1973 Fiesta Bowl

American college football game December 2025 August 2023 Fiesta Bowl 3rd Fiesta Bowl Sun Devil Stadium (cropped).jpg Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, hosted the Fiesta Bowl. December 21 1973 1973 Arizona State Sun Devils 10–1 WAC Frank Kush 10 10 7 0 3 18 Pittsburgh Panthers 6–4–1 Independent Johnny Majors NR NR 7 0 0 0 Arizona State by 14 points Mizlou Ray Scott, John Sauer bg Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, Arizona Greg Hudson (ASU SE)Mike Haynes  (ASU CB) 50,878 185,000 each The 1973 Fiesta Bowl was the third edition of the college football bowl game, played at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona on Friday, December 21. Part of the 1973–74 bowl game season, it matched the unranked independent Pittsburgh Panthers and #10 Arizona State Sun Devils of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kMdaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BW0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7154%2C2969852 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Parascenzo Marino Pitt 'ventures into unknown' in Fiesta tonight December 21, 1973 12https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BS8rAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FJoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2307%2C247570 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press Dorsett discounts pressure December 21, 1973 22 After falling behind early, favored Arizona State pulled away in the fourth quarter and won again on its home field, 28–7.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=o6tVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=A-EDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2256%2C5851683 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press Sun Devils finally take charge, pull away from Pittsburgh, 28–7 December 22, 1973 1Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kcdaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BW0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4721%2C3071986 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Parascenzo Marino Arizona State beats Pitt, 28–7, in Fiesta Bowl December 21, 1973 1https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZBUfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FJYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6076%2C2314476 Pittsburgh Press Franke Russ Fiesta time a big disappointment December 22, 1973 6 Teams 1973 NCAA Division I football season Pittsburgh 1973 Pittsburgh Panthers football team In their first year under head coach Johnny Majors, the Panthers were ranked twice in the AP poll in November (at #20), but lost the next game (Notre Dame, Penn State). This was Pittsburgh's first bowl appearance in seventeen years. Arizona State 1973 Arizona State Sun Devils football team The Sun Devils were co-champions of the WAC, the sole loss was an upset at Utah; ASU defeated rival Arizona in the late November to clinch the share. This was their fifth straight WAC title and third consecutive Fiesta Bowl appearance; they had won the first two editions (1971, 1972). Game summary Televised by Mizlou, the kickoff on Friday night was shortly after 6 p.m. MST.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YxUfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FJYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7336%2C2220032 Pittsburgh Press Franke Russ Can Pitt slow up Arizona State? December 21, 1973 19 It was the Fiesta Bowl's second night game, and the last until January 1987. All-American freshman halfback Tony Dorsett gave Pittsburgh an early lead on his three-yard touchdown run. Arizona State responded, as its All-American halfback Woody Green ran it in from three yards to make it 7–7 at the end of the first quarter; the second quarter was scoreless. A field goal by Danny Kush gave Arizona State a 10–7 lead after three quarters. Split end Greg Hudson increased the lead with a 38-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Danny White, and Green (who had 25 rushes for 131 yards) added two more touchdown runs. The game had thirteen punts and fourteen turnovers, with eight each by Pittsburgh.https://www.fiestabowl.org/fiesta-bowl/fiesta-bowl-game-history/game-results-recaps/1973-fiesta-bowl.php 1973 Fiesta Bowl - Arizona State vs. Pittsburgh January 4, 2015 https://archive.today/20150104001311/https://www.fiestabowl.org/fiesta-bowl/fiesta-bowl-game-history/game-results-recaps/1973-fiesta-bowl.php January 4, 2015 dead Hudson had eight receptions for 186 yards and was the offensive player of the game; cornerback Mike Haynes had two interceptions and took the defensive honor. Scoring First quarter Pittsburgh – Tony Dorsett 3-yard run (Carson Long kick) Arizona State – Woody Green 3-yard run (Danny Kush kick) Second quarter No scoring Third quarter Arizona State – Kush 30-yard field goal Fourth quarter Arizona State – Greg Hudson 38-yard pass from Danny White (kick failed) Arizona State – Green 23-yard run (kick failed) Arizona State – Green   1-yard run (kick failed) Source: Statistics {| class=wikitable style="text-align:center" ! Statistics !!3Pittsburgh3|| Arizona State |- | First downs || 12 || 18 |- | Yards rushing|| 47–151 || 45–164 |- | Yards passing || 57 ||269 |- | Passing || 7–23–4 || 14–20–3 |- | Return yards || 27 || −4 |- | Total Offense || 70–208 || 65–433 |- |Punts–Average ||8–39.3 || 5–46.0 |- |Fumbles–Lost ||5–4 ||4–3 |- |Turnovers || 8 || 6 |- |Penalties–Yards || 4–34 || 7–73 |} Source: Aftermath While in the WAC, Arizona State returned to the Fiesta Bowl twice more, in 1975 and 1977, their sole defeat. Pittsburgh came back in 1979 with another heralded freshman, quarterback Dan Marino, and won. References External links Fiesta Bowl – December 21, 1973 1682208 1973 Fiesta Bowl Fiesta Bowl Category:Fiesta Bowl Category:Arizona State Sun Devils football bowl games Category:Pittsburgh Panthers football bowl games Category:December 1973 sports events in the United States Fiesta Bowl