1969 Liberty Bowl

1969 Liberty Bowl
Alabama Crimson Tide Colorado Buffaloes
(6–4) (7–3)
33 47
Head coach: 
Bear Bryant		 Head coach: 
Eddie Crowder
1 2 3 4 Total
Alabama 0 19 14 0 33
Colorado 10 21 0 16 47
Date December 13, 1969
Season 1969
Stadium Memphis Memorial Stadium
Location Memphis, Tennessee
MVP Bobby Anderson, Colorado TB
Attendance 50,144
Liberty Bowl
 < 1968  1970 > 

The 1969 Liberty Bowl, part of the 1969 bowl game season, took place on December 13, 1969, at Memphis Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and the Colorado Buffaloes, representing the Big Eight Conference (Big 8). Colorado won the game 47–33.

Teams

Alabama

The 1969 Alabama squad finished the regular season with losses to Vanderbilt, Tennessee, LSU and Auburn to compile a 6–4 record. Following their victory over Miami, the Crimson Tide accepted an invitation to play in the Liberty Bowl on November 17.[1] The appearance marked the second for Alabama in the Liberty Bowl, and their 23rd overall bowl game.

Colorado

The 1969 Colorado squad finished the regular season with losses to Penn State, Oklahoma and Nebraska to compile a 7–3 record. Following their victory over Kansas State, the Buffaloes accepted an invitation to play in the Liberty Bowl on November 22.[2] The appearance marked the first for Colorado in the Liberty Bowl, and their fifth overall bowl game.

Game summary

In a game dominated by both offenses, Colorado took a 10–0 first quarter lead. Ward Walsh scored first on a 13-yard touchdown run and Dave Haney connected on a 30-yard field goal for the Buffaloes.[3] Early in the second quarter, Colorado extended their lead to 17–0 after a three-yard Bobby Anderson touchdown run. Alabama responded with touchdown runs of 31-yards from Scott Hunter and six-yards from George Ranager to cut the lead to 17–13.[3] With less than three minutes remaining in the half, Walsh scored again on 15-yard touchdown run. On the ensuing drive, Alabama responded with a two-yard Johnny Musso touchdown run to make the score 24–19.[3] However, the following kickoff was returned 91-yards by Steve Engel to give the Buffaloes a 31–19 lead at the half.[3] In the third, Alabama took their only lead of the game following a pair of Neb Hayden touchdown passes; the first came on a 55-yard reception by Griff Langston and the second on a ten-yard reception by Musso to give the Crimson Tide a 33–31 lead.[3] Colorado then scored 16 fourth quarter points to seal the 47–33 victory with a pair of Anderson touchdown runs and a safety made when Bill Brundige and Herb Orvis sacked Hayden in the endzone.[3]

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score
Plays Yards TOP Alabama Colorado
1 11:36 Colorado Ward Walsh 13-yard touchdown run, Dave Haney kick good 0 7
1 4:54 Colorado 30-yard field goal by Dave Haney 0 10
2 12:38 Colorado Bobby Anderson 3-yard touchdown run, Dave Haney kick good 0 17
2 10:13 Alabama Scott Hunter 31-yard touchdown run, Oran Buck kick good 7 17
2 4:49 Alabama George Ranager 6-yard touchdown run, 2-point pass incomplete 13 17
2 2:38 Colorado Ward Walsh 15-yard touchdown run, Dave Haney kick good 13 24
2 1:01 Alabama Johnny Musso 2-yard touchdown run, 2-point run failed 19 24
2 0:46 Colorado Steve Engel 91-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, Dave Haney kick good 19 31
3 13:39 Alabama Griff Langston 55-yard touchdown reception from Neb Hayden, Oran Buck kick good 26 31
3 7:47 Alabama Johnny Musso 10-yard touchdown reception from Neb Hayden, Oran Buck kick good 33 31
4 10:57 Colorado Bobby Anderson 2-yard touchdown run, Dave Haney kick good 33 38
4 2:48 Colorado Neb Hayden tackled in endzone for a safety by Bill Brundige and Herb Orvis 33 40
4 0:45 Colorado Bobby Anderson 3-yard touchdown run, Dave Haney kick good 33 47
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 33 47

References

  1. ↑ Land, Charles (November 17, 1969). "Crimson Tide, Auburn to play in bowl games". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 1.
  2. ↑ "Colorado to face Tide in Liberty". The Florence Times. United Press International. November 23, 1969. p. 13. Retrieved January 28, 2011.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Land, Charles (December 14, 1969). "Buffaloes rumble past Tide, 47–33". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 1. Retrieved January 28, 2011.