1979 Mediterranean Grand Prix
The 18th Gran Premio del Mediterraneo (Grand Prix of the Mediterranean), was the Round Ten of the 1979 European Championship for F2 Drivers. This was held on the Isle of Sicily, at the Autodromo di Pergusa, Enna, on 29 July.


1979 Mediterranean Grand Prix, Report, Entry
A total of 25 F2 cars were entered for the event, however just 22 took part in qualifying.


1979 Mediterranean Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
Brian Henton took pole position for the Toleman Group Motorsport, in their Ralt-Hart RT2, averaging a speed of 121.15 mph.


1979 Mediterranean Grand Prix, Report, Race
The race was held over 45 laps of the Enna-Pergusa circuit. After a furious battle, Henton took the chequered flag, ahead of Eje Elgh. However, Elgh’s team, Marlboro Team Tiga successfully appealed against Henton using an escape road on the first lap to avoid an accident. Despite being delayed by the first corner incident, Derek Daly followed Elgh home, with his teammate Stephen South next home. Elgh won in a time of 1hr 11:02.09mins., averaging a speed of 117.564 mph.


1979 Memorial Cup
The 1979 Memorial Cup occurred May 6–13 at the Palais des Sports in Sherbrooke, Quebec, the Colisée de Trois-Rivières in Trois-Rivières, Quebec and at the Verdun Auditorium in Verdun, Quebec. It was the 61st annual Memorial Cup competition and determined the major junior ice hockey champion of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). Participating teams were the winners of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Western Hockey League which were the Peterborough Petes, Trois-Rivières Draveurs and Brandon Wheat Kings. Peterborough won their first Memorial Cup, defeating Brandon in the final game.


1979 Memorial Cup, Teams, Brandon Wheat Kings
The Brandon Wheat Kings represented the Western Hockey League at the 1979 Memorial Cup. The Wheat Kings were a dominant force during the 1978-79, finishing with a record-breaking 125 points, as the team had a record of 58–5–9. The Wheat Kings led the WHL in goals with 491, while the club allowed a league-low 230 goals. Brandon was the Regular Season Champs. In the post-season, the Wheat Kings finished the round-robin portion with a 7-1 record, advancing to the East Division finals. In their division finals series against the Saskatoon Blades, the Wheat Kings swept them in four games.


1979 Memorial Cup, Teams, Brandon Wheat Kings
In the WHL semi-finals, the Wheat Kings earned a 3-1 record in a round-robin tournament against the other two division winners, earning a trip to the President's Cup. In the final round, Brandon defeated the Portland Winter Hawks four games to two to win the WHL championship, and earning a trip to the 1979 Memorial Cup.


1979 Memorial Cup, Teams, Brandon Wheat Kings
Brian Propp led the Wheat Kings offense, setting a league record with 94 goals and 194 points in 71 games, as he was the leading scorer in the league. In 22 playoff games, Propp scored 15 goals and 38 points to lead the club in scoring. Propp was a top prospect for the 1979 NHL Entry Draft, and he was drafted fourteenth overall by the Philadelphia Flyers. Ray Allison finished second in league scoring, as he scored 60 goals and 153 points in 62 games.


1979 Memorial Cup, Teams, Brandon Wheat Kings
Allison was another top prospect for the upcoming 1979 NHL Entry Draft, and was drafted by the Hartford Whalers eighteenth overall. Laurie Boschman scored 66 goals and 149 points in 65 games, as he would be drafted ninth overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft. Defenseman Brad McCrimmon was another future first round draft pick in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft, as he scored 24 goals and 98 points in 66 games. McCrimmon was selected fifteenth overall by the Boston Bruins. Goaltender Rick Knickle was named WHL Goaltender of the Year after posting a record of 26-3-8 with a 3.16 GAA in 38 games. Scott Olson split time with Knickle, as in 35 games, he earned a 32-2-1 record with a 3.23 GAA.


1979 Memorial Cup, Teams, Brandon Wheat Kings
The 1979 Memorial Cup was the Wheat Kings second appearance. The club lost the 1949 Memorial Cup to the Montreal Royals.


1979 Memorial Cup, Teams, Peterborough Petes
The Peterborough Petes represented the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League at the 1979 Memorial Cup. This was the Petes second consecutive appearance at the tournament. Peterborough was the top team in the OMJHL during the 1978-79 season, earning a record of 46-19-3 for 95 points, winning the Hamilton Spectator Trophy. The Petes 345 goals ranked fourth in the league, while their defense allowed 245 goals, ranking them second in the OMJHL. In the Leyden Division semi-finals, the Petes defeated the Kingston Canadians four games to two, with one game ending in a tie.


1979 Memorial Cup, Teams, Peterborough Petes
In the Leyden Division finals, Peterborough defeated the Sudbury Wolves four games to one, advancing to the OMJHL finals. In the J. Ross Robertson Cup finals, the Petes faced the Niagara Falls Flyers. The Flyers pushed Peterborough to seven games, however, the Petes won the championship and would represent the OMJHL at the 1979 Memorial Cup.


1979 Memorial Cup, Teams, Peterborough Petes
The Petes offense was led by Tim Trimper, who scored a team high 62 goals and 108 points in 66 games. Bill Gardner scored 32 goals and 103 points in 68 games to finish second in team scoring, while Chris Halyk also broke the 100-point plateau as he scored 41 goals and 100 points in 67 games. Defenseman Greg Theberge scored 20 goals and 80 points in 63 games. Theberge won the Max Kaminsky Trophy, awarded to the Top Defenseman in the OMJHL. In goal, Ken Ellacott posted a 3.53 GAA in 48 games as the Petes starting goaltender. Head coach Gary Green was named the winner of the Matt Leyden Trophy, awarded to the Top Head Coach in the league.


1979 Memorial Cup, Teams, Peterborough Petes
The 1979 Memorial Cup was the Petes fourth appearance in club history. In their previous three appearances in 1959, 1972, and in 1978, the Petes lost in the finals.


1979 Memorial Cup, Teams, Trois-Rivières Draveurs
The Trois-Rivières Draveurs represented the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League at the 1979 Memorial Cup. This was the Draveurs second consecutive appearance at the tournament. The Draveurs were the top team in the league during the 1978-79 season, finishing with a record of 58-8-6, earning 122 points and winning the Jean Rougeau Trophy. Trois-Rivières scored a league high 527 goals, which was more than 100 goals higher than the second place team. The Draveurs were also the top defensive team in the league, allowing a league low 233 goals and winning the Robert Lebel Trophy.


1979 Memorial Cup, Teams, Trois-Rivières Draveurs
In the post-season, the Draveurs swept the Shawinigan Cataractes in four games in the QMJHL quarter-finals. In the league semi-finals, the Draveurs stayed hot, and defeated the Montreal Juniors four games to one. In the President's Cup finals, Trois-Rivières swept the Sherbrooke Castors in four games, winning the QMJHL championship for the second consecutive season, and earning a berth into the 1979 Memorial Cup.


1979 Memorial Cup, Teams, Trois-Rivières Draveurs
The Draveurs offense was led by J.F. Sauve, who led the league with 176 points as he scored 65 goals and 111 assists. Sauve won the Jean Beliveau Trophy as the Top Scorer in the QMJHL. In the post-season, Sauve scored 19 goals and 38 points in 13 games to win the Guy Lafleur Trophy as Playoff MVP. Bob Mongrain scored a team high 66 goals, while earning 142 points to rank fourth in league scoring.


1979 Memorial Cup, Teams, Trois-Rivières Draveurs
Pierre Lacroix scored 37 goals and 137 points in 72 games, ranking him sixth in league scoring, and was named the winner of the Michel Briere Memorial Trophy winner as MVP of the league. Jean-Gaston Douville scored 61 goals and 116 points in 71 games, good for fourth in team scoring. Defenseman Michel Leblanc scored 26 goals and 110 points in 72 games, as the Draveurs had five players with 110 or more points. Goaltender Jacques Cloutier won the Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy as the Top Goaltender in the QMJHL. In 72 games, Cloutier had a record of 58-8-6 with a 3.14 GAA and a .877 save percentage. Cloutier posted a 12-1 record with a 2.77 GAA and a .901 save percentage in the post-season.


1979 Memorial Cup, Teams, Trois-Rivières Draveurs
The 1979 Memorial Cup was the second appearance in Draveurs team history. At the 1978 Memorial Cup, the club finished in third place.


1979 Memorial Cup, Winning roster
Bob Attwell, Dave Beckon, Terry Bovair, Carmine Cirella, Keith Crowder, Ken Ellacott, Dave Fenyves, Larry Floyd, Bill Gardner, Chris Halyk, Anssi Melametsa, Larry Murphy, Mark Reeds, Brad Ryder, Stuart Smith, Greg Theberge, Tim Trimper, Jim Weimer. Coach: Gary Green


1979 Memphis State Tigers football team
The 1979 Memphis State Tigers football team represented Memphis State University (now known as the University of Memphis) as an independent during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. In its fifth season under head coach Richard Williamson, the team compiled a 5–6 record and was outscored by a total of 223 to 166. The team played its home games at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee.


1979 Memphis State Tigers football team
The team's statistical leaders included Kevin Betts with 884 passing yards, Leo Cage with 599 rushing yards, Tony Hunt with 234 receiving yards, and Richard Locke with 30 points scored.


1979 Men's African Volleyball Championship
The 1979 Men's African Volleyball Championship was in Tripoli, Libya, with 5 teams participating in the continental championship.


1979 Men's British Open Squash Championship
The 1979 British Open Championships was held at the Wembley Squash Centre in London from 31 March - 8 April 1979. Geoff Hunt won his sixth title defeating Qamar Zaman in a repeat of the 1978 final.


1979 Men's British Open Squash Championship, Seeds
Torsam Khan - seed 12  Kevin Shawcross - seed 15


1979 Men's European Volleyball Championship
The 1979 Men's European Volleyball Championship was the eleventh edition of the event, organized by Europe's governing volleyball body, the Confédération Européenne de Volleyball. It was hosted in several cities in France from October 5 to October 12, 1979, with the final round held in Paris.


1979 Men's Junior World Handball Championship
The 1979 Men's Junior World Handball Championship was the second edition of the IHF Men's Junior World Championship, held in Denmark and Sweden from 23 October to 2 November 1979.


1979 Men's Junior World Handball Championship, Main round
All points and goals against the team from the same preliminary round were carried over.


