College Football
Week Holiday Extra – What Year Was It?
‘I play my part
and you play your game’
“You give love a bad name”
It was the year of “True Blue,” “Hands Across America” and a Royal wedding. Freddie Mercury performed for the last time with Queen, while a heavy metal rock band lost a member in the crash of its tour bus.
It was a good year for an Asian emperor who celebrated his Diamond Jubilee. But it was a bad year for the leaders of other countries. Two authoritarians fled their countries and went into exile, ending a combined 48 years of rule. A South American dictator survived an assassination attempt, but a European prime minister was shot and killed.
And the first email management software was developed.
What year was it?
On the first day of the year, Spain and Portugal became members of the European Community.
Later in January, the United Kingdom and France announced plans to build “Chunnel” – the Channel Tunnel, and the Voyager 2 space probe made its first encounter with Uranus.
Just a few days later, before 73,818 fans in the Louisiana Superdome, the Chicago Bears won the Super Bowl, beating the New England Patriots, 46-10. The Bears’ defensive end Richard Dent was named the game’s most valuable player. Chicago was coached by Mike Ditka and the Patriots were coached by Raymond Berry.
Two days beyond the Super Bowl, the Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated 73 seconds after its launch from Cape Kennedy. The crew of seven astronauts were killed, including school teacher Christa McAuliffe.
Near the end of January, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, held its first induction ceremony. The initial group of inductees were Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, James Brown, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke and the Everly Brothers.
During the first week of February, President Jean Claude Duvalier fled Haiti, ending 28 years of rule. Then, two weeks later, President Ferdinand Marcos fled the Philippines, ending 20 years of rule. Marcos went into exile in Hawaii.
On the last day of February, Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme was shot to death in Stockholm, on his way home from the cinema.
Almost two weeks into March, United States Navy divers located the largely intact, but heavily damaged, crew compartment of the Space Shuttle Challenger. The bodies of all seven astronauts were inside. A week later, Microsoft Corporation held its initial public offering of stock shares.
Later in March, the 58th Academy Awards ceremony was held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles. “Out of Africa” won the Best Picture award. The Best Actor award went to William Hurt for his role in “Kiss of the Spider Woman.” The Best Actress award went to Geraldine Page for her role in “The Trip to Bountiful.” The awards ceremony was hosted by Alan Alda, Jane Fonda and Robin Williams.
On the last day of the month, Mexicana Airlines Flight 940 crashed near Maravatio, Mexico, killing all 167 on board. Also, on the last day of March, in Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas, Louisville won the NCAA Basketball Championship, beating Duke, 72-69. Louisville’s Pervis Ellison was named the tournament’s most outstanding player. Louisville was coached by Denny Crum and Duke was coached by Mike Krzyzewski. The other two teams in the Final Four were Kansas and LSU.
Just two days into April, a bomb exploded on a TWA flight from Rome to Athens, killing four people. The plane landed safely. Three days later, the West Berlin discotheque LaBelle, a known hangout for U.S. soldiers, was bombed, killing three and injuring 230. Libya was held responsible.
In mid-April, Pope John Paul II made an official visit to the Great Synagogue of Rome. It was the first time a modern Pope visited a synagogue. The same day, in Augusta, Georgia, Jack Nicklaus won the Master’s Golf Tournament. Nicklaus beat out Tom Kite and Greg Norman by one stroke. Kite and Norman finished tied for second place.
On April 15, in retaliation for the discotheque bombing in West Berlin, the U.S. bombed targets in Libya. Two days later, British journalist John McCarthy was kidnapped in Beirut, Lebanon, in retaliation for the bombing in Libya. McCarthy was released five years later.
“Shot through the heart
As April was coming to an end, a mishandled safety test at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, USSR, became a nuclear disaster, killing at least 4,056 people. Radioactive fallout from the accident was concentrated in Belarus, Ukraine and Russia in the USSR. At least 350,000 people were forcibly resettled.
