The Week

It was the third shutout of the year for Alabama and extended its streak of scoreless quarters to 14. "The defense has developed a motto," says Linebacker Ron Robertson, " 'Get that goose egg.' Those zip jobs look awfully pretty on the scoreboard."

Bryant called it "our best defensive game of the year. We were worried about the game beforehand, but after I saw our defense operate a while I wasn't worried."

Auburn was hearing bells in its game with Mississippi State, but that did not prevent the Tigers from winning 24-20. "Their fans rang cowbells every time we had the ball," said Shug Jordan. "We had two offside penalties and fumbled six inches from the goal line because we couldn't hear our signals."

Despite a 17-0 first-half lead, the Tigers did not nail down the victory until they intercepted a Bulldog pass in the final 30 seconds. Big plays proved the difference. A 60-yard run by Rick Neel set up the first TD, a 52-yard punt return by Mike Fuller provided the second, and Secdrick McIntyre scored the third on a 54-yard gallop.

Condredge Holloway became Tennessee's alltime total-offense leader by reaching the 3,658-yard mark in the Volunteers' 34-6 victory over Memphis State. Holloway highlighted the day by chasing down a bad snap on a point-after attempt and passing 20 yards for two points.

Kentucky had a surprisingly easy time with Vanderbilt, winning 38-12 behind Mike Fanuzzi's two touchdowns and John Pierce's three field goals. It was a costly victory. Fullback Sonny Collins suffered a broken leg while scoring in the second quarter.

North Carolina State, the second-best team in the Atlantic Coast Conference, accomplished what Maryland, the ACC's best, could not—a defeat of Penn State. The Wolf-pack seniors kept their 16-game home record unblemished in a 12-7 victory. Fullback Stan Fritts rushed for 112 yards, scored one touchdown and passed for another.

Maryland rocked Villanova 41-0, Virginia trounced VMI 28-10, and in league games Duke defeated Wake Forest 23-7 and Clemson massacred North Carolina 54-32.

1. Alabama (9-0)
2. Florida (7-2)
3. Auburn (8-1)