Sports Fact of the Day 1/1/07-1/4/07

I've been lax in posting to this for a while. Sorry. Real life sort of got in the way. I'm going to be better about it as part of the New Year. So, to kick off the New Year, here are my sports facts of the day from Jan. 1 through Jan. 4 (let's see if I remember to post one every day!)

1/1/79:
Charles White's "phantom touchdown" proves to be the difference as USC Beats Michigan, 17-10in the Rose Bowl. Long before the days of instant replay to review calls, White gets credit for a three-yard TD run despite an obvious fumble well short of the goal line. The highly controversial victory helps USC (12-1) earn a share of the national championship with Alabama (11-1).

Birthdays:
Hank Greenberg b. 1911
Rocky Graziano b. 1922
Doak Walker b. 1927
Marlin McKeever b. 1940
Derrick Thomas b. 1967

1/2/97:
Florida scores 28 unanswered points in the second half to overwhelm top-ranked and unbeaten cross-state rival Florida State, 52-20, winning the Sugar Bowl and earning its first-ever national championship. Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel (18-34, 306) hits Ike Hilliard for three TD passes and halfback Terry Jackson (12 carries for 118 yards) rushes for two more as Steve Spurrier's Gators win going away.

Birthdays:
Gino Marchetti b. 1927
Robbie Ftorek b. 1952
David Cone b. 1963
Edgar Martinez b. 1963
Pernell Whitaker b. 1964

1/3/87:
Trailing 20-10 with just over four minutes remaining in their AFC divisional playoff game, the Cleveland Browns benefit from a roughing-the-passer penalty called against Mark Gastineau of the New York Jets. Quarterback Bernie Kosar drives the Browns for a TD at the two-minute warning, and Mark Moseley's 22-yard field goal in the closing seconds sends the game into overtime; in the second OT, Moseley connects again to give Cleveland a 23-20 victory. Gastineau's lack of restraint undoes an exceptional Jets defense that had already intercepted Kosar twice in the fourth quarter and stood poised to claim a much-deserved road victory.

Birthdays:
Hank Stram b. 1924
Bobby Hull b. 1939
Darren Daulton b. 1962
Jim Everett b. 1962
Cheryl Miller b. 1964

1/4/2003:
In the feature game of a trio of televised m atchups between top women's college basketball teams, All-American Diana Taurasi leads the Lady Huskies to victory over Tennessee, 63-62, in overtime. Her 25 points include a half-court shot just before intermission, another long trey to tie the score at the end of regulation and the bucket that clinches the game for UConn.

Birthdays:
Johnny Lujack b. 1925
Don Shula b. 1930
Floyd Patterson b. 1935
Kermit Alexander b. 1941
Garrison Hearst b. 1971