In the final days of the month, The Diamond Jubilee of Emperor Hirohito was held in Tokyo.
Early May saw the opening of the World’s Fair in Vancouver, British Columbia. The theme of the Fair was Transportation and Communications. Early May also saw the running of the 112th Kentucky Derby in Lexington, Kentucky. The Derby was won by Ferdinand, ridden by jockey Willie Shoemaker.
On the day after the Kentucky Derby, the 31st Eurovision Song Contest was held in Bergen, Norway. The contest was won by Belgium with the song “J’aime La Vie” performed by Sandra Kim. Switzerland finished second.
Three weeks later, the Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup, beating the Calgary Flames, 4 matches to 1. The Canadiens Patrick Roy was named the most valuable player.
“An angel’s smile is what you sell
On May 25, at least five million people formed a human chain from New York City to Long Beach, California, in what was known as “Hands Across America.” The event was held to raise attention and money for hunger and homelessness. On the same day, in southern Bangladesh, a ferry capsized in the Meghna River, killing at least 600.
Four days into June, Jonathan Pollard pleaded guilty to espionage for selling top secret U.S. military intelligence to Israel.
A few days later, at the French Open Tennis Tournament in Paris, American Chris Evert defeated fellow American Martina Navratilova to win the women’s singles title. The next day Czechoslovakia’s Ivan Lendl defeated Sweden’s Michael Pernfors to win the men’s singles title.
On June 8, former United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim was elected president of Austria. That evening, the Boston Celtics beat the Houston Rockets, 4 games to 2, to win the NBA championship. The Celtics’ Larry Bird was named the most valuable player. Boston was coached by K.C. Jones and Houston was coached by Bill Fitch.
Summer was underway, and while not yet able to listen to the games on the radio, college football fans were listening and singing along to “West End Girls” by The Pet Shop Boys; “I Can’t Wait” by Nu Shooz; “Harlem Shuffle” by The Rolling Stones; “American Storm” by Bob Seger; “Why Can’t This Be Love” by Van Halen; “Take Me Home” by Phil Collins; “Bad Boy” by Miami Sound Machine; “All I Need Is A Miracle” by Mike & The Mechanics; “On My Own” by Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald; “Is It Love” by Mr. Mister; “Greatest Love Of All” by Whitney Houston, and “Move Away” by Culture Club.
The following week, at the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Shinnecock Hills, New York, Raymond Floyd won the U.S. Open Golf Tournament. Floyd beat out Chip Beck and Lanny Wadkins by two strokes.
A week later, Eric Thomas released LISTSERV, the first email management software.
Meantime, the college football magazines were on the shelves, while the radio stations were playing “Holding Back The Years” by Simply Red; “Be Good To Yourself” by Journey; “No One Is To Blame” by Howard Jones; “Crush On You” by The Jets; “Live To Tell” by Madonna; “Nothin’ At All” by Heart; “Tuff Enuff” by The Fabulous Thunderbirds; “Your Wildest Dreams” by The Moody Blues; “There’ll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry) by Billy Ocean; “A Different Corner” by Wham (George Michael); “Who’s Johnny” by El DeBarge, and “Like No Other Night” by 38 Special.
On the final day of June, Madonna released her “True Blue” album, which topped the charts in more than 28 countries. “True Blue” became the best-selling album of the year.
“Chains of love got a hold on me
In early July, at the All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, England, the Wimbledon Tennis Championship women’s singles title was won by America’s Martina Navratilova, who beat Czechoslovakia’s Hana Mandikova. The next day, Germany’s Boris Becker beat Czechoslovakia’s Ivan Lendl for the men’s singles title.
As the summer air grew warmer and thicker, the DJs were playing and college football fans were listening to “If She Knew What She Wants” by The Bangles; “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins; “Sledgehammer” by Peter Gabriel; “Nasty” by Janet Jackson; “Mad About You” by Brenda Carlisle; “We Don’t Have To Take Our Clothes Off” by Jermaine Stewart; “Mountains” by Prince, and “Like A Rock” by Bob Seger.
