over Kansas.

In mid-October, the Baltimore Orioles beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 4 games to 1, to win the World Series. Orioles catcher Rick Dempsey was named the most valuable player.

A week later, simultaneous suicide truck-bombings destroyed both the U.S. Marine Corps barracks and the French Army barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. The bombings killed 241 U.S. servicemen, 58 French paratroopers and six Lebanese civilians.

Still in October, word processor software Multi-Tool Word, soon to become Microsoft Word, was released in the United States.

With Halloween approaching, college football fans were carving their pumpkins to “Everyday I Write The Book” by Elvis Costello; “Don’t Forget To Dance” by The Kinks; “Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair)” by Sheena Easton; “One Thing Leads To Another” by The Fixx; “King Of Pain” by The Police; “Islands In The Stream” by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton; “Foolin’” by Def Leppard; “Sitting At The Wheel” by The Moody Blues; “Suddenly Last Summer” by The Motels; “Delirious” by Prince; “Just Got Lucky” by JoBoxers; “This Time” by Bryan Adams, and “If Anyone Falls” by Stevie Nicks.

“Sometimes it frightens me
Sometimes it would
Sometimes I’m all alone
And wish that I could”

As October came to a close, Stan Hunter caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from Brian McClure on the final play of the game to give Bowling Green a 15-14 win over Central Michigan. And after seven years of military rule, the first democratic elections were held in Argentina.

The price of a first-class stamp was 20 cents, and the price of a gallon of gas was $1.24. A loaf of bread costs 50 cents, a gallon of milk was $2.24, while a dozen eggs cost 86 cents. The annual inflation rate was 3.22%.

On the 2nd of November, Chrysler introduced the Dodge Caravan, the first minivan. Three days later, Marty Jimmerson kicked a 24-yard field goal on the final play of the game to give Baylor a 24-21 win over Arkansas.

As the college football season was nearing an end, college football fans were singing to “Love Is A Stranger” by Eurythmics; “Modern Love” by David Bowie; “Break My Stride” by Matthew Wilder; “All Night Long (All Night) by Lionel Richie; “Tender Is The Night” by Jackson Browne, and “Send Her My Love” by Journey.

The following week, Ron Woods caught an 85-yard touchdown pass from Mike Pitz on the final play of the game to give Pacific a 30-26 win over San Jose State. On the same day, Jeff Davis kicked a 19-yard field goal on the final play of the game to give Miami (Florida) a 17-16 win over Florida State.

In mid-November the movie “A Christmas Story” was released.

At Thanksgiving, college football fans were stuffing themselves with turkey and pumpkin pie, while listening to “Major Tom (Coming Home)” by Peter Schilling; “Love Is A Battlefield” by Pat Benatar; “Uptown Girl” by Billy Joel; “Ain’t Nobody” by Rufus and Chaka Khan; “How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye” by Dionne Warwick and Luther Vandross, and P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” by Michael Jackson.

On November 26, Max Zendejas kicked a 45-yard field goal on the final play of the game to give Arizona a 17-15 win over Arizona State. The following day, Avianca Flight 11 crashed while landing near Madrid, Spain, killing 181 of the 192 people on board.

“One summer never ends
One summer never began
It keeps me standing still
It takes all my will”

The consensus All-American first team offense consisted of wide receiver Irving Fryar – Nebraska (6-0, 200) Mount Holly, NJ; tight end Gordon Hudson – BYU (6-4, 231) Salt Lake City, UT; lineman Bill Fralic – Pitt (6-5, 270) Penn Hills, PA; lineman Terry Long – East Carolina (6-0, 280) Columbia, SC; lineman Dean Steinkuhler – Nebraska (6-3, 270) Burr, Nebraska; lineman Doug Dawson – Texas (6-3, 263) Houston, TX; center Tony Slaton – USC (6-4, 260) Merced, CA; quarterback Steve Young – BYU (6-1, 198) Greenwich, CT; running back Mike Rozier – Nebraska (5-11, 210) Camden, NJ; running back Bo Jackson – Auburn (6-1, 222) Bessemer, AL; running back Greg Allen – Florida State (6-0, 200) Milton, FL; running back Napoleon McCallum – Navy (6-2, 208) Milford, OH, and placekicker Luis Zendejas – Arizona State (5-9, 186) Chino, CA.

