1962 Liberty Bowl

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1962 Liberty Bowl
4th Liberty Bowl
Villanova Wildcats Oregon State Beavers
(7–2) (8–2)
Independent Independent
0 6
Head coach: 
Alexander F. Bell		 Head coach: 
Tommy Prothro
1234 Total
Villanova 0000 0
Oregon State 6000 6
DateDecember 15, 1962
Season1962
StadiumPhiladelphia Municipal Stadium
LocationPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
MVPOSU QB Terry Baker
FavoriteOregon State by 14 points[1]
Attendance17,048
Liberty Bowl
 < 1961  1963 > 

The 1962 Liberty Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game played in Philadelphia on Saturday, December 15. The fourth edition of the Liberty Bowl, it featured the Oregon State Beavers and the Villanova Wildcats, both independent programs.[2]

Background[]

The OSU Beavers (8–2) were led by Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Terry Baker, and were in their first bowl game in five years as the Beavers. They ended the regular season on a seven-game winning streak, including a 27–0 win over No. 12 Stanford, a 51–22 rout of No. 19 West Virginia, and a 20–17 rally win (after trailing 17–6 at halftime) over rival Oregon. The Wildcats (7–2) were in their second straight bowl game but were a fourteen-point underdog.[1]

Game summary[]

Bad weather made the field frozen, and the weather never reached above 25 °F (−4 °C), making efforts at getting toward the end zone nearly futile. Although Oregon State was the clear favorite, the hometown Wildcats kept the game close. The game's only score came on a 99-yard run by Baker with under ten minutes left in the first quarter. Trapped at their one-yard line after a punt, Baker was almost sacked by Al Atkinson for a safety, but he broke free, running by the sideline and sprinting toward the end zone. Despite two chances at a chance for two more points, their conversion attempt fell short, leaving it at 6–0.[3][4][5]

Villanova had a Billy Joe touchdown called back due to a penalty and had another chance intercepted by the Beaver defense. Baker went 9 of 21 passes for 123 yards and accounted for 250 of the team's 299 yards. This was the first bowl win for the Beavers since 1942 and the last bowl win for the Beavers until the 2001 Fiesta Bowl.[6]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Villanova 14-point underdog". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. December 14, 1962. p. 28.
  2. ^ "Liberty Bowl pairs OSU, Villanova". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 14, 1962. p. 3B.
  3. ^ "Oregon State wins Liberty Bowl, 6-0". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). UPI. December 16, 1962. p. 41.
  4. ^ "Beavers win on Baker's big run". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 16, 1962. p. 1B.
  5. ^ "Fumbles foil Villanova's bid for grid upset". Bend Bulletin. (Oregon). UPI. December 17, 1962. p. 3.
  6. ^ "Column: A look back at Oregon State's 1962 Liberty Bowl victory".
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