Later in July, at Turnberry in South Ayrshire, Scotland, Greg Norman won the British Open Golf Championship. Norman beat out runner-up Gordan J. Brand by five strokes.
The summer airwaves continued to be filled with good music, including “Dreams by Van Halen; “Secret Separation” by The Fixx; “Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots Of Money)” by The Pet Shop Boys; “Take It Easy” by Duran Duran; “Invisible Touch” by Genesis; “Love Touch” by Rod Stewart; “Modern Woman” by Billy Joel; “All The Love In The World” by The Outfield, and “Glory Of Love” by Peter Cetera.
Three days later, in London, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, married Sarah Ferguson at Westminster Abbey.
On August 9, Queen performed its final concert of the Magic Tour. It was the band’s last performance with singer Freddie Mercury and bassist John Deacon. Two days later, at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, Bob Tway won the PGA Championship. Tway beat out runner-up Greg Norman by two strokes.
As summer was coming to an end, college football fans could not wait for the season to begin. In the preseason polls, Oklahoma was the No. 1 team in the country. The top songs on the radio were “Sweet Freedom by Michael McDonald; “Words Got In The Way” by Miami Sound Machine; “Higher Love” by Steve Winwood; “Man Size Love” by Klymaxx; “Take My Breath Away” by Berlin, and “The Captain Of Her Heart” by Double.
Later in August, the Picasso painting “Weeping Woman” was found, two weeks after it was stolen, in a locker at the Spencer Street Station in Melbourne, Australia. The following day, in Edmond, Oklahoma, U.S. Postal employee Patrick Sherrill gunned down 14 of his co-workers, before committing suicide.
Just days before the first games of the season, college football fans were grillin’ and chillin’ to “Papa Don’t Preach” by Madonna; “Venus” by Bananarama; “Suzanne” by Journey; “The Edge Of Heaven” by Wham; “Yankee Rose” by David Lee Roth, and “Friends And Lovers” by Gloria Loring and Carl Anderson.
“Oh, oh, you’re a loaded gun
On the last day of August, three events occurred – all involving ships or an airplane. The Soviet passenger ship Admiral Nakhimov collided with the bulk carrier Pyotr Vasev in the Black Sea. The Admiral Nakhimov sank, killing 398 people. Then, Aeromexico Flight 498, Douglas DC-9, collied with a Piper Cub over Cerritos, California, killing 82 – 67 on the two aircraft and 15 on the ground. And finally, the cargo ship Khian Sea departed from Philadelphia, carrying 14,000 tons of toxic waste. The ship wandered the seas for 16 months, trying to find a place to unload its cargo. The waste was eventually deposited in Haiti.
Early in September, Pan Am Flight 73, with 358 people on board, was hijacked at Karachi International Airport in Pakistan by four Abu Nidal terrorists.
The following day, at the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament, America’s Martina Navratilova beat Czechoslovakia’s Helena Sukova to win the women’s singles title. The next day, Czechoslovakia’s Ivan Lendl beat fellow countryman Miloslav Mecir to win the men’s singles title.
On September 7, Desmond Tutu became the first Black Anglican Church bishop in South Africa. The same day, Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet survived an assassination attempt. Four of Pinochet’s bodyguards were killed in the attack.
Meanwhile, the college football season was underway, and fans were tailgating to “Two Of Hearts” by Stacey Q; “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone) by Glass Tiger; “Dancing On The Ceiling” by Lionel Richie; “Missionary Man” by The Eurythmics; “Love Zone” by Billy Ocean; “Walk This Way” by Run D.M.C.; “All Cried Out” by Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, and “Dreamtime” by Daryl Hall.
A week later, a 6.0 earthquake shook southern Greece. The quake left at least 20 dead.
On the third Saturday in September, Clemson beat Georgia, 31-28, with a 46-yard field goal on the last play of the game. The same day, USC downed Baylor, 17-14, with a 32-yard field goal on the final play of the game.
