re: Alabama fans - Question about the 1973 Sugar Bowl

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I probably should have placed in the thread title the question was for the older guys like Crisp and a few others.

I went to this game in New Orleans, but remember just bits and pieces of the game. Yesterday I viewed some video clips from the game and had a couple of questions for you guys:

1. I don't remember it raining for the game, but in some clips you can see water on the field when tackles are made. Did it rain during the game as I don't remember this.

2. The Alabama punter got off an awesome punt down to the Notre Dame 4-5 yard line at the end of the game. On the play, the Alabama punter was roughed with a personal foul called against Notre Dame. Coach Bryant declined the penalty.

Did he decline because the punt had the Irish back inside their 5 yard line? I think if he had taken the penalty, Alabama would have had the ball 1st and 10 around the 50.

3. Did Alabama play a two QB system that season with Rutledge and Todd? The kid that threw the TD pass to Todd was also a QB - Mike Stock. I don't remember much about him, did he ever play a significant amount of time as a QB for Alabama?

4. Wilbur Jackson - did he start his career as a wide receiver? I am questioning because he wore #80

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I see that most of your questions were answered, but I'll tell you this because I was there and remember it well. The day of the game, the temp. nearly reached 70 and it was pleasant outside, but just before kickoff, a front came through and dumped over an inch of rain in about 30 minute. Also, temp went from about 70 down into the high 30s or low 40s. That night, New Orleans was the coldest place on earth! I've never been colder and wetter at the same time in my life. The 3rd down pass play that Ara called down inside his 5 yard line was as gutsy a call as you'd ever see back then...and it worked. If ND had been forced to try to punt from back there, everyone in the stadium knew that the game would be Alabama's, but.....