College Football Week Holiday Extra – What Year Was It?
I hear a song blow again and again
A fast-food chain opened its first restaurant in a country run by a communist government. In women’s tennis, it was the year of Steffi Graf. In men’s tennis, it was the year of Sweden.
Two pop stars died and a third almost died. A well-known entertainer became the Mayor of Palm Springs, California. “Magnum P.I.” with Tom Selleck aired for the last time on television, while “Roseanne” made its debut on television.
The year had its firsts – The first night game was played at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The term “global warming” was first used, and the first computer worm was distributed on the Internet.
What year was it?
The first day of the year was a Friday. On the third day of the year, the music special “Roy Orbison and Friends, A Black and White Night,” recorded at the Cocoanut Grove in Los Angeles, was broadcast on television.
On January 15, after wandering around the Atlantic Ocean for 16 months, the cargo ship Khian Sea deposited 4,000 tons of toxic waste in Haiti. Five days later, the Beach Boys, The Beatles, the Drifters, Bob Dylan and the Supremes were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
“I hear your name whispered on the wind
It’s a sound that makes me cry
I hear a song blow again and again
Through my mind and I don’t know why”
On the last day of January, the NFC champion Washington Redskins beat the AFC champion Denver Broncos, 42-10, to win the Super Bowl. The game was played at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, California. The Redskins were coached by Joe Gibbs and the Broncos were coached by Dan Reeves. Washington quarterback Doug Williams was named the game’s MVP. Al Michaels, Frank Gifford and Dan Dierdorf announced the game on ABC TV. The pregame festivities included a tribute to Bob Hope. Trumpeter Herb Alpert performed the National Anthem. Chubby Checker and the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes performed at halftime. The cost of a 30-second TV commercial was $645,000.
Halfway through February, U.S. Lieutenant Colonel William R. Higgins, serving with a United Nations force monitoring a truce in southern Lebanon, was kidnapped and later killed by his captors.
On March 2, Billy Crystal hosted the 30th Annual Grammy Awards held in New York City. U2’s “The Joshua Tree” won Album of the Year. Paul Simon’s “Graceland” won Record of the Year, and Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram’s “Somewhere Out There” won Song of the Year.
A week later, and just five days after his 30th birthday, pop star Andy Gibb died at a hospital in Oxford, England.
In the Iran-Contra affair, Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North and Vice Admiral John Poindexter were indicted on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States. On the same day, March 16, the First Republic Bank of Texas failed and entered FDIC receivership. It was the largest FDIC assisted bank failure in U.S. history.
The following day, a Colombian Boeing 727 jetliner, Avianca Flight 410, crashed into the side of a mountain near the Venezuelan border, killing 143 people.
On March 19, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, two British Army corporals were abducted, beaten and shot dead by Irish Republicans. Five days later, the first McDonald’s restaurant, in a country run by a communist government, opened in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
April 4 saw Kansas beat Oklahoma, 83-79, to win the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The other two teams in the Final Four were Arizona and Duke. The Final Four was played at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri. Kansas was coached by Larry Brown. Oklahoma was coached by Billy Tubbs. The Jayhawks’ Danny Manning was named the tournament’s MVP.
The following day, Kuwait Airlines Flight 422 was hijacked while en route from Bangkok, Thailand to Kuwait. The hijackers demanded the release of 17 Shiite Muslim prisoners held by Kuwait. Kuwait refused to release the prisoners, leading to a 16-day siege across three continents. Two passengers were killed before the siege ended.
“I wish I didn’t feel so strong about you
Like happiness and love revolve around you”
On April 7, Alice Cooper almost died on stage when one of his props malfunctioned. Three
Days later, the Masters Golf Tournament was won by Sandy Lyle. Lyle beat out runner-up Mark Calcavecchia by one stroke. It was Lyle’s second major title.
The 60th Academy Awards ceremony, hosted by Chevy Chase, was held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, on April 11. “The Last Emperor” won the Best Picture Award. Michael Douglas won the Best Actor Award for his performance in “Wall Street.” Cher won the Best Actress Award for her performance in “Moonstruck.”
