This Date in College Football Belt History – December 16

December 16, 1974 – The 10^th ranked Maryland Terrapins, coached by Jerry Claiborne, came to the Liberty Bowl with an 8-3 record & ACC championship in hand.  They battled a 7-3-1 Tennessee Volunteer team coached by Bill Battle who had managed to hold The Belt through a tie with cross-state rival Vanderbilt.  Maryland’s All-American DT Randy White, who won both the Outland Trophy & the Lombardi Award, led the Terrapins’ defense.  The lack of offensive weapons & an 11-yard touchdown pass to Tennessee’s WR Larry Seivers with 2:38 to play doomed Maryland to a 7-3 loss.  The Terrapins lead 3-0 at the half after PK Steve Mike-Mayer hit a 28-yard field goal that was set-up when Maryland’s All-ACC CB Bob Smith returned a punt 63 yards.  Both defenses took control until Volunteers’ back-up QB Randy Wallace completed the only pass he attempted in the game late in the 4^th quarter for the game winner to Seivers.  Wallace was in the game because Tennessee’s QB Condredge Holloway was dazed from a hard hit by White during the previous series.  The Volunteers’ touchdown was set-up by a bad snap on a Terrapins’ punt that gave Tennessee the ball at the Maryland 7-yard line.  It took 3 plays including Wallace avoiding a near sack by White before Seivers caught the touchdown pass.  Maryland tried to rally, driving to the Volunteers’ 20-yard line but a halfback option pass from Maryland’s RB Louis Carter to WR Frank Russell was caught just out of the end zone.  On the next play, Tennessee’s CB Ernie Ward intercepted Maryland’s QB Bob Avellini at the Volunteers’ 2-yard line with just 0:39 to play.  This game marked the first time that the Belt holder & the season’s National Champion were in conflict.  On a sad note, Battle’s father died shortly after having a heart attack in the stands during the game; his mother had died less than 3 weeks earlier on November 27^th.  For Tennessee, Holloway threw for just 54 yards while RB Mike Gayles added 106 yards rushing.  For Maryland, Avellini threw for 158 yards but 2 interceptions.  Tennessee finished the season 7-3-2; ranked 20^th nationally while the Terrapins finished 8-4; ranked 13^th nationally.  Maryland would play for The Belt again in 1975.

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