1976 Liberty Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1976 Liberty Bowl
, part of the 1976 bowl game season, took place on December 20, 1976, at Memphis Memorial Stadium
in Memphis
, Tennessee
. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference
(SEC), and the , representing the Pacific-8 Conference (Pac-8). Alabama won the game 36–6.
, Alabama accepted an invitation to play in the Liberty Bowl. The appearance marked the third for Alabama in the Liberty Bowl, and their 30th overall bowl game appearance.
. With a berth in the Rose Bowl Game
at stake, UCLA was upset 24–14 resulting in the Bruins accepting a bid to play in the Liberty Bowl. The appearance marked the first for UCLA in the Liberty Bowl, and both their 8th overall bowl game
and their first away from the Rose Bowl.
on the opening possession, Alabama took a 3–0 lead on a 37-yard Bucky Berrey field goal on their first offensive possession. On the ensuing UCLA drive, Bama linebacker
Barry Krauss
intercepted a Jeff Dankworth pass and returned it 44-yards for a touchdown. The following kickoff
was fumble
d by Wally Henry
of UCLA with Alabama recovering. Five plays later Johnny Davis scored on a run from two yards out and the Crimson Tide were up 17–0 after the first quarter. The only points of the second quarter came on an Alabama trick play
. Jack O'Rear took the snap and tossed the ball to halfback
Tony Nathan
who proceeded to pass it back to O'Rear who made the reception and took it 20 yards for a touchdown and a 24–0 lead. Alabama extended their lead to 30–0 with a pair of Berrey field goals before UCLA got on the scoreboard. Theotis Brown
scored the Bruins' only points on a 61-yard touchdown run. Alabama responded with their final points with only :22 seconds remaining in the game on a 1-yard Rick Watson run making the final score 36–6.
Liberty Bowl
The Liberty Bowl is an annual U.S. American college football bowl game played in December of each year from 1959 to 2007 and in January in 2009 and 2010. The Liberty Bowl was sponsored by AXA Financial and was known as the AXA Liberty Bowl from 1997 to 2003...
, part of the 1976 bowl game season, took place on December 20, 1976, at Memphis Memorial Stadium
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium is a football stadium, located at the Mid-South Fairgrounds, in Midtown Memphis, Tennessee, United States. The stadium is the site of the annual AutoZone Liberty Bowl, and is the home field of the University of Memphis Tigers football team...
in Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC), and the , representing the Pacific-8 Conference (Pac-8). Alabama won the game 36–6.
Alabama
The 1976 Alabama squad finished the regular season with a 9–3 record. The Crimson Tide opened the season ranked #6 only to lose to in their opening game, to eventual conference champion Georgia and to . Following their victory over Auburn1976 Auburn Tigers football team
The 1976 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 1976 college football season. At the end of the 1975 season, Ralph "Shug" Jordan retired after 25 years as head coach of the Auburn Tigers. Doug Barfield, Jordan’s offensive coordinator, took over as head coach starting in...
, Alabama accepted an invitation to play in the Liberty Bowl. The appearance marked the third for Alabama in the Liberty Bowl, and their 30th overall bowl game appearance.
UCLA
Entering their final regular season game against rival USC, the Bruins were ranked #2 with their only blemish on the season coming in a tie against Ohio State1976 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1976 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1976-1977. The Buckeyes compiled a 9–2–1 record, including the 1977 Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, where they won 27–10 against the Colorado Buffaloes.-Schedule:-1977...
. With a berth in the Rose Bowl Game
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
at stake, UCLA was upset 24–14 resulting in the Bruins accepting a bid to play in the Liberty Bowl. The appearance marked the first for UCLA in the Liberty Bowl, and both their 8th overall bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
and their first away from the Rose Bowl.
Game summary
After forcing a UCLA puntPunt (football)
In some codes of football, a punt is a play in which a player drops the ball and kicks it before it touches the ground. A punt is in contrast to a drop kick, in which the ball touches the ground before being kicked....
on the opening possession, Alabama took a 3–0 lead on a 37-yard Bucky Berrey field goal on their first offensive possession. On the ensuing UCLA drive, Bama linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Barry Krauss
Barry Krauss
Richard Barry Krauss is a former professional American football player who played linebacker for eleven seasons in the National Football League.-Early years:...
intercepted a Jeff Dankworth pass and returned it 44-yards for a touchdown. The following kickoff
Kickoff (American football)
A kickoff is a method of starting a drive in American football and Canadian football. Typically, a kickoff consists of one team – the "kicking team" – kicking the ball to the opposing team – the "receiving team"...
was fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
d by Wally Henry
Wally Henry
Wallace Henry is a former professional American football wide receiver.-NFL career:Henry played in the National Football League for six seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles...
of UCLA with Alabama recovering. Five plays later Johnny Davis scored on a run from two yards out and the Crimson Tide were up 17–0 after the first quarter. The only points of the second quarter came on an Alabama trick play
Trick play
A trick play, also known as a gadget play or a gimmick play, is a play in American football that uses deception and unorthodox strategies to fool the opposing team. A trick play is often risky, offering the potential for a large gain or a touchdown if it is successful, but with the chance of a...
. Jack O'Rear took the snap and tossed the ball to halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
Tony Nathan
Tony Nathan
Tony Curtis Nathan is an American football coach and former running back.Nathan was a running back from Alabama who was selected in the third round of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, with whom he played from 1979-1987...
who proceeded to pass it back to O'Rear who made the reception and took it 20 yards for a touchdown and a 24–0 lead. Alabama extended their lead to 30–0 with a pair of Berrey field goals before UCLA got on the scoreboard. Theotis Brown
Theotis Brown
Theotis Brown II is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League. He played for six seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals, the Seattle Seahawks, and the Kansas City Chiefs....
scored the Bruins' only points on a 61-yard touchdown run. Alabama responded with their final points with only :22 seconds remaining in the game on a 1-yard Rick Watson run making the final score 36–6.