3 17 Colorado 0 3 0 | NR 16 0 3 0 0 | |
The 1970 Liberty Bowl, part of the 1970 bowl game season, took place on December 12, 1970, at Memphis Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee. The competing teams were the Tulane Green Wave, competing as an independent and the Colorado Buffaloes, representing the Big Eight Conference (Big 8). Tulane won the game 17–3. It would be the last Liberty Bowl to be played on a Saturday until 1978, when another Big 8 representative, Missouri was involved.
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Tulane
Entering the 1970 bowl season, Tulane finished the regular season with a record of 7–4. Following a 26–14 defeat to the rival LSU Tigers, the Green Wave accepted a bid to play in the Liberty Bowl. The appearance in the game marked Tulane's first since the 1940 Sugar Bowl and their fourth overall bowl appearance.
Colorado
Entering the 1970 bowl season, Colorado finished the regular season with a record of 6–4. Following the completion of their regular season, the Buffaloes accepted a bid to play in the Liberty Bowl for the second consecutive year. The appearance in the game marked Colorado's second in the Liberty Bowl and their sixth overall bowl appearance.
Game summary
In an early defensive struggle, Tulane threatened to score first after Rick Kingrea intercepted a Paul Arendt pass an returned it to the Colorado six-yard line. Four plays later the Green Wave scored first on a 19-yard Lee Gibson field goal. Colorado evened the score 3–3 in the second quarter on a 32-yard David Haney field goal to cap a 15-play, 63-yard drive. In the second half the Green Wave scored touchdowns on a pair of David Abercrombie runs to win the game 17–3. For his 124 yards rushing and two touchdowns, Abercrombie was named the game's Most Valuable Player.