In Iowa, It’s a Trump Ball
null By William McGurnUpdated Jan. 15, 2024 10:38 pm ETWonder Land: Since the Trump indictments have 'sucked out all the oxygen' from the primaries, Ron DeSantis was right to remind Iowa and New Hampshire voters that to get the job done requires a two term presidency. Images: AFP/Getty Images/AP/Reuters Composite: Mark KellyThe Fighting Irish of Notre Dame became college football’s 1977 national champions by beating the undefeated Texas Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl—and jumping from fifth to first in the rankings. This wasn’t without controversy, given that four other teams also went into their bowl games with 11-1 records. Alabama fans argued the Crimson Tide deserved the title, and someone even produced a satirical song about a “little blue nun” who had cast the decisive vote for Notre Dame.College football has long since instituted changes to eliminate the kind of jump ball for the national championship that was possible in 1977. The College Football Playoff has ensured since 2014
Updated Jan. 15, 2024 10:38 pm ET
The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame became college football’s 1977 national champions by beating the undefeated Texas Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl—and jumping from fifth to first in the rankings. This wasn’t without controversy, given that four other teams also went into their bowl games with 11-1 records. Alabama fans argued the Crimson Tide deserved the title, and someone even produced a satirical song about a “little blue nun” who had cast the decisive vote for Notre Dame.
College football has long since instituted changes to eliminate the kind of jump ball for the national championship that was possible in 1977. The College Football Playoff has ensured since 2014 that the top two teams will meet in a showdown for the national championship. Now everyone knows for sure who wears the crown once the playoff is completed.
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About this article
William McGurn is a member of The Wall Street Journal editorial board and writes the weekly "Main Street" column for the Journal each Tuesday. Previously he served as Chief Speechwriter for President George W. Bush.
Mr. McGurn has served as chief editorial writer for The Wall Street Journal in New York. He spent more than a decade overseas -- in Brussels for The Wall Street Journal/Europe and in Hong Kong with both the Asian Wall Street Journal and the Far Eastern Economic Review. And in the mid-1990s, he was Washington Bureau Chief for National Review.
Bill is author of a book on Hong Kong ("Perfidious Albion") and a monograph on terrorism ("Terrorist or Freedom Fighter"). He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, holds a BA in philosophy from Notre Dame and an MS in Communications from Boston University.
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