A few days later, the USS Samuel B. Roberts struck a mine in the Persian Gulf, during the Tanker War phase of the Iran-Iraq War. On the same day – April 14 – at Wembley Stadium in London, Wimbledon beat Liverpool, 1-0, to win the FA Cup.
On April 16, in a surprise attack, Israeli commandos killed the PLO’s Aba Jihad in Tunisia. Then, just two days later, the United States Navy retaliated for the USS Samuel B. Roberts mining, with a day of strikes on Iranian oil platforms and naval vessels.
Sonny Bono was sworn in as the mayor of Palm Springs, California, on April 19.
As April came to an end, Aloha Airlines Flight 243 safely landed after losing part of its roof in midair. A flight attendant was killed and 65 people were injured. On the final day of the month, the Eurovision Song Contest was held in Dublin, Ireland. Switzerland’s entry, “Ne Partez Pas Sans Mor,” sung by Celine Dion, won the Best Song Award.
On the first of May, the TV show “Magnum P.I.” broadcast its two-hour series finale on CBS. A week later, Winning Colors, ridden by jockey Gary Steves, won the 114th running of the Kentucky Derby. The following day, Francois Mitterrand was reelected President of France.
Near the end of May, the Edmonton Oilers beat the Boston Bruins, 4-matches-to-0, to win the NHL’s Stanley Cup.
“Trying to catch your heart
Is like trying to catch a star
So many people love you
That must be what you are”
No sooner had June begun and Germany’s Steffi Graf defeated Russia’s Natalia Zvereva, 6-0, 6-0, to win the women’s singles title at the French Open Tennis Tournament. Graf won the match in 32 minutes. The next day, Sweden’s Mats Wilander beat France’s Henri Leconte, 7-5, 6-2, 6-1, to win the men’s singles title at the French Open.
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 “Pink Cadillac” by Natalie Cole; “Dreaming” by Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark; “Strange But True” by Times Two; “I Don’t Want To Live Without You” by Foreigner; “Shattered Dreams” by Johnny Hates Jazz; “Kiss Me Deadly” by Lita Ford; “I Still Believe” by Brenda K. Starr; “The Flame” by Cheap Trick; “Together Forever” by Rick Astley; “Circle In The Sand” by Belinda Carlisle; “Everything Your Heart Desires” by Daryl Hall & John Oates; “Make It Real” by The Jets, and “One More Try” by George Michael.
On June 18, Depeche Mode played for a crowd of 60,000 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Two days later, at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, Curtis Strange defeated Nick Faldo in an 18-hole playoff to win the U.S. Open Golf championship.
Within a couple of days, NASA scientist James Hansen testified to the U.S. Senate that human-made global warming had begun. Hansen became one of the first environmentalists to warn of the problem. On June 25, the Netherlands won the EUFA Euro soccer tournament.
Meantime, the preseason college football magazines were on the shelves, while the radio stations were playing “Hands To Heaven” by Breathe; “Pour Some Sugar On Me” by Def Leppard; “Foolish Beat” by Debbie Gibson; “Nothing But A Good Time” by Poison; “The Valley Road” by Bruce Hornsby and The Range; “Alphabet St.” by Prince; “Dirty Diana” by Michael Jackson; “Mercedes Boy” by Pebbles; “Lost In You” by Rod Stewart; “Rush Hour” by Jane Wiedlin; “Paradise” by Sade, and “New Sensation” by INXS.
As June was coming to an end, the Gare de Lyon rail accident occurred in Paris. A commuter train headed inbound to the terminal crashed into a stationary outbound train, killing 56 and injuring 57. Two days later – June 27 – Motown Records was sold to MCA for $61 million.
