The 1968 Tangerine Bowl was held on December 27, 1968 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. The Richmond Spiders of the Southern Conference defeated the Ohio Bobcats of the Mid-American Conference by a score of 49–42. The Tangerine Bowl is a former name of what is now called the Capital One Bowl.
Heading into the game, Ohio University finished their regular season slate with a perfect 10–0–0 record. The Bobcats also held a #15 Associated Press (AP) national ranking. The 1970 Ohio Bobcats football team had one of the most potent offenses the nation and was spearheaded by quarterback Cleve Bryant. Ohio was one of only three NCAA programs to finish their regular season with an unbeaten and untied record.
The University of Richmond entered with an 8–3–0 record. They were Southern Conference champions after having finished 6–0–0 in conference play. They were decided underdogs against Ohio and the national media did not give them much of a chance to compete, let alone win the game. The upset-minded Spiders did just that, however, winning their first-ever postseason bowl game 49–42. It would ultimately be Richmond's only bowl victory (they lost in their only other bowl appearance, the 1971 Tangerine Bowl).
After the loss, the Bobcats would finished #20 in the final AP Poll.
| Scoring summary |
| Quarter |
Time |
Drive |
Team |
Scoring information |
Score |
|---|
| Plays |
Yards |
TOP |
UR |
OU |
| 1 |
10:51 |
|
|
|
OU |
Todd Snyder 49-yard touchdown reception from Cleve Bryant, William Pataki kick good |
0 |
7
|
| 1 |
2:51 |
|
|
|
UR |
Jim Livesay 24-yard touchdown reception from Buster O'Brien, Mike Dussault kick good |
7 |
7
|
| 2 |
12:59 |
|
|
|
UR |
Buster O'Brien 31-yard touchdown run, Mike Dussault kick good |
14 |
7
|
| 2 |
10:37 |
|
|
|
OU |
Cleve Bryant 7-yard touchdown run, William Pataki kick good |
14 |
14
|
| 2 |
8:39 |
|
|
|
UR |
Joe Kellum 1-yard touchdown run, Mike Dussault kick good |
21 |
14
|
| 2 |
4:50 |
|
|
|
UR |
Walker Gillette 5-yard touchdown reception from Buster O'Brien, Mike Dussault kick good |
28 |
14
|
| 2 |
0:33 |
|
|
|
OU |
Todd Snyder 3-yard touchdown reception from Cleve Bryant, William Pataki kick good |
28 |
21
|
| 3 |
10:22 |
|
|
|
OU |
Todd Snyder 45-yard touchdown reception from Cleve Bryant, William Pataki kick good |
28 |
28
|
| 3 |
4:06 |
|
|
|
UR |
Joe Kellum 4-yard touchdown run, Mike Dussault kick good |
35 |
28
|
| 3 |
1:30 |
|
|
|
UR |
Jim Crenshaw 12-yard touchdown reception from Buster O'Brien, Mike Dussault kick good |
42 |
28
|
| 3 |
|
|
|
|
OU |
Dave LeVeck 2-yard touchdown run, 2-point run failed |
42 |
34
|
| 4 |
5:29 |
|
|
|
UR |
Jim Livesay 15-yard touchdown reception from Buster O'Brien, Mike Dussault kick good |
49 |
34
|
| 4 |
1:33 |
|
|
|
OU |
Bob Houmard 3-yard touchdown reception from Cleve Bryant, 2-point run good |
49 |
42
|
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. |
49 |
42 |
|
Post-game quotes
"It is the biggest thing I have ever been associated with. I know it is the biggest athletic victory for the University of Richmond." –Frank Jones, Richmond head coach
"I've played football a long time, but this is the greatest. It's been something we've been working for since spring practice." –Buster O'Brien, Richmond quarterback
References
- 1968 Tangerine Bowl, Richmond Spiders football media guide. University of Richmond. Retrieved on 26 November 2009.