1971 Liberty Bowl

1971 Liberty Bowl
Bowl Game
Arkansas Razorbacks Tennessee Volunteers (8–2–1) (9–2) 13 14 Head coach:  Frank Broyles Head coach:  Bill Battle AP Coaches 18 20 AP Coaches 9 9 1 2 3 4 Total {{{Visitor School}}} 0 7 0 6 13 Tennessee Volunteers football 7 0 0 7 14
Date	December 20, 1971
Season	1971
Stadium	Memphis Memorial Stadium
Location	Memphis, Tennessee
MVP	Joe Ferguson, Arkansas
Attendance	45,410
Liberty Bowl  < 1970  1972 >

The 1971 Liberty Bowl was a post-season college football bowl game between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Tennessee Volunteers. In the thirteenth Liberty Bowl, #9 Tennessee defeated #18 Arkansas 14-13 in front of 45,410 patrons.

Setting

See also: 1971 college football season

#18 Arkansas

See also: 1971 Arkansas Razorbacks football team

Arkansas defeated #7 Cal in War Memorial Stadium to open the season, but suffered a one point defeat to an unranked Tulsa team two weeks later. The Hogs would upset #10 Texas in Little Rock also, but lost to Texas A&M and tied Rice, costing the Hogs the Southwest Conference.

Game summary

The Volunteers took the lead first, with a two yard run by Bill Rudder. The Hogs responded with a 36-yard TD strike from Joe Ferguson to Jim Hodge. Scoring wouldn't resume until the fourth quarter, when Razorback Bill McClard kicked 19- and 30-yard field goals. A third McClard kick was good, set up by Louis Campbell's third interception, but a penalty kept the Hogs off the board a fourth time. Arkansas fumbled at their own 36 yard line, and Tennessee's Curt Watson scored three plays later.

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring Information Score Plays Yards TOP ARK UT 1 6:39 55 UT Bill Rudder 2-yard touchdown run, George Hunt kick good 0 7 2 4:11 66 ARK Jim Hodge 36-yard touchdown reception from Joe Ferguson, Bill McClard kick good 7 7 4 13:14 52 ARK 19-yard field goal by Bill McClard 10 7 4 8:51 30 ARK 30-yard field goal by Bill McClard 13 7 4 1:56 37 UT Curt Watson 17-yard touchdown run, George Hunt kick good 13 14 "TOP" = Time of Possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 13 14

Arkansas set a Liberty Bowl record with 104 interception return yards in the contest. This record still stands today. Louis Campbell of Arkansas had three interceptions, also a Liberty Bowl Record.