1979 Men's South American Volleyball Championship
The 1979 Men's South American Volleyball Championship, the 13th tournament, took place in 1979 in Rosario ( Argentina).


1979 Men's World Open Squash Championship
The 1979 McGuinness Men's World Open Squash Championship was the men's edition of the 1979 World Open, which serves as the individual world championship for squash players. The event took place in Toronto in Canada during September 1979. Geoff Hunt won his third consecutive World Open title, defeating Qamar Zaman in a repeat of the 1977 final.


1979 Men's World Open Squash Championship, Draw and results, Notes
Torsam Khan died just two months after this event in the November, at the age of 27. Torsam suffered a heart attack during a tournament in Australia.


1979 Men's World Team Squash Championships
The 1979 Men's Stellar World Team Amateur Squash Championships were held in Brisbane in Australia and took place from October 17 to October 28, 1979. This was the last World Amateur Championship before the game went open.


1979 Mercedes Cup
The 1979 Mercedes Cup, was a men's tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts and held in Stuttgart, West Germany that was part of the 1979 Grand Prix circuit. It was the second edition of the tournament and was held from 16 July until 22 July 1979. Fourth-seeded Tomáš Šmíd won the singles title.


1979 Mercedes Cup, Finals, Doubles
Frew McMillan /  Colin Dowdeswell defeated  Wojciech Fibak /  Pavel Složil, 6–4, 6–2, 2–6, 6–4


1979 Mestaruussarja, Overview
Preliminary Stage was contested by 12 teams, and higher 8 teams go into Championship Group. Lower 4 teams fought in Promotion/Relegation Group with higher 4 teams of Ykkönen.


1979 Mestaruussarja, Promotion/Relegation Group
The teams obtained bonus points on the basis of their preliminary stage position.


1979 Metro Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
The 1979 Metro Conference Men's Basketball Tournament was held March 1–3 at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee.


1979 Metro Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
Conference newcomers Virginia Tech defeated Florida State in the championship game, 68–60, to win their first Metro men's basketball tournament.


1979 Metro Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
The Hokies, in turn, received a bid to the 1979 NCAA Tournament. They would be joined in the NCAA field by regular season champions Louisville, who lost to Virginia Tech in the tournament's semifinal round.


1979 Metro Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, Format
All seven of the conference's members participated in the tournament field. They were seeded based on regular season conference records, with the top team earning a bye into the semifinal round. The other six teams entered into the preliminary first round.


1979 Metro Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, Format
This was the first tournament for Virginia Tech, who joined the Metro Conference after playing as an Independent. They replaced Georgia Tech, who departed for the Atlantic Coast Conference prior to the season.


1979 Metro Manila Film Festival
The 5th Metro Manila Film Festival was held in 1979.


1979 Metro Manila Film Festival
Ten movies vied for top honors in the 1979 Metro Manila Film Festival. HPS Productions' Kasal-Kasalan, Bahay-Bahayan was named Best Film and was the top grosser of the festival. Ina Ka ng Anak Mo received three major awards including the Best Actor and Best Actress for Raul Aragon, and Lolita Rodriguez and Nora Aunor respectively.


1979 Mexican legislative election
Legislative elections were held in Mexico on 1 July 1979. The Institutional Revolutionary Party won 296 of the 400 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. Voter turnout was 49%.


1979 Miami Dolphins season
The 1979 Miami Dolphins season was the franchise's 10th season in the National Football League, the 14th overall, and the 10th under head coach Don Shula. Prior to the start of the season, the Dolphins re-signed Larry Csonka who left to join the WFL after the 1974 season. Despite struggles from Bob Griese all year, the Dolphins finished 10-6 and won their first division title in five years. Among the season highlights were the Dolphins' 19th and 20th consecutive wins over the Buffalo Bills.


1979 Miami Dolphins season
For the entire decade of the 1970s (1970–79), the Dolphins hold a perfect 20-0 record over the Bills, which contributed to O. J. Simpson never seeing any postseason success in his career. In the Divisional Playoffs, the Dolphins were no match for the Pittsburgh Steelers who jumped out to a 20–0 lead in the 1st Quarter to win 34-14 on their way to their second straight Super Bowl title.


1979 Miami Dolphins season, Awards and honors
Larry Csonka returned to the Dolphins in 1979 for one last season before retiring, after leaving in 1975 for the World Football League and spending the next three seasons after with the New York Giants. He led the team with 837 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, in addition to one receiving touchdown. His return led to him being named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year.


1979 Miami Hurricanes baseball team
The 1979 Miami Hurricanes baseball team represented the University of Miami in the 1979 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Hurricanes played their home games at Mark Light Field. The team was coached by Ron Fraser in his 17th season at Miami.


1979 Miami Hurricanes baseball team
The Hurricanes reached the College World Series, where they were eliminated after a pair of losses to Arizona and Pepperdine.


1979 Miami Hurricanes football team
The 1979 Miami Hurricanes football team represented the University of Miami as an independent during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by first-year head coach Howard Schnellenberger, the Hurricanes played their home games at the Miami Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. Miami finished the season with a record of 5–6.


1979 Miami Redskins football team
The 1979 Miami Redskins football team was an American football team that represented Miami University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. In its first season under head coach Tom Reed, the team compiled a 6–5 record (3–4 against MAC opponents), finished in seventh place in the MAC, and outscored all opponents by a combined total of 223 to 142.


1979 Miami Redskins football team
The team's statistical leaders included Chuck Hauck with 1,258 passing yards, Paul Drennan with 503 rushing yards, and Don Treadwell with 395 receiving yards.


1979 Michigan State Spartans football team
The 1979 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 1979 Big Ten Conference football season. In their fourth season under head coach Darryl Rogers, the Spartans compiled a 5–6 overall record (3–5 against Big Ten opponents) and finished in a tie for sixth place in the Big Ten Conference.


1979 Michigan State Spartans football team
Three Spartans were selected by either the Associated Press (AP) or the United Press International (UPI) as first-team players on the 1979 All-Big Ten Conference football teams: tight end Mark Brammer (UPI-1); linebacker Dan Bass (AP-1); and punter Ray Stachowitz (AP-1).


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1979 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1979 Big Ten Conference football season. In its 100th season of intercollegiate football, the 11th under head coach Bo Schembechler, Michigan compiled an 8–4 record (6–2 against conference opponents), lost to North Carolina in the 1979 Gator Bowl, was ranked No. 18 in the final AP Poll, and outscored opponents by a total of 312 to 151.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team
All four losses were by margins of two or three points with special teams errors and turnovers costly in each. In a two-point loss to Notre Dame, a pair of Michigan fumbles in the first half led to Irish field goals, and the Wolverines last-minute field goal attempt for the win was blocked. The Wolverines gave up four interceptions against Purdue and had a punt blocked and returned for the winning touchdown against Ohio State. In a two-point loss in the Gator Bowl, the Wolverines failed to convert on either point after touchdown and turned the ball over four times in the fourth quarter. And in a narrow victory over California, the Michigan kickers missed all five field goal attempts.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team
The team's statistical leaders included quarterback John Wangler with 1,431 passing yards, tailback Butch Woolfolk with 990 rushing yards and 78 points scored, and tight end Doug Marsh with 612 receiving yards. Linebacker Ron Simpkins was selected as both Michigan's most valuable player and a consensus first-team All-American. Defensive end Curtis Greer also received first-team All-America honors from several selectors.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Preseason
The 1978 Michigan Wolverines football team compiled a 10–2 record and was ranked No. 5 in the final AP and UPI polls. Several key players from the 1978 team were lost to graduation or professional sports, including the Wolverines' 1978 starting backfield of Rick Leach, Harlan Huckleby, and Russell Davis, offensive lineman Jon Giesler (taken in the first round of the 1979 NFL Draft), and linebackers Tom Seabron and Jerry Meter. Key players returning from the 1978 team included tailback Butch Woolfolk, offensive lineman John Arbeznik, defensive tackle Curtis Greer, linebacker Ron Simpkins, and defensive back Mike Jolly.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Preseason
Michigan's 1979 recruiting class included quarterback Rich Hewlett (Plymouth, Michigan), running backs Jerald Ingram (Beaver, Pennsylvania) and Lawrence Ricks (Barberton, Ohio), receivers Anthony Carter (Riviera Beach, Florida) and Craig Dunaway (Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania), linebackers Winfred Carraway (Detroit), Paul Girgash (Lakewood, Ohio), and Jim Herrmann (Dearborn Heights, Michigan), and defensive backs Keith Bostic (Ann Arbor, Michigan) and Jerry Burgei (Ottawa, Ohio).


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Preseason
In May 1979, defensive tackle Curtis Greer received the Meyer Morton Award as the player showing the greatest development and promise in spring practice. Defensive lineman Mike Trgovac received the Frederick C. Matthaei Award as the junior-to-be player displaying "leadership, drive and achievement on the athletic field and in the classroom", and wing back Tony Jackson received the John F. Maulbetsch Award as the best freshman player following spring practice "on the basis of desire, character, capacity for leadership and future success on and off the gridiron."


