Today in College Football History: Auburn & NC State Get Defensive

Earlier this week, Today in College Football History chronicled the 1985 Tennessee Volunteers’ defeat of top ranked Auburn. As John Stansberry a.k.a. @LonelyTailgater pointed out, the victory garnered the Vols’ Sports Illustrated‘s cover with the title “Tennessee Waltz.”

But 13 years before the Vols were dancing in a high scoring affair, the Tigers were performing their own magic against UT, on the defensive end.

The 1972 Auburn Tigers finished 10-1 and in the regular season finale, spoiled Alabama’s shot at a perfect regular season and national championship in the Iron Bowl. The Tigers’ historic season got its launching pad from the then-rivalry match-up with the Volunteers. The 10-6 final was indicative of AU’s entire season; Auburn never broke into the 30s that entire season, despite the trio of Chris Linderman, Terry Henley and Randy Walls combining for over 1600 yards rushing.

AU was a decidedly old school team, winning with stout defense and almost exclusively rushing the ball. Walls threw 97 passes all season, a figure guaranteed to cause present day Conference USA offensive coordinators to faint. UT, on the other hand, came into the neutral field setting of Birmingham fresh off hanging 45 points on Wake Forest. The Vols scored more in their first three games than Auburn managed that entire campaign.

But on Sept. 30, UT had to fight for offensive scraps like a hungry dog. The Tiger defense flexed its muscles and held UT to what would be its lowest output of the season, just six points, and kept star running back Haskel Stanback out of the end zone.

ALSO ON SEPT. 30

1944

Per the College Football Hall of Fame, on Sept. 30, 1944, NC State proved one doesn’t need much offense with the right blend of special teams and defense. The Wolfpack gained none, zero, zip, zilch first downs in a 13-0 win over Virginia. Of course, to gain a first down a team needs 10 yards. NCSU got 10 yards…the entire game!