1971 Liberty Bowl

1971 Liberty Bowl
Arkansas Razorbacks Tennessee Volunteers (8–2–1) (9–2) 13 14 Head coach:  Frank Broyles Head coach:  Bill Battle AP Coaches 18 20 AP Coaches 9 9
1 2 3 4 Total Arkansas 0 7 0 6 13 Tennessee 7 0 0 7 14
Date	December 20, 1971
Season	1971
Stadium	Memphis Memorial Stadium
Location	Memphis, Tennessee
MVP	Joe Ferguson, Arkansas[1]
Attendance	45,410

The 1971 Liberty Bowl was a post-season college football bowl game between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Tennessee Volunteers. In the thirteenth Liberty Bowl, #9 Tennessee defeated #18 Arkansas 14-13 in front of 45,410 patrons.^[2]

Setting

#18 Arkansas

Arkansas defeated #7 Cal in War Memorial Stadium to open the season, but suffered a one point defeat to an unranked Tulsa team two weeks later. The Hogs would upset #10 Texas in Little Rock also, but lost to Texas A&M and tied Rice, costing the Hogs the Southwest Conference.

Game summary

The Volunteers took the lead first, with a two-yard run by Bill Rudder. The Hogs responded with a 36-yard TD strike from Joe Ferguson to Jim Hodge. Scoring wouldn't resume until the fourth quarter, when Razorback Bill McClard kicked 19- and 30-yard field goals. A third McClard kick was good, set up by Louis Campbell's third interception, but a penalty kept the Hogs off the board a fourth time. Arkansas fumbled at their own 36-yard line, and Tennessee's Curt Watson scored three plays later.

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP ARK UT 1 6:39 55 UT Bill Rudder 2-yard touchdown run, George Hunt kick good 0 7 2 4:11 66 ARK Jim Hodge 36-yard touchdown reception from Joe Ferguson, Bill McClard kick good 7 7 4 13:14 52 ARK 19-yard field goal by Bill McClard 10 7 4 8:51 30 ARK 30-yard field goal by Bill McClard 13 7 4 1:56 37 UT Curt Watson 17-yard touchdown run, George Hunt kick good 13 14 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 13 14

Arkansas set a Liberty Bowl record with 104 interception return yards in the contest. This record still stands today.^[3] Louis Campbell of Arkansas had three interceptions, also a Liberty Bowl Record.^[4]

References

1. "Liberty Bowl - Most Valuable Players." Article. Retrieved December 13, 2009.
2. "Liberty Bowl - Bowl History." Article. Retrieved December 13, 2009.
3. "Liberty Bowl - Team Records." Article. Retrieved December 13, 2009.
4. "Liberty Bowl - Individual Records." Article. Retrieved December 13, 2009.