Montana State Bobcats	Washington State Cougars ©
Played September 3, 1983 at Martin 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

Montana State

0

Washington State ©

1

1

5

0

.167

1

1

0

.500

0

4

0

.000

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

For the first time in Belt history, a Division 1-AA team had a shot at the title as the Montana State Bobcats of coach Dave Arnold met coach Jim Walden’s Washington State Cougars in their season opener.  The Cougars overcame a slow start while holding the Bobcats to 50 yards rushing as they kept The Belt in Division 1 with a 27-7 victory.  Washington State’s only points of the 1^st half came on field goals of 31 & 24 yards by PK John Traut.  Things finally got going offensively for the Cougars in the 2^nd half as they scored on three long passes from QB Ricky Turner.  Turner connected with RB Reuben Mayes for a 22-yard touchdown pass & with WR John Marshall on a 45-yard touchdown pass in the 3^rd quarter.  WR Michel James completed the scoring for Washington State with a 34-yard touchdown reception from Turner in the 4^th quarter.  Montana State’s only score came early in the 4^th quarter when QB Mark Godfrey connected with Wilson on a 7-yard touchdown pass.  Turner finished with 175 yards passing with his 3 scores to lead the Cougars.  The Bobcats held All-Pac 10 RB Kerry Porter to just 28 yards rushing but this was not enough to overcome the talent of the Division 1 opponent.  Washington State finished the season 7-4 while the Bobcats finished 1-8.  Montana State has not played for The Belt again.

 

 

 

Washington State Cougars ©	Michigan Wolverines
Played September 10, 1983 at Michigan 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
Washington State ©	1	2	5	0	.286	2	1	0	.667	0	4	0	.000
Michigan	3	13	7	0	.650	6	3	0	.667	6	2	0	.750	1	2	0	.333

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

The 6^th ranked Michigan Wolverines of coach Bo Schembechler opened their 1983 season by welcoming the 1-0 Washington State Cougars & coach Jim Walden.  Michigan played without injured QB Steve Smith but RB Rick Rogers rushed for 124 yards with a touchdown while QB Dave Hall filled in for Smith with a rushing touchdown & a passing touchdown as they Wolverines reclaimed The Belt with a 20-17 come-from-behind victory.  Michigan opened the scoring with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Hall to WR Eddie Garrett.  The Cougars tied the game at 7-7 when S Joe Taylor intercepted Hall & returned it 63 yards for a touchdown.  The Wolverines regained the lead when after MG Al Sincich recovered a fumble by Washington State QB Ricky Turner at the Cougars’ 12-yard line & Rogers scored two plays later on an 8-yard run giving Michigan a 14-7 halftime lead.  Washington State PK John Traut connected on a 33-yard field goal late in the 3^rd quarter as the Cougars closed the gap to 4 points at 14-10.  In the 4^th quarter, the Cougars put together an 11-play, 63-yard drive with RB Reuben Mayes scoring on a 2-yard run giving Washington State a 17-14 advantage with 9:42 left in the game.  The Wolverines responded with 7-play, 75-yard drive highlighted by a 52-yard run by Rogers & Hall carrying the final 4 yards for the touchdown as Michigan regained the lead at 20-17 when PK Todd Schlopy missed the extra-point attempt wide to the right.  Washington State moved into position to tie the game but Traut missed a 37-yard field goal attempt with 2:15 left in the game.  Hall finished with just 50 yards passing with an interception while Turner threw for 83 yards & back-up QB Mark Rypien threw for 67 yards in the loss.  The Cougars finished the season 7-4 while the Wolverines finished 9-3 & ranked 8^th nationally.  Washington State would play for The Belt again in 1993.

