1989 Liberty Bowl

Last updated

1989 Liberty Bowl
31st Liberty Bowl
1234Total
Ole Miss14147742
Air Force9061429
DateDecember 28, 1989
Season 1989
Stadium Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Location Memphis, Tennessee
MVP Randy Baldwin (RB, Ole Miss)
Attendance60,128
United States TV coverage
Network Raycom
Announcers Dave Barnett and Dave Rowe
Liberty Bowl
 < 1988   1990 > 

The 1989 Liberty Bowl was a college football postseason bowl game played on December 28, 1989, in Memphis, Tennessee. The 31st edition of the Liberty Bowl was contested between the Ole Miss Rebels and the Air Force Falcons.

Contents

Background

The Rebels finished tied for 4th position in the Southeastern Conference while the Falcons finished 2nd in the Western Athletic Conference. This was the first year in which the winner of the Commander in Chief's Trophy received an automatic bid to the Liberty Bowl. The two teams had matched up before in 1983. Chucky Mullins (who had been paralyzed in a game just two months ago) visited the Ole Miss locker room prior to the game in his first visit outside the hospital prior to his injury.

Game summary

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

Randy Baldwin rushed for 177 yards on 14 carries with two touchdowns, and John Darnell passed for 19-of-33 for 261 yards and a touchdown. [1]

Aftermath

The two teams would meet up three years later in the Liberty Bowl again.

Statistics

StatisticsOle MissAir Force
First downs3025
Rushing yards248259
Passing yards285233
Total yards533513
Passing C-A-I21–37–014–24–2
Punts–average5–38.24–43.3
Fumbles–lost2–23–2
Penalties–yards7–452–12

References

  1. "Ole Miss Bowl History" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 21, 2016.