1977 Grantland Rice Bowl

College football game

1977 Grantland Rice Bowl

| North Dakota State Bison | Jacksonville State Gamecocks

|

(9–1–1) | (10–2)
North Central Conference | Gulf South Conference
7 | 31
Head coach:
Jim Wacker | Head coach:
Jim Fuller
|  | 1| 2| 3| 4 | Total

|
|
|
|
|

North Dakota State | 0| 0| 0| 7 | 7
Jacksonville State | 10| 14| 7| 0 | 31
Date| December 3, 1977
Season| 1977
Stadium| Memorial Stadium
Location| Anniston, Alabama
Attendance| 10,000[1]
|  Grantland Rice Bowl

< 1976 |

The 1977 Grantland Rice Bowl was an NCAA Division II game following the 1977 season, between the North Dakota State Bison and the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. The game was played in Anniston, Alabama at Memorial Stadium as the Gamecocks' normal venue – Paul Snow Stadium – was being renovated.[2] Jacksonville State defensive tackle Jesse Baker was named most valuable defensive player, and his teammate quarterback Bobby Ray Green was named most valuable offensive player.[3] This was the last playing of the Grantland Rice Bowl, as the NCAA discontinued use of bowl names for the Division II semifinals after 1977.

## Notable participants

[edit]

Jacksonville State defensive tackle Jesse Baker was selected in the 1979 NFL draft. Baker and head coach Jim Fuller are inductees of the university's hall of fame.[4]

North Dakota State running back Gordy Sprattler was selected in the 1979 NFL draft, and wide receiver / kicker Mike McTague was selected in the 1979 CFL Draft. McTague and quarterback Mark Speral are inductees of the university's athletic hall of fame.[5]

## Scoring summary

[edit]

Scoring summary

| Quarter  | Time  | Drive | Team  | Scoring information  | Score

|
|
|
|
|

Plays | Yards  | TOP | NDS  | JSU
1  |  |  | 45  |  | JSU  | James Coleman 1-yard touchdown run, Rocky Riddle kick good  | 0  | 7
1  |  |  |  |  | JSU  | 27-yard field goal by Rocky Riddle  | 0  | 10
2  |  |  |  |  | JSU  | Butch Barker 5-yard touchdown reception from Bobby Ray Green, Rocky Riddle kick good  | 0  | 17
2  |  |  |  |  | JSU  | Randy Walker 1-yard touchdown reception from Bobby Ray Green, Rocky Riddle kick good  | 0  | 24
3  |  |  |  |  | JSU  | Bobby Ray Green 5-yard touchdown run, Rocky Riddle kick good  | 0  | 31
4  | 13:00  | 8  | 56  |  | NDS  | Gordy Sprattler 2-yard touchdown run, Mike McTague kick good  | 7  | 31
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 7  | 31

[1][6]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Jacksonville State Downs North Dakota State, 31-7". Fort Lauderdale News. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. AP. December 4, 1977. Retrieved February 20, 2017 - via newspapers.com.
2. ^ "Jaxmen roll on". The Anniston Star. Anniston, Alabama. November 29, 1977. Retrieved February 20, 2017 - via newspapers.com.
3. ^ Hollis, Charles (December 4, 1977). "Jax State offensive line 'had something to prove'". The Anniston Star. Anniston, Alabama. Retrieved February 20, 2017 - via newspapers.com.
4. ^ "Hall of Fame". jsugamecocksports.com. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
5. ^ "Bison Athletic Hall of Fame". gobison.com. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
6. ^ "Jacksonville State Romps In Grantland Rice Bowl". Santa Cruz Sentinel. AP. December 4, 1977. Retrieved January 25, 2017 - via newspapers.com.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Musland, Cally (January 7, 2016). "Bison legend Mark Speral recalls 1977 game against Jacksonville State". KFGO. Archived from the original on February 22, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2017. (audio)

## External links

[edit]

* Photo of Memorial Stadium in Anniston

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