1953 Orange Bowl

1953 Orange Bowl
1953 Orange Bowl
19th Orange Bowl
Syracuse Orangemen	Alabama Crimson Tide
(7–2)	(9–2)
Independent	SEC
6	61
Head coach: ; Ben Schwartzwalder	Head coach: ; Harold Drew
AP	Coaches
14	NR
AP	Coaches
9	9
Date	January 1, 1953
Season	1952
Stadium	Burdine Stadium
Location	Miami, Florida
Favorite	Alabama by 13
Attendance	66,280
United States TV coverage
Network	CBS
Announcers	Red Barber
Orange Bowl
< 1952	1954 >

Last updated May 24, 2022

The 1953 Orange Bowl , part of the 1952 bowl game season, took place on January 1, 1953, at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the Syracuse Orangemen, competing as a football independent. Alabama won the game by a record margin of 61–6. The 55-point margin of victory remained the largest for a bowl game until the 2008 GMAC Bowl, and still stands as the largest margin of victory for an Alabama football team in a bowl game.

Teams

Alabama

The 1952 Alabama squad posted their best overall record the 1950s, finishing 9–2 leading into the postseason. However, losses to Tennessee and Georgia Tech cost the Tide an SEC title. The day after defeating Maryland 27–7, Alabama accepted a bid to play in the Orange Bowl on New Years Day.^[2] The appearance marked the second for Alabama in the Orange Bowl, as they defeated Boston College 37–21 in the 1943 game.

Syracuse

The 1952 Syracuse squad finished the regular season with a record of 7–2 and as winners of the Lambert Trophy for the first time in school history.^[1] The Orangemen accepted a bid to play in the Orange Bowl after Navy declined the initial bid.^[3]^[4]

Game summary

Alabama opened the scoring on the afternoon with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Clell Hobson to Bobby Luna to take a 7–0 lead.^[5] Syracuse responded on the following possession with their lone points of the game on a 15-yard, Joe Szombathy touchdown run. After the extra point failed, the score was 7–6. The Orangemen did not score again while the Crimson Tide scored 54 unanswered points.^[5] Alabama extended their lead to 21–6 at the half with two touchdowns on a one-yard Bobby Marlow run and a 50-yard Thomas Tharp reception from Hobson.^[5] The scoring continued in the third quarter with three more touchdowns on a 38-yard Bobby Luna run and runs of one and 30-yards by Tommy Lewis.^[5] Leading 41–6, Alabama scored another three touchdowns in the fourth quarter on a 21-yard Joe Cummings reception from Bart Starr, an 80-yard Hootie Ingram punt return and a 60-yard Marvin Hill interception return.^[5]

The final score of 61–6 set an NCAA record for largest margin of victory in a bowl game, surpassing the previous record of 49 points set by Michigan in both the 1902 and 1948 Rose Bowl Games.^[6]^[7]^[8] The 55-point margin of victory stood as the all-time record for a bowl game through the 2008 GMAC Bowl where Tulsa defeated Bowling Green 63–7 for a 56-point margin of victory.^[9] The 55-points still stands as the largest margin of victory for an Alabama football team in a bowl game.^[10]^[11]

Scoring summary

Quarter	Time	Drive			Team	Scoring information	Score
Quarter	Time	Plays	Yards	TOP	Team	Scoring information	Syracuse	Alabama
1	8:13				Alabama	Bobby Luna 27-yard touchdown reception from Clell Hobson, Bobby Luna kick good	0	7
1	2:45				Syracuse	Joe Szombathy 15-yard touchdown run, kick failed	6	7
2	13:11				Alabama	Bobby Marlow 1-yard touchdown run, Bobby Luna kick good	6	14
2	4:40				Alabama	Thomas Tharp 50-yard touchdown reception from Clell Hobson, Bobby Luna kick good	6	21
3					Alabama	Bobby Luna 38-yard touchdown run, Bobby Luna kick good	6	28
3					Alabama	Tommy Lewis 1-yard touchdown run, Bobby Luna kick good	6	35
3					Alabama	Tommy Lewis 30-yard touchdown run, Bobby Luna kick failed	6	41
4	14:50				Alabama	Joe Cummings 21-yard touchdown reception from Bart Starr, Bobby Luna kick good	6	48
4					Alabama	80-yard punt return by Hootie Ingram, Bobby Luna kick failed	6	54
4					Alabama	Interception returned 60 yards for touchdown by Marvin Hill, Bobby Luna kick good	6	61
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.							6	61

Related Research Articles

Harold Delbert "Red" Drew was an American football, basketball, and track and field coach for over 40 years. He was the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team from 1947 to 1954, compiling a 54–28–7 record and leading the team to appearances in the Sugar, Orange and Cotton Bowls. He also served as an assistant football coach at Alabama from 1931 to 1941, including the undefeated 1934 team that won the national championship and played in the 1935 Rose Bowl. Drew also served as Alabama's track and field coach for 23 seasons continuing into the mid-1960s. He was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1971.

