| Year Game Played: | 1966 |
| Game Name: | Liberty Bowl |
| Subheader: | 8th Liberty Bowl |
| Football Season: | 1966 |
| Visitor Name Short: | VPI |
| Visitor Nickname: | Gobblers |
| Home Name Short: | Miami |
| Home Nickname: | Hurricanes |
| Visitor Record: | 8–1–1 |
| Visitor Conference: | Independent |
| Home Record: | 7-2-1 |
| Home Conference: | Independent |
| Visitor Coach: | Jerry Claiborne |
| Home Coach: | Charlie Tate |
| Home Rank Ap: | 9 |
| Home Rank Coaches: | 10 |
| Visitor Rank Ap: | NR |
| Visitor Rank Coaches: | 20 |
| Visitor 1Q: | 7 |
| Visitor 2Q: | 0 |
| Visitor 3Q: | 0 |
| Visitor 4Q: | 0 |
| Home 1Q: | 0 |
| Home 2Q: | 0 |
| Home 3Q: | 7 |
| Home 4Q: | 7 |
| Date Game Played: | December 10 |
| Stadium: | Memphis Memorial Stadium |
| City: | Memphis, Tennessee |
| Mvp: | Jimmy Cox, Miami |
| Referee: | Johnny Cook (SEC; split crew: SEC, Southern) |
| Attendance: | 25,012 |
| Us Network: | ABC |
The 1966 Liberty Bowl was a post-season American college football bowl game between the VPI Gobblers (now the Virginia Tech Hokies) and the Miami Hurricanes, both independent programs. The eighth edition of the Liberty Bowl, it was played on December 10, 1966, at Memphis Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee. The game was the final contest of the 1966 NCAA University Division football season for both teams, and ended in a 14–7 victory for Miami.[1] A then-record 39,101 tickets were sold for the game, but due to 36F temperatures at game time, only 25,012 spectators attended.[2]
This was the second time that the two programs had faced each other. The previous meeting, held in 1953, ended in a 26–0 shutout victory for Miami.[3]
See main article: 1966 VPI Gobblers football team. VPI was led on defense by All-America safety Frank Loria, who caught three interceptions and returned three punts for touchdowns as a junior during the 1966 season.[4] In addition, defensive end George Foussekis was named to the Associated Press second-team All-America team,[5] and helped keep the Hurricanes' offense in check for most of the game.On offense, fullback Tommy Groom served as the third of the team's three team captains during the game.[6] VPI was coached by Jerry Claiborne, who was in his sixth year as head coach. Under Claiborne, the team had amassed a strong 8–1–1 record with wins over Kentucky, Florida State, and Virginia and a 70–12 blowout win over traditional rival VMI in the final game of the season. VPI's sole loss came in the first game of the season against Tulane, and the team had a 13–13 tie against West Virginia.[7]
The game marked just the second time that VPI had played in a bowl game since they first fielded a football team in 1892, following the 1947 Sun Bowl. Future Virginia Tech head football coach Frank Beamer participated in the game as a backup cornerback for VPI.[8]
See main article: 1966 Miami Hurricanes football team. The ninth-ranked Hurricanes boasted a 7 - 2 - 1 regular-season record, including wins over three teams that played in New Year's bowl games--Southern California (Rose), Georgia (Cotton), and Florida (Orange).[9] The Hurricanes were led on the field by three-time All-American lineback Ted Hendricks,[10] who would later go on to a Hall of Fame career in the National Football League.[11] Off the field, the Hurricanes were coached by Charlie Tate, who would head the Hurricanes football team until 1970.[12]
The game kicked off in frigid 36F weather,[10] and from the beginning, defense dominated. In the first half, VPI held Miami to just 16 yards of total offense. On the opposite side of the ball, Miami set bowl game records for fewest rushing yards allowed and fewest first downs allowed.[13] VPI got the first big break of the game after blocking Miami's first punt of the game. Taking over at the Miami 21-yard line, it took VPI just five plays to march into the end zone for an early 7–0 lead.[14] The teams battled to a stalemate for the rest of the first half, and VPI went into halftime still clinging to a 7–0 lead.
In the second half, VPI's fortune turned. Late in the third quarter, their defense stopped Miami's offense again, but instead of receiving the punt cleanly, VPI committed a roughing the kicker penalty that allowed Miami to retain possession of the ball with a first down. A few plays later, Miami scored its first touchdown of the game. In the fourth quarter Miami finally took the lead on a 10-play, 70-yard drive.[14] VPI was unable to answer the Hurricanes' score, and Miami won the game, 14–7.[15]
| 1st Downs | 7 | 11 | |
| Total yards | 111 | 163 | |
| Passing yards | 75 | 108 | |
| Rushing yards | 36 | 55 | |
| Penalties | 6–57 | 7–80 | |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
Miami's Jimmy Cox was named the game's most valuable player after catching five passes for 77 yards—accounting for nearly half of Miami's total offensive output.[14] [16] Miami earned just three rushing first downs during the game, setting a Liberty Bowl record that has yet to be broken.[17]
Each team had two players pass the ball. VPI's Tommy Stafford finished the game having completed four 13 passes for 59 yards and one interception. Several times during the game, VPI had also played with Barker passing the ball. He finished having completed two of his three passes for 13 yards. On the Miami side of the ball, Miller completed nine of 26 passes for 99 yards and Olivo completed one pass for nine yards.[14]
On the ground, VPI's Tommy Francisco led all runners with 21 carries for 55 yards. Backing up Francisco was Sal Garcia, who finished with three carries for 15 yards. Miami's leading rusher was McGee, who carried the ball 12 times for 36 yards. Backing up McGee was Acuff, who finished with six carries for 25 yards.[14]