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Northwestern
On September 8, 1979, Michigan opened its season with a 49–7 victory over Northwestern before a crowd of 100,790 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In his first game for Michigan, Anthony Carter had a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown and later scored again on a 12-yard touchdown pass from John Wangler. Michigan totaled 347 rushing yards and 140 passing yards. Stan Edwards rushed for 99 yards on eight carries, and quarterback B. J. Dickey passed for 68 yards and a touchdown and rushed for another 85 yards and a touchdown. Wangler took over as quarterback in the third quarter and completed five of six passes for 67 yards.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Notre Dame
On September 16, 1979, Michigan, ranked No. 5 in the AP Poll, lost to No. 7 Notre Dame, 12–10, before a crowd of 105,111 at Michigan Stadium.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Notre Dame
In the first quarter, Michigan drove to the Notre Dame 15-yard line and took a 3–0 lead on a 30-yard field goal by Bryan Virgil. A short time later, Anthony Carter fumbled a punt return, and Notre Dame recovered the loose ball at Michigan's 36-yard line. Michigan's defense held at the 23-yard line, and Chuck Male then kicked a 40-yard field goal. At the end of the first and start of the second quarter, Michigan quarterback B. J. Dickey led a 13-play, 80-yard touchdown drive that consumed six minutes and 39 seconds.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Notre Dame
Dickey scrambled 16 yards to the one-yard line, and Stan Edwards then ran for the touchdown to put Michigan ahead, 10–3. Later in the second quarter, Dickey fumbled, and Notre Dame recovered the ball at Michigan's 39-yard line. Notre Dame advanced the ball to the 18-yard line, but a holding penalty and a sack pushed the Irish back, and Male kicked a 44-yard field goal to cut Michigan's lead to 10–6 at halftime.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Notre Dame
Male kicked two additional field goals in the third quarter to put Notre Dame ahead, 12-10. After leading the offensive effectively in the first half, Dickey was unable to generate any offensive momentum in the third and fourth quarters. With two minutes remaining in the game, Michigan took over at its own 42-yard line. John Wangler replaced Dickey at quarterback and led the Wolverines to the Notre Dame 25-yard line. With six seconds remaining in the game, Michigan sent Bryan Virgil into the game to attempt a 42-yard field goal, but the kick was blocked by Bob Crable who climbed onto the back of Michigan center Mike Trgovac.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Notre Dame
Michigan out-gained Notre Dame by 306 yards to 179 yards. Dickey rushed for 68 yards and completed nine of 18 passes for 106 yards. Virgil averaged only 29.7 yards on seven punts, including a five-yard punt in the fourth quarter. For Notre Dame, Rusty Lisch completed five of 10 passes for 65 yards, and Vagas Ferguson rushed for 118 yards on 35 carries.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Kansas
On September 22, 1979, Michigan defeated Kansas, 28–7, before a crowd of 103,698 at Michigan Stadium. Michigan out-gained Kansas, 467 yards to 104. Tailback Stan Edwards rushed for 106 yards on 17 carries, and John Wangler completed 12 of 18 passes for 195 yards and an interception. Ali Haji-Sheikh missed twice on 42-yard field goal attempts. Michigan's defense held Kansas to 79 passing yards, 25 rushing yards, and six first downs. Kansas' touchdown came on special teams, as Leroy Irvin returned a punt 60 yards.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, California
On September 29, 1979, Michigan defeated California, 14–10, before a crowd of 57,000 at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California. California took a 10-0 lead at halftime, but the Wolverines scored 14 unanswered points in the second half on touchdown runs by Stan Edwards and Lawrence Reid. Michigan out-gained California, 373 yards to 223 yards. Ali Haji-Sheikh and Bryan Virgil missed five field goal attempts.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, California
With Michigan playing in California, athletic director Don Canham scheduled a Band Day football game at Michigan Stadium on September 29 between Slippery Rock and Shippensburg The game drew an NCAA Division II-record crowd of 61,143. Shippensburg beat Slippery Rock, 45–14.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Michigan State
On October 6, 1979, Michigan, ranked No. 11 by the AP, defeated No. 16 Michigan State, 21–7, before a crowd of 79,311 at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Michigan State
In the first quarter, B. J. Dickey and Stan Edwards led a 14-play, 96-yard touchdown drive with Butch Woolfolk scoring on a two-yard touchdown run. In the second quarter, Michigan State's Jim Burroughs blocked a Bryan Virgil punt, and the Spartans took over at Michigan's 16-yard line. Mike Harden intercepted a pass to stop the Spartans. Later in the second quarter, Virgil's attempt at a 46-yard field goal fell short.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Michigan State
In the third quarter, Michigan State mounted a 55-yard touchdown drive with Derek Hughes scoring on a six-yard run. Michigan retook the lead on a 66-yard touchdown bomb from Dickey to Ralph Clayton. With two minutes remaining in the game, Michigan scored a third touchdown on a six-yard pass from Dickey to Anthony Carter.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Michigan State
Michigan out-gained Michigan State, 336 yards to 242 yards. For the Wolverines, Stan Edwards rushed for 139 yards on 24 carries, and Dickey completed eight of 13 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns. For Michigan State, tailback Steve Smith rushed for 101 yards on 17 carries, and Bert Vaughn completed six of 18 for 86 yards and two interceptions.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Michigan State
In the week leading up to the game, Michigan coach Bo Schembechler drew criticism and comparisons to Woody Hayes for a physical encounter with a reporter for the university's student newspaper. With Michigan's kickers missing 14 of 15 field goal attempts to that point in the season, the reporter asked whether Schembechler would place greater emphasis on recruiting kickers. An angry Schembechler allegedly grabbed and threw the reporter's microphone, poked the reporter in the chest, grabbed him by the throat, and pushed him backwards.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Minnesota
On October 13, 1979, Michigan defeated Minnesota, 31-21, before a crowd of 104,677 at Michigan Stadium.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Minnesota
Michigan took a 24-7 lead at halftime on a 27-yard field goal, a 54-yard touchdown run by tailback Butch Woolfolk, a one-yard touchdown run by fullback Lawrence Reid, and a one-yard touchdown pass from John Wangler to Reid. In the second half, Minnesota narrowed the lead to 24-21 on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Mark Carlson to Elmer Bailey and an 11-yard touchdown run by Glenn Lewis. In the fourth quarter, Woolfolk extended Michigan's lead on a 41-yard touchdown run.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Minnesota
Michigan totaled 537 yards of total offense, including 456 rushing yards. Woolfolk led the way with 194 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries, and Reid added 179 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. Minnesota  quarterback Mark Carlson threw the ball a record 51 times with 27 completions for 339 yards and three interceptions (two by Mike Jolly). Michigan held Minnesota to 29 net rushing yards and limited Marion Barber to 38 rushing yards.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Illinois
On October 20, 1979, Michigan defeated Gary Moeller's Illinois Fighting Illini before a crowd of 43,370 at Memorial Stadium at Champaign, Illinois. After a scoreless first half, Mike Jolly intercepted an Illinois pass at the Illini's 36-yard line, and Michigan drove for the game's first touchdown, a one-yard run by Butch Woolfolk. John Wangler also threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Carter. Stan Edwards rushed for 81 yards on 22 carries, and Woolfolk totaled 78 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries. Michigan's defense limited the Illini to 58 rushing yards and 26 passing yards. The game was played in 35-mile-per-hour winds. After the game, coach Bo Schembechler said: "It was definitely a wind game. . . . It was like a wind tunnel out there."


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Indiana
On October 27, 1979, Michigan defeated Indiana, 27-21, before a crowd of 104,832 at Michigan Stadium.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Indiana
In the first quarter, linebacker Mike Lemirande recovered an Indiana fumble at the Hoosiers' 26-yard line, and Michigan capitalized on the turnover as B. J. Dickey ran 19 yards to the three-yard line, and Lawrence Reid then ran for the touchdown. In the second quarter, Indiana executed a 98-yard touchdown drive and later took a 14-7 lead with one minute left in the half.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Indiana
Michigan opened the second half with a 50-yard touchdown run by Lawrence Reid and then retook the lead on its next drive, Butch Woolfolk scoring on a two-yard run.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Indiana
Late in the fourth quarter, Indiana quarterback Tim Clifford led the Hoosiers on a 79-yard touchdown drive, including a 54-yard pass to the Michigan two-yard line. Indiana tied the game with 55 seconds remaining on a short pass from Clifford to Dave Harangody.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Indiana
With 51 seconds remaining, Michigan began at its own 22-yard line. Lawrence Reid caught a pass and intentionally tossed the ball out of bounds (into the hands of Indiana coach Lee Corso) at the Indiana 45-yard line with six seconds remaining. Wangler then passed to Anthony Carter at the 23-yard line, and Carter evaded two tacklers at the 20-yard line and another inside the five-yard line, crossing the goal line for the winning touchdown. The play was made famous by Bob Ufer's emotional radio narration as the play unfolded:


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Indiana
"Under center is Wangler at the 45, he goes back. He's looking for a receiver. He throws downfield to Carter. Carter has it. [ unintellibible screaming]  Carter scores. . . . I have never seen anything like this in all my 40 years of covering Michigan football. . . . I hope you can hear me – because I've never been so happy in all my cotton-picking 59 years! . . . Johnny Wangler to Anthony Carter will be heard until another 100 years of Michigan football is played! . . . Meeeshigan wins, 27 to 21. They aren't even going to try the extra point. Who cares? Who gives a damn?"


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Indiana
The game-winning pass from Wangler to Carter has been called "the greatest single play in the 100-year history of Michigan football."


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Indiana
The Wolverines out-gained the Hoosiers by 489 yards to 393 yards. Wangler completed 10 of 14 passes for 163 yards while Butch Woolfolk and Lawrence Reid rushed for 127 and 99 yards respectively. For Indiana, Tim Clifford completed 12 of 26 passes for 232 yards, and Mike Harkrader rushed for 80 yards on 23 carries.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Wisconsin
On November 3, 1979, Michigan defeated Wisconsin, 54–0, before a crowd of 104,952 at Michigan Stadium. John Wangler started at quarterback in place of B. J. Dickey who was recovering from a shoulder injury. Wangler completed 10 of 13 passes for 219 yards, including a 71-yard touchdown pass to Doug Marsh. Butch Woolfolk rushed for 190 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries. In the third quarter, Woolfolk had a 92-yard touchdown run that broke the former Michigan record of 86 yards set by Tom Harmon.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Purdue
On November 10, 1979, Michigan lost to Purdue, 21–24, before a crowd of 69,829 at Ross–Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana. Michigan trailed by 24-6 with 10 minutes remaining and scored 15 points in a comeback effort that fell short. Michigan threw four interceptions. After the game, coach Bo Schembechler praised his team's effort in the comeback attempt: "Our players showed a lot of character, as bad as we looked. It is as good a group of kids as I've ever had. They won't lay down and die."