Late in September, a concert tour bus carrying the heavy metal band Metallica crashed in Sweden, killing the band’s bassist Cliff Burton. On the same day, in the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, the No. 2 Miami Hurricanes beat the No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners, 28-16.
“Shot through the heart
College football fans were celebrating their wins and mourning their losses to “Press” by Paul McCartney; “Heaven In Your Eyes” by Loverboy; “Stuck With You” by Huey Lewis and The News; “Twist And Shout” by The Beatles; “Love Walks In” by Van Halen; “A Matter Of Trust” by Billy Joel; “When I Think Of You” by Janet Jackson, and “You Can Call Me Al” by Paul Simon.
On the last day of September, Miami became the No. 1 team in the polls.
Nine days into October, News Corporation completed its acquisition of the Metromedia group of companies, thereby launching the Fox Broadcasting Company. The next day, a 5.7 magnitude earthquake shook San Salvador, El Salvador, killing up to 1,500 people.
On the third Saturday in October, Michigan beat Iowa, 20-17, with a 34-yard field goal on the last play of the game.
About two weeks later, in New York City, WNBC Radio’s traffic helicopter crashed into the Hudson River, killing traffic reporter Jane Donacker.
On October 27, the New York Mets won the World Series, beating the Boston Red Sox 4 games to 3. The Mets Ray Knight was named the most valuable player of the series. The Mets were managed by Davey Johnson and the Red Sox were managed by John McNamara.
With Halloween approaching, college football fans were carving their pumpkins, while listening to “Sweet Love” by Anita Baker; “Throwing It All Away” by Genesis; “Take Me Home Tonight” by Eddie Money; “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel; “True Colors” by Cyndi Lauper; “I’ll Be Over You” by Toto; “Typical Male” by Tina Turner; “Emotion In Motion” by The Cars; “You Give Love A Bad Name” by Bon Jovi; “Human” by The Human League; “Word Up” by Cameo, and “True Blue” by Madonna.
As October was coming to an end, the M25 Motorway, which encircles greater London, opened.
The price of a first-class postage stamp was 24 cents, and the price of a gallon of gas was 89 cents. A loaf of bread cost $1.02, a gallon of milk was $1.92, while a dozen eggs were 87 cents. A pound of bacon cost $1.75.
Early in November, the news media reported that the United States had been selling weapons to Iran in secret, in order to secure the release of seven American hostages held by pro-Iranian groups in Lebanon.
“I play my part
On the third Saturday in November, Minnesota downed Michigan, 20-17, with a 30-yard field goal on the final play of the game.
About three weeks later, National Security Council member Oliver North and his secretary Fawn Hall began shredding documents that implicated them in the selling of weapons to Iran and channeling the proceeds to help fund the Contra rebels in Nicaragua.
At Thanksgiving, college football fans were stuffing themselves with turkey and pumpkin pie, while listening to “I Am By Your Side” by Corey Hart; “The Next Time I Fall” by Peter Cetera and Amy Grant; “What About Love” by Til Tuesday; “The Way It Is” by Bruce Hornsby and The Range; “Amanda” by Boston; “Walk Like An Egyptian” by The Bangles; “To Be A Lover” by Billy Idol; “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King; “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” by Wang Chung; “Don’t Get Me Wrong” by The Pretenders, and “C’est La Vie” by Robbie Nevil.
By the last day of November, Miami (Florida) and Penn State were the only two D-IA teams to finish the season undefeated and untied. Nevada and Penn were the only two D-IAA teams to finish the season undefeated and untied.
