1961 Liberty Bowl

1961 Liberty Bowl
1234 Total
Miami 6800 14
Syracuse 0087 15
Date December 16, 1961
Season 1961
Stadium John F. Kennedy Stadium
Location Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
MVP RB Dick Easterly
Attendance 15,712

The 1961 Liberty Bowl was a college football postseason bowl game that featured the Syracuse Orangemen and the Miami Hurricanes.

Background

Syracuse running back Ernie Davis became the first African-American football player to win the Heisman Trophy. This was Syracuse's fifth bowl game in 8 years. Miami was making their first bowl appearance since 1952.

Game summary

Jim Vollenweider scored on a 12 yard touchdown run to give Miami a 6–0 lead (though the extra point failed) in the first quarter. Nick Spineli scored on a 60-yard punt return to add onto the lead, and George Mira scored on the conversion pass to make it 14–0 at halftime. Syracuse culminated a 42-yard drive with an Ernie Davis touchdown plunge to make it 14–8 (with a Dave Sarette pass to Dick Easterly to get the two-point conversion). On the first play of the fourth quarter, Miami fumbled the ball, and Bill Schoonover recovered at the Orange 49. Nine plays and 51 yards later, Sarette threw a touchdown pass to Easterly to make it 14–14, with the extra point proving to be important. Ken Erickson's extra point was good, as the Orange won, 15–14. Ernie Davis rushed for 140 yards on 30 carries. Easterly caught four passes for 50 yards. [1][2]

Aftermath

Davis died of leukemia before he ever played a snap in the National Football League. Miami returned to the Liberty Bowl in 1966, while Syracuse returned in 1996.

Statistics

Statistics Syracuse Miami
First Downs 21 11
Rushing Yards 221 109
Passing Yards 148 94
Total Yards 369 203
Punts-Average 7-31.4 9-30.3
Punt Return Yards 14 78
Kickoff Return Yards 60 32
Fumbles-Lost 3-2 3-1
Penalties-Yards 5-35 3-29

References

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