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Ohio State
On November 17, 1979, Michigan, ranked No. 13 by the AP, lost to No. 2 Ohio State, 18–15, at Michigan Stadium. The game attracted a crowd of 106,255, an NCAA record for a regular season game. It was the first Michigan–Ohio State game for the Buckeyes' new head coach Earle Bruce.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Ohio State
On Ohio State's second possession, Mike Harden intercepted an Art Schlichter pass and returned it to the Ohio State 32-yard line. Michigan drove to the one-yard line, but Michigan quarterback Rich Hewlett was dropped for a loss on fourth-and one. At the end of the first quarter, Ray Ellis intercepted a Rich Hewlett pass and returned it to the Michigan 38-yard line. Michigan's defense held, and Ohio State was forced to punt. On Michigan's next possession, the Wolverines called a fake punt on fourth down from their own 37-yard line, but punter Bryan Virgil threw an incomplete pass. Ohio State took over with good field position but was again forced to punt.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Ohio State
Later in the second quarter, Ohio State's run game gained momentum and the Buckeyes drove to the six-yard line. At that point, the Michigan defense held, and Vlade Janakievski kicked a 23-yard field goal with 3:48 to go in the half. On Michigan's next possession following the Janakievski field goal, John Wangler replaced Hewlett at quarterback. Wangler hit Anthony Carter on a 59-yard touchdown pass to put Michigan ahead, 7-3, with 1:30 left in the half. After Michigan's touchdown, Schlichter passed the Buckeyes quickly down the field, and Janakievski kicked a 25-yard field goal with eight seconds left in the half. Michigan led, 7-6, at halftime.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Ohio State
On their first possession of the third quarter, Ohio State drove from its own 49-yard line to the one-yard line, but penalties pushed the Buckeyes back to the 18-yard line. Schlichter then threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Hunter, but his throw for a two-point conversion fell incomplete. Ohio State led, 12-7. On Michigan's next possession, Wangler connected with Carter for a 66-yard pass at the Ohio State 19-yard line. Roosevelt Smith then scored on a one-yard run, and Smith ran again for a successful two-point conversion. Michigan led, 15-12.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Ohio State
Late in the third quarter, Ohio State drove deep into Michigan territory, James Gayle fumbled at its own nine-yard line, with Mike Jolly recovering for Michigan. In the fourth quarter, Ohio State blocked a Bryan Virgil punt, and Todd Bell returned it 18 yards for the game-winning touchdown. Janakievski's kick failed, and Ohio State led, 18-15.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Ohio State
The ABC broadcast crew named Schlichter and Michigan middle guard Mike Trgovac as the Chevrolet Most Valuable Players of the game. Schlichter completed 12 of 22 passes for 196 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Trgovac had 11 solo tackles and five assists.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Ohio State
For Ohio State, James Gayle rushed for 72 yards on nine carries, and Doug Donley caught three passes for 87 yards. For Michigan, Wangler completed four of nine passes for 133 yards, a touchdown, and an interception with three seconds remaining in the game. Butch Woolfolk rushed for 68 yards on 18 carries, and Anthony Carter caught two passes for 125 yards and a touchdown.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Gator Bowl
On December 28, 1979, Michigan lost to North Carolina, 17–15, before a crowd of 70,407 in the 1979 Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Gator Bowl
Neither team scored in the first quarter. On North Carolina's first two drives, quarterback Matt Kupec led the Tar Heels deep into Michigan territory. On both occasions, North Carolina missed on field goal attempts into the wind. On Michigan's first play from scrimmage, John Wangler threw a bomb to Anthony Carter that was good for a 47-yard gain. A sack pushed Michigan back, and the Wolverines were forced to punt.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Gator Bowl
Late in the first quarter, Amos Lawrence fumbled, and Mike Harden recovered the loose ball at Michigan's 38-yard line. Wangler led the Wolverines downfield, the big gain coming on a 50-yard pass to Ralph Clayton at the North Carolina six-yard line. North Carolina's defense held, and Michigan settled for a 20-yard field goal by Bryan Virgil. On Michigan's next possession, Wangler threw a pass to Carter who ran untouched into the end zone for a 53-yard touchdown. Virgil's extra point kick failed, and Michigan led, 9–0.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Gator Bowl
On Michigan's next possession after the Carter touchdown, Wangler was sacked by Lawrence Taylor at the Michigan three-yard line. Wangler sustained torn ligaments in his right knee and did not return to the game. Michigan was forced to punt from deep in its own territory, and North Carolina took over at Michigan's 42-yard line. Kupec again led the Tar Heels downfield, and Doug Paschal scored on a one-yard run to narrow Michigan's lead to 9–7 at halftime.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Gator Bowl
In the third quarter, North Carolina mounted a 97-yard, six-minute drive and took a 14–9 lead on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Kupec to Phil Farris. North Carolina extended its lead to 17–9 on a 32-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Gator Bowl
In the fourth quarter, Michigan moved downfield on a 42-yard pass interference penalty on a reverse play with Anthony Carter attempting a long pass downfield to Ralph Clayton. On the next play from scrimmage, B. J. Dickey fumbled on a pitch-out, and North Carolina recovered the loose ball at the Tar Heel 35-yard line. Dickey's fumble was the fourth Michigan turnover (two interceptions and two fumbles) of the fourth quarter. Finally, with 1:28 left in the game, Dickey threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Carter. Michigan attempted a two-point conversion for the tie, but Dickey's pass to Carter was broken up, and an onside kick attempt failed.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Gator Bowl
In the first quarter-and-a-half of play, Wangler had completed six of eight passes for 203 yards. With Dickey at quarterback for the last two-and-a-half quarters, Michigan had difficulty moving the ball until its final drive. After the game, Schembechler said, "Wangler hit some big plays. Losing him was one of those things. A good football team has to overcome that." North Carolina quarterback Matt Kupec and running back Amos Lawrence tied for the outstanding player of the game award. Kupec completed 19 of 28 passes for 161 yards, and Lawrence rushed for 110 yards on 23 carries and caught five passes for 30 yards.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Award season
Two Michigan players received first-team honors on the 1979 All-America college football team:


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Award season
Seven Michigan players received first-team honors from the AP or UP on the 1979 All-Big Ten Conference football team: linebacker Ron Simpkins (AP-1, UPI-1); defensive end Curtis Greer (AP-1, UPI-1); running back Butch Woolfolk (AP-1, UPI-1); defensive back Mike Jolly (AP-1, UPI-1); offensive guard John Arbeznik (UPI-1); and defensive lineman Mike Trgovac (UPI-1).


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Award season
Linebacker Ron Simpkins receive the team's most valuable player award, and Dan Murry received the Arthur Robinson Scholarship Award.


1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, Personnel, Professional football
Twenty-five (25) members of the 1979 Michigan football team went on to play professional football. They are:


1979 Micronesian parliamentary election
Parliamentary elections were held in the Federated States of Micronesia on 27 March 1979. All candidates for seats in Congress ran as independents.


1979 Micronesian parliamentary election, Electoral system
The 14-member Congress consisted of four at-large members (one from each state) elected for four-year terms, and ten other members elected for two-year terms.


1979 Micronesian parliamentary election, Aftermath
Following the elections, the newly elected Congress met for the first time on 10 May. Bethwel Henry was elected Speaker. Members of Congress subsequently elected Tosiwo Nakayama as the first President of Micronesia, with Petrus Tun elected vice-president. This led to both vacating their seats in Congress. In the subsequent by-elections on 13 June, Koichi Sana was elected to the four-year seat in Truk and John Haglelgam (a write-in candidate) was elected in the four-year seat in Yap.


1979 Mid Bedfordshire District Council election
Elections to Mid Bedfordshire District Council were held on 3 May 1979, on the same day as the general election, so turnout was higher than usual in district council elections for Mid Bedfordshire. All 53 seats were up for election.


1979 Mid Bedfordshire District Council election, Result
There were now 53 seats on the council, compared with 49 in 1976. Gains and losses in the results table are compared with the 1976 district council election.


1979 Mid Bedfordshire District Council election, Ward Results
Figures on turnout were taken from Plymouth University's Elections Centre, which gives the number of registered voters, and the percentage turnout for each ward. The number of ballots cast for each ward was calculated from these. Percentage change in turnout is compared with the same ward in the 1976 District Council election.


1979 Mid Bedfordshire District Council election, Ward Results
The percentage of the vote for each candidate was calculated compared with the number of ballots cast in the ward. Note that in a ward with more than one seat, voters were allowed to place as many crosses on the ballot paper as seats. The percentage change for each candidate is compared with the same candidate in the 1976 District Council election.


1979 Mid Bedfordshire District Council election, Ward Results
Candidates who were members of the council before the election are marked with an asterisk.


1979 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team
The 1979 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team represented Middle Tennessee State University in the 1979 NCAA Division I-AA football season


1979 Milan Indoor
The 1979 Milan Indoor, also known by its sponsored name Ramazzotti Cup, was a men's tennis tournament played on indoor carpet courts at the Palazzo dello Sport in Milan, Italy. The event was part WCT Tour which was incorporated into the 1979 Colgate-Palmolive Grand Prix circuit. It was the second edition of the tournament and was held from 26 March through 1 April 1979. Third-seeded John McEnroe won the singles title.


1979 Milan Indoor, Finals, Doubles
Peter Fleming /  John McEnroe defeated  José Luis Clerc /  Tomáš Šmíd 6–1, 6–3


1979 Milan–San Remo
The 1979 Milan–San Remo was the 70th edition of the Milan–San Remo cycle race and was held on 17 March 1979. The race started in Milan and finished in San Remo. The race was won by Roger De Vlaeminck of the Gis Gelati team.


1979 Military Friendship Athletics Championships
The 1979 Military Friendship Athletics Championships was an international men's outdoor track and field competition between military athletes from states of the Eastern Bloc, including the Soviet Union, East Germany, Poland, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Romania and Cuba. The competition was held in Potsdam, East Germany from 30 August to 1 September.


1979 Military Friendship Athletics Championships
Poland's Marian Woronin claimed a sprint double in the 100 metres and 200 metres while East Germany's Jürgen Straub did the middle-distance equivalent in the 800 metres and 1500 metres. The most prominent athlete at the competition was the reigning 1976 Olympic hammer throw champion Yuriy Sedykh, who comfortably won his event by several metres. East German Ronald Weigel's win in the 20 kilometres race walk was also a standout performance, as the future world champion finished over two minutes ahead of his rivals.


1979 Milwaukee Brewers season
The 1979 Milwaukee Brewers season involved the Brewers' finishing second in the American League East with a record of 95 wins and 66 losses. They scored at least one run in each of their first 160 games of the season, and were shutout (losing 5-0 to Minnesota) only in the 161-st game which was to be their last game of the season.


1979 Milwaukee Brewers season, Regular season
Gorman Thomas enjoyed his best season in the majors, compiling career high numbers in home runs (45, tops in the AL), RBI (123), runs scored (97), hits (136), doubles (29), walks (98), on-base percentage (.356), total bases (300), slugging average (.539) and OPS (.895).


1979 Milwaukee Brewers season, Player stats, Batting, Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


1979 Milwaukee Brewers season, Player stats, Batting, Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


1979 Milwaukee Brewers season, Player stats, Pitching, Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1979 Milwaukee Brewers season, Player stats, Pitching, Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1979 Milwaukee Brewers season, Player stats, Pitching, Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1979 Milwaukee Brewers season, Farm system
The Brewers' farm system consisted of five minor league affiliates in 1979.