The consensus All-American first-team offense consisted of wide receiver Cris Carter – Ohio State (6-3, 194) Middletown, OH; tight end Keith Jackson – Oklahoma (6-3, 241) Little Rock, AR; lineman Jeff Bregel – USC (6-4, 280) Granada Hills, CA; lineman Randy Dixon – Pitt (6-4, 286) Clewiston, FL; lineman Danny Villa – Arizona State (6-5, 284) Nogales, AZ; lineman John Clay – Missouri (6-5, 285) St. Louis, MO; center Ben Tamburello – Auburn (6-3, 268) Birmingham, AL; quarterback Vinny Testaverde – Miami (Florida) (6-5, 218) Elmont, NY; running back Brent Fullwood – Auburn (5-11, 209) St. Cloud, FL; running back Paul Palmer – Temple (5-10, 180) Potomac, MD; running back Terrence Flagler – Clemson (6-1, 200) Fernandina Beach, FL; running back Brad Muster – Stanford (63-226) Novato, CA; running back D.J. Dozier – Penn State (6-1, 204) Virginia Beach, VA, and placekicker Jeff Jaeger – Washington (5-11, 191) Kent, WA.
The consensus All-American first-team defense consisted of lineman Jerome Brown – Miami (Florida) (6-2, 285) Brooksville, FL; lineman Danny Noonan – Nebraska (6-4, 280) Lincoln, NE; lineman Tony Woods – Pitt (6-4, 240) Newark, NJ; lineman Jason Buck – BYU (6-6, 270) St. Anthony, ID; lineman Reggie Rogers – Washington (6-6, 260) Sacramento, CA; linebacker Cornelius Bennett – Alabama (6-4, 235) Birmingham, AL; linebacker Shane Conlan – Penn State (6-3, 225) Frewsburg, NY; linebacker Brian Bosworth – Oklahoma (6-2, 240) Irving, TX; linebacker Chris Spielman – Ohio State (6-2, 227) Massillon, OH; defensive back Thomas Everett – Baylor (5-9, 180) Daingerfield, TX; defensive back Tim McDonald – USC (6-3, 205) Fresno, CA; defensive back Bennie Blades – Miami (Florida) (6-0, 207) Fort Lauderdale, FL; defensive back Rod Woodson – Purdue (6-0, 195) Fort Wayne, IN; defensive back Garland Rivers – Michigan (6-1, 187) Canton, OH, and punter Barry Helton – Colorado (6-4, 200) Simla, CO.
Just a week into December and a 5.7 magnitude earthquake shook the Bulgarian town of Strajica, killing two people.
Miami (Florida) quarterback Vinny Testaverde was named the winner of the Heisman Trophy. In the balloting, Testaverde finished ahead of (2) Temple running back Paul Palmer, (3) Michigan quarterback Jim Harbaugh and (4) Oklahoma linebacker Brian Bosworth.
Testaverde also won both the Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp Award as the nation’s most outstanding college football player. And he took the Davey O’Brien Award as the nation’s best quarterback.
“Paint your smile on your lips
The Outland Trophy, for the nation’s most outstanding interior lineman, went to BYU defensive tackle Jason Buck. The Vince Lombardi Award, for the nation’s most outstanding lineman or linebacker, went to Alabama linebacker Cornelius Bennett.
The Dick Butkus Award, for the nation’s best linebacker, was won by Oklahoma linebacker Brian Bosworth. And the Jim Thorpe Award, for the nation’s best defensive back, went to Baylor’s Thomas Everett.
Also. “Third Stage” by Boston; “True Colors” by Cyndi Lauper; “The Final Countdown” by Europe; “August” by Eric Clapton; “Winner In you” by Patti LaBelle; “The Bridge” by Billy Joel; “Notorious” by Duran Duran; “Like A Rock” by Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band; “Break Every Rule” by Tina Turner; “Can’t Hold Back” by Eddie Money, and “True Stories” by The Talking Heads.
Also, “Aretha” by Aretha Franklin; “Lives In The Balance” by Jackson Browne; “The Other Side Of Life” by The Moody Blues; “Raised On Radio” by Journey; “Revenge” by Eurythimics; “A Kind Of Magic: by Queen; “Belinda” by Belinda Carlisle; “Please” by The Pet Shop Boys, and “No Guru, No Method, No Teacher” by Van Morrison.
