Notre Dame Fighting Irish ©	Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Played September 9, 1974 at Grant Field

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Notre Dame ©	1	6	0	0	1.000	2	0	0	1.000	3	0	0	1.000	1	0	0	1.000
Georgia Tech	0	0	1	0	.000	0	1	0	.000

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets had their second shot at The Belt but this time with new coach Pepper Rodgers.  Rodgers had led UCLA to a win in the first ever Belt game - an upset of defending National Champion Nebraska in 1972.  Ara Parseghian’s 3^rd ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish were defending National Champions with an 11-game winning streak & 5 successful Belt defenses.  Notre Dame RB Wayne Bullock scored 2 touchdowns & the Fighting Irish defense held Georgia Tech to just 31 yards passing in a 31-7 win to retain The Belt.  The Yellow Jackets took a 7-0 lead when QB Rudy Allen threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to WR Jimmy Robinson.  Bullock’s first touchdown came on a 1-yard run to tie the game at 7-7 & came after a recovered fumble at the Georgia Tech 14-yard line.  Fighting Irish PK Dave Reeve gave Notre Dame a 10-7 lead on the first play of the 2^nd quarter when he connected on a 22-yard field goal.  The Yellow Jackets then drove inside the Notre Dame 5-yard line before a goal-line stand by the Fighting Irish defense changed the momentum of the game.  Notre Dame drove the length of the field with QB Tom Clements throwing to All-American WR Pete Demmerle for a 7-yard touchdown pass in the final minute of the half.  Another Georgia Tech fumble in the 3^rd quarter gave the Fighting Irish the ball at the Tech 22-yard line & Bullock carried the final yard for a 24-7 advantage.  The 4^th quarter saw an 80-yard scoring drive from Notre Dame with RB Al Samuel scoring on an 8-yard touchdown run.  Clements finished with 170 yards passing with a touchdown while Allen threw for just 31 yards with a touchdown in the loss.  Notre Dame finished 10-2; ranked 6^th nationally in Parseghian’s final season while the Yellow Jackets finished the season at 6-5.  Georgia Tech would play for The Belt again in 1994.

 

Notre Dame Fighting Irish ©	Northwestern Wildcats
Played September 21, 1974 at Dyche Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Notre Dame ©	1	7	0	0	1.000	2	0	0	1.000	4	0	0	1.000	1	0	0	1.000
Northwestern	0

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

Northwestern’s first Belt game was the second for coach John Pont; he had coached Indiana in 1972 when they fell to Michigan 21-7.  Ara Parseghian’s top-ranked, 1-0 Notre Dame Fighting Irish presented the opposition for Northwestern.  Pont’s Wildcats had lost to Michigan State the previous week 41-7 & this battle was no more successful.  The Notre Dame defense held the Wildcats to 132 total yards while the offense scored 35 points in the 2^nd half on their way to a 49-3 rout of Northwestern to retain The Belt.  The 1^st half was a struggle for both teams but Notre Dame managed a 2-yard touchdown run by RB Russ Kornman in the 1^st quarter & a 1-yard touchdown run by RB Wayne Bullock in the 2^nd quarter.  Northwestern got a 27-yard field goal from PK Jim Blazevich but still trailed 14-3 at the half.  In the 3^rd quarter, the Fighting Irish exploded for 21 points.  RB Ron Goodman broke loose for a 62-yard touchdown run, Clements threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to TE Robin Weber, & back-up QB Frank Allocco scored on a 1-yard touchdown run as Notre Dame took a 35-3 lead.  Two more touchdowns came in the 4^th quarter on an 11-yard run by RB Mark McLane & a 1-yard touchdown run by RB Terry Eurick to finish the scoring.  Clements finished with 182 yards passing with a touchdown while rushing for 44 yards while All-American WR Pete Demmerle added 7 catches for 111 yards.  Northwestern QB Mitch Anderson threw for 57 yards in the loss.  Notre Dame finished 10-2; ranked 6^th nationally in Parseghian’s final season while the Wildcats finished the season at 3-8.  Northwestern would play for The Belt again in 1981.