 

 

 

Michigan Wolverines ©	Washington Huskies
Played September 17, 1983 at Husky 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
Michigan ©	4	14	7	0	.667	7	3	0	.700	6	2	0	.750	1	2	0	.333
Washington	3	5	5	0	.500	2	2	0	.500	3	2	0	.600	0	1	0	.000

 

 

Having lost The Belt in the 1982 Apple Cup game to Washington State, coach Don James’ Washington Huskies had the chance to reclaim the title against coach Bo Schembechler’s Michigan Wolverines as the 8^th ranked, 1-0 Wolverines traveled to Seattle to meet the 16^th ranked, 1-0 Huskies.  Washington secured the win with a late rally & 2-point conversion to upset the Wolverines 25-24.  The teams exchanged field goals in the 1^st quarter with Michigan’s PK Todd Schlopy hit from 35 yards while Washington’s PK Jeff Jaeger hit from 33 yards.  The Huskies took the lead in the 2^nd quarter when All-Pac 10 QB Steve Pelluer connected with WR Dave Stransky on a 19-yard touchdown pass giving Washington a 10-3 halftime lead.  The Wolverines dominated the 3^rd quarter getting a 5-yard touchdown run from RB Rick Rogers & a 1-yard touchdown run by QB Steve Smith as Michigan took a 17-10 lead heading into the 4^th quarter.  On the first play of the final quarter, Michigan appeared to gain total control of the game as Pelluer fumbled at the Washington 21-yard line.  The ball rolled loose in the scramble eventually landing in the end zone where Michigan LB Mike Mallory recovered the ball giving the Wolverines a 24-10 lead.  Starting with the next drive, Pelluer got hot completing 14 straight passes.  The Huskies drove 75 yards in 13 plays with RB Walt Hunt carrying in from 3 yards for the score & Washington trailed 24-17 with 9:06 left to play.  Michigan took the ensuing drive to the Washington 15-yard line but Schlopy’s 32-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right.  The Huskies final drive started at their own 20-yard line with 3:40 to play.  Pelluer completed 9 passes on the drive accounting for 76 yards before hitting a 7-yard connection to WR Mike Pattison for the touchdown with 0:34 left in the game.  Pelluer lofted a pass over Michigan S Evan Cooper to TE Larry Michael for the 2-point conversion that gave the Huskies at hard fought 25-24 win.  Pelluer finished 27 of 33 for 269 yards with 2 touchdowns & an interception.  Smith threw for 225 yards in the loss.  The Wolverines finished the season 9-3; ranked 8^th nationally while the Huskies finished 8-4.  Michigan would play for The Belt again in 12 weeks.

 

 

 

Washington Huskies ©	Louisiana State Tigers
Played September 24, 1983 at Tiger 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
Washington ©	4	6	5	0	.545	3	2	0	.600	3	2	0	.600	0	1	0	.000
Louisiana State	0	0	2	0	.000	0	2	0	.000

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

Off their upset of Michigan, the 9^th ranked, 2-0 Washington Huskies & coach Don James traveled to Baton Rouge to meet the 1-1 Louisiana State Tigers of Jerry Stovall.  Louisiana State QB Jeff Wickersham rushed for 3 touchdowns & threw for another while the Tigers’ defense held Washington to 28 yards rushing as Louisiana State claimed The Belt for the first time with a 40-14 win.  After forcing the Huskies to punt, Louisiana State drove 64 yards in 12 plays with RB Dalton Hilliard scoring on a 4-yard run giving Louisiana State a 7-0 lead.  Tigers’ S Jeff Dale intercepted Husky All-Pac 10 QB Steve Pelluer at the Washington 29-yard line & the Tigers got a 32-yard field goal from PK Juan Betanzos pushing the lead to 10-0.  When the next Washington drive was stopped, the Huskies punted but the bouncing ball hit an Louisiana State player & Washington recovered to extend their possession.  Six plays later, RB Jacque Robinson scored on a 2-yard touchdown run as the Huskies closed to 10-7.  On the Tigers next possession, Hilliard broke loose for a 65-yard run to the Washington 15-yard line.  Wickersham finished the drive with a 1-yard quarterback sneak for the touchdown & a 17-7 Louisiana State lead as the 1^st quarter ended.  Both teams missed field goal attempts before Betanzos converted from 41 yards with 0:20 left in the half.  Midway through the 3^rd quarter, Wickersham scored his second touchdown on a 3-yard run giving the Tigers a 27-7 lead.  To open the 4^th quarter, Louisiana State drove 80 yards in 9 plays with Wickersham finding All-SEC WR Eric Martin open on an 18-yard touchdown pass.  A 51-yard pass from Pelluer to WR Mike Pattison highlighted Washington’s 80-yard scoring drive with Pelluer scoring on a 1-yard run but the Huskies still trailed 34-14.  Louisiana State All-SEC S Liffort Hobley intercepted Pelluer midway through the 4^th quarter to set-up a 58-yard scoring drive with Wickersham scoring his third touchdown on a 3-yard run for the final points.  Wickersham finished with 259 yards passing with a touchdown to go with his 3 rushing touchdowns, Martin had 7 catches for 137 yards with his touchdown, & Hilliard added 121 yards rushing to his score.  Pelluer threw for 312 yards but 2 interceptions & Pattison had 7 catches for 114 yards for Washington.  The Huskies finished the season 8-4 while the Tigers finished 4-7 in Stovall’s final season.  Washington would play for The Belt again in 1984.

