1970 Auburn Tigers football team
Encyclopedia
The 1970 Auburn Tigers football team under the leadership of coach Ralph "Shug" Jordan
completed the regular season with a record of 9–2 and won the Gator Bowl against Ole Miss
by a score of 35–28. They completed the season with a record of 10–2 and were ranked #20 in the AP poll and #15 in the UPI.
The Tigers broke the SEC record for total yards for the regular season up to that point with 4,850, exceeding the previous record of 4,725 yards set by the 1942 Georgia Bulldogs. They had 1,965 yards rushing and 2,885 yards passing."
Florida
In a rivalry known for frequent close games, this one wasn't. It was the worst defeat for either side since 1917, when Auburn won 68–0. Pat Sullivan
completed 21 of 27 passes for 366 yards and four touchdowns with three of them caught by Terry Beasley
in the 63–14 drubbing. It was also Florida's homecoming game. It marked Auburn's fourth victory in a row against the Gators.
Iron Bowl (Alabama)
Alabama scored first on an 80 yard touchdown drive 3:17 into the game; then drove 70 yards to add another. After a pair of turnovers, another drive of 71 yards stalled at the 9 and they added a field goal to take the lead 17–0. Auburn finally scored midway through the second half with a touchdown and added a field goal to make it 17–10 at the half. They would then tie the game at 17 midway through the third. Alabama added a field goal at the beginning of the 4th quarter and Auburn answered tying the game again. Auburn then took the lead 27–20 and the Tide answered with a two-point conversion to take the lead by one. With 3:56 left to go in the game, Wallace Clark dove in for a touchdown from the three giving Auburn the lead by 6. Pat Sullivan
threw the two-pointer to Terry Beasley
, but the play was nullified by illegal motion and the subsequent attempt was intercepted. Alabama was unable to score again and Auburn won 33–28.
Johnny Musso had over 200 yards rushing for the Tide and Pat Sullivan was 22 of 38 passing with 317 yards for Auburn.
for Auburn and Archie Manning
for the University of Mississippi. Archie Manning was recovering from a broken arm suffered on November 7, yet played against LSU a month later with his arm. Auburn won 35–28. Coach Jordan was unable to attend the game.
(QB
)
SEC Back of the Year–Birmingham QB Club: Pat Sullivan
(QB
)
SEC Back of the Year–Atlanta TD Club: Pat Sullivan
(QB
)
All-Americans: Pat Sullivan
(QB
), Terry Beasley
(SE
), Larry Willingham
(DB
)
All-SEC first team: Pat Sullivan
(QB
), Terry Beasley
(SE
), Gardner Jett (SP), Larry Willingham
(DB
), Bobby Strickland (LB
)
Ralph Jordan
James Ralph "Shug" Jordan was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach of football and basketball. He served as the head football coach at Auburn from 1951 to 1975, where he compiled a record of 176–83–6. He is the winningest coach in Auburn Tigers football...
completed the regular season with a record of 9–2 and won the Gator Bowl against Ole Miss
Ole Miss Rebels football
The football history of the University of Mississippi , includes the formation of the first football team in the state and is 26th on the list of college football's all-time winning programs...
by a score of 35–28. They completed the season with a record of 10–2 and were ranked #20 in the AP poll and #15 in the UPI.
The Tigers broke the SEC record for total yards for the regular season up to that point with 4,850, exceeding the previous record of 4,725 yards set by the 1942 Georgia Bulldogs. They had 1,965 yards rushing and 2,885 yards passing."
Schedule
Tennessee
The first big test of the season came against Tennessee in Birmingham, AL. Tennessee came in ranked #17 in the country and Auburn was not ranked. Auburn overcame a 10–0 deficit to win 36–23. It was the only loss for Tennessee and cost them the SEC championship.FloridaAuburn–Florida football rivalryThe Auburn–Florida football rivalry is an American college football rivalry game played by the Auburn Tigers football team of Auburn University and the Florida Gators football team of the University of Florida...
In a rivalry known for frequent close games, this one wasn't. It was the worst defeat for either side since 1917, when Auburn won 68–0. Pat SullivanPat Sullivan (American football)
Patrick Joseph Sullivan is an American football coach and former player. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1971 playing quarterback for the Auburn Tigers and then played in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins. Sullivan is currently the head coach at Samford University...
completed 21 of 27 passes for 366 yards and four touchdowns with three of them caught by Terry Beasley
Terry Beasley
Terry Paul Beasley is a former American football player. He played collegiately at Auburn where he earned varsity credits 1969-1971. In his college career, Beasley amassed 141 receptions, 2,507 yards and 29 touchdowns. He was an All-American as a wide receiver in 1970 and 1971...
in the 63–14 drubbing. It was also Florida's homecoming game. It marked Auburn's fourth victory in a row against the Gators.
Tiger Bowl (LSU)
Auburn's first loss of the season came against LSU. LSU did not lose to any SEC team that year and won the SEC Championship. They did not have to play Tennessee.Iron Bowl (Alabama)Iron BowlThe Iron Bowl is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Alabama Crimson Tide football team of the University of Alabama and the Auburn Tigers football team of Auburn University. The series is considered one of the best and most hard-fought rivalries in all of sports...