 

Purdue Boilermakers	Notre Dame Fighting Irish ©
Played September 28, 1974 at Notre Dame Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Purdue	0	0	1	0	.000					0	1	0	.000
Notre Dame ©	1	7	0	0	1.000	2	0	0	1.000	4	0	0	1.000	1	0	0	1.000

 

Belt Records: Purdue                        0-1-0 (Overall), 0-0-0 (H), 0-1-0 (A), 0-0-0 (N)

Notre Dame (1)          8-0-0 (Overall), 2-0-0 (H), 5-0-0 (A), 1-0-0 (N)

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

The 0-1-1 Purdue Boilermakers of coach Alex Agase seemed unlikely to threaten the Belt reign of the 2-0 Notre Dame Fighting Irish of coach Ara Parseghian.  Coming off a loss to Wisconsin & a tie with Miami (OH), the Boilermakers were 28-point underdogs to the 2^nd ranked, defending National Champions.  Purdue scored 24 points in the 1^st quarter, including a 52-yard touchdown run by RB Pete Gross, on their way to a stunning 31-20 win ending the 7-game Belt reign of Notre Dame while claiming both The Belt & the Shillelagh Trophy.  The Boilermakers recovered a fumble by Irish RB Al Samuel on the second play of the game & Purdue QB Mike Terrizzi scored on a 1-yard touchdown run seven plays later.  After a Notre Dame punt, Gross broke loose for his touchdown run to push the lead to 14-0.  Things got worse for the Fighting Irish when Purdue LB Bob Mannella intercepted Notre Dame QB Tom Clements’ first pass attempt.  Mannella returned the interception 21 yards for a touchdown giving Purdue a 21-0 lead.  A 47-yard field goal by PK Steve Schmidt finished the 1^st quarter scoring barrage for the Boilermakers.  Notre Dame finally got things going in the 2^nd quarter with RB Wayne Bullock scoring on a 2-yard touchdown run to finish a 12-play, 80-yard drive.  Bullock scored on another 1-yard touchdown run in the 3^rd quarter as Notre Dame closed to 24-14.  Purdue LB Jim Wood intercepted Clements at the Notre Dame 31-yard line leading to a 6-yard touchdown run by RB Mike Northington with 9:23 to play for a 31-14 Boilermaker edge.  Clements connected with All-American WR Pete Demmerle on a 29-yard touchdown pass for the final Fighting Irish score.  Purdue’s Terrizzi was knocked out in the 2^nd quarter & back-up QB Mark Vitali finished completing 6 of 7 passes for 79 yards.  Clements finished with 264 yards passing with a touchdown but 3 interceptions while Demmerle added 8 catches for 121 yards with his score.  Notre Dame finished 10-2; ranked 6^th nationally in Parseghian’s final season while the Boilermakers finished the season 4-6-1.  Notre Dame would play for The Belt again in 1977.

 

Purdue Boilermakers ©	Duke Blue Devils
Played October 5, 1974 at Wallace Wade Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team

Belt Reigns

Overall Record

Home Record

Away Record

Neutral Record

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

Purdue ©

1

1

1

0

.500

1

1

0

.500

Duke

0

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

Off their improbable win over 2^nd ranked Notre Dame, Purdue & coach Alex Agase with a 1-1-1 record traveled to Durham, North Carolina to face Mike McGee’s 2-1 Duke Blue Devils.  The Boilermakers out-gained the Blue Devils 291-183 but 10 penalties disrupted the Purdue offense & Duke RB Tony Benjamin scored 2 touchdowns as Duke recorded a 16-14 win to claim The Belt for the ACC.  Duke pushed to a 10-0 lead on a 24-yard field goal from PK Dave Malechek & a 1-yard touchdown run by Benjamin.  Purdue RB Pete Gross scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with just 0:58 left in the half.  Neither team scored in the 3^rd quarter but Boilermakers’ back-up QB Mark Vitali scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to give Purdue a 14-10 lead.  Vitali was playing because QB Mike Terrizzi, who started but threw only one pass, was still hurting from his injury incurred in the Notre Dame game & was unable to continue.  Duke got the lead back with 8:18 left when Benjamin scored on another 1-yard touchdown run.  The missed conversion left the score 16-14 Duke & that is they way it remained.  Duke QB Hal Spears threw for 29 yards completing 4 of 6 pass attempts while Benjamin added 79 yards rushing to his 2 touchdowns.  Purdue RB Scott Dierking rushed for 122 yards in the losing effort.  The Boilermakers finished the season 4-6-1 while Duke finished the season 6-5.  Purdue would play for The Belt again in 1975.

