1977 Liberty Bowl

The 1977 Liberty Bowl was a college football postseason bowl game played in Memphis, Tennessee, on December 19, 1977.[1] In the 19th edition of the Liberty Bowl, the Nebraska Cornhuskers of the Big Eight Conference rallied to defeat the North Carolina Tar Heels of the Atlantic Coast Conference, 21–17.[3][4][5][6]

1977 Liberty Bowl
19th Liberty Bowl
Nebraska Cornhuskers North Carolina Tar Heels
(8–3) (8–2–1)
Big Eight ACC
21 17
Head coach: 
Tom Osborne		 Head coach: 
Bill Dooley
APCoaches
1213
APCoaches
1411
1234 Total
Nebraska 07014 21
North Carolina 01430 17
DateDecember 19, 1977
Season1977
StadiumLiberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
LocationMemphis, Tennessee
MVPMatt Kupec (QB, North Carolina)
FavoriteNebraska by 6[1][2]
RefereeJames Malone (WAC)
Attendance49,456
United States TV coverage
NetworkABC
AnnouncersKeith Jackson, Frank Broyles

Game summary

North Carolina led by ten points after three quarters, but was outscored, 14–0, in the fourth quarter as Randy Garcia came off of the Husker bench and completed all three of his passes, two for touchdowns.[3][4] It was the eighth bowl victory in nine seasons for Nebraska; they remained at twelfth in the final AP poll, and North Carolina slipped to seventeenth.

Scoring

First quarter

No scoring

Second quarter

  • North Carolina – Brooks Williams 12 pass from Matt Kupec (Tom Biddle kick), 13:52
  • Nebraska – Dodie Donnell 15 run (Billy Todd kick), 11:00
  • North Carolina – Bob Loomis 10 pass from Kupec (Biddle kick), 3:11

Third quarter

  • North Carolina – FG Biddle 47, 4:17

Fourth quarter

  • Nebraska – Curtis Craig 10 pass from Randy Garcia (Todd kick), 10:51
  • Nebraska – Tim Smith 34 pass from Garcia (Todd kick), 3:16

Source:[3][4]

Statistics
Statistics Nebraska North
  Carolina  
First downs2117
Rushes–yards52–20655–169
Passing yards16193
Passes14–17–08–13–1
Total yards367262
Punts–average3–373–43
Fumbles–lost4–23–2
Turnovers by23
Penalties–yards2–105–35

Source:[3][4]

References
  1. "Heels, 'Huskers trade compliments". Wilmington Morning Star. (North Carolina). Associated Press. December 19, 1977. p. 1C.
  2. Hooks, Jerry (December 21, 1977). "Liberty rally". Wilmington Morning Star. (North Carolina). p. 1C.
  3. "Nebraska backup paces Liberty win". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 20, 1977. p. 5C.
  4. "Huskers topple Carolina". Milwaukee Sentinel. UPI. December 20, 1977. p. 1, part 2.
  5. "Game recap: 1977 Liberty Bowl, Nebraska vs. North Carolina football".
  6. "1977 Liberty Bowl - Huskers.com - Nebraska Athletics Official Web Site". Archived from the original on December 22, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2016.


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