1979 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team
The 1979 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the 1979 Big Ten Conference football season. In their first year under head coach Joe Salem, the Golden Gophers compiled a 4–6–1 record and were outscored by their opponents by a combined total of 271 to 264.


1979 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team
Quarterback Mark Carlson received the team's Most Valuable Player award. Free safety Keith Edwards was awarded the Defensive MVP Award. Split End Elmer Bailey was named All-Big Ten first team. Defensive lineman Alan Blanshan and offensive lineman Bill Humphries were named Academic All-Big Ten.


1979 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team
Total attendance for the season was 241,942, which averaged to 40,323. The season high for attendance was against Purdue.


1979 Minnesota Twins season
The 1979 Minnesota Twins season was a season in American baseball. The team finished 82–80, fourth in the American League West.


1979 Minnesota Twins season, Offseason
In January 1979, the Twins attempted to trade first baseman Rod Carew to the New York Yankees in exchange for Chris Chambliss, Juan Beníquez, Dámaso García, and Dave Righetti, but were unable to finalize a deal. Carew would instead be traded to the California Angels on February 3.


1979 Minnesota Twins season, Regular season
Three Minnesota Twins homered in the May 15 win over Texas, the sixteenth straight Minnesota game with at least one Twins homer. The streak will end on May 16. Nine players homered 28 times during the club's record-setting streak.


1979 Minnesota Twins season, Regular season
Only one Twins player made the All-Star Game: shortstop Roy Smalley. Smalley hit 24 HR, drove in 95 runs, and scored 85 runs, all team-leading totals. Ken Landreaux, acquired in the Carew trade, batted .305 with 15 HR and 83 RBI. Ron Jackson, acquired in the Dan Ford trade, hit 14 HR and collected 68 RBI.


1979 Minnesota Twins season, Regular season
Reliever Mike Marshall continued as manager Gene Mauch's all-purpose reliever, pitching in a league-leading 90 games, racking up 10 relief wins along with a league-leading 32 saves. Veteran Jerry Koosman won 20 games. Dave Goltz (14-13) and Geoff Zahn (13-7) had double-digit wins.


1979 Minnesota Twins season, Regular season
Smalley turned 144 double plays this year, setting a major league record for shortstops. The team total of 203 double plays set a new season record.


1979 Minnesota Twins season, Regular season
Third baseman John Castino shared the AL Rookie of the Year award with Alfredo Griffin of the Toronto Blue Jays. Each received 7 first place votes.


1979 Minnesota Twins season, Regular season
1,070,521 fans attended Twins games, the fourth lowest total in the American League. It was only the second time since 1970 the team attracted over one million fans.


1979 Minnesota Twins season, Player stats, Batting, Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


1979 Minnesota Twins season, Player stats, Batting, Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


1979 Minnesota Twins season, Player stats, Pitching, Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1979 Minnesota Twins season, Player stats, Pitching, Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1979 Minnesota Twins season, Player stats, Pitching, Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1979 Minnesota Vikings season
The 1979 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 19th in the National Football League. The Vikings finished with a 7–9 record, their first losing season since 1967, and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1972.


1979 Minnesota Vikings season
The loss of Fran Tarkenton to retirement in the off-season meant third-year quarterback Tommy Kramer became the starter. The season also marked the end of an era as the last remaining original Viking, longtime defensive end Jim Marshall, retired after 19 seasons with the Vikings 20 in the NFL, having set league records for most consecutive games played (282) and consecutive starts (270). Counting playoff games, he had started in every one of the 289 games in Vikings history. Safety Paul Krause also retired after the season ended; he holds the league record with 81 career interceptions.


1979 Mississauga train derailment
The Mississauga train derailment of 1979, also known as the Mississauga Miracle occurred on Saturday, November 10, 1979, in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, when a 106-car CP Rail freight train carrying chemicals and explosives including styrene, toluene, propane, caustic soda, and chlorine from Windsor, Ontario derailed near the intersection of Mavis Road and Dundas Street in Mississauga, Ontario. As a result of the derailment, more than 200,000 people were evacuated in what was the largest peacetime evacuation in North America until the New Orleans evacuations during Hurricane Katrina. There were no deaths resulting from the incident. This was the last major explosion in the Greater Toronto Area until the Sunrise Propane blast in 2008.


1979 Mississauga train derailment, Causes
On the 33rd car, heat began to build up in an improperly-lubricated journal bearing on one of the wheels, one of the few still in use at that time as most had long since been replaced with roller bearings, resulting in the condition known among train workers as a "hot box". Residents living beside the tracks reported smoke and sparks coming from the car, and those who were close to Mississauga thought the train was afire. The friction eventually burned through the axle and bearing, and as the train was passing the Mavis Road level crossing, a wheelset (one axle and pair of wheels) fell off completely.


1979 Mississauga train derailment, Explosion and evacuation
At 11:53 p.m., at the Mavis Road crossing, the damaged bogie (undercarriage) left the track, causing the remaining parts of the train to derail. The impact caused several tank cars filled with propane to burst into flames.


1979 Mississauga train derailment, Explosion and evacuation
The derailment also ruptured several other tankers, spilling styrene, toluene, propane, caustic soda, and chlorine onto the tracks and into the air. A huge explosion resulted, sending a fireball 1,500 m (5,000 ft) into the sky which could be seen from 100 km (60 mi) away.


1979 Mississauga train derailment, Explosion and evacuation
As the flames were erupting, the train's brakeman, Larry Krupa, 27, at the suggestion of the engineer (also his father-in-law), managed to close an air brake angle spigot at the west end of the undamaged 32nd car, allowing the engineer to release the air brakes between the locomotives and the derailed cars and move the front part of the train eastward along the tracks, away from danger. This prevented those cars from becoming involved in the fire, important as many of them also contained dangerous goods. Krupa was later recommended for the Order of Canada for his bravery, which a later writer has described as "bordering on lunacy."


1979 Mississauga train derailment, Explosion and evacuation
After more explosions, firefighters concentrated on cooling cars, allowing the fire to burn itself out, but a ruptured chlorine tank became a cause for concern. With the possibility of a deadly cloud of chlorine gas spreading through suburban Mississauga, more than 200,000 people were evacuated. A number of residents (mostly the extreme west and north of Mississauga) allowed evacuees to stay with them until the crisis abated. Some of these people were later moved again as their hosts were also evacuated. The evacuation was managed by various officials including the mayor of Mississauga, Hazel McCallion, the Peel Regional Police and other governmental authorities. McCallion sprained her ankle early during the crisis, but continued to hobble to press conferences.


1979 Mississauga train derailment, Aftermath
Within a few days Mississauga was practically deserted, until the contamination had been cleared, the danger neutralized and residents were allowed to return to their homes. The city was finally reopened on the evening of November 16. The chlorine tank was emptied on November 19.


1979 Mississauga train derailment, Aftermath
It was the largest peacetime evacuation in North American history until the evacuation of New Orleans due to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and remained the second-largest until Hurricane Irma in 2017.


1979 Mississauga train derailment, Aftermath
Due to the speed and efficiency with which it was conducted, many cities later studied and modelled their own emergency plans after Mississauga's.


1979 Mississauga train derailment, Aftermath
As a result of the accident, rail regulators in both the U.S. and Canada required that any line used to carry hazardous materials into or through a populated area have hotbox detectors.


1979 Mississauga train derailment, Aftermath
Larry Krupa was inducted into the North America Railway Hall of Fame for his contribution to the railway industry. He was recognized in the "National" division of the "Railway Workers & Builders" category.


1979 Mississauga train derailment, Aftermath
The city of Mississauga sued CP in hopes of holding the railroad responsible for the massive emergency services bill. However, the city dropped its suit after CP dropped its longstanding opposition to passenger service on its trackage near Mississauga. This cleared the way for GO Transit to open the Milton line two years later.


1979 Mississauga train derailment, Aftermath
Hazel McCallion, in her first term as mayor at the time of the accident, was continuously re-elected until her retirement in 2014 at age 93.


1979 Mississauga train derailment, In popular culture
The song Trainwreck 1979 by Canadian band Death From Above 1979 is about the derailment:


1979 Mississauga train derailment, In popular culture
It ran off the track, 11-79While the immigrants slept, there wasn't much timeThe mayor came calling and got 'em outta bedThey packed up their families and headed upwindA poison cloud, a flaming sky, 200,000 people and no one diedAnd all before the pocket dial, yeah!


1979 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team
The 1979 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team represented Mississippi State University during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. This was the first season at Mississippi State for head coach Emory Bellard, the creator of the wishbone offense.


1979 Mississippi gubernatorial election
The 1979 Mississippi gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1979, in order to elect the Governor of Mississippi. Incumbent Democrat Cliff Finch was term-limited, and could not run for reelection to a second term. As of 2020, this was the most recent election in which a Democrat won over 60 percent of the statewide vote in a gubernatorial election.


1979 Mississippi gubernatorial election, Democratic primary
No candidate received a majority in the Democratic primary, which featured 6 contenders, so a runoff was held between the top two candidates. The runoff election was won by former Lieutenant Governor William Winter, who defeated Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Gandy.


1979 Mississippi gubernatorial election, Republican primary
In the Republican primary, businessman and 1975 nominee Gil Carmichael defeated farmer and businessman Leon Bramlett.


1979 Missouri Tigers football team
The 1979 Missouri Tigers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Missouri in the Big Eight Conference (Big 8) during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team compiled a 7–5 record (3–4 against Big 8 opponents), finished in fourth place in the Big 8, and was outscored by opponents by a combined total of 260 to 166. Warren Powers was the head coach for the second of seven seasons. The team played its home games at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri.


1979 Missouri Tigers football team
The team's statistical leaders included James Wilder with 645 rushing yards, Phil Bradley with 1,448 passing yards and 1,764 yards of total offense, Andy Gibler with 316 receiving yards, and Gerry Ellis with 54 points scored.


1979 Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
The 1979 Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Tournament was held February 27–March 3; the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds were played on campus sites and the final was contested at the Hulman Center on the campus of Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana.


1979 Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
Led by future Basketball Hall of Fame member Larry Bird, top-seeded Indiana State defeated New Mexico State in the championship game, 69–59, to win their first MVC tournament title.


1979 Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
The Sycamores subsequently received an automatic bid to the 1979 NCAA Tournament, where they would advance to the national championship game.


1979 Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, Format
Even without any new Missouri Valley Conference members, the conference decreased the size of the tournament field from nine to eight. In turn, only the top eight teams from the conference's regular season standings were included in the bracket.