Just two days into December, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video was aired on MTV for the first time. A few days later, the polls were out and Nebraska, who began the season at No. 1, finished the regular season ranked No. 1. Nebraska (12-0) and Texas (11-0) were the only two Division I teams to finish the season undefeated.

Nebraska running back Mike Rozier won the Heisman Trophy. Rozier was followed in the voting by (2) BYU quarterback Steve Young, (3) Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie and (4) Nebraska quarterback Turner Gill.

Rozier also won both the Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp Award presented to college football’s most outstanding player.

Both the Outland Trophy (most outstanding interior lineman) and the Vince Lombardi Award (most outstanding lineman or linebacker) were won by Nebraska guard Dean Steinkuhler.

Still early in December, two Spanish passenger planes collided on a foggy runway at a Madrid, Spain, airport, killing 90 people. And in the first bowl game of the season, Air Force beat Ole Miss, 9-3, in the Independence Bowl.

Some of the best albums of the year were “Flick of the Switch” by AC/DC; “The Closer You Get” by Alabama; “Alpha” by Asia; “Confrontation” by Bob Marley & The Wailers;” “Cuts Like A Knife” by Bryan Adams; “Speeding Time” by Carole King;” “Nest Position Please” by Cheap Trick; “She’s So Unusual” by Cyndi Lauper; “Let’s Dance” by David Bowie; “Pyromania” by Def Leppard; “Burlap & Satin” by Dolly Parton.

Also, “Let Me Drink From Your Well” by Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show; “Secret Messages” by Electric Light Orchestra; “White Shoes” by Emmylou Harris; “Genesis” by Genesis; “Right Or Wrong” by George Strait; “Salute” by Gordon Lightfoot; “Fierce Heart” by Jim Capaldi; “Legendary Hearts” by Lou Reed; “Madonna” by Madonna; “Hearts And Bones” by Paul Simon; “Synchronicity” by The Police; “Murmur” by R.E.M.

Also, “Living In Oz” by Rick Springfield; “Never Let You Go” by Rita Coolidge; “Body Wishes” by Rod Stewart; “Speaking In Tongues” by Talking Heads; “Little Robbers” by The Motels; “Undercover” by The Rolling Stones; “Under A Blood Red Sky” by U2; “War” by U2; “Labour Of Love” by UB40; “Inarticulate Speech Of The Heart” by Van Morrison, and “Eliminator” by ZZ Top.

“And then suddenly
Last summer
And then suddenly
Last summer”

On the 17th of December, a discotheque fire in Madrid, Spain, killed 80 people and injured 47. While on the same day, a Provisional IRA car bomb killed six people and injured 90 outside Harrod’s Department Store in London.

Also on the 17th, two more bowl games were played. Tennessee beat Maryland, 30-23, in the Citrus Bowl, while it was Northern Illinois 20, Fullerton State 13, in the California Bowl.

With Christmas near and bowl games in the air, college football fans were doing their Holiday shopping to “Baby I Lied” by Deborah Allen; “Souls” by Rick Springfield; “Time Will Reveal” by DeBarge; “Crumblin’ Down” by John Cougar Mellencamp; “Say, Say, Say” by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson; “Church Of The Poison Mind” by Culture Club; “I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues” by Elton John; “Say It Ain’t So” by Daryl Hall & John Oates; “Holiday” by Madonna; “Synchronicity II” by The Police; “Twist Of Fate” by Olivia Newton-John; “Union Of The Snake” by Duran Duran; “Joanna” by Kool & The Gang; “Owner Of A Lonely Heart” by Yes; “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” by Elmo & Patsy, and “Christmas In Dixie” by Alabama.