The first bowl game of the season was played on December 13. San Jose State beat Miami (Ohio), 37-7, in the California Bowl. The next day, Rutan Voyager, an experimental aircraft designed by Burt Rutan and piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yaeger, began its flight around the world from Edwards Air Force Base.
Some of the more popular movies of the year were “Stand By Me;” “Top Gun;” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off;” “Aliens;” “Platoon;” “Three Amigos;” “Crocodile Dundee;” “Peggy Sue Got Married;” “The Color Of Money;” “Hoosiers,” and “A Room With A View.”
Five days later, Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov was allowed to return to Moscow after six years of internal exile.
“A schoolboy’s dream, you act so shy
Some of the better books during the year were “The Mammoth Hunters” by Jean M. Auel; “Lake Wobegon Days” by Garrison Keeler; “Texas” by James A. Michener; “Contact” by Carl Sagan; “Lie Down With Lions” by Ken Follett; “Cyclops” by Clive Cussler; “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood; “The Bourne Supremacy” by Robert Ludlum; “Break In” by Dick Francis; “I’ll Take Manhattan” by Judith Krantz; “A Perfect Spy” by John le Carre; “The Good Mother” by Sue Miller, and “The Eighth Commandment” by Lawrence Sanders.
Also, “Last Of The Breed” by Louis L’Amour; “Act Of Will” by Barbara Taylor Bradford; “A Matter Of Honor” by Jeffrey Archer; “Red Storm Rising” by Tom Clancy; “Regrets Only” by Sally Quinn; “Through A Glass Darkly” by Karleen Koen; “The Prince Of Tides” by Pat Conroy; “Hollywood Husbands” by Jackie Collins; “Whirlwind” by James Clavell; A Taste For Death” by P.D. James, and “Flight Of The Intruder” by Stephen Coonts.
The next day, December 20, Ole Miss won the Independence Bowl, beating Texas Tech, 20-17. The same day, three African Americans were assaulted by a group of white teens in the Howard Beach neighborhood of Queens, New York. One of the victims, Michael Griffith, was run over and killed by a motorist while attempting to flee his attackers.
With Christmas and bowl games in the air, college football fans were doing their holiday shopping to “Hip To Be Square” by Huey Lewis and The News; “Shake You Down” by Gregory Abbott; “Is This Love” by Survivor; “Victory” by Kool and The Gang; “Notorious” by Duran Duran; “Someday” by Glass Tiger; “Touch Me (I Want Your Body) by Samantha Fox; “Land Of Confusion” by Genesis; “Control” by Janet Jackson; “Coming Around Again” by Carly Simon; “At This Moment” by Billy Vera and The Beatles; “Will You Still Love Me” by Chicago, and “You Got It All” by The Jets.
Two days before Christmas, Boston College beat Georgia, 27-24, in the Hall of Fame Bowl. On the same day, the Rutan Voyager completed the first nonstop circumnavigation of the earth by air without refueling. The nonstop trip took nine days, three minutes and 44 seconds.
On Christmas Day, Alabama downed Washington, 28-6, in the Sun Bowl.
Two days after Christmas, Clemson won the Gator Bowl, beating Stanford, 27-21, and Arizona topped North Carolina, 30-21, in the Aloha Bowl.
Well-known people who were born during the year included Charlotte Church; Lady Gaga; Marshawn Lynch; Jordan Zimmerman; Rafael Nadal; Jessica Keenan Wynn; Ashley Olsen; Mary-Kate Olsen; Lindsay Lohan; Usain Bolt, and Drake.
Famous people who died during the year included Una Merkel; Donna Reed; L. Ron Hubbard; Gordan McRae; Lilli Palmer; Christa McAuliffe; Ronald McNair; Ellison Onizuka; Judith Resnik; Dick Scobee; Michael J. Smith; Leif Erickson; Howard Da Silva; Georgia O’Keeffe; Ray Milland; James Cagney, and Otto Preminger.
