1996 Liberty Bowl

The 1996 Liberty Bowl was a college football bowl game between the Houston Cougars from Conference USA and the Syracuse Orangemen from the Big East Conference. The game found two future first rounders and Super Bowl participants: Syracuse's Donovan McNabb and Houston's Antowain Smith. Although only completing four of ten pass attempts, McNabb rushed for 49 yards and two touchdowns. Smith Rushed for 119 yards and a touchdown, as well as receiving for 44 yards and a touchdown. Orangemen running back Malcolm Thomas ran for 201 yards and a touchdown earning MVP honors.

Scoring summary

First quarter

SU 1 yd TD run by Donovan McNabb (Trout Kick) 7-0 SU

UH 21 yd TD pass from Chuck Clements to Antowain Smith (Villareal Kick) 7-7 Tie

Second auarter

SU 2 yd TD run by Rob Konrad (Trout Kick) 14-7 SU

SU Clements Called for Intentional Grounding in endzone resulting in a safety 16-7 SU

UH 3 yd TD run by Smith (Villareal kick) 16-14 SU

Third quarter

No Scoring

Fourth quarter

SU 2 yd TD run by Mcnabb (Trout Kick) 23-14 SU

UH 23 yard FG by Sebastian Villareal 23-17 SU

SU 6 yd TD run by Malcolm Thomas 30-17 SU

References