 

 

 

Florida Gators	Louisiana State Tigers ©
Played October 1, 1983 at Tiger 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

Florida

0

Louisiana State ©

1

1

2

0

.333

1

2

0

.333

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

The 12^th ranked, 3-0-1 Florida Gators of Charley Pell went to Baton Rouge for their first Belt game in school history to meet the 16^th ranked, 2-1 Louisiana State Tigers & coach Jerry Stovall.  Florida RB Neal Anderson rushed for 2 touchdowns including a 76-yard run late in the 4^th quarter to secure a 31-17 win as the Gators claimed The Belt for the first time.  Anderson scored in the 1^st quarter on a 15-yard touchdown run as Florida took a 7-0 lead.  In the 2^nd quarter, Gators’ QB Wayne Peace connected with RB Lorenzo Hampton on a 58-yard touchdown pass pushing the lead to 14-0.  Louisiana State got within a touchdown when QB Jeff Wickersham found All-SEC WR Eric Martin open for a 17-yard touchdown but Florida PK Bobby Raymond’s 40-yard field goal gave the Gators a 17-7 halftime advantage.  On the opening drive of the 3^rd quarter, Louisiana State CB Eugene Daniel intercepted Peace at the Florida 30-yard line.  The Tigers were able to move but did get a 43-yard field goal from PK Juan Betanzos.  Late in the quarter, Florida drove 86 yards in 9 plays with RB John L. Williams scoring on a 1-yard run as the Gators pushed the lead to 24-10 as the teams started the 4^th quarter.  Louisiana State drove to the Florida 9-yard line but RB Dalton Hilliard was stopped short on a 4^th down play with 11:18 left in the game.  Following a Gator punt, Louisiana State drove 60 yards in 7 plays with Wickersham scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run getting the Tigers within a touchdown at 24-17 with 4:56 to play.  On the first snap after the kick-off, Louisiana State Clark intercepted Peace giving the Tigers the ball at the Florida 36-yard line with 4:51 to play.  Louisiana State drove to the Florida 5-yard line with just under a minute to play when Gators’ All-American LB Wilbur Marshall intercepted Wickersham & returned it to the Florida 24-yard line.  Anderson broke loose for a 76-yard touchdown run on the next snap & the Gators had a hard fought victory.  Peace finished with 186 yards passing with a touchdown but 2 interceptions while Anderson added 149 yards rushing to his 2 touchdowns.  Wickersham threw for 271 yards with a touchdown but 2 interceptions while Martin had 5 catches for 106 yards with his touchdown.  The Tigers finished the season 4-7 in Stovall’s final season while the Gators finished 9-2-1 & ranked 6^th nationally.  Louisiana State would play for The Belt again in 1987.

 

 

 

Vanderbilt Commodores	Florida Gators ©
Played October 8, 1983 at Florida 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
Vanderbilt	0	0	0	1	.500	0	0	1	.500
Florida ©	1	1	0	0	1.000					1	0	0	1.000