1979 Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, Format
All eight qualifying teams were placed into the first round, seeded and paired based on regular season conference records. The highest-seeded team in each game served as the host.


1979 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election
Elections to the Mizoram Legislative Assembly were held in April 1979 to elect members of the 30 constituencies in Mizoram, India. The Mizoram People's Conference emerged as the single largest party and T. Sailo was appointed as the Chief Minister of Mizoram for the second time.


1979 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election
Chief Minister Sailo's refusal to grant undue favours caused dissension in his party which led to the fall of his previous government and imposition of President's rule in the Union Territory.


1979 Molde FK season
The 1979 season was Molde's 19th season in the second tier of Norwegian football and their first since their relegation from 1. divisjon in 1978. This season Molde competed in 2. divisjon (second tier), promotion play-offs and the Norwegian Cup.


1979 Molde FK season
In the league, Molde finished in 2nd position in 2. divisjon group B, seven points behind winners Lyn and qualified for promotion play-offs. Molde won promotion to the 1980 1. divisjon after winning the play-offs 7–0 on aggregate against Pors.


1979 Molde FK season
Molde participated in the 1979 Norwegian Cup. Molde reached the fourth round where they were eliminated by Bryne. Molde lost the fourth round 0–4 on away ground.


1979 Molde FK season, Squad
Source:Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


1979 Molde FK season, Competitions, Promotion play-offs
Molde won the promotion play-offs and were promoted to the 1. divisjon.


1979 Monaco Grand Prix
The 1979 Monaco Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 27 May 1979 at Monaco. It was the 37th Monaco Grand Prix and the seventh round of the 1979 Formula One season.


1979 Monaco Grand Prix
The 76-lap race was won from pole position by Jody Scheckter, driving a Ferrari. Clay Regazzoni finished second in a Williams-Ford, with Carlos Reutemann third in a Lotus-Ford. Patrick Depailler set the fastest lap of the race in a Ligier-Ford.


1979 Monaco Grand Prix
In a race of attrition, John Watson was fourth in his McLaren-Ford, Depailler fifth despite an engine failure on the last lap, and Jochen Mass sixth in his Arrows A1. Mass had run as high as third in the race and seemed to be closing in on the leaders before brake issues dropped him down the field.


1979 Monaco Grand Prix
This was the final Formula One race for 1976 World Champion James Hunt. Hunt qualified tenth in his Wolf-Ford before retiring after four laps with a transmission problem.


1979 Monegasque municipal elections
The 1979 Monegasque municipal elections were held on 11 February to elect the 15 members of the Communal Council of Monaco.


1979 Monegasque municipal elections, Electoral system
The 15 councillors were elected for a four-year period in a single multi-member constituency using plurality-at-large voting with a two-round system. A majority of the votes was required to be elected. The second round would have been held one week after the first round. The Mayor of Monaco was elected by the councillors after the election. Candidates were required to be at least 21 years old and to have the Monegasque nationality for at least 5 years.


1979 Mongolian National Championship
The 1979 Mongolian National Championship was the fifteenth recorded edition of the Mongolian National Championship for football, with the first tournament taking place in 1955 and no tournament held in 1965 or apparently in 1977. It would appear however that championships were contested between 1956 and 1963, as sources note that a team called Aldar, the Mongolian Army Sports Club, won the title on numerous occasions during that time. Nonetheless, the 1979 national championship was won by Tengeriin Bugnuud, a team from Bat-Ölzii, a sum (district) of Övörkhangai Province in southern Mongolia, their sixth title following their first victory in the 1967 championship.


1979 Montana Grizzlies football team
The 1979 Montana Grizzlies football team was an American football team that represented the University of Montana in the Big Sky Conference during the 1979 NCAA Division I-AA football season. In their fourth year under head coach Gene Carlson, the team compiled a 3–7 record.


1979 Montana Grizzlies football team
Montana won three games and Carlson was let go at the end of the season; his annual salary was $24,000.


1979 Montana State Bobcats football team
The 1979 Montana State Bobcats football team represented the Montana State University as a member of the Big Sky Conference during the 1979 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by second-year head coach Sonny Lubick, the Bobcats compiled an overall record of 6–4 and a mark of 6–1 in conference play. They were named the Big Sky champion after Boise State was ruled ineligible.


1979 Monte Carlo Open
The 1979 Monte Carlo Open was a men's tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts at the Monte Carlo Country Club in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France that was part of the 1979 Colgate-Palmolive Grand Prix circuit. It was the 73rd edition of the tournament and was held from 9 April through 15 April 1979. First-seeded Björn Borg won the singles title, his second at the event after 1977.


1979 Monte Carlo Open, Finals, Doubles
Ilie Năstase /  Raúl Ramírez defeated  Victor Pecci /  Balázs Taróczy 6–3, 6–4


1979 Montenegro earthquake
The 1979 Montenegro earthquake occurred on 15 April at 06:19 UTC with a moment magnitude of 6.9 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme). It was the most devastating earthquake in SR Montenegro, then part of Yugoslavia, and was mostly felt along the Montenegrin and Albanian coastline. It was also felt in other parts of the country (in Podgorica and Dubrovnik with intensity of VII, in Sarajevo and Skopje V-VI, in Belgrade IV, in Zagreb and Ljubljana III-IV).


1979 Montenegro earthquake
The main earthquake was followed by more than 90 aftershocks stronger than 4.0 on Richter scale, strongest of which occurred on 24 May 1979, with a magnitude of 6.3.


1979 Montenegro earthquake, Damage
Budva's Old Town, one of Montenegro's Cultural Heritage Sites, was heavily devastated. Of the 400 buildings in Budva's Old Town, 8 remained unscathed from the earthquake. The 15th century walls and ramparts protecting the Old Town were severely damaged as well. Praskvica Monastery, located between Miločer and Sveti Stefan in the Budva Municipality, suffered greatly too. The church inside the monastery had all but totally collapsed, whereas the frescoes in the monastery were completely damaged.


1979 Montenegro earthquake, Damage
The walls surrounding Stari Bar had suffered very little damage from the earthquake, in comparison to the Aqueduct in Stari Bar which was completely destroyed. Herceg Novi, the youngest town on the Montenegrin coast, suffered heavily as well. Parts of the walls of Herceg Novi's Old Town fell into the Adriatic Sea. Ulcinj's Old Town, another Montenegrin Cultural Heritage Site, was almost totally devastated. The centuries-old Balšić Tower in Ulcinj nearly collapsed as a result of the earthquake.


1979 Montenegro earthquake, Damage
Over 450 villages were razed to the ground. In addition, many villages in the regions of Crmnica, Grbalj, Krajina and Paštrovići were in danger of near total collapse. Further inland, Cetinje, Danilovgrad, Nikšić and Montenegro's capital city, Titograd (present Podgorica) were damaged as well, but not as severely.


1979 Montenegro earthquake, Damage
Even areas outside Montenegro and Albania suffered damage. 1,071 buildings were damaged in Dubrovnik, Croatia, including the Walls of Dubrovnik. In villages in Konavle and Župa Dubrovačka, south of Dubrovnik which were built on unsecured mountain slopes, 80% of houses were uninhabitable. In 1980, total damage in the Dubrovnik area was estimated at US$436,5 million.


1979 Montenegro earthquake, Damage
According to a 1984 UNESCO report, a total of 1,487 objects were damaged, nearly half of which consisted of households and another 40% consisting of churches and other sacred properties. Only 30% of the 1,487 objects damaged were destroyed. Over 1,000 cultural monuments were suffered, as well as thousands of works of art and valuable collections.


1979 Montenegro earthquake, Damage
By the end of the catastrophe, 101 people had died in Montenegro and 35 in Albania and over 100,000 people were left homeless.


1979 Montenegro earthquake, Damage, Aid and relief
Days after the earthquake, $30,000 was made available immediately for aid work and restoration of disaster areas. On 28 May 1979, the Director-General of UNESCO issued a worldwide appeal for donations to help the nation recover for the devastation as the federal budget was insufficient for aid funding.


1979 Montenegro earthquake, Damage, Aid and relief
Several months later, in October 1979, the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO decided to list the Natural and Culturo-historical Region of Kotor in the World Heritage List and in the List of World Heritage in Danger.


1979 Montenegro earthquake, Damage, Aid and relief
UNESCO, through ICCROM, aided the Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments in Cetinje for the restoration of frescoes in the Church of the Virgin in Podlastva Monastery. Similar help was given for the restoration of the Church of Alexander Nevsky on the island of Sveti Stefan.


1979 Montenegro earthquake, Damage, Aid and relief
First estimates of the cost of damaged cultural property was about 10,527,690,000 Yugoslav dinars (US$10.5 billion), which is just under 15% of the total earthquake damage. The 1984 inflation rates put that amount at about 3,174,098,500,000 dinars (3.1 trillion), equaling to US$31,700,000,000 ($31 billion). The Yugoslav Government agreed to pay 82% of the total estimated cost of damaged cultural property, whereas the remaining 18% was to be paid by the local municipalities. To help meet the total costs of the disaster, the Government had set up a statutory fund whereby each worker across SFR Yugoslavia contributed 1% of his monthly salary towards the restoration effort in a ten-year period, from 1979 to 1989.


1979 Montenegro earthquake, Damage, Aid and relief
Till September 1, 1983, the Government had budgeted for a total expenditure of 54,722,849,000 dinars (54.7 billion), of which 3.7% or 21,023,620,800 dinars (21 billion) were allocated for cultural property.


1979 Montenegro earthquake, Damage, Aid and relief
By 1984, Montenegro was still under restoration, the entire Montenegrin coast, especially Budva and Kotor, and Cetinje receiving the heaviest amounts of restoration.


1979 Montenegro earthquake, Damage, Aid and relief
Several objects had been fully restored by 1984, including the Memorial Museum of Jovan Tomasevic in Bar; Monastery of St. Vid and Church of St. Alexander Nevsky in Budva; Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments (former Austrian embassy), State Museum (former Palace of King Nicholas), National Gallery and the Bishop's House in Cetinje; the Archives and Gallery of Josip Bepo Benkovic in Herceg Novi, Cultural Center in Kotor, Church of St. George in Orahovac (Kotor), Church of Our Lady in Krimovice (Kotor), Church of St. John in Dub (Kotor), Church of St. George in Sisici (Kotor), Church of St. George in Sutvara (Kotor), Church of St. George in Prijeradi (Kotor), Church of St. Eustacius in Dobrota (Kotor), Church of Our Lady of the Rocks in Perast (Kotor), Roman mosaics in Risan (Kotor) and twelve church buildings in Grbalj (Kotor).