 

Army Black Knights	Duke Blue Devils ©
Played October 12, 1974 at Wallace Wade Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team

Belt Reigns

Overall Record

Home Record

Away Record

Neutral Record

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

Army

0

Duke ©

1

1

0

0

1.000

1

0

0

1.000

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

The Army Black Knights, coached by Homer Smith in his first season, were the first test for the new Belt holder.  Army brought a 1-3 record while the Duke Blue Devils of coach Mike McGee stood at 3-1.  The Blue Devils rushed for 299 yards while QB Hal Spears threw a touchdown & the Duke defense held Army to just 178 total yards in a 33-14 victory to retain The Belt.  Duke RB Tony Benjamin opened the scoring with a 7-yard touchdown run but the missed extra-point attempt left the score 6-0.  Blue Devils’ PK McInturff pushed the lead to 9-0 when he hit a 21-yard field goal but on the ensuing kick-off, Army RB Markus Hardy returned the kick 100 yards for a touchdown as the Black Knights trailed only 9-7 as the 2^nd quarter started.  McInturff’s 24-yard field goal was followed by a 53-yard touchdown pass from Spears to WR Cobb as the Blue Devils took a 19-7 halftime lead.  Duke RB Gore scored the only points of the 3^rd quarter on an 8-yard touchdown run & with the successful 2-point conversion, the Blue Devils had a 27-7 lead.  The Black Knights final points came on a 1-yard touchdown run by QB Scott Gillogly but Duke RB Mike Bomgardner scored on a 4-yard touchdown run to finish the scoring.  Spears finished with 178 yards passing with his touchdown while Gillogly threw for just 31 yards in the loss.  Duke finished the season 6-5 while the Cadets finished 3-8.  Army has not played for The Belt again.

 

Duke Blue Devils ©	Clemson Tigers
Played October 19, 1974 at Frank Howard Field

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team

Belt Reigns

Overall Record

Home Record

Away Record

Neutral Record

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

Duke ©

1

2

0

0

1.000

2

0

0

1.000

Clemson

0

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

Clemson, coached by Red Parker, hoped to end the title reign of the Duke Blue Devils coached by Mike McGee.  The Tigers brought a record of 2-3 while Duke was confident & holding The Belt with a record of 4-1.  Clemson took a 14-0 1^st quarter lead but had to fight off a furious comeback by the Blue Devils holding on for a 17-13 win to claim The Belt.  Each of Duke’s first two possessions ended with a fumble.  When Clemson CB Mark Lee recovered a fumble by Duke QB Hal Spears at the Duke 19-yard line.  Four plays later, Clemson QB Mark Fellers scored on a 7-yard touchdown run giving the Tigers a 7-0 lead.  On the Blue Devils next drive, RB Larry Martinez tried an option pass but it was intercepted by Clemson CB Dennis Smith at the Duke 49-yard line.  A 35-yard pass from Fellers to WR Joey Walters highlighted the 49-yard scoring drive & the touchdown came on a 4-yard run by RB Don Testerman as Clemson now had a 14-0 lead with 7:23 still to play in the 1^st quarter.  Duke finally held the ball long enough to put together a drive but a missed 37-yard field goal attempt kept the Blue Devils shutout for the quarter.  In the 2^nd quarter, Duke drove to the Clemson 6-yard line only to be stopped by an incomplete pass on fourth down but the Tigers were unable to move the ball & a short punt with a 22-yard return by Duke All-ACC WR Troy Slade put the Blue Devils back in scoring position at the Tigers’ 18-yard line.  Spears connected with WR Randy Cobb for the 18-yard touchdown pass as the Blue Devils closed to within 7 points at 14-7 at halftime.  Midway through the 3^rd quarter, Clemson got a 33-yard field goal from PK Bob Burgess as the Tigers took a 17-7 lead.  Early in the 4^th quarter, Spears found Slade open for a 26-yard touchdown but the missed 2-point conversion attempt left the score Clemson 17 Duke 13.  Duke RB Art Gore fumbled again on the next Blue Devil possession & Spears fumbled with 1:55 to play at the Clemson 12-yard line. The game ended on an incomplete “Hail Mary” pass as time expired.  Fellers finished with 59 yards passing while Clemson's All-American TE Bennie Cunningham was held to 1 catch for 12 yards.  For Duke, Spears threw for 209 yards with 2 touchdowns, Gore rushed for 102 yards, & Slade added 8 catches for 118 yards with his score.  The Blue Devils finished the season 6-5 while the Tigers finished 7-4.  Duke would play for The Belt again in 1999.