Alabama scored first on an 80 yard touchdown drive 3:17 into the game; then drove 70 yards to add another. After a pair of turnovers, another drive of 71 yards stalled at the 9 and they added a field goal to take the lead 17–0. Auburn finally scored midway through the second half with a touchdown and added a field goal to make it 17–10 at the half. They would then tie the game at 17 midway through the third. Alabama added a field goal at the beginning of the 4th quarter and Auburn answered tying the game again. Auburn then took the lead 27–20 and the Tide answered with a two-point conversion to take the lead by one. With 3:56 left to go in the game, Wallace Clark dove in for a touchdown from the three giving Auburn the lead by 6. Pat SullivanPat Sullivan (American football)
Patrick Joseph Sullivan is an American football coach and former player. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1971 playing quarterback for the Auburn Tigers and then played in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins. Sullivan is currently the head coach at Samford University...
threw the two-pointer to Terry Beasley
Terry Beasley
Terry Paul Beasley is a former American football player. He played collegiately at Auburn where he earned varsity credits 1969-1971. In his college career, Beasley amassed 141 receptions, 2,507 yards and 29 touchdowns. He was an All-American as a wide receiver in 1970 and 1971...
, but the play was nullified by illegal motion and the subsequent attempt was intercepted. Alabama was unable to score again and Auburn won 33–28.
Johnny Musso had over 200 yards rushing for the Tide and Pat Sullivan was 22 of 38 passing with 317 yards for Auburn.
Gator Bowl
In an unusual matchup between two teams from the same conference, Auburn met Ole Miss in the Gator Bowl. (The two teams did not meet during the regular season.) It was a matchup between two top quarterbacks, Pat SullivanPat Sullivan (American football)
Patrick Joseph Sullivan is an American football coach and former player. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1971 playing quarterback for the Auburn Tigers and then played in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins. Sullivan is currently the head coach at Samford University...
for Auburn and Archie Manning
Archie Manning
Elisha Archibald "Archie" Manning III is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League, playing for the New Orleans Saints from 1971 to 1982, then for the Houston Oilers and Minnesota Vikings...
for the University of Mississippi. Archie Manning was recovering from a broken arm suffered on November 7, yet played against LSU a month later with his arm. Auburn won 35–28. Coach Jordan was unable to attend the game.
Awards and honors
SEC Most Valuable Player: Pat SullivanPat Sullivan (American football)
Patrick Joseph Sullivan is an American football coach and former player. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1971 playing quarterback for the Auburn Tigers and then played in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins. Sullivan is currently the head coach at Samford University...
(QB
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
)
SEC Back of the Year–Birmingham QB Club: Pat Sullivan
Pat Sullivan (American football)
Patrick Joseph Sullivan is an American football coach and former player. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1971 playing quarterback for the Auburn Tigers and then played in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins. Sullivan is currently the head coach at Samford University...
(QB
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
)
SEC Back of the Year–Atlanta TD Club: Pat Sullivan
Pat Sullivan (American football)
Patrick Joseph Sullivan is an American football coach and former player. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1971 playing quarterback for the Auburn Tigers and then played in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins. Sullivan is currently the head coach at Samford University...
(QB
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
)
All-Americans: Pat Sullivan
Pat Sullivan (American football)
Patrick Joseph Sullivan is an American football coach and former player. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1971 playing quarterback for the Auburn Tigers and then played in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins. Sullivan is currently the head coach at Samford University...
(QB
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
), Terry Beasley
Terry Beasley
Terry Paul Beasley is a former American football player. He played collegiately at Auburn where he earned varsity credits 1969-1971. In his college career, Beasley amassed 141 receptions, 2,507 yards and 29 touchdowns. He was an All-American as a wide receiver in 1970 and 1971...
(SE
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
), Larry Willingham
Larry Willingham
Larry Levi Willingham is a retired professional American football player. He played in the National Football League for the St. Louis Cardinals and in the World Football League for both the Birmingham Americans and Birmingham Vulcans...
(DB
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
)
All-SEC first team: Pat Sullivan
Pat Sullivan (American football)
Patrick Joseph Sullivan is an American football coach and former player. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1971 playing quarterback for the Auburn Tigers and then played in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins. Sullivan is currently the head coach at Samford University...
(QB
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
), Terry Beasley
Terry Beasley
Terry Paul Beasley is a former American football player. He played collegiately at Auburn where he earned varsity credits 1969-1971. In his college career, Beasley amassed 141 receptions, 2,507 yards and 29 touchdowns. He was an All-American as a wide receiver in 1970 and 1971...
(SE
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
), Gardner Jett (SP), Larry Willingham
Larry Willingham
Larry Levi Willingham is a retired professional American football player. He played in the National Football League for the St. Louis Cardinals and in the World Football League for both the Birmingham Americans and Birmingham Vulcans...
(DB
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
), Bobby Strickland (LB
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
)