All on the same day, just three days into July, Iran Air Flight 655 was shot down by a missile launched from the USS Vincennes, killing all 290 people on board. The Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, was completed. The new bridge provided the second connection between the continents of Europe and Asia over the Bosphorus. And finally, Germany’s Steffi Graf defeated America’s Martina Navratilova, 5-7, 6-2, 61, to win the women’s singles tennis title at Wimbledon. The following day, Sweden’s Stefan Edberg defeated Germany’s Boris Becker, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4, 6-2, to win the men’s singles tennis title at Wimbledon.
Still in the first week of July, the Piper Alpha oil production platform in the North Sea was destroyed by explosions and fires, killing 165 oil workers and two rescue personnel. Sixty-one oil workers survived.
“Waiting for a star to fall
And carry your heart into my arms
That’s where you belong
In my arms, baby, yeah”
As the summer air grew warmer and thicker, the DJs were playing and college football fans were listening to “Make Me Lose Control” by Eric Carmen; “Parents Just Don’t Understand” by D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince; “Hold On To The Nights” by Richard Marx; “The Colour Of Love: by Billy Ocean, and “Rag Doll” by Aerosmith.
Later in July, at the Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club in Lytham St. Annes, England, Seve Ballesteros won the British Open Golf Championship. In the first-ever Monday finish of The Open, Ballesteros beat out runner up Nick Price by two strokes.
The summer airwaves continued to be filled with good music, including “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman; “I Don’t Wanna Live Without Your Love” by Chicago; “Roll With It” by Steve Winwood; “I’ll Always Love You” by Taylor Dayne, and “I Don’t Wanna Go On With You Like That” by Elton John.
One week and one day into August, thousands of protesters in Burma, now known as Myanmar, were killed during anti-government demonstrations. On the same day – August 8 – the first night game in history was played at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The Cubs beat the New York Mets, 6-4.
Three days later, a meeting of Islamic Jihad leaders, including Osama bin Laden, led to the formation of Al-Qaeda. And three days after that, at the Oak Tree Golf Club in Edmond, Oklahoma, Jeff Sluman won the PGA Golf Championship. Sluman beat out runner-up Paul Azinger by three strokes.
As summer was coming to an end, college football fans could not wait for the season to begin. In the preseason polls, the Florida State Seminoles were the No. 1 team in the country. The top songs on the radio were “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses; “I Hate Myself For Loving You” by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts; “Please Don’t Go Girl” by New Kids On The Block; “Here With Me” by REO Speedwagon; “All Fired Up” by Pat Benatar; “Love Will Save The Day” by Whitney Houston, and “When It’s Love” by Van Halen.
In mid-August, a ceasefire effectively ended the Iran-Iraq War, with an estimated one million lives lost. Near the very end of the month, seventy people were killed and 346 were injured in one of the worst air show disasters in history. At Ramstein Air Base in Germany, three jets from the Italian demonstration team, Frecce Tricolori, collided, sending one of the aircraft crashing into the crowd of spectators.
“I’ve learned to feel what I cannot see
But with you, I lose that vision
I don’t know how to dream your dream
So, I’m all caught up in the superstition”
Just days before the first games of the season, college football fans were grillin’ and chillin’ to “If It Isn’t Love” by New Edition; “Simply Irresistible” by Robert Palmer; “Nobody’s Fool” by Kenny Loggins; “Monkey” by George Michael; “It Would Take A Strong, Strong Man” by Rick Astley; “What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy) by Information Society, and “Perfect World” by Huey Lewis and The News.
Opening weekend of the college football season began with a bang in Miami, Florida. On September 3, in the Orange Bowl, No. 1 Florida State lost to No. 6 Miami, 31-0. It would turn out to be Florida State’s only loss of the season. Three days later, Miami was named the No. 1 team in the country.
On September 10, Germany’s Steffi Graf beat Argentina’s Gabriela Sabatini, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, to win the women’s singles tennis title at the U.S. Open. The next day, Sweden’s Mats Wilander won the men’s singles title at the U.S. Open Tennis Championship, beating Czechoslovakia’s Ivan Lendl, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4. The match lasted four hours and 55 minutes. It was Wilander’s 7th and last career Grand Slam title. And his first U.S. Open title.
