1970 Bluebonnet Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1970 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl
, part of the 1970 bowl game season took place on December 30, 1970, at the Houston Astrodome
in Houston, Texas
. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference
(SEC), and the Oklahoma Sooners, representing the Big Eight Conference
(Big 8). The game ended in a 24–24 tie.
, , and Auburn
. During the week prior to the Iron Bowl
, school officials announced the Crimson Tide accepted a bid to play in the Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl against Oklahoma. The appearance marked the second for Alabama in the Bluebonnet Bowl and their 24th overall bowl game appearance.
, Kansas State
and Nebraska
. During the week prior to their Bedlam Series
game against , school officials announced the Sooners accepted a bid to play in the Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl against Alabama. The appearance marked the second for Oklahoma in the Bluebonnet Bowl and their 14th overall bowl game appearance.
connected with Randy Moore for a four-yard touchdown reception and a 7–0 lead. Oklahoma responded on the ensuing possession by driving 74 yards with Joe Wylie running it in from two yards out to tie the game at 7–7. The Sooners extended their lead to 21–7 with two long touchdown runs of 58 and 25 yards by Greg Pruitt
. The Tide cut the lead to seven when Hunter hit David Bailey for a five yard touchdown with only 0:14 remaining in the half. In the third, Richard Ciemny hit a 20-yard field goal to cut the lead further to 21–17. Alabama took the lead early in the fourth on a trick play
. Hunter handed-off the ball to Johnny Musso who then threw a 25-yard touchdown pass back to Hunter to give the Crimson Tide a 24–21 lead. However, the game ended in a tie after Bruce Derr hit a 42-yard field goal late in the fourth.
Bluebonnet Bowl
The Bluebonnet Bowl was an annual college football bowl game played in Houston, Texas. A civic group was appointed by the Houston Chamber of Commerce Athletics Committee in 1959 to organize the bowl game. It was held at Rice Stadium from 1959 through 1967, and again in 1985 and 1986. The game was...
, part of the 1970 bowl game season took place on December 30, 1970, at the Houston Astrodome
Reliant Astrodome
Reliant Astrodome, also known as the Houston Astrodome or simply the Astrodome, is the world's first multi-purpose, domed sports stadium, located in Houston, Texas, USA. The stadium is part of the Reliant Park complex...
in Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC), and the Oklahoma Sooners, representing the Big Eight Conference
Big Eight Conference
The Big Eight Conference, a former NCAA-affiliated Division I-A college athletic association that sponsored football, was formed in January 1907 as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association by its charter member schools: the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University...
(Big 8). The game ended in a 24–24 tie.
Alabama
The 1970 Alabama squad finished the regular season with a 6–5 record and losses against USC, Ole Miss1970 Ole Miss Rebels football team
The 1970 Ole Miss Rebels football team represented the University of Mississippi during the 1970 college football season and in the 1971 Gator Bowl against Auburn where Ole Miss lost 35–28. Archie Manning was the quarterback for Ole Miss...
, , and Auburn
1970 Auburn Tigers football team
The 1970 Auburn Tigers football team under the leadership of coach Ralph "Shug" Jordan completed the regular season with a record of 9–2 and won the Gator Bowl against Ole Miss by a score of 35–28...
. During the week prior to the Iron Bowl
Iron Bowl
The Iron Bowl is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Alabama Crimson Tide football team of the University of Alabama and the Auburn Tigers football team of Auburn University. The series is considered one of the best and most hard-fought rivalries in all of sports...
, school officials announced the Crimson Tide accepted a bid to play in the Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl against Oklahoma. The appearance marked the second for Alabama in the Bluebonnet Bowl and their 24th overall bowl game appearance.
Oklahoma
The 1970 Oklahoma squad finished the regular season with a 7–4 record and losses against , Texas1970 Texas Longhorns football team
The 1970 Texas Longhorns football team represented the University of Texas at Austin in the 1970 college football season. The Longhorns shared the National Championship with Nebraska...
, Kansas State
1970 Kansas State Wildcats football team
The 1970 Kansas State Wildcats football team represented Kansas State University in the college football season of 1970. The team's head football coach was Vince Gibson. The Wildcats played their home games in KSU Stadium....
and Nebraska
1970 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 1970 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska in the 1970 college football season. The team was coached by Bob Devaney and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln...
. During the week prior to their Bedlam Series
Bedlam Series
The Bedlam Series refers to the athletics rivalry between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and the Oklahoma State University Cowboys, of the Big 12 Conference...
game against , school officials announced the Sooners accepted a bid to play in the Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl against Alabama. The appearance marked the second for Oklahoma in the Bluebonnet Bowl and their 14th overall bowl game appearance.
Game summary
Alabama opened the scoring early in the first when Scott HunterScott Hunter (American football)
James Scott Hunter is a former professional American football quarterback in the National Football League. He played for the Green Bay Packers, the Buffalo Bills, the Atlanta Falcons, and the Detroit Lions...
connected with Randy Moore for a four-yard touchdown reception and a 7–0 lead. Oklahoma responded on the ensuing possession by driving 74 yards with Joe Wylie running it in from two yards out to tie the game at 7–7. The Sooners extended their lead to 21–7 with two long touchdown runs of 58 and 25 yards by Greg Pruitt
Greg Pruitt
Gregory Donald Pruitt is a former American football running back in the NFL from 1973 through 1984. He was selected to five Pro Bowls, four as a member of the Cleveland Browns and one as a member of the Los Angeles Raiders, the last one as a kick returner...
. The Tide cut the lead to seven when Hunter hit David Bailey for a five yard touchdown with only 0:14 remaining in the half. In the third, Richard Ciemny hit a 20-yard field goal to cut the lead further to 21–17. Alabama took the lead early in the fourth on a trick play
Trick play
A trick play, also known as a gadget play or a gimmick play, is a play in American football that uses deception and unorthodox strategies to fool the opposing team. A trick play is often risky, offering the potential for a large gain or a touchdown if it is successful, but with the chance of a...
. Hunter handed-off the ball to Johnny Musso who then threw a 25-yard touchdown pass back to Hunter to give the Crimson Tide a 24–21 lead. However, the game ended in a tie after Bruce Derr hit a 42-yard field goal late in the fourth.