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

At 2-2, coach George MacIntyre brought his Vanderbilt Commodores to Gainesville to meet the 9^th ranked, 4-0-1 Gators of coach Charley Pell.  Florida RB John L. Williams scored 3 touchdowns & the Gators’ defense held Vanderbilt to just 19 yards rushing as they retained The Belt with a 29-10 victory.  Florida took a 7-0 lead on their opening drive as they traveled 80 yards in 12 plays with Williams catching a 6-yard touchdown pass from QB Wayne Peace.  PK Bobby Raymond hit field goals from 27 & 20 yards as the Gators pushed their lead to 13-0 before Vanderbilt PK Ricky Anderson converted a 47-yard field goal attempt late in the 2^nd quarter.  Florida opened the 3^rd quarter with another touchdown pass from Peace to Williams this on from 3 yards as the Gators took a 20-3 lead.  The Commodores’ only touchdown of the game came on a 6-yard pass from QB Kurt Page to TE Chuck Scott in the 3^rd quarter.  Raymond connected on his third field goal of the game, this one from 38 yards, before Florida’s final points came on Williams’ 32-yard run.  Peace finished with 214 yards passing with 2 touchdowns while Williams finished with 108 yards rushing.  For Vanderbilt, Page threw for 261 yards with his touchdown & WR Keith Edwards had 12 catches for 124 yards receiving.  Florida finished the season 9-2-1; ranked 6^th nationally while the Commodores finished 2-9.  Vanderbilt would play for The Belt again in 1986.

 

 

 

East Carolina Pirates	Florida Gators ©
Played October 22, 1983 at Florida 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

East Carolina

0

Florida ©

1

2

0

0

1.000

1

0

0

1.000

1

0

0

1.000

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

Coach Ed Emory brought his surprising 5-1 East Carolina Pirates to battle the 6^th ranked, 5-0-1 Florida Gators & coach Charley Pell.  The Pirates’ only blemish had been a 47-46 loss at Florida State in their season opener.  East Carolina featured RB Ernest Byner but the Pirate defense, which intercepted Florida QB Wayne Peace 4 times, was unable to stop the Gators running game.  Both RB John L. Williams (119) & RB Neal Anderson (118) rushed for over 100 yards as Florida claimed a 24-17 victory.  East Carolina took an early lead after a 10-play, 80-yard drive with Byner scoring on a 13-yard touchdown run.  The Pirates pushed the lead to 10-0 when PK Jeff Heath connected on a 48-yard field goal.  Anderson scored on a 3-yard touchdown run but East Carolina still led 10-7 as the teams went to intermission.  The 3^rd quarter was all Gators as they got a 47-yard touchdown on an option pass from RB Lorenzo Hampton to WR Bee Lang & a 29-yard field goal from PK Bobby Raymond for a 17-10 Florida advantage.  The Pirates tied the game in the 4^th quarter on a 15-yard touchdown run by RB Jimmy Walden but Anderson’s second touchdown of the day, this one on a 6-yard run, after a 9-play, 96-yard drive put the Gators back in front 24-17.  East Carolina had a chance to at least tie the game but the Florida defense stiffened & held on for the win.  Peace finished with 139 yards passing but 4 interceptions for the Gators while Byner rushed for 97 yards to go with his touchdown for the Pirates.  Florida finished the season 9-2-1; ranked 6^th nationally while the Pirates finished 8-3 & ranked 20^th nationally.  East Carolina would play for The Belt again in 1988.

 

 

 

Florida Gators ©	Auburn Tigers
Played October 29, 1983 at Jordan-Hare 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
Florida ©	1	3	0	0	1.000	2	0	0	1.000	1	0	0	1.000
Auburn	0	0	1	0	.000					0	1	0	.000

