1978 Orange Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1978 Orange Bowl was a college football
bowl game
played on January 2, 1978, featuring the Arkansas Razorbacks against the heavily-favored Oklahoma Sooners
.
The #6 ranked Razorbacks were coming off a 10–1 season, but were considered to be heavy underdogs against the #2 ranked Sooners. The #1 ranked Texas Longhorns
and their star running back
Earl Campbell
had just lost the 1978 Cotton Bowl to Joe Montana
and the Notre Dame Irish
, thus giving the Sooners an almost sure bid for the national championship title if they defeated Arkansas. To make matters worse for Arkansas, first year Arkansas head coach Lou Holtz
had suspended three players prior to the game for team violations. Two of those players, rushing backs Ben Cowins
and Donny Bobo, had together accounted for 78% of the points scored by the Razorbacks that season. On the other hand, the Oklahoma Sooners were led offensively by their future Heisman Trophy
winning running back Billy Sims
and on defense by their safety Darrol Ray
and linebacker
Daryl Hunt
.
Although the suspended Arkansas players protested, Holtz refused to back down and the suspensions stood. Already considered a heavy underdog to Oklahoma, with the loss of those starters Arkansas was expected to give little competition in the game. Arkansas was an 18 point underdog prior to the suspensions. After the suspensions they were given as 24 point underdogs by Las Vegas
odds. The 1978 Orange Bowl would in all likelihood be the game that decided the National Championship. And it did in many ways, but not in the way that most expected.
Backup running back Roland Sales
started for Arkansas in the place of Ben Cowins. With Sales doing most of the running of the ball, Arkansas out-rushed Oklahoma 126 yards to 116 yards in the first half, with Billy Sims fumbling the ball early in the first quarter causing the Razorbacks to recover on the Oklahoma 9 yard line. That resulted in a Sales touchdown followed by a PAT by Arkansas kicker Steve Little
. Another Oklahoma fumble by Kenny King resulted in another Arkansas touchdown rushed in by Arkansas quarterback
Ron Calcagni
in the first quarter. In the second half Sales would rush for another touchdown, Brian White rushed for a touchdown and Steve Little kicked a field goal. During the fourth quarter Oklahoma scored a touchdown but the two point conversion attempt failed.
For Arkansas, in total Roland Sales rushed 22 times for 205 yards setting an Orange Bowl record. He also received 4 times for 52 yards and rushed for 2 touchdown
s. Arkansas defeated Oklahoma 31–6. Sales' Orange Bowl rushing record stood for 20 years until broken by Ahman Green
in 1998 when Green rushed for 206 yards in the Orange Bowl. Roland Sales and Arkansas teammate Reggie Freeman were named MVPs for the game. Arkansas finished the season ranked #3 in the nation behind #1 ranked Notre Dame
and #2 ranked Alabama
.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
played on January 2, 1978, featuring the Arkansas Razorbacks against the heavily-favored Oklahoma Sooners
1977 Oklahoma Sooners football team
The 1977 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football 1977 NCAA Division I-A season. Oklahoma Sooners football participated in the former Big Eight Conference at that time and played its home games in Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium where...
.
The #6 ranked Razorbacks were coming off a 10–1 season, but were considered to be heavy underdogs against the #2 ranked Sooners. The #1 ranked Texas Longhorns
Texas Longhorns football
The Texas Longhorns football program is the intercollegiate football team representing The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. The team currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big 12 Conference which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National...
and their star running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Earl Campbell
Earl Campbell
Earl Christian Campbell , nicknamed The Tyler Rose, is a former professional American Football running back. He, Paul Hornung and O.J Simpson are the only people to have won the Heisman Trophy , were first overall National Football League draft picks and are in both the Pro Football Hall of Fame...
had just lost the 1978 Cotton Bowl to Joe Montana
Joe Montana
Joseph Clifford "Joe" Montana, Jr. , nicknamed Joe Cool, Golden Joe, The Golden Great and Comeback Joe, is a retired American football player. Montana started his NFL career in 1979 with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played quarterback for the next 14 seasons...
