1951 Orange Bowl Explained

Game Name:Orange Bowl
Subheader:17th Orange Bowl
Date Game Played:January 1
Year Game Played:1951
Football Season:1950
Home Name Short:Miami
Home Nickname:Hurricanes
Home Record:9–0–1
Home Conference:Independent
Home 1Q:0
Home 2Q:0
Home 3Q:14
Home 4Q:0
Visitor Rank Ap:10
Visitor Rank Coaches:10
Home Rank Ap:15
Home Rank Coaches:16
Visitor Name Short:Clemson
Visitor Nickname:Tigers
Visitor Record:8–0–1
Visitor 1Q:0
Visitor 2Q:7
Visitor 3Q:6
Visitor 4Q:2
Odds:Miami by 1[1]
Referee:John J. Lynch (SEC;
split crew: SEC, Southern)
Attendance:65,181

The 1951 Orange Bowl was a college football postseason bowl game between the Miami Hurricanes and the Clemson Tigers played on January 1, 1951. Played in Miami at Burdine Stadium, it was the 17th edition of the annual Orange Bowl.

Background

Although they finished second in the Southern Conference,[2] the Clemson Tigers were undefeated—they had won eight games, and tied South Carolina[3] —en route to their first Orange Bowl appearance. Similarly, the Miami Hurricanes were undefeated, with nine wins and a tie (against Louisville),[4] and were playing in their third Orange Bowl, having lost the 1935 edition and having won the 1946 edition. The teams had only met once before, a 7–6 win by Miami in 1945.[5]

Game summary

Fred Cone gave Clemson a 7–0 lead on his one-yard touchdown run that culminated a 76-yard drive, which proved to be the halftime lead as the Hurricanes mustered just one first down in the first half. Six plays after Clemson received the opening kickoff in the second half, Glenn Smith caught a pass from Billy Hair for a touchdown. However, the extra point attempt was wide, making it a 13–0 lead for Clemson.

Miami retaliated with a touchdown run by Harry Mallios that had been set up by a Smith run of 45 yards. Minutes later, Jim Dooley intercepted a pass from Hair, which Miami took advantage of by scoring on a 95-yard touchdown drive to lead, 14–13.

With six minutes to go in the game, Mallios returned a punt that seemed to be a 79-yard touchdown run to put the game out of reach. However, a clipping penalty was called on Miami, putting them back at their own five-yard-line. Two additional gains by Miami were also nullified by penalties. On a play from the four-yard-line, Miami halfback Frank Smith was tackled by Clemson lineman Sterling Smith behind the goal line for a safety, giving Clemson a 15–14 lead and ultimately the win.[6] [7]

Aftermath

Though Miami made five bowl games in the next 16 years, they did not reach an Orange Bowl again until 1984. Clemson played in the Orange Bowl six years later, in 1957, though they did not win one until 1982.

Statistics

Statistics Clemson Miami
First downs 19 7
Total offense 322 212
Rushing (att.–yards) 57–144 31–112
Passing yards 178 100
Passing (comp.–att.–int.) 9–18–3 5–15–4
Punts–avg. 4–30 5–40.2
Fumbles–lost 3–1 0–0
Penalties–yards 2–20 5–55
Source:[8] [9]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Choices in Bowls And Other Games . . . . 25 . December 21, 1950 . January 4, 2021 . newspapers.com.
  2. News: Generals And Wildcats Win In Southern, Southeastern . . . . 12 . December 4, 1950 . January 4, 2021 . newspapers.com.
  3. Web site: 1950 Clemson Tigers Schedule and Results . sports-reference.com . January 4, 2021.
  4. Web site: 1950 Miami (FL) Hurricanes Schedule and Results . sports-reference.com . January 4, 2021.
  5. Web site: Clemson Tigers vs. Miami (FL) Hurricanes football series history games list . winsipedia.com . January 4, 2021.
  6. Web site: 1951 Orange Bowl. game.orangebowl.org. 2016-11-24.
  7. Web site: YouTube. www.youtube.com. 2016-11-24.
  8. News: Statistics . . . 2 . January 2, 1951 . January 4, 2021 . newspapers.com.
  9. Web site: 1951 Orange Bowl . clemsontigers.com . January 4, 2021.