Two days later, Hurricane Gilbert devastated Jamaica.
Meanwhile, the college football season was underway and fans were tailgating to “One Good Woman” by Peter Cetera; “Don’t Be Cruel” by Bobby Brown; “Another Part Of Me” by Michael Jackson; “Time And Tide” by Basia; “A Nightmare On My Street” by D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince; “Chains Of Love” by Erasure, and “Don’t Worry Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin.
Later in September, the North Sea drilling rig, Ocean Odyssey, suffered a blowout and fire, resulting in one death.
College football fans were celebrating their wins and mourning their losses to “Fallen Angel” by Poison; “Don’t Be Cruel” by Cheap Trick; “Staying Together” by Debbie Gibson; “Forever Young” by Rod Stewart; “What You See Is What You Get” by Brenda K. Starr; “Love Bites” by Def Leppard; “Never Tear Us Apart” by INXS, and “Red, Red Wine” by UB40.
In South Bend, Indiana, on October 15, No. 1 Miami lost to Notre Dame, 31-30. It would turn out to be Miami’s only loss of the season. Three days later, UCLA (6-0) was named the No. 1 team in the country.
During the third week of October, the pilot episode for the TV sitcom “Roseanne” was broadcast on ABC. Then, on October 20, the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Oakland Athletics 4-games-to-1 to win the World Series. The Dodgers were managed by Tommy Lasorda. The Athletics were managed by Tony La Russa. Los Angeles pitcher Orel Hershiser was named the Series’ MVP.
With Halloween approaching, college football fans were carving their pumpkins, while listening to “Wild, Wild West” by The Escape Club; “True Love” by Glenn Frey; “Don’t You Know What The Night Can Do” by Steve Winwood; “The Loco-Motion” by Kylie Minogue; “Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone)” by Cinderella; “Groovy Kind Of Love” by Phil Collins; “The Promise” by When In Rome; “Kokomo” by The Beach Boys; “How Can I Fall?” by Breathe; “One Moment In Time” by Whitney Houston; “Baby I Love Your Way/Freebird Medley” by Will To Power; “Waiting For A Star To Fall” by Boy Meets Girl, and “A Word In Spanish” by Elton John.
“I want to reach out and pull you to me
Who says I should let a wild one go free”
In the Rose Bowl, on October 29, No. 1 UCLA was upset by Washington State, 34-30. Three days later, on November 1, Notre Dame (8-0) was named the No. 1 team in the country.
On November 2, the Morris worm, the first computer worm distributed on the Internet, was launched from MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The worm was created by Robert Tappan Morris.
In Albuquerque, New Mexico, on November 12, New Mexico beat Colorado State, 24-23, on the last play of the game. Lobos’ receiver Tony Jones caught a 28-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jeremy Leach.
At Thanksgiving, college football fans were stuffing themselves with turkey and pumpkin pie, while listening to “Bad Medicine” by Bon Jovi; “Giving You The Best That I Got” by Anita Baker; “Look Away” by Chicago; “Desire” by U2; “Spy In The House Of Love” by Was (Not Was); “Walk On Water” by Eddie Money; “Small World” by Huey Lewis and The News; “Kissing A Fool” by George Michael; “Domino Dancing” by The Pet Shop Boys; “Finish What Ya Started” by Van Halen, and “Not Just Another Girl” by Ivan Neville.
The first day of December saw Carlos Salinas Gortari take office as the President of Mexico. The very next day, Benazir Bhutto was sworn in as Prime Minister of Pakistan, becoming the first woman to head the government of an Islam-dominated state.
West Virginia (11-0) and Notre Dame (11-0) were the only Division I teams to finish the regular season undefeated.