and the Notre Dame Irish
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
, thus giving the Sooners an almost sure bid for the national championship title if they defeated Arkansas. To make matters worse for Arkansas, first year Arkansas head coach Lou Holtz
Lou Holtz
Louis Leo "Lou" Holtz is a retired American football coach, and active sportscaster, author, and motivational speaker in the United States...
had suspended three players prior to the game for team violations. Two of those players, rushing backs Ben Cowins
Ben Cowins
Ben Cowins is a former college football running back who played for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks from 1975-1978. He was the University of Arkansas all-time leader in rushing attempts , rushing yards , rushing touchdowns and 100-yard rushing games prior to all his team records being...
and Donny Bobo, had together accounted for 78% of the points scored by the Razorbacks that season. On the other hand, the Oklahoma Sooners were led offensively by their future Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winning running back Billy Sims
Billy Sims
Billy Sims is a former college football and NFL running back. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1978.-Early years:...
and on defense by their safety Darrol Ray
Darrol Ray
Darrol Anthony Ray is a former American football player for the New York Jets of the National Football League.-Early years:...
and linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Daryl Hunt
Daryl Hunt
Daryl Lynn Hunt was a professional American football player, a linebacker for six seasons for the Houston Oilers appearing in 78 career regular season games after being selected by Houston during the 6th round of the 1979 NFL Draft.-University:Hunt is considered one of the best University of...
.
Although the suspended Arkansas players protested, Holtz refused to back down and the suspensions stood. Already considered a heavy underdog to Oklahoma, with the loss of those starters Arkansas was expected to give little competition in the game. Arkansas was an 18 point underdog prior to the suspensions. After the suspensions they were given as 24 point underdogs by Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
odds. The 1978 Orange Bowl would in all likelihood be the game that decided the National Championship. And it did in many ways, but not in the way that most expected.
Backup running back Roland Sales
Roland Sales
Roland Sales is a former running back for the University of Arkansas and he was an 11th round draft pick in the 1980 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. He only played one season in the NFL, but his career is significant because in the 1978 Orange Bowl, Sales set an Orange Bowl rushing record of...
started for Arkansas in the place of Ben Cowins. With Sales doing most of the running of the ball, Arkansas out-rushed Oklahoma 126 yards to 116 yards in the first half, with Billy Sims fumbling the ball early in the first quarter causing the Razorbacks to recover on the Oklahoma 9 yard line. That resulted in a Sales touchdown followed by a PAT by Arkansas kicker Steve Little
Steve Little (American football)
Steven Richard Little was an American football kicker and punter in the National Football League for the St. Louis Cardinals. He is the third-highest drafted kicker in NFL history, with first highest pick being Charlie Gogolak of Princeton University and second being Russell Erxleben...
. Another Oklahoma fumble by Kenny King resulted in another Arkansas touchdown rushed in by Arkansas quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Ron Calcagni
Ron Calcagni
Ron Calcagni is a former quarterback for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks football team from 1975 to 1978. Calcagni was born in Youngstown, Ohio. An All-State in high school, Calcagni was initially recruited by Bo Rein to play for North Carolina State University...
in the first quarter. In the second half Sales would rush for another touchdown, Brian White rushed for a touchdown and Steve Little kicked a field goal. During the fourth quarter Oklahoma scored a touchdown but the two point conversion attempt failed.
For Arkansas, in total Roland Sales rushed 22 times for 205 yards setting an Orange Bowl record. He also received 4 times for 52 yards and rushed for 2 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s. Arkansas defeated Oklahoma 31–6. Sales' Orange Bowl rushing record stood for 20 years until broken by Ahman Green
Ahman Green
Ahman Rashad Green is a retired American football running back. He is the all-time leading rusher for the Green Bay Packers. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 3rd round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
in 1998 when Green rushed for 206 yards in the Orange Bowl. Roland Sales and Arkansas teammate Reggie Freeman were named MVPs for the game. Arkansas finished the season ranked #3 in the nation behind #1 ranked Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
and #2 ranked Alabama
Alabama Crimson Tide football
|TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team...
.