Within a few days of Christmas, West Virginia beat Kentucky, 20-16, in the Hall of Fame Bowl, and BYU won the Holiday Bowl, beating Missouri, 21-17. The day before Christmas, Alabama beat SMU in the Sun bowl, 28-7.

Two days after Christmas, Penn State beat Washington, 13-10, in the Aloha Bowl. Three days later, in the Liberty Bowl, Notre Dame downed Boston College, 19-18.

“One summer never ends
One summer never began
It keeps me standing still
It takes all my will”

Some of the popular movies of the year were “The Outsiders;” “A Christmas Story;” “National Lampoon’s Vacation;” “War Games;” “Trading Places;” “Terms of Endearment;” “Sophie’s Choice;” “The Big Chill,” and “Eddie and the Cruisers.”

Also; “Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi;” “Risky Business;” “The Winds of War;” “Mr. Mom;” “Spring Break,” “Staying Alive;” “The Right Stuff;” “Yentl;” “Scarface;” “Sudden Impact;” “Silkwood;” “Octopussy,” and  “The Year of Living Dangerously.”

Some of the better reads during the year included “Space” by James Michener; “Mistral’s Daughter” by Judith Krantz; “The Valley of the Horse” by Jean Auel; “The Parsifal Mosaic” by Robert Ludlum; “Max” by Howard Fast; “Master of the Game” by Sydney Sheldon; “Ellis Island” by Fred Mustard Stewart; “The Little Drummer Girl” by John le Carre; “The Lonesome Gods” by Louis L’Amour, and “The Delta Star” by Joseph Wambaugh.

Also, “Banker” by Dick Francis; “Voice of the Heart” by Barbara Taylor Bradford; “Ancient Evenings” by Norman Mailer; “The Summer of Katya” by Trevanian; “Ascent Into Hell” by Andrew Greeley; “The Name of the Rose” by Umberto Eco; “August” by Judith Rossner; “Po;and” by James Michener; “Exocet” by Jack Higgins; “Winter’s Tale” by Mark Helprin; “The Auerbach Will” by Stephen Birmingham, and “Pet Sematary” by Stephen King.

December 30 saw Florida beat Iowa, 14-6, in the Gator Bowl, and on the same day Florida State won the Peach Bowl, beating North Carolina, 28-3.

Well-known people who were born during the year included Justin Verlander; Emily Blunt; Carrie Underwood; Matt Leinart; Vince Young; Kim Klijsters; Edward Snowden; Miranda Lambert; Aaron Rodgers; Amy Winehouse, Katy Tur; Chris Hemsworth; Adam Driver, and Jay Cutler.

The consensus All-American first team defense consisted of lineman Rick Bryan  Oklahoma (6-4, 260) Coweta, OK; lineman Reggie White – Tennessee (6-5, 264) Chattanooga, TN; lineman William Perry – Clemson (6-3, 320) Aiken, SC; lineman William Fuller – North Carolina (6-4, 250) Chesapeake, VA; linebacker Ricky Hunley – Arizona (6-2, 230) Petersburg, VA; linebacker Wilber Marshall – Florida (6-1, 230) Titusville, FL; linebacker Ron Rivera – California (6-3, 225) Monterey, CA; linebacker Jeff Leiding – Texas (6-4, 240) Tulsa, OK; linebacker Russell Carter – SMU (6-3, 193) Ardmore; PA; defensive back Jerry Gray – Texas (6-1, 183) Lubbock, TX; defensive back Terry Hoage – Georgia (6-3, 196) Huntsville, TX; defensive back Don Rogers – UCLA (6-2, 208) Sacramento, CA, and punter Jack Well – Wyoming (5-11, 171) Northglenn, CO.

“And then suddenly
Last summer
And then suddenly
Last summer
Until suddenly
Last summer”

Famous people who passed away during the year included Dick Emery; Meyer Lansky; George Cukor; Paul “Bear” Bryant; Karen Carpenter; Tennessee Williams; Arthur Godfrey; Bob Waterfield; Gloria Swanson; Dolores del Rio; Walter Slezak; Buster Crabbe; George Balanchine; Muddy Waters and Norm Van Brocklin.