Also, Broderick Crawford; Sterling Hayden; Benny Goodman; Kate Smith; Rudy Vallee; Hyman G. Rickover; Vincente Minnelli; W. Averell Harriman; Ted Knight; Keenan Wynn; Forrest Tucker; Jerry Colonna; Desi Arnaz, and Harold MacMillan.
“Shot through the heart
On December 29, Tennessee beat Minnesota, 21-14, in the Liberty Bowl.
The next day, Iowa won the Holiday Bowling, edging San Diego State, 39-38, and UCLA beat BYU, 31-10, in the Freedom Bowl,
The most popular TV shows of the year were “The Cosby Show;” “Family Ties;” “Cheers;” “Murder, She Wrote;” “The Golden Girls;” “Night Court;” “Growing Pains;” “Moonlighting;” “Who’s The Boss;” “Dallas;” “Newhart;” “Dynasty,” and “Miami Vice.”
On the last day of the year, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 1,895. The same day, a fire at the DuPont Plaza Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, killed 97 and injured 140.
Three bowl games were played on New Year’s Eve. Virginia Tech beat N.C. State, 25-24, in the Peach Bowl. Florida State won the All-American Bowl, beating Indiana, 27-13, and Baylor beat Colorado, 21-9, in the Blue Bonnet Bowl.
“During the last few days of the year and on New Year’s Eve, college football fans were partying, drinking, celebrating, dancing and singing to “War” by Bruce Springsteen; “Keep Your Hands To Yourself” by The Georgia Satellites; “Change Of Heart” by Cyndi Lauper; “Brand New Lover” by Dead or Alive; “Big Time” by Petr Gabriel; “We’re Ready” by Boston; “Open Your Heart” by Madonna; “I’ll Be Alright Without You” by Journey; “Ballerina Girl” by Lionel Richie; “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Corey Hart, and “Livin’ On A Prayer” by Bon Jovi.
Five season-ending bowl games were played on New Year’s Day. Auburn beat USC, 16-7, in the Citrus Bowl, and Ohio State won the Cotton Bowl, beating Texas A&M, 28-12.
Oklahoma won the Orange Bowl, downing Arkansas, 42-8. Arizona State beat Michigan, 22-15, in the Rose Bowl, and Nebraska won the Sugar Bowl, topping LSU, 30-15.
The final bowl game of the season was played on January 2. In Tempe, Arizona, No. 2 Penn State beat No. 1 Miami (Florida), 14-10, in the Fiesta Bowl.
“I play my part
Penn State (12-0-0), under coach Joe Paterno, was crowned the national champion. The Nittany Lions finished No. 1 in the AP, UPI and USA Today/CNN polls. Only four of Penn State’s 12 wins were close: 23-17 over Cincinnati on October 11; 17-15 over Maryland on November 8; 24-19 over Notre Dame on November 15, and the 14-10 win over Miami in the Fiesta Bowl.
“You Give Love A Bad Name” is a song by the American rock band Bon Jovi. It was written by Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Desmond Child. The song entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart on September 6 – the start of college football season. It peaked at No. 1 on November 29 – the same day Notre Dame beat USC, 38-37, Auburn beat Alabama, 21-17 and Florida beat Florida State, 17-13. “You Give Love A Bad Name” was on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart for 24 weeks, throughout the football season and beyond, until February 14.
The song was released as the lead single from the album “Slippery When Wet.” “You Give Love A Bad Name” was Bon Jovi’s first number one hit. In 2007, the song actually reentered the Billboard Hot 100 chart for a brief period, after Blake Lewis sang it on the television show “American Idol.” The melody of “You Give Love A Bad Name” was originally written by Desmond Child for Bonnie Tyler under the title “If You Were A Woman (And I Was A Man), with different lyrics. Dissatisfied with its lack of success in the U.S. and the U.K., Child rewrote the song with Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora. Bon Jovi had been opening for 38 Special, but the band became and remained a headline act after “You Give Love A Bad Name” debuted.
The football season and year was 1986.
Happy New Year!
Touchdown Tom
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