“Trying to catch your heart
Is like trying to catch a star
But I can’t love you this much
And love you from this far”
The consensus All-American first-team offense consisted of wide receiver Jason Phillips – Houston (5-9, 175) Houston, TX; wide receiver Hart Lee Dykes – Oklahoma State (6-4, 220) Bay City, TX; tight end Marv Cook – Iowa (6-4, 243) West Branch, IA; lineman Tony Mandarich – Michigan State (6-6, 315) Oakville, Ontario, Canada; lineman Anthony Phillips – Oklahoma (6-3, 286) Tulsa, OK; lineman Mike Utley – Washington State (6-6, 302) Seattle, WA; lineman Mark Stepnoski – Pitt (6-3, 265) Erie, PA; center Jake Young – Nebraska (6-5, 260) Midland, TX; center John Vitale – Michigan (6-1, 273) Detroit, MI; quarterback Steve Walsh – Miami (Florida) (163, 195) St. Paul, MN; quarterback Troy Aikman – UCLA (6-4, 217) Henryetta, OK; running back Barry Sanders – Oklahoma State (5-8, 197) Wichita, KS; running back Anthony Thompson – Indiana (6-0, 205) Terre Haute, IN; running back Tim Worley – Georgia (6-2, 216) Lumberton, NC, and place kicker Kendall Trainor – Arkansas (6-2, 205) Fredonia, KS.
The consensus All-American first-team defense consisted of lineman Mark Messner – Michigan (6-3, 244) Hartland, MI; lineman Tracy Rocker – Auburn (6-3, 278) Atlanta, GA; lineman Wayne Martin – Arkansas (6-5, 263) Cherry Valley, AR; lineman Frank Stams – Notre Dame (6-4, 237) Akron, OH; lineman Bill Hawkins – Miami (Florida) (6-6, 260) Hollywood, FL; linebacker Derrick Thomas – Alabama (6-4, 230) Miami, FL; linebacker Broderick Thomas – Nebraska (6-3, 235) Houston, TX; linebacker Michael Stonebreaker – Notre Dame (6-1, 228) River Ridge, LA; defensive back Deion Sanders – Florida State (6-0, 195) Fort Myers, FL; defensive back Donnell Woolford – Clemson (5-10, 195) Fayetteville, NC; defensive back Louis Oliver – Florida (6-2, 222) Bell Glade, FL; defensive back Darryl Henley – UCLA (5-10, 165) Ontario, CA, and punter Keith English – Colorado (6-3, 215) Greeley CO.
Still in the first week of December, Roy Orbison performed for the last time at a concert in Akron, Ohio. He died two days later – December 6 – from a massive heart attack. Orbison was 52.
Oklahoma State running back Barry Sanders was named the winner of the Heisman Trophy. In the balloting, Sanders (1,878 points) finished ahead of USC quarterback Rodney Pete (912 points), UCLA quarterback Troy Aikman (582 points) and Miami (Florida) quarterback Steve Walsh (341 points).
Sanders also won both the Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp Award as the nation’s most outstanding college football player.
The Outland Trophy, for the nation’s most outstanding interior lineman, went to Auburn defensive tackle Tracy Rocker. Rocker also won the Vince Lombardi Award, for the nation’s most outstanding lineman or linebacker.
The Dick Butkus Award, for the nation’s best linebacker, was won by Derrick Thomas of Alabama. The Jim Thorpe Award, for the nation’s best defensive back, went to Deion Sanders of Florida State. And the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, for the nation’s top senior quarterback, was won by Rodney Pete of USC.
“Waiting for a star to fall
And carry your heart into my arms
That’s where you belong
In my arms, baby, yeah”
Some of the best albums of the year were “Tracy Chapman” by Tracy Chapman; “Green” by R.E.M.; “I’m Your Man” by Leonard Cohen; “The Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 1” by The Traveling Wilburys; “Rattle And Hum” by U2; “Watermark” by Enya; “Introspective” by The Pet Shop Boys; “Lovesexy” by Prince; “New Jersey” by Bon Jovi; “Naked” by Talking Heads; “Look Sharp” by Roxette; “Lucinda Williams” by Lucinda Williams, and “The Raw And The Cooked” by The Fine Young Cannibals.
