1961 Liberty Bowl

1961 Liberty Bowl
Miami Hurricanes Syracuse Orangemen (7–3) (7–3) 14 15 Head coach:  Andy Gustafson Head coach:  Ben Schwartzwalder AP 25 AP 14
1 2 3 4 Total Miami 6 8 0 0 14 Syracuse 0 0 8 7 15
Date	December 16, 1961
Season	1961
Stadium	John F. Kennedy Stadium
Location	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
MVP	RB Dick Easterly
Attendance	15,712

The 1961 Liberty Bowl was a college football postseason bowl game that featured the Syracuse Orangemen and the Miami Hurricanes.

Background

Syracuse running back Ernie Davis became the first African-American football player to win the Heisman Trophy. This was Syracuse's fifth bowl game in 8 years. Miami was making their first bowl appearance since 1952.

Game summary

Jim Vollenweider scored on a 12 yard touchdown run to give Miami a 6-0 lead (though the extra point failed) in the first quarter. Nick Spineli scored on a 60 yard punt return to add onto the lead, and George Mira scored on the conversion pass to make it 14-0 at halftime. Syracuse culminated a 42 yard drive with an Ernie Davis touchdown plunge to make it 14-8 (with a Dave Sarette pass to Dick Easterly to get the two point conversion). On the first play of the fourth quarter, Miami fumbled the ball, and Bill Schoonover recovered at the Orange 49. 9 plays and 51 yards later, Sarette threw a touchdown pass to Easterly to make it 14-14, with the extra point proving to be important. Ken Erickson's extra point was good, as the Orange won 15-14. Ernie Davis rushed for 140 yards on 30 carries. Easterly caught 4 passes for 50 yards.

Aftermath

Davis died before he ever played a snap in the NFL. Miami returned to the Liberty Bowl in 1966, while Syracuse returned in 1996.

Statistics

Statistics	Syracuse	Miami
First Downs	21	11
Rushing Yards	221	109
Passing Yards	148	94
Total Yards	369	203
Punts-Average	7-31.4	9-30.3
Punt Return Yards	14	78
Kickoff Return Yards	60	32
Fumbles-Lost	3-2	3-1
Penalties-Yards	5-35	3-29