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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Tuesday, January 7, 1969
1969 Orange Bowl: Penn State 15, KU 14
photos by Jim Wheeler
KU's 12th man
An utterly dejected and sobbing Rick Abernethy buries his head in his hands. "You feel embarrassed. You feel responsible," said Abernethy, who accepted the blame as KU's "Twelfth Man." But the guilt was not all Abernethy's.
Triumph, then tragedy in last-minute bedlam
By BOB KEARNEY Assistant Sports Editor
For a stunning climax, Orange Bowl followers will not soon forget the 35th Classic—the Guess Who's Coming to the Huddle episode.
issue. And Kansans, shocked and bewildered, will never forget.
With an unbelievable final minute, Penn State pieced together some fluke happenings—a partially blocked punt, a 47-yard desperation pass, an ad-libbed touchdown run, and a 12th man penalty—into a rousing 15-14 victory over KU's Jayhawks.
Probably as much will be said of the extra man in KU's defense that gave the Nittany Lions a second shot at a 2-point conversion as the man missing from KU's offense midway through the fourth quarter. The Jayhawks, riding a 14-7 margin with a 4th-and-1 from the Penn State 5, forsook the field goal and sent fullback John Riggins around the left side searching for that yard. Nowhere to go.
Riggins would bound himself to ensuring he could win by 20-20 hindsight, the field goal would have been winning insurance.
"I regret it, but I'd do it again," said Coach Pepper Rodgers.
"Even if he (John Riggins) didn't make it, we've still got them deep in their territory and chances are they'll have to punt. They did, too, but it just didn't do us any good."
Rodgers accepted all the blame for a defeat in which Dame Fortune surely had as much a part. KU played inspired defense, twice intercepting passes and twice recovering fumbles in salvaging a 7-7 first half deadlock.
7-1 first half headhook.
One of those interceptions, a diving theft by Pat Hutchens, triggered KU's first touchdown march. Eight plays, exclusively on the ground—then Mike Reeves bulls across from the 2. Penn State matched it early in the second quarter as Charlie Pittman exploded 13 yards up the middle.
13 yards up the middle.
What would have been the turning point—until the madcap finish—came midway through the third period when KU's goal-line defense blunted a Penn State threat.
defense pitched a Penn State 7 on a punt return. Riggins powered the necessary yardage in two plays, scoring from the 1.
But the Lions had no timeouts remaining. Two thrusts by fullback Tom Cherry. No gain. The seconds ticked away. Burkharth, who had never scored a touchdown in his college career, suddenly bootlegged around the left side and into the endzone.
powerful. Much later—even after many of the 77,719 witnesses had departed—Penn State ignited its spectacular rally. Neil Smith deflected Bill Bell's punt, a 25-yarder that rolled dead at midfield. Then quarterback Chuck Burkharloft left a desperation lob that somehow found its way into Bob Campbell's grasp at the KU 3.
The 2-point try failed—a pass swatted away by KU's Dave Morgan and Kansas devotees swarmed their heroes. Then a red flag. Stunned City.
"The only bad thing about winning a football team between two good teams like this is it feels so terrible to lose," said Rodgers in the glum that was KU's dressing room.
But even Pepper found a silver lining. Something like "It's good to be good enough to be here."
Go-ahead touchdown
Taking a handoff from quarterback Bobby Douglass, KU's John Riggins wedges between two blockers and scores on a one-yard thrust. The touchdown gave the Jayhawks a 14-7 edge. A dazzling 46-yard punt return by Don Shanklin set-up the score. Penn State linebackers Denny Onkotz (35) and Jim Kates (55) are unable to close the hole.
Vanoy at his best
KU's defense was brilliant, particularly the play of defensive end Vernon Vanoy (84). Here Vanoy fights off a block by Penn State's Tom Cherry (32) before slamming halfback Bob Campbell (23). Two interceptions and two fumble recoveries in the first half, then an inspired goal-line stand in the third period, marked the Jayhawks' finest defensive performance.
5-on-1 defense
Gang tackling much like this stopped fullback John Riggins on the much-discussed 4th-and-1 gamble midway through the fourth quarter. KU turned down what would have been a 22-yard field goal attempt, then was denied in an effort to fatten a 14-7 lead. Five Penn State defenders, including Denny Onkz (35), Mike Smith (10), Gary Hull (51), and Jack Ham (33) combine for this tackle.