Also, “Delicate Sound Of Thunder” by Pink Floyd; “Greatest Hits” by Journey; “Irish Heartbeat” by Van Morrison; “Living Years” by Mike & The Mechanics; “Melissa Etheridge” by Melissa Etheridge; “Greatest Hits” by Fleetwood Mac; “The Seventh One” by Toto; “Shadowland” by K.D. Lang; “Chalk Mark In A Rain Storm” by Joni Mitchell; “Dream Of Life” by Patti Smith; “Eponymous” by R.E.M., and “Out Of This World” by Europe.
The first bowl game was played on December 10. Fresno State beat Western Michigan, 35-30, in the California Bowl.
Some of the more popular movies of the year were “Die Hard;” “Rain Man;” “Beetlejuice;” “Big;” “A Fish Called Wanda;” “Coming To America” “Mississippi Burning;” “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels;” “Bull Durham,” and “Beaches.”
In mid-December, A train crash at Clapham Junction in London killed 35 people and injured 132.
The best reads of the year included “The Bonfire Of The Vanities” by Tom Wolfe; “The Tommyknockers” by Stephen King; “Presumed Innocent” by Scott Turow; “Patriot Games” by Tom Clancy; “Sarum” by Edward Rutherford; “Lightning” by Dean R. Koontz; “Mortal Fear” by Robin Cook; “The Shell Seekers” by Rosamunde Pilcher; “The Icarus Agenda” by Robert Ludlum; “Love In The Time Of Cholera” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez; “People Like Us” by Dominick Dunne, and “Tapestry” by Belva Plain.
Also, “The Charm School” by Nelson DeMille; “Crimson Joy” by Robert B. Parker; “Alaska” by James A. Michener; “To Be The Best” by Barbara Taylor Bradford; “Timothy’s Game” by Lawrence Sanders; “The Cardinal Of The Kremlin” by Tom Clancy; “Doctors” by Erich Segal; “Till We Meet Again” by Judith Krantz; “The Silence Of The Lambs” by Thomas Harris; “Shining Through” by Susan Isaacs; “Koko” by Peter Straub; “Mitla Pass” by Leon Uris; “The Sands Of Time” by Sidney Sheldon, and “Peachtree Road” by Anne Rivers Siddons.
With Christmas and bowl games in the air, college football fans were doing their holiday shopping to “In Your Room” by The Bangles; “I Don’t Want Your Love” by Duran Duran; “The Way You Love Me” by Karyn White; “I Remember Holding You” by Boys Club; “My Prerogative” by Bobby Brown; “Welcome To The Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses; “Early In The Morning” by Robert Palmer; “Little Liar” by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts; “Silhouette” by Kenny G; “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” by Poison; “Don’t Rush Me” by Taylor Dayne; “The Love In Me” by Sheena Easton; “All This Time” by Tiffany, and “When The Children Cry” by White Lion.
Just four days before Christmas, Pan Am Flight 103 was blown up in the skies over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all 270 on board.
“Waiting, however long
I don’t like waiting, but I’ll wait for you
It’s so hard waiting, don’t be too long
Seems like waiting
Makes me love you even more”
Two days before Christmas, Southern Miss beat UTEP, 38-18, in the Independence Bowl. On Christmas Eve, Alabama won the Sun Bowl, beating Army, 29-28.
Christmas Day, Washington State beat Houston, 24-22, in the Aloha Bowl.
Well-known people who were born during the year included Matthew Stafford; Stephen Curry; Haley Joel Osment; Julianne Hough; Kacey Musgraves; Kevin Durant; Emma Stone, and Russell Wilson.
Famous people who died during the year included Pete Maravich; Trevor Howard; Andy Gibb; Kim Philby; Chet Baker; Ella Raines; Louis L’Amour; Barbara Woodhouse; Gert Frobe; John Houseman; Christina Onassis; John Caradine; Roy Orbison, and Hal Ashby.
On December 28, Indiana won the Liberty Bowl, beating South Carolina, 34-10. Two bowl games were played the following day. Florida beat Illinois, 14-10, in the All-American Bowl, and BYU downed Colorado, 20-7, in the Freedom Bowl.