1979 Montreal Alouettes season
The 1979 Montreal Alouettes finished the season in 1st place in the Eastern Conference with an 11–4–1 record and appeared in the 67th Grey Cup. The Alouettes would lose the championship game to the Edmonton Eskimos for the second consecutive year.


1979 Montreal Alouettes season, Postseason, Grey Cup
Montreal's star running back David Green became the fifth Alouette to be named Most Outstanding Player. He led the league in rushing with 1678 yards on 287 carries.


1979 Montreal Expos season
The 1979 Montreal Expos season was the 11th in franchise history. The team finished second in the National League East with a record of 95-65, 2 games behind the first-place Pittsburgh Pirates. The 1979 season was the Expos first winning season in franchise history.


1979 Montreal Expos season, Spring training
The Expos held spring training at City Island Ball Park in Daytona Beach, Florida. It was their seventh season there.


1979 Montreal Expos season, Regular season, Youppi!
Youppi!, a creation of Acme Mascots, Inc. (a division of Harrison/Erickson, Inc.), was commissioned by Expos vice-president Roger D. Landry. Originally leased by the team in 1979, the mascot was eventually purchased by the Expos and represented the team.


1979 Montreal Expos season, Player stats, Batting, Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


1979 Montreal Expos season, Player stats, Batting, Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


1979 Montreal Expos season, Player stats, Pitching, Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1979 Montreal Expos season, Player stats, Pitching, Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1979 Montreal Expos season, Player stats, Pitching, Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1979 Mosfellsheiði air crashes
The 1979 Mosfellsheiði air crashes where two aviation accidents in Iceland that occurred about four hours apart on 18 December 1979 on a heath between Reykjavík and Þingvellir. The first accident occurred when a Cessna F172M Skyhawk aircraft, with four on board, crashed into the heath.


1979 Mosfellsheiði air crashes
The second accident occurred when a Sikorsky HH-3E Jolly Green Giant rescue helicopter of the 67th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron United States Air Force (USAF), from the Iceland Defense Force at Naval Air Station Keflavik, crashed with three of the injured from the previous accident, two Icelandic doctors and a five-man U.S. crew shortly after takeoff from the first crash site.


1979 Mosfellsheiði air crashes, The accidents
On 18 December 1979, a Cessna 172 aircraft, with registration number TF-EKK, took off from Reykjavík Airport with a French pilot, a New Zealander and two Finnish girls who worked as physiotherapists in Reykjalundur, on a sight-seeing tour around Gullfoss and Þingvellir. On its way back it crashed in heavy fog on the Mosfellsheiði heath. At around 15:20, the plane was reported missing and a signal from its emergency transmitter was detected. Shortly afterwards, a search plane discovered the wreckage on the heath, a short distance south of Þingvallarvegur, where it had broken up and turned upside down.


1979 Mosfellsheiði air crashes, The accidents
A helicopter from the Defense Force at Keflavík Airport that happened to be on a training mission nearby went to the scene and transported the New Zealander to Reykjavík, while leaving two crew members to attend to the other occupants, whose injuries were more severe, and wait for the Icelandic SAR teams who arrived shortly later. After taking two doctors from Borgarspítalinn, fuel and offloading two of its crewmembers, the helicopter returned to the scene of the accident to pick up the Finns and the French pilot.


1979 Mosfellsheiði air crashes, The accidents
Shortly after the helicopter took off again from the scene of the accident, it lost power and crashed to the ground several hundred meters from the wreckage of the Cessna. Rescuers, including photographer Ragnar Axelsson, rushed to the second crash site and were confronted with the mangled remains of the helicopter and Kerosene fumes filling the air. A 19-year old SAR member, Hallgrímur Skúli Karlsson, who was one of the first at the scene managed to prevent a fire in the wreckage by cutting main power of the helicopter. After the second accident, the injured were transported about 1-1.5 km to ambulances that took them to Borgarspítali.


1979 Mosfellsheiði air crashes, Aftermath
In the aftermath of the accidents, the lack of equipment of the SAR-units was criticised, especially its lack of two-way radios which was largely a result of the Icelandic governments tariffs that doubled its prices.


1979 Mr. Olympia
The 1979 Mr. Olympia contest was an IFBB professional bodybuilding competition held Saturday October 6 and Sunday October 7, 1979 at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Columbus, Ohio.


1979 Murray State Racers football team
The 1979 Murray State Racers football team represented Murray State University during the 1979 NCAA Division I-AA football season.


1979 NAIA Division I football season
The 1979 NAIA Division I football season was the 24th season of college football sponsored by the NAIA, was the 10th season of play of the NAIA's top division for football.


1979 NAIA Division I football season
The season was played from August to November 1979 and culminated in the 1979 NAIA Division I Football National Championship. Known again this year as the Palm Bowl, the title game was played on December 15, 1979 at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium in McAllen, Texas.


1979 NAIA Division I football season
Texas A&I defeated Central State (OK) in the Palm Bowl, 20–14, to win their sixth NAIA national title.


1979 NAIA Division II football season
The 1979 NAIA Division II football season, as part of the 1979 college football season in the United States and the 24th season of college football sponsored by the NAIA, was the 10th season of play of the NAIA's lower division for football.


1979 NAIA Division II football season
The season was played from August to November 1979 and culminated in the 1979 NAIA Division II Football National Championship, played at Donnell Stadium in Findlay, Ohio.


1979 NAIA Division II football season
Findlay defeated Northwestern (IA) in the championship game, 51–6, to win their first NAIA national title.


1979 NAIA Ice Hockey Championship
The 1979 NAIA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament involved eight schools playing in single-elimination bracket to determine the national champion of men's NAIA college ice hockey. The 1979 tournament was the 12th men's ice hockey tournament to be sponsored by the NAIA. The tournament began on February 23, 1979 and ended with the championship game on February 25, 1979.


1979 NAIA Men's Basketball Tournament
The 1979 NAIA Men's Basketball Tournament was held in March at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri. The 42nd annual NAIA basketball tournament featured 32 teams playing in a single-elimination format.


1979 NAIA Men's Basketball Tournament, 1979 NAIA bracket, 3rd place game
The third place game featured the losing teams from the national semifinalist to determine 3rd and 4th places in the tournament. This game was played until 1988.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 31st season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 8th modern-era Cup series. It began on Sunday, January 14, and ended on Sunday, November 18. Richard Petty won his seventh and final Winston Cup championship, winning by 11 points over Darrell Waltrip. Dale Earnhardt was crowned NASCAR Rookie of the Year.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Winston Western 500
The 1979 Winston Western 500 was run on January 14 at Riverside International Raceway at Riverside, California. David Pearson won the pole.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Busch Clash
The inaugural Busch Clash, a non-points race for all of the pole winners from the previous season, was run on February 11 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Benny Parsons started on the pole via a random draw.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, 125 Mile Qualifying Races
The two Daytona 500 125-mile qualifying races were run on February 15 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Buddy Baker and Donnie Allison started on the pole for races one and two, respectively.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, 125 Mile Qualifying Races
Cale Yarborough was pessimistic about rivals' chances against Baker, saying "Baker is just pure horsepower."


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Daytona 500
The 21st annual Daytona 500 was run on February 18 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Buddy Baker won the pole. The race, the first televised nationally in its entirety, ended in spectacular fashion, as race leaders Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough crashed on the last lap in turn three, allowing Richard Petty to take the lead and win his sixth Daytona 500. During the cool-down lap, Allison and Yarborough got into a heated argument which later escalated into a fist-fight, which was later joined by Bobby Allison, who stepped in to try to defend his brother. TV ratings were bolstered that day due to much of the U.S. Northeast being snowed in by a major blizzard. Petty would use the win as a springboard to his seventh and final championship, but it was going to be anything but easy.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Carolina 500
The 1979 Carolina 500 was run on March 4 at North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham, North Carolina. Bobby Allison won the pole, but the story was Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison, who crashed out of the lead on lap 10 in a wreck that swept up five other cars.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Richmond 400
The 1979 Richmond 400 was run on March 11 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway in Richmond, Virginia. The race had been postponed from its original date of February 25. Bobby Allison won the pole.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Atlanta 500
The 1979 Atlanta 500 was run on March 18 at Atlanta International Raceway in Hampton, Georgia. Buddy Baker won the pole and after a late yellow got tires and stormed away from Bobby Allison for his first win since May 1976. Driver Dave Watson accidentally struck a bystander on pit road and quit the race; it turned out to be his final race.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Northwestern Bank 400
The 1979 Northwestern Bank 400 was run on March 25 at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Benny Parsons won the pole.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Southeastern 500
The 1979 Southeastern 500 was run on April 1 at Bristol International Raceway in Bristol, Tennessee. Buddy Baker won the pole.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, CRC Chemicals Rebel 500
The 1979 CRC Chemicals Rebel 500 was run on April 8 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. Donnie Allison won the pole.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Virginia 500
The 1979 Virginia 500 was run on April 22 at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia. Darrell Waltrip won the pole.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Winston 500
The 1979 Winston 500 was run on May 6 at Alabama International Motor Speedway in Talladega, Alabama. Darrell Waltrip won the pole.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Sun-Drop Music City USA 420
The 1979 Sun-Drop Music City USA 420 was run on May 12 at Nashville Speedway in Nashville, Tennessee. Joe Millikan won the pole.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Sun-Drop Music City USA 420
The finish was marred by controversy. Richard Petty and Bobby Allison asserted that Cale Yarborough was a lap down at the finish. Petty said, "He lost one lap when he spun (with J. D. McDuffie), then he lost another when he spent 22 seconds in the pits." Allison agreed, saying, "Richard won this race and I finished second. I don't know how they had Cale winning."


