Tulane Leads Tide to Wire, Grudgingly Yields 6‑6 Tie
Interpreted from Jack Williams New Orleans, La., Sept. 24 —
Frantic Alabama scored with 37 seconds left Saturday night to tie Tulane, 6‑6, and break the heart of halfback Tommy Mason, who performed like a great ghost out of the Greenies’ football past.
As 43,000 fans in the Sugar Bowl screamed themselves hoarse, Crimson Tide quarterback Pat Trammell fought his way into the end zone from four yards out to gain the deadlock. But Alabama’s hopes for victory vanished when quarterback Bobby Skelton missed the snap from center on the extra‑point attempt that could have meant triumph for Bear Bryant’s heavily favored team.
Tulane, using Alabama’s “hard noses” for a punching bag most of the way, shot into a 6‑0 lead in the second period on Mason’s three‑yard smash off tackle. That was only part of Mason’s night’s work. The senior halfback from Lake Charles battered down passes with the agility of a ping‑pong champion, intercepted three, made numerous tackles, and still led Tulane’s rushing attack with 46 yards in 12 carries.
Despite his heroics, Alabama, fighting to protect a fifth‑place national ranking, almost pulled the game out of the fire in the closing seconds.
With five minutes left, Tulane seemed headed for victory after punting to Alabama’s 10. But Tide fullback Ray Abruzzese gathered in the ball and raced 35 yards before being nailed at the Alabama 45 by Gordon Rush. Ten plays later, Alabama was knocking on the door. Skelton hit Abruzzese for 21 yards, and Billy Richardson carried to the Tulane 23.
Tulane braced, but Trammell passed to Billy Butch Wilson for a first down at the six. Two plays netted only two yards before Trammell, a junior from Scottsboro, stiff‑armed two defenders and dived into the end zone.
Tommy Brooker never got the chance to try for the extra point because of the bad snap from center.
Earlier, Alabama had threatened in the first quarter, moving 47 yards to the Tulane 15 before Brooker’s field‑goal attempt went wide.
Coach Andy Pilney’s Greenies needed only five plays for their touchdown drive late in the second quarter. The big gainer was a 39‑yard pass from quarterback Phil Nugent to Terry Terrebonne, who was stopped at the Alabama 10. On the next play, Mason sliced off tackle for the score. Howard Kissner’s extra‑point try was low, leaving the score 6‑6 with two minutes left in the half.
Even after tying the game, Alabama had another chance. The Tide executed a successful onside kick and recovered at the Tulane 48. On the first play, Trammell passed beautifully to halfback Tommy White, who ran like a deer and slipped on the Tulane 13 as time expired.
Tulane’s defense, led by Mason, Nat Kiefer, and Darvin Holt, held Alabama to a draw that felt like victory for the Green Wave.
For all but 37 seconds of the night, Mason was the difference between the two teams.
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Courtesy of The Atlanta Journal September 25, 1960 via Newspapers.com
Purdue Rally Ties UCLA 27-27
Interpreted from Sports Staff Lafayette, Ind., Sept. 24 —
Triple‑threat Bill Kilmer of UCLA threw three touchdown passes and scored once himself Saturday, but the Bruins were held to a 27‑27 tie by a powerful Purdue team sparked by a gang of brilliant sophomores.
The unranked Boilermakers came from behind twice after UCLA, rated No. 8 nationally, exploded for two touchdowns in the first minute and forty‑five seconds of play.
Kilmer opened the fireworks by passing to Gene Gaines for a 76‑yard scoring play on the first snap after the kickoff. Moments later, after the Bruins recovered their own kickoff, Kilmer ran over from the Purdue 11 for another touchdown.
Purdue came right back with a scoring plunge by alternate quarterback Maury Guttman and a seven‑yard touchdown run by Jim Tiller. UCLA regained the lead before halftime when Kilmer again connected with Gaines, this time for 70 yards, making it 20‑13 at intermission.
The Boilermakers narrowed the gap in the third quarter when sophomore fullback Tom Yakubowski plunged for a touchdown, but a two‑point conversion attempt failed.
Kilmer tossed his third touchdown pass in the final quarter, a 17‑yard strike to Craig Chudy, with Dave Duncan kicking his second extra point.
Then Purdue staged its final rally. Veteran quarterback Bernie Allen passed 28 yards to sophomore Joe Harris with 2:58 to play, then completed a two‑point conversion pass to John Greiner that produced the tie.
Kilmer, a 187‑pound senior tailback, completed nine of sixteen passes for 226 yards, carried the ball thirteen times for forty‑two yards net, and punted four times for a forty‑two‑yard average.
UCLA scored in every quarter — 13, 7, 7, 7 — for 27 points, while Purdue matched with 6, 7, 6, 8 for 27.
It was a bruising contest between two determined teams, and though the Bruins left Lafayette disappointed, Kilmer’s dazzling performance kept UCLA’s national hopes alive.