Two days later, Oklahoma State beat Wyoming, 62-14, in the Holiday Bowl.
The most popular TV shows of the year were “The Cosby Show;” “Roseanne;” “Cheers;” “The Golden Girls;” “Who’s The Boss;” “Murder She Wrote;” “Matlock;” “L.A. Law,” and Growing Pains.”
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 “I Wanna Have Some Fun” by Samantha Fox; “Smooth Criminal” by Michael Jackson; “Two Hearts” by Phil Collins; “Armageddon It” by Def Leppard; “You Got It (The Right Stuff)” by New Kids On The Block; “Born To Be My Baby” by Bon Jovi; “What I Am” by Eddie Bickell; “Walking Away” by Information Society; “Holding On” by Steve Winwood; “When I’m With You” by Sheriff, and “Straight Up” by Paula Abdul.
“Waiting for a star to fall
And carry your heart into my arms
That’s where you belong
In my arms, baby, yeah”
On the last day of the year, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 2,168. The year-end Federal Reserve Interest Rate was 10.50%.
New Year’s Eve saw NC State beat Iowa, 28-23, in the Peach Bowl. And on the final night of the year, the 17th Annual New Year’s Rockin’ Eve on ABC TV featured performances by Natalie Cole, Taylor Dayne, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Richard Marx, Reba McEntire and Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons.
New Year’s Day, Georgia won the Gator Bowl, downing Michigan State, 34-27.
With January 1 falling on a Sunday, seven of the year-ending bowl games were played on January 2. Syracuse took the Hall of Fame Bowl, beating LSU, 23-10, while Clemson beat Oklahoma, 13-6, in the Citrus Bowl.
UCLA captured the Cotton Bowl, beating Arkansas, 17-3. Florida State downed Auburn, 13-7, to win the Sugar Bowl.
In Pasadena, Michigan beat USC, 22-14, to take the Rose Bowl. Miami (Florida) topped Nebraska, 23-3, to win the Orange Bowl.
And finally, in what was billed as the national championship game, Notre Dame beat West Virginia, 34-21, in the Fiesta Bowl.
Notre Dame (12-0), under coach Lou Holtz, was crowned the national champion. The Irish finished No. 1 in the AP, UPI and USA Today/CNN Polls. Only three of Notre Dame’s 12 games were close: 19-17 over Michigan on September 10, 30-20 over Pitt on October 8 and 31-30 over Miami (Florida) on October 15.
“I wish I didn’t feel so strong about you
Like happiness and love revolve around you”
“Waiting For A Star To Fall” is a song by the American pop music duo Boy Meets Girl. It was written by the duo’s members Shannon Rubicam and George Merrill. They wrote the song after witnessing a falling star at a Whitney Houston concert. Rubicam and Merrill originally offered the song to Houston, having written her previous hit “How Will I Know.” However, Arista Records CEO Clive Davis rejected it. The song was then offered to and recorded by Brenda Carlisle for her album “Heaven On Earth.” But Carlisle disliked it and refused to include it on her album. So, Rubicam and Merrill decided to record and release the song themselves.
“Waiting For A Star To Fall” entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart on September 10, near the start of the college football season. Following a long, slow, but persistent climb up the chart, it peaked at No. 5 on December 17, where it remained for three weeks before beginning its slow descent down the chart. The song was on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart for 25 weeks, throughout the football season and beyond, until March 4.
“Waiting For A Star To Fall” was the second single from Boy Meets Girl’s second album “Real Life,” which was released June 10. The song became a hit in several other countries, reaching No. 2 on the charts in Canada, No. 5 in Ireland and No. 9 in the UK. Since the song’s release, it has been covered by many other artists. Johnny Loftus of AllMusic said the song was “a classic,” and that “the urgency as it drives towards its chorus is a clinic for durable songwriting.”
The year was 1988.
Happy New Year!
Touchdown Tom
December 28, 2024
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