 

Clemson Tigers ©	Tennessee Volunteers
Played October 26, 1974 at Neyland Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team

Belt Reigns

Overall Record

Home Record

Away Record

Neutral Record

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

Clemson ©

1

1

0

0

1.000

1

0

0

1.000

Tennessee

0

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

The 2-3-1 Tennessee Volunteers, coached by Bill Battle, hosted the 3-3 Clemson Tigers of coach Red Parker trying to become the first SEC team to claim The Belt.  Tennessee was coming off loses to Louisiana State & Alabama as they looked to right the season in this match-up.  Tennessee RB Stanley Morgan scored 3 touchdowns & DT David Page recorded 3 sacks as the Volunteers eked out a 29-28 victory with a 2-point conversion with 1:31 left in the game to claim their first Belt reign.  After exchanging turnovers, the Volunteers forced a Tigers’ punt & on the second offensive snap, Tennessee QB Condredge Holloway connected with Morgan for a 65-yard touchdown pass.  Clemson responded on the next series with their own 65-yard touchdown pass from QB Mark Fellers to All-American TE Bennie Cunningham tying the game at 7-7 through the 1^st quarter.  Midway through the 2^nd quarter, the Volunteers got the lead back with a 35-yard touchdown run by RB Mike Gayles but the missed extra-point attempt left the score Tennessee 13 Clemson 7.  The Tigers drove 80 yards in 11 plays with Fellers again finding Cunningham for the touchdown, a 10-yard strike, as Clemson took a 14-13 halftime lead.  Neither team was able to score in the 3^rd quarter & Clemson S Jim Ness blocked a Tennessee 44-yard field goal attempt on the second play of the 4^th quarter leaving the score 14-13.  The Tigers put together a 12-play, 73-yard touchdown drive with RB Ken Callicutt throwing a halfback option pass to WR Ricky Bustle for the 14-yard score giving Clemson a 21-13 advantage.  The Volunteers tied the game with 8:11 left when Morgan broke loose for a 33-yard touchdown run & Holloway carried in for the 2-point conversion.  After the Tennessee kick-off, Clemson struck from long yardage again with RB Don Testerman running 68 yards over right-tackle for a touchdown giving the Tigers a 28-21 lead with 7:16 left.  The Volunteers’ response was a grinding, 16-play, 83-yard drive with Morgan scoring on an 8-yard run for his third touchdown of the game.  Rather than play for the tie, Coach Battle chose to go for the 2-point conversion.  As Holloway was being tackled by 2 Clemson defenders, he lofted a pass to the end zone where WR Larry Seivers out-jumped the Tigers' defender to making the catch & Tennessee took a 29-28 lead with 1:31 to play.  Clemson’s hopes ended on the next play from scrimmage when Tennessee LB Hank Walter intercepted Fellers & the Volunteers ran out the clock.  Holloway finished with 187 yards passing with his 2 touchdowns while Morgan added 106 yards rushing to his 3 scores.  For Clemson, Fellers threw for 110 yards with 2 touchdowns but an interception & Testerman rushed for 146 yards with his touchdown.  The Tigers finished the season 7-4 while the Volunteers finished 7-3-2; ranked 20^th nationally.  Clemson would play for The Belt again in 1988.

 

Memphis Tigers	Tennessee Volunteers ©
Played November 9, 1974 at Neyland Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team

Belt Reigns

Overall Record

Home Record

Away Record

Neutral Record

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

Memphis

0

Tennessee ©

1

1

0

0

1.000

1

0

0

1.000

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

Memphis, coached by Fred Pancoast, was 6-2 & coming off a 42-14 win over Florida State as they prepared to battle the 3-3-1 Tennessee Volunteers of coach Bill Battle for The Belt.  Tennessee RB Stanley Morgan ran for 2 touchdowns while the Volunteers defense intercepted Memphis quarterbacks 4 times as Tennessee retained The Belt with a 34-6 victory over the Tigers.  Neither team managed a score in the 1^st quarter but the Volunteers took control of the game in the 2^nd quarter.  Tennessee PK Ricky Townsend hit a 36-yard field goal, Morgan scored on a 4-yard run, & QB Condredge Holloway found WR John Yarbrough for a 14-yard touchdown pass as Tennessee took a 16-0 halftime lead.  Townsend’s 43-yard field goal accounted for the only points of the 3^rd quarter as the Tigers offense continued to flounder.  The 4^th quarter was more of the same as Morgan scored on a 1-yard run midway through the period & RB Mike Gayles scored on a 2-yard run to finish the Volunteers’ scoring.  The Tigers’ only points came with 0:40 left in the game when RB Jay Verna scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to avert the shutout.  Holloway threw for 110 yards with a touchdown while Memphis QB David Fowler threw for 108 yards but 3 of the Tigers 4 interceptions.  Tennessee finished the season 7-3-2; ranked 20^th nationally while the Tigers finished 7-4 in Pancoast's final season.  Memphis would play for The Belt again in 1986.

