



MORE RELATED ARTICLES
Jackets In College: Wayne Hamilton, University of Alabama
Two of college football’s greatest coaches matched their teams in the 1978 Sugar Bowl as
Woody Hayes’ 9th ranked, 9-2 Ohio State Buckeyes battled Bear Bryant’s 3rd ranked, 10-1
Alabama Crimson Tide. Alabama finished the season 11-1; SEC Champions & ranked 2nd
nationally while the Buckeyes finished 9-3, Big Ten Co-Champs & ranked 11th nationally.
Ohio State would play for The Belt again in 1980.
Jackets In College: Wayne Hamilton, University of Alabama
44th Annual Sugar Bowl Classic
January 2, 1978
#3 Alabama 35 (Final: 11-1-0, #2)
#9 Ohio State 6 (Final: 9-3-0, #10)
Story excerpted from the book "Sugar Bowl Classic: A History" by Marty Mulé, who covered the game and
the organization for decades for the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
"We thought we had ‘em then."
Lou Green, an Alabama guard, had Ohio State right where he wanted the Buckeyes - under his foot.
He had cut out pictures of Buckeye stalwarts like Aaron Brown. Tom Cousineau, Byron Cato and Dave
Adkins and put them in his sock.
"I wanted to paste Brown's picture in my helmet," Green dead-panned, "but some of the guys talked me
out of it. I just kept them down there where they couldn't raise any hell."
The Buckeyes never get out from underfoot - either Green's or the ‘Bama team - despite 10 Crimson Tide
fumbles, though only two were lost.
Even with that, from start to finish, Alabama was in command.
"The plan," center Dwight Stephenson said, "was to take it right to them." And 16 of Alabama's first 17
plays went right into the teeth of the Buckeye defense. The Crimson Tide held the ball for eight minutes,
gaining 60 yards, while Ohio State appeared to be just hanging on, even at that early stage. David
Sadler, Green, Bob Cryder and Jim Bunch, the ‘Bama offensive line, thrashed their opposition as the Tide
backs consistently gained yardage off tackle. The drive ended short of points when quarterback Jeff
Rutledge was stopped on a two-yard pickup on fourth-and-goal from the 5.
"We had a little further to go than I thought," commented Alabama coach Paul Bryant. "We should have
kicked the field goal. It was a stupid call, and I made it."
The ease in which ‘Bama handled Ohio State, points or not, on that drive carried a message: "We thought
we had ‘em then," Rutledge admitted. READ MORE CLICK HERE
