Let Challenge Bowl Decide No. 1 Team, Urges Parseghian

DALLAS -- Notre Dame coach Ara Parseghian suggested Friday the formation of a college Challenge Bowl to select the official national champion each year. "The two top teams would be chosen on a vote of college athletic directors, coaches, sports writers and broadcasters," Parseghian said. "Then they would meet at a selected spot for the title. "If the plan were in effect this season, the game might involve Texas and Penn State, both unbeaten. Or possibly Ohio State and Southern California would be considered. I think it is the only solution."

The controversy over the national championship was heightened during the past campaign when President Nixon arbitrarily presented Texas a plaque as the No. 1 team after the Longhorns beat Arkansas Dec. 6 at Fayetteville, 15-14. This evoked strong protests from coach Joe Paterno of Penn State and partisans of his team which had extended an unbeaten streak over three seasons.

With most of the top-ranking teams in action in the bowl games, the Associated Press, which originated the national rankings, postponed its final poll until after the Jan. 1 games. The result of the poll will be announced Sunday. The No. 1 ranked Texas Longhorns, with a modern version of the Four Horsemen in the backfield, won a 21-17 thriller from Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl for their 20th straight victory. Penn State extended its unbeaten string to 30 games with a 10-3 triumph over Missouri in the Orange Bowl. Southern California, unbeaten but once tied, edged Michigan, 10-3, in the Rose Bowl. Mississippi upset Arkansas, 27-22, in the Sugar Bowl.

Although Texas demonstrated awesome running power and great comeback ability in crushing Notre Dame's first bowl bid in 45 years, Paterno of Penn State still was unwilling to concede the championship to the Longhorns. "We have as much right as anybody else to be No. 1," he said in Miami.

"This is the sort of confusion that the Challenge Bowl would eliminate," said Parseghian, disappointed but proud of his team's stirring effort against Texas. "The plan for a postseason playoff series is idealistic but unrealistic. College authorities would never approve extension of the season through December, as would be necessary. There is a disinclination to destroy the rich tradition of the various bowl games. The Challenge Bowl would not seriously affect either of these areas. There would be only one game. It could be played before or after the bowl games, it makes no difference."

[source: ap]