1978 Gator Bowl

1978 Gator Bowl
Ohio State Buckeyes Clemson Tigers (7–3–1) (10–1) 15 17 Head coach:  Woody Hayes Head coach:  Danny Ford AP Coaches 20 NR AP Coaches 7 8
1 2 3 4 Total Ohio State 0 9 0 6 15 Clemson 0 10 7 0 17
Date	December 29, 1978
Season	1978
Stadium	Gator Bowl Stadium
Location	Jacksonville, Florida
Attendance	72,011
United States TV coverage
Network	ABC
Announcers	Keith Jackson, Ara Parseghian

The 1978 Gator Bowl was a college football bowl game played between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Clemson Tigers on December 29, 1978.

This game proved to be coach Woody Hayes' last game at OSU as well as his last game as a college football coach. With just over two minutes left in the game, OSU trailed 17–15. Ohio State quarterback Art Schlichter threw a pass that sailed wide of an Ohio State back and was intercepted by Clemson Middle Guard Charlie Bauman. Bauman ran towards the OSU sideline avoiding tackles and was finally shoved out of bounds, but after he got up coach Hayes punched Bauman through his face mask.^[1] The next day Ohio State fired Hayes after 28 seasons as the Buckeyes head coach.^[2]

Aftermath

Ohio State and Clemson would meet again in the 2014 Orange Bowl.

References

1. Fineman, Alex. "Hayes produced champions, controversy". ESPN Classic. Retrieved 2008-11-19.
2. "Woody Hayes KO'd himself in 1978 Gator Bowl". The Washington Times. December 27, 2004. Retrieved 2008-11-19.