Also, Jack Dempsey; Buckminster Fuller; Harry James; David Niven; Lynn Fontanne; Carolyn Jones; Ira Gershwin; Henry “Scoop” Jackson; Joan Hackett; Ralph Richardson; Pat O’Brien; Jessica Savitch; Slim Pickens; Rod Cameron; William Demarest, and Dennis Wilson.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the year at 1,258.

The most popular TV shows of the year were “Falcon Crest;” Dallas;” “Dynasty;” “The A-Team;” “Simon & Simon;” “Magnum, P.I.;” “Kate & Allie;” “Hotel;” “Cagney & Lacey;” “Knots Landing;” “The Love Boat;” “The Jeffersons;” “Newhart;” “Scarecrow & Mrs. King,” and “Alice.”

During the last few days of the year and on New Year’s Eve, college football fans were partying, drinking, celebrating and singing to “If I’d Been The One” by 38 Special; “I Still Can’t Get Over Loving You” by Ray Parker Jr.; “Undercover Of The Night” by The Rolling Stones; “Let The Music Play” by Shannon; “Gold” by Spandau Ballet; “Read ’Em And Weep” by Barry Manilow; “The Sign Of The Fire” by The Fixx; “The Politics Of Dancing” by Re-Flex; “Running With The Night” by Lionel Richie; “That’s All” by Genesis; “Remember The Nights” by The Motels; “The Curly Shuffle” by Jump ’N The Saddle, and “Karma Chameleon” by Culture Club.

On New Year’s Eve, Oklahoma State beat Baylor, 24-14, in the Bluebonnet Bowl.

At the 12th annual New Year’s Rockin’ Eve special, aired on ABC TV, Culture Club, Rick James, Laura Branigan, Barry Manilow, David Frizzell and the Mary Jane Girls were featured.

“And then suddenly
Last summer
Until suddenly
Last summer”

New Year’s Day, Auburn won the Sugar Bowl, beating Michigan, 9-7, and UCLA beat Illinois, 45-9, in the Rose Bowl.

Also on January 1, Georgia handed Texas its first loss of the season. The Bulldogs beat the Longhorns, 10-9, in the Cotton Bowl. Then, Miami (Florida) gave Nebraska its first loss of the season. In the Orange Bowl, the Hurricanes beat the Cornhuskers, 31-30.

In the last bowl game of the season, played on January 2, Ohio State beat Pitt, 28-23, in the Fiesta Bowl.

Miami (Florida), under coach Howard Schnellenberger, finished its season at 11-1. The Hurricanes were crowned the national champions in the Associated Press, UPI and USA Today/CNN Polls. Miami’s only loss occurred in Gainesville, Florida, on the opening weekend of the season. Florida beat the Canes, 28-3. Miami then won 11-straight games, but the Canes had close calls in their final three games of the season. Miami beat East Carolina (12-7), Florida State (17-16) and Nebraska, in the bowl game, (31-30).

“Suddenly Last Summer” was a hit song by the new wave band The Motels. It was written by the band’s lead singer, Martha Davis. “Suddenly Last Summer” debuted on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart on September 3 – the beginning of football season. It remained on the chart for 20 weeks, throughout the remainder of the football season and beyond. “Suddenly Last Summer” peaked at No. 9 on November 19. The song fell off the chart on January 21. Martha Davis said in an interview, “The song is a reflection on those moments in life when things are changing. Like when it’s a beautiful sunny day and a cold wind blows and you know the end of summer is coming. Summer is ending when you hear the ice cream truck go by for the last time and you know he won’t be back for a while. The song touches upon themes such as the loss of virginity and innocence.” 

The year and football season was 1983. 

Happy Hanukkah..…Seasons Greetings..…Merry Christmas..…Happy Holidays 

Touchdown Tom
December 19, 2019
https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com

(Note: College Football Week 18 will be posted on Sunday, December 22.)


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