The 1983 NCAA Football Championship: A Season of Triumphs and Defining Moments
The 1983 NCAA football season was a year of compelling narratives, individual brilliance, and unforgettable championship clashes across various divisions. This article delves into the details of the Division I-AA Championship Game, highlighting the journey of the participating teams and the key moments that defined the contest. Furthermore, it sheds light on other notable achievements within the NCAA football landscape during that year, including the Augustana Vikings' Division III National Championship and the thrilling Division I NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.
Division I-AA Championship Game: Southern Illinois Salukis vs. Western Carolina Catamounts
The 1983 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game pitted the Southern Illinois Salukis against the Western Carolina Catamounts. The game was held on December 17, 1983, at Johnson Hagood Stadium in Charleston, South Carolina.
Team Records and Tournament Path
Southern Illinois concluded their regular season with a 10-1 record (5-1 in conference play). Their sole defeat came against Wichita State in their final regular season game. The Salukis were ranked first in the final NCAA I-AA poll and received the top seed in the tournament. They earned a first-round bye and subsequently defeated Indiana State and Nevada to secure their place in the final.
Western Carolina finished their regular season with an 8-2-1 record (5-0-1 in conference play). Their two losses were against Division I-A programs, Clemson and Wake Forest. The tie occurred against conference rival Furman. The Catamounts were ranked ninth in the final NCAA I-AA poll and entered the tournament unseeded. They achieved upset victories over Colgate, second-seed Holy Cross, and third-seed Furman to advance to the championship game.
Game Summary
After a scoreless first quarter, Southern Illinois established a 10-0 lead by halftime. The Salukis then dominated the third quarter, scoring 23 unanswered points to break the game open. The final score was Southern Illinois 43, Western Carolina 7. Southern Illinois capitalized on eight Western Carolina turnovers.
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Augustana Vikings' Division III Triumph
While the Division I-AA Championship Game showcased a captivating contest, the Augustana Vikings carved their own path to glory in Division III. Coached by Bob Reade, the team achieved a perfect 12-0 record, marking their third consecutive undefeated regular season.
Key Players and Defining Moments
Quarterback Jay Penney played a pivotal role in the Vikings' success, throwing for 905 yards and 12 touchdowns throughout the season. The championship journey was fraught with challenges. Penney led his team from behind in the first round of the playoffs on a mud-splattered Ericson Field. He also orchestrated a comeback from a 17-7 deficit late in the fourth quarter of the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.
A significant factor in Augustana's national championship victory was the connection between Penney and Norm Singbush. Their partnership dated back to junior high school. Singbush caught a seven-yard pass from Penney to win the Elmhurst game. He also caught a seven-yard scoring pass from Penney to secure the Adrian game victory. Other notable players included Doug McCoy, Jeff Nicklas, Kurt Kapischke, Pete Kasap, Bob Clark, John Drizis, and Steve Powers. Additional team members included Craig Allison, Jeff Hutchinson, Milo Decker, Kurt Thompson, Ben Pothast, Bob Barnes, Scott Reid, Tim Johnson, Greg King, and Jeff Potter. The roster also featured Bob Hilt, Shane McCormick, Bret Robinson, Dave D'Angelo, Joe Kiesewetter, Jeff Scarpinato, Larry Holstein, Nick Kasap, Joe Wheeler, Tim Hessing, and Mark Long. Pete Asquini, Brad Price, Bill Martinez, Jeff Widdop, Guy Dierikx, Tim Holmstrom, Pat Fortune, Steve Sanders, Aaron Kennedy, and Troy Bex also contributed to the team's success. The team also included Rich Baumgartner, Scott Francis, Dave Sandercock, Tony Johnston, Don Anspaugh, Mark Lovdahl, Ed Herrera, Steve Richter, Bert Manson, and Joe Mackay. Richard Nielsen, Larry Bickett, Tom Eckert, Kevin O'Rourke, George Velasquez, Brian Rashid, Tom Billups, Robert Woolridge, and Tony Biciocchi were also part of the team. Troy Westerman, John Byrnes, Jim Huster, Jeff Grahovac, Jim Petropolis, Lynn Thomsen, Rick Zaehringer, Art Baker, Garrick Plagge, and Dave Hedlin were also key members. Paul Hornick, Ron Nelson, John Guerrieri, Grant Etnyre, Greg Andsager, Paul Rashid, Tim Quagliano, Pat VanDeVelde, Barry Bodenbach, Ken Armstrong, and Dan Allen were also instrumental. The team also comprised Brian King, Chris Maher, Bob Guerrieri, Tim Waeynaert, Bob Roche, Troy Hunzecker, Kirk Bednar, Dave Grodt, Alan Ross, Dave Lembas, and John Leighton.
NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament: NC State's Cinderella Run
The 1983 NCAA tournament culminated in a Cinderella story as NC State secured the title with a 54-52 upset victory against No. 1 seed Houston.
Tournament Highlights
The tournament was filled with thrilling matchups and unexpected results. Some notable games included:
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- No. 9 Rutgers 60, No. 8 Washington State 62
- No. 5 VCU 76, No. 12 Princeton 56
- No. 6 Syracuse 74, No. 6 NC State 69
- No. 10 James Madison 57, No. 10 Utah 52
- No. 8 Tennessee 57, No. 1 Louisville 70
- No. 5 Purdue 55, No. 4 Arkansas 78
- No. 11 Ohio 51, No. 3 Kentucky 57
- No. 7 Oklahoma 71, No. 2 Indiana 63
- No. 8 Maryland 52, No. 1 Houston 60
- No. 5 Georgetown 68, No. 4 Memphis State 66
- No. 11 Lamar 73, No. 3 Villanova 60
- No. 7 Iowa 64, No. 7 Iowa 77
- No. 1 St. John's 66, No. 4 Georgia 70
- No. 4 Georgia 56, No. 1 St. No.
- No. 3 Ohio State 79, No. 2 North Carolina 64
- No. 2 North Carolina 68, No. 1 Virginia 95
- No. 1 Virginia 54, No. No.
- No. 4 Boston College 51, No. 6 NC State 75
- No. 6 NC State 71, No. 1 Louisville 65
- No. 10 Utah 67, No. 3 Kentucky 64
- No. 1 Louisville 80, No. 1 Houston 70
- No. 4 Arkansas 82, No. 3 Villanova 55
- No. 1 Houston 89, No. 4 Georgia 63
- No. 6 NC State 67, No. 6 NC State 54
- No. 1 Houston 94, No. No.
Houston's Akeem Olajuwon was named Most Outstanding Player despite the Cougars not winning the title.
Penn State's Sugar Bowl Victory
In addition to the NCAA championships, Penn State's victory in the Sugar Bowl was another memorable moment of the 1983 college football season. Facing a tough Georgia team, Penn State secured a narrow victory. A key play involved a play-action pass from quarterback Blackledge to Gregg Garrity, resulting in a touchdown. Blackledge recalled the play-action pass out of the I-formation, exploiting a mismatch between Garrity and a freshman cornerback. Garrity, despite being closely guarded, made a crucial catch in the end zone.
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