1978 Orange Bowl

Teams

Main article: 1977 NCAA Division I football season

Both football teams had only one regular-season loss, and both had lost to top-ranked Texas. Before the Orange Bowl kicked off, the Longhorns had fallen to Notre Dame. Under these circumstances, it seemed likely that the outcome of this Orange Bowl would decide which football team would win the national championship; the game's outcome did lead to the choosing of the national champion, but not in the way that most had expected.

Arkansas

Main article: 1977 Arkansas Razorbacks football team

This was the Arkansas football team's first appearance in the Orange Bowl. To complicate matters for Arkansas, first-year head coach Lou Holtz suspended three players prior to the game for team violations.

Although the suspended Arkansas players protested, Holtz refused to back down and the suspensions stood. Arkansas had already been considered to be a heavy underdog versus Oklahoma, so after losing those starters the Razorbacks were not expected to compete. Prior to the suspensions, Arkansas had been an 18-point underdog. After the suspensions, Las Vegas oddsmakers listed the Razorbacks as 24-point underdogs.

Oklahoma

Main article: 1977 Oklahoma Sooners football team

This was Oklahoma's ninth appearance in the Orange Bowl. The Sooners' only defeat during the regular season had been a seven-point loss to Texas in Dallas in early October. Oklahoma was led offensively by redshirt sophomore halfback Billy Sims—who would win the Heisman Trophy two seasons later—and on defense by safety Darrol Ray and linebacker Daryl Hunt.

Game summary

Backup running back Roland Sales started for Arkansas in the place of Cowins. With Sales leading the way, Arkansas outrushed Oklahoma 126 yards to 116 yards in the first half. Sims fumbled the ball early in the first quarter, which the Razorbacks recovered on the Oklahoma 9 yard line. Two plays later, Sales scored a touchdown, followed by a PAT by kicker Steve Little. Another Oklahoma fumble in the first quarter by Kenny King resulted in a second Arkansas touchdown on a keeper by Hog quarterback Ron Calcagni. In the second half, Sales rushed for another touchdown, Barnabas White rushed for a touchdown and Little kicked a field goal. A ferocious Arkansas defense, led by defensive tackle Dan Hampton, dominated the Sooner offense as the Hogs built a 24–0 lead after three quarters. Oklahoma scored early in the fourth, but a two-point conversion attempt failed.

Sales rushed 22 times for 205 yards, an Orange Bowl record. He also caught four passes for 52 yards and rushed for two touchdowns. Arkansas defeated Oklahoma 31–6. Sales's Orange Bowl rushing record stood for twenty years, until broken by Ahman Green (206 yards in 1998). Sales and Arkansas teammate Reggie Freeman were named MVPs for the game. Arkansas was ranked third in both final polls, behind Notre Dame (Holtz's future employer) and Alabama.

The halftime show was a presentation of the Main Street Electrical Parade, one of only two times the parade has taken place outside a Disney park.

Scoring

;First quarter:

• Arkansas – Roland Sales 1-yard run (Steve Little kick)
• Arkansas – Ron Calcagni 1-yard run (Little kick) ;Second quarter: :No scoring ;Third quarter:
• Arkansas – Little 32-yard FG
• Arkansas – Sales 4-yard run (Little kick) ;Fourth quarter:
• Oklahoma – Victor Hicks 8-yard pass from Dean Blevins (run failed)
• Arkansas – Barnabas White 20-yard run (Little kick) :Source:

Statistics

:{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center" ! Statistics !! Arkansas !! Oklahoma |- | First downs || 22||19 |- | Rushes–yards|| 60–317|| 49–230 |- | Passing yards|| 90|| 80 |- | Passes (C–A–I) ||7–12–0 ||7–14–1 |- | Total Offense ||72–407||63–310 |- |Punts–average ||4–40.5|| 5–44.4 |- |Fumbles–lost ||2–1|| 4–3 |- |Turnovers||1||4 |- |Penalties–yards ||7–50|| 5–25 |} :Source:

Aftermath

Arkansas climbed to third in the final AP poll and Oklahoma fell to seventh.

The Sooners returned the following year and defeated conference rival Nebraska. The Razorbacks' only other Orange Bowl was a rematch eight years later, a 42–8 loss to Oklahoma.

References

References

1. Nissenson, Herschel. (January 2, 1978). "Orange: the bookies' nightmare". Lewiston Morning Tribune.
2. (January 3, 1978). "Arkansas rips Sooners' chances for national title". Milwaukee Journal.
3. (January 3, 1978). "Arkansas humiliates Oklahoma". Wilmington Morning Star (location=North Carolina).
4. Looney, Douglas S.. (January 9, 1978). "At last, Lou has the last laugh".
5. (December 29, 2010). "Holtz took a stand with suspensions when he was at Arkansas | stand, suspensions, took – Buckeyes". varsity.limaohio.com.
6. (November 24, 1978). "News Year-by-Year: 1978". OrangeBowl.org.
7. (March 2018). "eCongregate.com". Pixeltop.org.
8. (July 16, 2008). "1978 Orange Bowl ... Arkansas 31 Oklahoma 6". Secblitz.com.
9. "1978 Orange Bowl Halftime Show - Main Street Electrical Parade".
10. (January 2019). "Game-by-game recaps: 1978". 2019 Capital One Orange Bowl media guide.
11. (January 4, 1978). "AP, UPI agree – it's Notre Dame". St. Petersburg Times.
12. (January 4, 1978). "It might not add up, but Irish are clearly No. 1". Eugene Register-Guard.