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Mason-Dixon 500
The 1979 Mason-Dixon 500 was run on May 20 at Dover Downs International Speedway in Dover, Delaware. Darrell Waltrip won the pole.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, World 600
The 1979 World 600 was run on May 27 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. Neil Bonnett won the pole.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Texas 400
The 1979 Texas 400 was run on June 3 at Texas World Speedway in College Station, Texas. Buddy Baker won the pole. It was NASCAR's first visit to the track in College Station, Texas since 1973; the track had closed in 1974 but reopened with USAC racing in 1976.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, NAPA Riverside 400
The 1979 NAPA Riverside 400 was run on June 10 at Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California. Dale Earnhardt won the pole.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Gabriel 400
The 1979 Gabriel 400 was run on June 17 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan. Neil Bonnett won the pole.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Firecracker 400
The 1979 Firecracker 400 was run on July 4 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Buddy Baker won the pole.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Busch Nashville 420
The 1979 Busch Nashville 420 was run on July 14 at Nashville Speedway in Nashville, Tennessee. Darrell Waltrip won the pole.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Coca-Cola 500
The 1979 Coca-Cola 500 was run on July 30 at Pocono International Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Initially scheduled for July 29, day-long rains forced postponement. Harry Gant won the pole.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Coca-Cola 500
The lead changed a still-standing track record 55 times. Dale Earnhardt suffered broken collar bones in a bad crash in Turn Two. Darrell Waltrip lost five spots when he pitted under yellow with four to go for tires but the race never restarted. It cost him 19 points, a margin he would regret at the end of the season.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Talladega 500
The 1979 Talladega 500 was run on August 5 at Alabama International Motor Speedway in Talladega, Alabama. Neil Bonnett won the pole.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Talladega 500
This was David Pearson's first race after leaving the Wood Brothers. Pearson was hired to drive the #2 temporarily after Dale Earnhardt's injury.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Champion Spark Plug 400
The 1979 Champion Spark Plug 400 was run on August 19 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan. David Pearson won the pole.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Champion Spark Plug 400
Blackie Wangerin flipped out of the track on lap 2.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Volunteer 500
The 1979 Volunteer 500 was run on August 25 at Bristol International Raceway in Bristol, Tennessee. Richard Petty won the pole; it was his final pole as a driver and last for his racecar until 1996.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Southern 500
The 1979 Southern 500 was run on September 3 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. Bobby Allison won the pole. David Pearson won the race for Rod Osterlund.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Capital City 400
The 1979 Capital City 400 was run on September 9 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway in Richmond, Virginia. Dale Earnhardt won the pole.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, CRC Chemicals 500
The 1979 CRC Chemicals 500 was run on September 16 at Dover Downs International Speedway in Dover, Delaware. Dale Earnhardt won the pole.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Old Dominion 500
The 1979 Old Dominion 500 was run on September 23 at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia. Darrell Waltrip won the pole.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Old Dominion 500
Waltrip blew his engine after leading 188 laps; the DiGard team changed engines in a record 11 minutes. NASCAR outlawed mid-race engine changes after the 1979 season.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, NAPA National 500
The 1979 NAPA National 500 was run on October 7 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. Neil Bonnett won the pole; it was the thirteenth straight Charlotte pole for the Wood Brothers.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Holly Farms 400
The 1979 Holly Farms 400 was run on October 14 at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. The race had been postponed two weeks due to rain. Dale Earnhardt won the pole.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, American 500
The 1979 American 500 was run on October 21 at North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham, North Carolina. Buddy Baker won the pole.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Dixie 500
The 1979 Dixie 500 was run on November 4 at Atlanta International Raceway in Hampton, Georgia. Buddy Baker won the pole.


1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Los Angeles Times 500
The 1979 Los Angeles Times 500 was run on November 18 at Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, California. Cale Yarborough won the pole.


1979 NASL Budweiser Indoor Soccer Invitational
The 1979 NASL Budweiser Indoor Soccer Invitational was a four-team indoor soccer tournament held at the Bayfront Center in St. Petersburg, Florida on the final weekend of January 1979.


1979 NASL Budweiser Indoor Soccer Invitational, Overview
Four teams North American Soccer League teams participated in the two-day event; the Dallas Tornado, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, the Tampa Bay Rowdies, and the Tulsa Roughnecks. Matches were 45 minutes long and divided into three 15-minute periods with an intermission between each. Each session consisted of two games (i.e. a doubleheader). Nearly 12,700 people attended the two sessions. Dallas and Tampa Bay each won both of their matches, but Dallas Tornado were crowned champions based on a greater goal differential. Dallas forward Jim Ryan lead the invitational in scoring with 7 goals. The tournament's final match saw goalkeeper Winston DuBose of Tampa Bay become only the second NASL goalie to record a rare indoor shut-out. Dallas goalkeeper Ken Cooper had accomplished the feat on two previous occasions.


1979 NASL Budweiser Indoor Soccer Invitational, Overview
These were not the only indoor games played that winter. With a fully sanctioned season of NASL indoor soccer still eleven months away, NASL teams were free to schedule their own games at that time. Tampa Bay, for example played three other indoor matches. By contrast, Fort Lauderdale scheduled only the two games of the invitational. The competing Major Indoor Soccer League had already begun their first season in December 1978.


1979 NASL Budweiser Indoor Soccer Invitational, Final standings
GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, GD = Goal Differential


1979 NASL Budweiser Indoor Soccer Invitational, Statistical leaders, Goalkeeping
GA = Goals Against, GAA = Goals Against Average, SV = Saves, SF = Shots Faced, % = Save Percentage


1979 NASL Budweiser Indoor Soccer Invitational, Non-tournament matches
In addition to the tournament itself, several NASL teams participated in international indoor friendlies, and tune-ups for both the tournament and 1979 outdoor season. Dallas and Houston played twice in December 1978. The Rowdies–Hurricane match on January 25 was played using the MISL-size goals, timing and ball, as the arena was already set up for the Hurricane's alter ego, the MISL's Houston Summit. As part of a six-match, NASL tour in February, perennial Soviet powerhouse FC Dynamo Moscow scheduled three indoor games.


1979 NBA All-Star Game
The 1979 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game which was played on February 4, 1979, at the Pontiac Silverdome in the Detroit suburb of Pontiac, Michigan.


1979 NBA All-Star Game
This was the first All-Star Game ever where no Boston Celtics or New York Knicks had been selected as All-Stars.


1979 NBA All-Star Game
In addition, this was the first All-Star game held in a football or baseball dome as opposed to a traditional basketball arena (the Detroit Pistons were playing in this venue at the time).


1979 NBA Finals
The 1979 NBA World Championship Series was the championship series played at the conclusion of the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 1978–79 season. The Western Conference champion Seattle SuperSonics played the Eastern Conference champion Washington Bullets, with the Bullets holding home-court advantage, due to a better regular season record. The SuperSonics defeated the Bullets 4 games to 1. The series was a rematch of the 1978 NBA Finals, which the Washington Bullets had won 4–3.


1979 NBA Finals
Dennis Johnson of the SuperSonics was named as the NBA Finals MVP, while Gus Williams of the SuperSonics was the top scorer, averaging 28.6 points per game.


1979 NBA Finals
This was Seattle's second men's professional sports championship, following the Seattle Metropolitans' Stanley Cup victory in the 1917 Stanley Cup Finals.


1979 NBA Finals
Coincidentally, this series (along with the 1978 NBA Finals) was informally known as the George Washington series, because both teams were playing in places named after the first President of the United States (the SuperSonics represented Seattle, the most populous city in the state of Washington, and the Bullets represented Washington, D.C., albeit playing in nearby Landover, Maryland).


1979 NBA Finals
This is the most recent time that a Western Conference team not based in Texas or California has won an NBA title, and the last of only two occasions alongside the 1976–77 Portland Trail Blazers when a team from the present-day Northwest Division has won the league title, which is by 27 years the longest league championship drought for any division of the four major North American sports leagues. (2006 Indianapolis Colts)


1979 NBA Finals
Since then, the following Western teams have gone on to win an NBA title: the Los Angeles Lakers (eleven times), the San Antonio Spurs (five times), the Golden State Warriors (three times), the Houston Rockets (twice), and the Dallas Mavericks (once). The remaining twenty-one titles since 1980 have been won by Eastern Conference teams.


1979 NBA Finals, Background
This was a rematch of the 1978 NBA Finals, which the Bullets won 4–3. Seattle made a key offseason trade sending Marvin Webster to the New York Knicks for Lonnie Shelton. Other than that, both teams' rosters stayed virtually intact. Unlike the previous year, both teams finished 1-2 in the NBA, with the Bullets topping the league at 54 wins; the Sonics with 52 wins.


1979 NBA Finals, Background
In the playoffs, Seattle defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 4–1 and the Phoenix Suns 4–3, while Washington had a much tougher road, eliminating the Atlanta Hawks in an unexpectedly tough seven-game series and coming back from a 3-1 deficit to eliminate the San Antonio Spurs in seven. Both earned a first-round bye.


1979 NBA Finals, Background, Regular season series
The teams split the four-game series in the regular season:


1979 NBA Finals, Series summary, Game 1
The Bullets controlled the game and led by 18 in the fourth, but Seattle mounted a furious comeback to tie it at 97. Larry Wright, who had 26 points off the bench, drove to the basket as time ran down and had his shot blocked by Dennis Johnson, but the referees called a foul on Johnson. Wright went to the line with one second left and hit two of three foul shots (NBA rules at the time awarded an extra free throw attempt when a team was in the penalty foul situation) to win the game.


1979 NBA Finals, Series summary, Game 2
Elvin Hayes had 11 points in the first quarter, but only nine the rest of the way as Seattle turned its defense up a notch, holding the Bullets to 30 points in the second half.


1979 NBA Finals, Series summary, Game 2
Outside of the two metropolitan areas of the competing teams, as well as Baltimore and Portland, the game was shown on tape delay beginning at 11:35 Eastern and Pacific/10:35 p.m. Central and Mountain. This was the first of six championship series games shown by CBS on tape delay over a three-season span. Four of the six games in the championship series two years later were shown on tape delay outside of the markets of the competing clubs.


1979 NBA Finals, Series summary, Game 3
Seattle dominated this game, which wasn't as close as the final margin indicated. Gus Williams scored 31 points, Jack Sikma had 21 and 17 rebounds, and Dennis Johnson had a fine all-around game with 17 points, 9 rebounds, and two blocked shots.


1979 NBA Finals, Series summary, Game 4
The Sonics won a close one in OT 114–112, staving off a late Bullets comeback behind 36 points by Gus Williams and 32 by Dennis Johnson. Williams and Johnson dominated the Bullets' guards all series, as they were plagued by poor shooting. Johnson also had four blocks in the game, the last on Kevin Grevey with 4 seconds left to ensure the Seattle victory.


1979 NBA Finals, Series summary, Game 5
Back home, Elvin Hayes had a hot first half, scoring 20, but injuries to starting guards Tom Henderson, Kevin Grevey and prolonged poor shooting by their replacements took their toll. Hayes had only nine points in the second half as Seattle closed out the series.