 

Tennessee Volunteers ©	Mississippi Rebels
Played November 16, 1974 at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team

Belt Reigns

Overall Record

Home Record

Away Record

Neutral Record

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

Tennessee ©

1

2

0

0

1.000

2

0

0

1.000

Mississippi

0

 

                    Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

The 2-6 Mississippi Rebels of first-year coach Ken Cooper faced the 4-3-1 Tennessee Volunteers of coach Bill Battle in a game played in Memphis.  Tennessee QB Condredge Holloway threw for a touchdown & ran for another as the Volunteers coasted to a 29-17 win over the Rebels to retain The Belt.  Tennessee RB Stanley Morgan got the Volunteers on the board late in the 1^st quarter when he scored on a 38-yard touchdown run.  Just before halftime, Mississippi PK Stephen Lavinghouze kicked a 31-yard field goal but the Rebels still trailed 7-3 at the intermission.  The 3^rd quarter was all Tennessee as RB Mike Gayles scored on a 1-yard touchdown run & Holloway scored on a 6-yard touchdown run giving the Volunteers a 20-3 advantage entering the final quarter.  Early in the 4^th quarter, Mississippi closed the gap with a 30-yard touchdown pass from QB Tim Ellis to WR Rick Kimbrough but Tennessee responded with a 52-yard touchdown pass from Holloway to WR Larry Seivers giving the Volunteers a 26-10 lead.  Tennessee’s final points came on a 37-yard field goal by PK Ricky Townsend & Mississippi got a 6-yard touchdown pass from Ellis to TE Jim Winstead with just 0:21 to play.  Holloway finished with 129 yards passing with a touchdown.  Ellis finished with 126 yards passing with 2 touchdowns but an interception in the loss.  Tennessee finished the season 7-3-2; ranked 20^th nationally while the Rebels finished 3-8.  Mississippi would play for The Belt again in 1987.

 

Kentucky Wildcats	Tennessee Volunteers ©
Played November 23, 1974 at Neyland Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team

Belt Reigns

Overall Record

Home Record

Away Record

Neutral Record

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

Kentucky

0

Tennessee ©

1

3

0

0

1.000

2

0

0

1.000

1

0

0

1.000

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

The 6-4 Kentucky Wildcats, coached by Fran Curci, came to Knoxville to close out their season.  The Tennessee Volunteers of coach Bill Battle stood at 5-3-1 with a 3-game winning streak.  Tennessee RB Stanley Morgan scored 2 touchdowns while PK Ricky Townsend kicked 3 field goals & the Volunteers retained The Belt with a 24-7 victory over the Wildcats.  Late in the 1^st quarter, Townsend connected on a 25-yard field goal giving the Volunteers a 3-0 lead.  After Kentucky PK John Pierce missed a 40-yard field goal attempt, Tennessee drove 80 yards in 15 plays with Morgan carrying the final 2 yards for the touchdown.  On the ensuing kickoff, Kentucky WR Dallas Owens fell at the Kentucky 1-yard line just barely avoiding the safety.  Unable to move the ball, the Wildcats punted to the Volunteers who took possession of the ball at the Kentucky 34-yard line.  The short field set-up a 32-yard field goal by Townsend giving Tennessee a 13-0 lead they held through the halftime.  The Volunteers effectively put the game away with their first drive of the 3^rd quarter.  Tennessee RB Paul Careathers highlighted the 8-play, 75-yard drive with a 25-yard run before Morgan finished the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run giving the Volunteers a 21-0 lead after the successful 2-point conversion.  Morgan returned the next Kentucky punt 46 yards to the Kentucky 47-yard line, & 10 plays later, Townsend hit a 42-yard field goal pushing the Tennessee lead to 24-0 with 5:50 left in the 3^rd quarter.  Kentucky finally got on the board after DT Jerry Blanton recovered a fumble by Tennessee RB Mike Gayles at the Tennessee 29-yard line.  After a 5-yard pass completion to Owns, Kentucky QB Cliff Hite carried around the right side before cutting back to his left for a 24-yard touchdown run.  Neither team was able to score again but Morgan added a 49-yard punt return to highlight the quarter.  Tennessee QB Condredge Holloway finished with 70 yards passing with an interception.  Hite threw for 79 yards with an interception to go with his rushing touchdown.  Tennessee finished the season 7-3-2; ranked 20^th nationally while the Wildcats finished 6-5.  Kentucky would play for The Belt again in 1987.