The 1960 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1960 NCAA University Division football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 66th overall and 27th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his third year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished with a record of eight wins, one loss and two ties and with a tie against Texas in the Bluebonnet Bowl.

The 1962 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1962 NCAA University Division football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 68th overall and 29th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his fifth year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished season with ten wins and one loss and with a victory over Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl.

The 1963 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1963 NCAA University Division football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 69th overall and 30th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his sixth year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Legion Field in Birmingham and Ladd Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. They finished season with nine wins and two losses and with a victory over Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl.

The 1964 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1964 NCAA University Division football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 70th overall and 31st season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his seventh year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Legion Field in Birmingham and Ladd Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. They finished season with ten wins and one loss, as SEC champions and with a loss to Texas in the Orange Bowl. As the major wire services at that time awarded their national champions prior to the bowl season, Alabama was also recognized as national champions by the AP and UPI before their loss to Texas. After the bowl games, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) named the undefeated Arkansas Razorbacks as the national champions.

The 1965 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1965 NCAA University Division football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 71st overall and 32nd season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his eighth year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Legion Field in Birmingham and Ladd Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. They finished season with nine wins, one loss and one tie, as SEC champions and with a victory over Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. Alabama was also recognized as national champions by the AP Poll after their Orange Bowl win.

The 1968 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1968 NCAA University Division football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 74th overall and 35th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his 11th year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Legion Field in Birmingham and Ladd Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. They finished season with eight wins and three losses and with a loss against Missouri in the Gator Bowl.

The 1950 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1950 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 56th overall and 17th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Harold Drew, in his fourth year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Legion Field in Birmingham and Ladd Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. They finished with a record of nine wins and two losses.

The 1952 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1952 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 58th overall and 19th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Harold Drew, in his sixth year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Legion Field in Birmingham, Ladd Stadium in Mobile and at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. They finished with a record of ten wins and two losses and with a victory over Syracuse in the Orange Bowl.

The 1953 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1953 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 59th overall and 20th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Harold Drew, in his seventh year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Legion Field in Birmingham, Ladd Stadium in Mobile and at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. They finished with a record of six wins, three losses and three ties, as SEC Champions and with a loss against Rice in the Cotton Bowl Classic.

The 1958 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1958 NCAA University Division football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 64th overall and 25th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his first year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Legion Field in Birmingham and at Ladd Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. They finished with a record of five wins, four losses and one tie. As they finished the season above .500, Alabama secured its first winning season since 1953, and their five victories gave Bryant more wins games in one season than former head coach Jennings B. Whitworth did in previous three.

The 1959 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1959 NCAA University Division football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 65th overall and 26th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his second year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Legion Field in Birmingham and at Ladd Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. They finished with a record of seven wins, two losses and two ties and with a loss against Penn State in the inaugural Liberty Bowl.

The 1947 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1947 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 53rd overall and 14th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Harold Drew, in his first year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished with a record of eight wins and three losses and with a loss in the Sugar Bowl.

The 1954 Cotton Bowl Classic, part of the 1953 bowl game season, took place on January 1, 1954, at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference (SEC) as conference champions, and the Rice Owls, representing the Southwest Conference (SWC) as conference co-champions. Rice won the game 28–6, but its victory was overshadowed by Alabama's Tommy Lewis and his "12th man tackle" of Rice running back Dicky Maegle in the second quarter.

The 1943 Orange Bowl, part of the 1942 bowl game season, took place on January 1, 1943, at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the Boston College Eagles, competing as a football independent. Alabama won the game 37–21.

The 1978 Sugar Bowl was the 44th edition of the college football bowl game, played at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Monday, January 2. Part of the 1977–78 bowl game season, it matched the third-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the #9 Ohio State Buckeyes of the Big Ten Conference.

The 1965 Orange Bowl, part of the 1964–65 bowl season, was the 31st edition of the college football bowl game, played at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, on Friday, January 1. Part of the 1964–65 bowl season, It matched the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and the #5 Texas Longhorns of the Southwest Conference (SWC). Texas built an early lead and won 21–17.

The 1976 Liberty Bowl, part of the 1976 bowl game season, took place on December 20, 1976, at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee. The competing teams in the 18th edition of the Liberty Bowl were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and the UCLA Bruins, representing the Pacific-8 Conference (Pac-8). Alabama won the game, 36–6.