Courtesy of The San Francisco Chronicle September 25, 1960 via Newspapers.com
Gophers Bump Huskers 26‑14
Interpreted from Dick Cullum Lincoln, Neb., Sept. 24 —
A sustained touchdown march by Minnesota’s second team, led by first‑string quarterback Sandy Stephens, opened the way to a 26‑14 victory for Minnesota over Nebraska Saturday before 38,000 fans at Memorial Stadium.
The 37th meeting between the two long‑time rivals began as a tug‑of‑war, each side pinned behind midfield by hard‑hitting defensive lines and the fine punting of Archie Cobb for Nebraska and Stephens for Minnesota.
Things started to turn Minnesota’s way after two exchanges of punts. Nebraska co‑captain Pat Fischer made a strong return to midfield, but guard Tom Brown and sophomore tackle Bobby Bell broke through with fierce charges that stalled the Cornhusker attack.
Stephens then launched a scoring drive with Judge Dickson, Bill Munsey, and Jim Rogers alternating carries behind Brown’s powerful blocking. Nine plays carried to Nebraska’s six‑yard line, and early in the second period Stephens plunged over right guard for the touchdown. Dickson’s kick missed, leaving Minnesota ahead 6‑0.
The Gophers struck again midway through the second quarter. After Bell and Brown forced a fumble, Stephens directed another march capped by Munsey’s short touchdown run. Fischer’s extra‑point attempt was good, and Minnesota led 13‑0 at halftime.
Minnesota’s defense continued to dominate. Starting from their own 32, the Gophers moved 68 yards in 12 plays, with Stephens passing to Bob Deegan for a 15‑yard gain and then to Dickson for 10 more. On fourth down, Judge Dickson went over for the score.
By kicking time, the place‑kicker missed again, but Minnesota held a 19‑0 lead.
After Bell recovered a Nebraska fumble, the Gophers drove 21 yards for another touchdown, Munsey crossing from the one. That made it 26‑0.
Nebraska’s points came late, after Minnesota had sent in reserves. Fullback Bill Thornton broke through guard for a 57‑yard touchdown run, and three plays later linebacker Gary Toogood intercepted a pitchout from Stephens to Hagberg and raced 28 yards for another score.
Minnesota controlled the rest of the game, mixing its new wing‑T attack with steady defensive pressure. The Gophers’ line, anchored by Brown and Bell, repeatedly broke through to disrupt Nebraska’s backfield.
Except for that brief burst of Cornhusker scoring, Minnesota held command throughout, finishing with a convincing 26‑14 victory in the season opener.
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Courtesy of The Minnesota Star Tribune September 25, 1960 via Newspapers.com
Rutgers Upsets Princeton, 13‑8
Intrepted from Joe Dietz Princeton, N.J., Sept. 24 —
With only a couple of minutes left, Rutgers looked finished. Princeton had the ball on its own 40, leading 8‑7 after Jack Sullivan’s brilliant 60‑yard punt return and his pass to Henry Large for two extra points.
Then came the break that turned the day. Sullivan, the hero moments before, fumbled on his own 38, and Rutgers tackle John Pregnolato of Irvington pounced on the ball.
Seven plays later, quarterback Sam Mudie sneaked across for the winning touchdown. The Scarlet Knights from New Brunswick had pulled out a 13‑8 victory before 30,000 thrilled spectators at Palmer Stadium.
Rutgers struck first in the opening quarter when fullback Bill Tully bowled through left guard and raced 57 yards for a touchdown. Paul Benke’s kick made it 7‑0.
Princeton answered in the fourth quarter. Tailback Hugh Scott’s running and Sullivan’s daring return set up the Tigers’ score. Sullivan rolled left and lofted a high pass to Large for the conversion, giving Princeton its brief 8‑7 lead.
With four minutes remaining, Mudie’s punt pinned Princeton deep. On the next play, Sullivan’s fumble gave Rutgers its chance, and Mudie made the most of it.
On fourth down and eight, sophomore Bill Thompson of New Brunswick fired a pass to Benke, who snatched the ball from three defenders for a first down at the 15. Bill Speranza entered at quarterback, sent Thompson through the line for three, then passed to Byrd for four more.
That left third down and three at the Tiger 8. Mudie rolled left on a reverse for a first down at the two, then sneaked over for the touchdown. Speranza’s run for two points failed, but Rutgers had its margin.
Mudie also excelled in punting, twice rolling the ball dead inside the five. Byrd’s 65‑yard kickoff return and Scott’s 38‑yard opening run added excitement to a game that saw Princeton gain 163 yards rushing and Rutgers 173.
It was the first time in the 61‑year history of America’s oldest football rivalry that Rutgers defeated Princeton three straight seasons — a feat matched only by Brown’s teams of 1939‑41.
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Courtesy of The Newark Star-Ledger September 25, 1960 via Newspapers.com