 

Tennessee Volunteers ©	Vanderbilt Commodores
Played November 30, 1974 at Dudley Field

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team

Belt Reigns

Overall Record

Home Record

Away Record

Neutral Record

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

Tennessee ©

1

4

0

0

1.000

3

0

0

1.000

1

0

0

1.000

Vanderbilt

0

 

                    Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

The Vanderbilt Commodores, coached by Steve Sloan, came to the annual rivalry game with the Volunteers with a record of 7-3.  The Tennessee Volunteers of coach Bill Battle had rebounded after a slow start to stand at 6-3-1 & owning a 9-game win streak over the Commodores.  A win for Vanderbilt would give the Commodores their second bowl bid ever along with The Belt.  Tennessee took advantage of a late fumble to score a touchdown with 0:07 left in the game &, with a successful 2-point conversion, the Volunteers escaped with a 21-21 tie to retain The Belt (“To Be The Man, You Have To Beat The Man”).  After forcing Vanderbilt to punt, Tennessee took only 3 plays & 54 seconds to travel 80 yards for a touchdown.  Tennessee RB Stanley Morgan lost 3 yards on his first carry before QB Condredge Holloway threw an 81-yard pass to TE Tommy West.  Morgan carried the final 2 yards as the Volunteers took a 7-0 lead.  Following another Commodore punt, Tennessee rode RB Mike Gayles on their next drive covering 59 yards.  Gayles carried on 6 of the 7 plays in the drive gaining 56 of the 59 yards including a 1-yard touchdown run.  The missed 2-point conversion attempt still gave Tennessee a 13-0 lead with 5:43 left in the 1^st quarter.  Vanderbilt put together a 12-play, 73-yard scoring drive with QB Bill Lee scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run but the Commodores trailed 13-7 entering the 2^nd quarter.  Late in the 2^nd quarter, Vanderbilt took the lead with a 9-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 20-yard touchdown pass from Lee to RB Lonnie Sadler giving the Commodores a 14-13 halftime lead.  In the 3^rd quarter, Vanderbilt CB Jay Chesley intercepted a Holloway pass giving the Commodores the ball at the Tennessee 36-yard line.  Sadler’s 29-yard run highlighted the 3-play scoring drive with RB Jim O’Rourke carrying the final 6 yards for the touchdown giving Vanderbilt a 21-13 advantage.  The teams continues to trade punts throughout the rest of the 3^rd quarter & into the 4^th quarter except for one Tennessee drive was stopped at the Vanderbilt 18-yard line when Morgan was tackled short of the first down marker on a 4^th & 1 yard play.  In the game, the teams combined for 21 punts.  Late in the game, Vanderbilt took possession at their own 20-yard line but after 3 runs produced 0 yards, Commodore All-SEC WR Barry Burton who also handled the punting duties set-up for his 12^th kick of the game.  He miss handled the snap & Tennessee had the ball at the Vanderbilt 11-yard line.  The Volunteers took advantage as Morgan carried 4 straight times to get into the end zone but the it was the 2-point conversion pass from Holloway to WR Larry Seivers that saved The Belt for Tennessee.  With the tie, both teams headed to the bowl season - Tennessee to the Liberty Bowl & Vanderbilt to the Peach Bowl.  Holloway finished with 149 yards passing with an interception.  For Vanderbilt, Lee threw for 88 yards with a touchdown, O’Rourke rushed for 152 yards with a touchdown, & Sadler rushed for 100 yards in the loss.  Tennessee finished the season 7-3-2; ranked 20^th nationally while the Commodores finished 7-3-2.  Vanderbilt would play for The Belt again in 1983.

 

Tennessee Volunteers ©	Maryland Terrapins
The Liberty Bowl Played December 16, 1974 at the Liberty Bowl

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Tennessee ©	1	4	0	1	.900	3	0	0	1.000	0	0	1	.500	1	0	0	1.000
Maryland	0

 

                    Previous Belt Meetings:       None