The 1975 Orange Bowl was the 41st edition of the college football bowl game, played at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, on Wednesday, January 1. Part of the 1974–75 bowl game season, it matched the ninth-ranked independent Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the undefeated #2 Alabama Crimson Tide of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). It was a rematch of the previous season's Sugar Bowl. In a game dominated by both defenses, underdog Notre Dame held on to upset the Tide, 13–11.

The 1952 Syracuse Orangemen football team represented Syracuse University in the 1952 college football season. The Orangemen were led by fourth-year head coach Ben Schwartzwalder and played their home games at Archbold Stadium in Syracuse, New York.

References

1 2 3 Funk, Ben (January 1, 1953). "Syracuse puts up eastern prestige against Alabama". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 8. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
↑ "Tide gets bowl bid". The Tuscaloosa News. United Press Associations. November 24, 1952. p. 1.
↑ Funk, Ben (November 25, 1952). "Syracuse signed for Orange Bowl". Beaver Valley Times. p. 10. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
↑ "Syracuse Lands in Orange Bowl After Navy Refuses Bid". Star-Gazette. Elmira, New York. AP. 25 November 1952. p. 22. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
1 2 3 4 5 Watkins, Edwin (January 2, 1953). "Bama smashes records, Syracuse, 61 to 6". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 1. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
↑ "Alabama routs Syracuse in 'Worst mismatch,' 61–6". The Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. January 2, 1953. p. Section 2, Page 4. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
↑ "Alabama eleven wins greatest bowl mismatch". Ellensburg Daily Record. Associated Press. January 2, 1953. p. 8. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
↑ "Bama gains most lop-sided win in bowl history, 61–6". The Pittsburgh Press. United Press Associations. January 2, 1953. p. 25. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
↑ "Smith's 14th straight 300-yard game leads Tulsa past Bowling Green". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 6, 2008. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
↑ Hurt, Cecil (January 2, 2011). "Capital punishment: Alabama takes down Michigan State". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
↑ "2011 Capital One Bowl Postgame Notes". RollTide.com. January 1, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2011.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[January_1,_1953-1] 1 2 3 Funk, Ben (January 1, 1953). "Syracuse puts up eastern prestige against Alabama". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 8. Retrieved January 4, 2011.

[November_24,_1952-2] "Tide gets bowl bid". The Tuscaloosa News. United Press Associations. November 24, 1952. p. 1.

[November_25,_1952-3] Funk, Ben (November 25, 1952). "Syracuse signed for Orange Bowl". Beaver Valley Times. p. 10. Retrieved January 4, 2011.

[4] "Syracuse Lands in Orange Bowl After Navy Refuses Bid". Star-Gazette. Elmira, New York. AP. 25 November 1952. p. 22. Retrieved 19 December 2020.

[January_2,_1953-5] 1 2 3 4 5 Watkins, Edwin (January 2, 1953). "Bama smashes records, Syracuse, 61 to 6". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 1. Retrieved January 4, 2011.

[January_2,_1953MKE-6] "Alabama routs Syracuse in 'Worst mismatch,' 61–6". The Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. January 2, 1953. p. Section 2, Page 4. Retrieved January 4, 2011.

[January_2,_1953Ellen-7] "Alabama eleven wins greatest bowl mismatch". Ellensburg Daily Record. Associated Press. January 2, 1953. p. 8. Retrieved January 4, 2011.

[January_2,_1953Pit-8] "Bama gains most lop-sided win in bowl history, 61–6". The Pittsburgh Press. United Press Associations. January 2, 1953. p. 25. Retrieved January 4, 2011.

[9] "Smith's 14th straight 300-yard game leads Tulsa past Bowling Green". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 6, 2008. Retrieved January 3, 2011.

[MSUTCL1-10] Hurt, Cecil (January 2, 2011). "Capital punishment: Alabama takes down Michigan State". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved July 23, 2011.

[MSUNotes-11] "2011 Capital One Bowl Postgame Notes". RollTide.com. January 1, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2011.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

v t e Orange Bowl
History & conference tie-ins	History Miami Orange Bowl Hard Rock Stadium College Football Playoff Broadcasters Atlantic Coast Conference Big Ten Conference Southeastern Conference Notre Dame
Games	1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 (January) 1996 (December) 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 (January) 2014 (December) 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 (January) 2021 (December)
Notes	The game was also the national title game (Bowl Coalition, Bowl Alliance, or Bowl Championship Series) in 1994, 1995, 1998, 2001, and 2005. There was an Orange Bowl in January and December in 1996, 2014, and 2021. The 2015, 2018, and 2021 (December) editions were College Football Playoff semifinals.