Roland Sales
Encyclopedia
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 205 yards that stood until 1998 when Ahman Green
broke it by rushing for 206 yards. Sales and Razorbacks teammate Reggie Freeman were named 1978 Orange Bowl MVPs. http://www.orangebowl.org/news/695707.aspx http://www.mmbolding.com/bowls/Orange_1978.htm
to play for Arkansas. By his junior year he was playing backup to running back Ben Cowins
. The Razorbacks had a powerhouse team in the 1970s. Behind the passing skills of Ron Calcagni
, the rushing of Cowins, the defense played by future Chicago Bears
star Dan Hampton
and the record setting kicking of Steve Little
the Razorbacks were always highly ranked during that period. Following Broyles' retirement from coaching he was replaced by head coach Lou Holtz
. Up until that time Sales' career had been mediocre.
winner Billy Sims
. Arkansas head coach Lou Holtz had a reputation for being strict with his players, but he shocked many when he suspended his two starting running backs Ben Cowins and Donny Bobo and a wide receiver
prior to the 1978 Orange Bowl. Ben Cowins and Donny Bobo had accounted for 78% of the points scored by the Razorbacks team in that season. The players protested, Holtz would not 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. http://varsity.limaohio.com/articles/stand-5603-suspensions-took.html http://walkingwithwarner.blogspot.com/
Arkansas was an 18-point underdog prior to the suspensions. After the suspensions they were given as 24-point underdogs by Las Vegas
odds. Also the #1 ranked University of Texas
had just lost a game, which meant a victory over Arkansas by Oklahoma would make Oklahoma the national champions. http://pixeltop.org/Forums/5/Topics/1667091 Thus the 1978 Orange Bowl would in all likelihood be the game that decided the National Championship
.
Roland Sales started 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 Sims also fumbling the ball once causing the Razorbacks to recover on the Oklahoma 9-yard line. In total Sales rushed 22 times for 205 yards and received four passes for 52 yards. He rushed for two touchdown
s. Arkansas defeated Oklahoma 31–6. Although his NFL career with the Cleveland Browns and the NFL lasted only one season, Sales's Orange Bowl rushing record stood for 20 years. Arkansas finished the season ranked #3 in the nation behind #1-ranked Notre Dame
and #2-ranked Alabama
. http://secblitz.com/index.php?topic=1230.0
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...
for the University of Arkansas
Arkansas Razorbacks football
The Arkansas Razorbacks football program is a college football team that represents the University of Arkansas. The team is a member of the Southeastern Conference's Western Division, which is in Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
and he was an 11th round draft pick in the 1980 NFL Draft
1980 NFL Draft
The 1980 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 29–30, 1980. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and...
by the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He only played one season in the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, but his career is significant because in the 1978 Orange Bowl
1978 Orange Bowl
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....
, Sales set an Orange Bowl
Orange Bowl
The Orange Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It has been played annually since January 1, 1935 and celebrated its 75th playing on January 1, 2009...
rushing record of 205 yards that stood until 1998 when 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...
broke it by rushing for 206 yards. Sales and Razorbacks teammate Reggie Freeman were named 1978 Orange Bowl MVPs. http://www.orangebowl.org/news/695707.aspx http://www.mmbolding.com/bowls/Orange_1978.htm
Career
An Arkansas native, Sales was recruited by head coach Frank BroylesFrank Broyles
John Franklin Broyles is a former American football player and coach, athletics administrator, and broadcaster. He served as the head football coach the University of Missouri in 1957 and at the University of Arkansas from 1958 to 1976...
to play for Arkansas. By his junior year he was playing backup to running back 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...
. The Razorbacks had a powerhouse team in the 1970s. Behind the passing skills of 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...
, the rushing of Cowins, the defense played by future Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
star Dan Hampton
Dan Hampton
Daniel Oliver Hampton also known as "Danimal" is a retired Hall of Fame American football defensive tackle who played twelve seasons for the Chicago Bears from 1979 to 1990 in the National Football League. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002...
and the record setting kicking of 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...
the Razorbacks were always highly ranked during that period. Following Broyles' retirement from coaching he was replaced by 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...
. Up until that time Sales' career had been mediocre.
1978 Orange Bowl
Coming into the 1978 Orange Bowl the Arkansas Razorbacks were ranked sixth in the nation with a record of 10–1. The Oklahoma Sooners were ranked 2nd in the nation behind the rushing of Heisman TrophyHeisman 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...
winner Billy Sims
Billy Sims
Billy Sims is a former college football and NFL running back. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1978.-Early years:...
. Arkansas head coach Lou Holtz had a reputation for being strict with his players, but he shocked many when he suspended his two starting running backs Ben Cowins and Donny Bobo and a wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
prior to the 1978 Orange Bowl. Ben Cowins and Donny Bobo had accounted for 78% of the points scored by the Razorbacks team in that season. The players protested, Holtz would not 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. http://varsity.limaohio.com/articles/stand-5603-suspensions-took.html http://walkingwithwarner.blogspot.com/
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. Also the #1 ranked University of Texas
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...
had just lost a game, which meant a victory over Arkansas by Oklahoma would make Oklahoma the national champions. http://pixeltop.org/Forums/5/Topics/1667091 Thus the 1978 Orange Bowl would in all likelihood be the game that decided the National Championship
1978 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season was the first season of Division I-A football; Division I-A was created in 1978 from the splitting of Division I for football only. The season came down to a rare #1 vs. #2 post-season meeting as #1 Penn State and #2 Alabama met in the New Year's Day Sugar...
.
Roland Sales started 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 Sims also fumbling the ball once causing the Razorbacks to recover on the Oklahoma 9-yard line. In total Sales rushed 22 times for 205 yards and received four passes for 52 yards. He rushed for two 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. Although his NFL career with the Cleveland Browns and the NFL lasted only one season, Sales's Orange Bowl rushing record stood for 20 years. 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...
. http://secblitz.com/index.php?topic=1230.0
Reference
- Roland Sales and Arkansas outplay heavily favored Oklahoma in 1978 Orange Bowl
- Lou Holtz suspends players
- Game Shockers, Holtz suspending players before big game
- Holtz 1978 suspensions at Arkansas a part of college football history
- SEC Blitz, 1978 Orange Bowl against the odds
- Orange Bowl news, 1978 Orange Bowl