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

Coach Pat Dye’s Auburn Tigers were 6-1, ranked 4^th nationally as the prepared to host 5^th ranked, 6-0-1 Florida Gators of coach Charley Pell for The Belt.  Auburn RB Bo Jackson rushed for 2 touchdowns on runs of 55 & 80 yards as the Tigers withstood a furious comeback by the Gators to claim The Belt for the first time with a 28-21 victory.  Auburn scored on their opening drive when Jackson broke loose for a 55-yard touchdown run.  Late in the 1^st quarter, the Tigers drove 57 yards in 7 plays with QB Randy Campbell scoring on a 4-yard touchdown run.  On the ensuing drive, Florida QB Wayne Peace found WR Ricky Nattiel open for a 41-yard touchdown pass making the score Auburn 14 Florida 7.  The Tigers extended the lead with another 80-yard drive with RB Lionel James scoring on a 17-yard touchdown run for the 21-7 halftime edge.  The Gators appeared to score in the 3^rd quarter when RB Neal Anderson carried in from 8 yards but on the play, the ball was knocked loose & rolled out of the end zone.  The officials ruled that the fumble occurred prior to Anderson crossing the goal line & awarded the ball to the Tigers.  On the next snap, Jackson raced 80 yards for his second touchdown giving Auburn a 28-7 advantage.  Florida RB John L. Williams scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 8:18 left in the game.  The Gators got their final score on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Peace to WR Dwayne Dixon with 2:54 to play.  Florida recovered the on-side kick but were unable to move for the tying score as Auburn sacked Peace on the Gators’ final offensive play.  Jackson finished with 196 yards rushing with his 2 touchdowns while the Auburn defense held Florida to just 74 yards rushing.  Peace threw for 336 yards with 2 touchdowns & Dixon had 9 catches for 123 yards with his touchdown in the losing effort.  The Gators finished the season 9-2-1; ranked 6^th nationally while the Tigers finished 11-1, SEC Champions & ranked 3^rd nationally.  Florida would play for The Belt again in 1984.

 

 

 

Maryland Terrapins	Auburn Tigers ©
Played November 5, 1983 at Jordan-Hare 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
Maryland	0	0	2	0	.000					0	1	0	.000	0	1	0	.000
Auburn ©	1	1	1	0	.500	1	0	0	1.000	0	1	0	.000

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

The 3^rd ranked, 7-1 Auburn Tigers & coach Pat Dye welcomed the 7^th ranked Maryland Terrapins of coach Bobby Ross who stood 7-1.  Three different Auburn running backs rushed for more than 100 yards with a touchdown as the Tigers amassed 450 yards rushing & Auburn RB Tommie Agee scored 2 touchdowns as the Tigers retained The Belt with a 35-23 win over the Terrapins.  The Tigers took the lead early in the 2^nd quarter after a scoreless 1^st quarter when QB Randy Campbell threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to WR Chris Woods to finish an 8-play, 74-yard scoring drive.  Auburn pushed the lead to 14-0 when Agee broke loose for a 61-yard touchdown run.  Maryland’s only points of the 1^st half came midway through the 2^nd quarter when PK Jess Atkinson hit a 30-yard field goal but the Terrapins still trailed 14-3 at the half.  Maryland rallied in the 3^rd quarter with QB Boomer Esiason throwing 2 touchdown passes to give the Terrapins the lead.  The first came on a 10-yard pass to WR Sean Sullivan with 12:07 left in the 3^rd quarter while the second came on a 14-yard pass to WR Greg Hill to finish a 12-play, 99-yard scoring drive with just 1:32 left in the quarter.  Trailing 17-14 as they entered the 4^th quarter, Auburn a 9-play, 81-yard drive capped by a 5-yard touchdown run by All-American RB Bo Jackson giving the Tigers a 21-17 lead.  Agee’s second touchdown came on a 44-yard run with just 5:19 left in the game & gave Auburn a 28-17 lead that appeared to be safe but Esiason had other ideas.  Esiason’s 40-yard touchdown pass to WR Russell Davis came just 3 plays later but the missed 2-point conversion attempt left the Terrapins trailing 28-23 with 4:32 to play.  Auburn ran down the clock & Maryland’s last chance for a rally ended with Esiason fumbling while being sacked & Auburn All-SEC DT Donnie Humphrey fell on the ball in the end zone for a touchdown.  Campbell finished with 67 yards passing with a touchdown as well as an interception, RB Lionel James rushed for 115 yards, & Jackson rushed for 105 yards with his touchdown to complement Agee.  For Maryland, Esiason threw for 355 yards to set a Maryland school-record along with his 3 touchdown passes while Davis had 4 catches for 113 yards with his touchdown.  Auburn finished the season 11-1; SEC Champions & ranked 3^rd nationally while the Terrapins finished 8-4 & ACC Champions.  Maryland would play for The Belt again in 1986.

