Was reminded of how frustrated we fans were with our offense back in those days. The old 3 yards and a cloud of dust. I think in this Alabama game our longest rush from scrimmage for tbe whole game was 4 yards. VT didn't get a first down until the fourth quarter, we had 3 first downs for the game, and amazingly all 3 came by passes, out of maybe 5 or 6 passes for the entire game. The game was so, so different back in those days without the spread offense, and so...damn frustrating to watch offensively.

We played the old wide tackle 6 back then, and VT played excellent defense in the game. We gave up 2 passing TDs in the 2nd quarter and that was all 'Bama needed as they won 14-7. One of their TDs came after being set up by a 61 yard punt return. We scored just before half on a Beamer ball play where we blocked a punt recovered in the end zone. And our #25, Frankie Beamer, was there to see it happen. Maybe that's where his inspiration came from. He had his name called a number of times during the game for defensive stops. A lot of great players for Tech back then, and they really stopped 'Bama's offense all game. Linebacker Mike Widger (who was an all-American, a New Jersey boy), big old Waddy Harvey, Ron Davison, Pete Dawyot, Larry Creekmore, Paul Ripley, other names from the Coach Jerry Claiborne era, I can't remember them all.

This team finished the season with 8 wins and went to lhe Liberty Bowl to play Mississippi and Archie Manning, Peyton and Eli's daddy. Lost the Liberty Bowl 34-17 after leading the game 17-0. There were only 8 bowl games back in those days, so VT being one of 16 teams was a big deal. As you know there are at least 35 bowls today, and all you have to do is play .500 ball and win 6. Pffft! Who cares?

Epilogue to the 1968 Alabama game: this was the away part of a home and away series we scheduled with Alabama (although it was played in Legion Field in Birmingham). The first game of 1969 the Tide came to Blacksburg for the only time ever. We lost that one 17-13 as Tech beat Alabama every where but on the scoreboard. The beginning of the end for Claiborne as Tech started the season 0-5. I've got a whole storybook memory of that game as I was there on the field in front of 43,000 loud fans in old, original Lane Stadium.

Well, the old historian has spoken again. Enjoy, for those few of you who remember when.