 

 

 

Auburn Tigers ©	Georgia Bulldogs
Played November 12, 1983 at Sanford 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

Auburn ©

1

2

1

0

.667

2

0

0

1.000

0

1

0

.000

Georgia

0

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

For the 3^rd week in a row, Auburn faced a top-ten team with The Belt on the line.  Coach Vince Dooley’s 4^th ranked, 8-0-1 Georgia Bulldogs welcomed coach Pat Dye’s 3^rd ranked, 8-1 Auburn Tigers.  Auburn RB Lionel James rushed for the Tigers only touchdown while PK Al Del Greco hit 2 field goals & the defense held Georgia to just 51 yards rushing while the offense held the ball for 38:59 in a 13-7 Auburn victory.  Auburn RB Lionel James scored the Tigers only touchdown when he carried 4 yards around right end with 4:34 left in the 1^st quarter.  Del Greco’s field goals came in the 2^nd quarter when he hit from 21 & 41 yards giving Auburn a 13-0 halftime lead.  The Bulldogs only touchdown came with 2:11 left in the game when QB John Lastinger threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to WR Herman Archie.  Georgia recovered the on-side kick but they were still unable to move against the suffocating Auburn defense.  Auburn QB Randy Campbell threw for 95 yards on 12 of 15 passing while All-American RB Bo Jackson added 115 yards rushing for the Tigers.  Lastinger threw for 110 yards with a touchdown in the loss.  Auburn finished the season 11-1; SEC Champions, ranked 3^rd nationally while the Bulldogs finished 10-1-1 & ranked 4^th nationally.  Georgia would play for The Belt again in 1987.

 

 

 

Auburn Tigers ©	Alabama Crimson Tide
Played December 3, 1983 at Legion 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
Auburn ©	1	3	1	0	.750	2	0	0	1.000	1	1	0	.500
Alabama	1	10	2	0	.833	5	1	0	.833	4	0	0	1.000	1	1	0	.500

 

 

The 1983 Iron Bowl included The Belt match-up with coach Pat Dye’s 3^rd ranked Auburn Tigers at 9-1 meeting the 19^th ranked, 7-3 Alabama Crimson Tide with first-year coach Ray Perkins.  Auburn All-American RB Bo Jackson had touchdown runs of 69 & 71 yards while PK Al Del Greco kicked 3 field goals to lead the Tigers to a 23-20 win.  The game was played on a soaked artificial turf as storm with a seven-inch downpour had moved through the area the previous night.  Neither team scored in the 1^st quarter but Jackson scored in the opening minute of the 2^nd quarter.  He tried to carry around left end but the Crimson Tide defense had filled all the gaps so Jackson spun & reversed to the right side breaking free for the 69-yard touchdown run.  Alabama tied the game at 7-7 when All-SEC QB Walter Lewis connected with WR Joey Jones on a 20-yard touchdown pass.  Del Greco gave the Tigers the lead again at 10-7 when he hit a 29-yard field goal but the Crimson Tide got another touchdown pass from Lewis, this one 3-yard to RB Joe Carter, as Alabama took a 14-10 halftime lead.  The 3^rd quarter saw Del Greco hit field goals of 26 & 34 yards giving Auburn a 16-14 lead before the Crimson Tide regained the lead with a 57-yard touchdown run from All-SEC RB Ricky Moore.  On the next play from scrimmage, Jackson broke around the left end for a 71-yard touchdown run giving the Tigers a 23-20 lead with 2:03 left in the quarter.  That lead became insurmountable when another rainstorm moved into the area as neither team was able to move the ball in the final quarter.  Auburn managed only 62 yards in the 4^th quarter while Alabama netted only 18 yards.  Jackson finished with 256 yards rushing with his 2 touchdowns.  Lewis threw for just 62 yards with his 2 touchdowns, RB Kerry Goode rushed for 142 yards, & Moore added 109 yards rushing with his touchdown in the loss.  Auburn finished the season 11-1; SEC Champions, ranked 3^rd nationally while the Crimson Tide finished 8-4 & ranked 15^th nationally.  Alabama would play for The Belt again in 1985.

 

 

 

 

Auburn Tigers ©	Michigan Wolverines
The Sugar Bowl Played January 2, 1984 at the Louisiana Superdome

  

 

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
Auburn ©	1	4	1	0	.800	2	0	0	1.000	2	1	0	.667
Michigan	4	14	8	0	.636	7	3	0	.700	6	3	0	.667	1	2	0	.333

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None