1959 Liberty Bowl

American college football game December 2025 August 2023 1959 Liberty Bowl Inaugural Liberty Bowl 1959 Alabama Crimson Tide University of Alabama Penn State Nittany Lions Penn State University 7–1–2 SEC 8–2 Independent Bear Bryant Rip Engle 10 13 12 10 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 December 19 Philadelphia Municipal Stadium Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Jay Huffman (C, Penn State) Penn State by 1Penn State favored in Liberty Bowl Jack Hand The Gettysburg Times December 19, 1959 5 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tzsmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uv4FAAAAIBAJ&dq=liberty-bowl&pg=4029%2C793109 November 16, 2010 36,211 NBCTide going to Liberty Bowl Charles Land The Tuscaloosa News December 1, 1959 1 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CB8fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EJoEAAAAIBAJ&dq=liberty-bowl&pg=6762%2C9929 November 16, 2010 List of announcers of major college bowl games Lindsey Nelson Red Grange Yes The 1959 Liberty Bowl, part of the 1959 bowl game season, took place on December 19, 1959, at Philadelphia Municipal Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was the inaugural edition of the Liberty Bowl. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and the Penn State Nittany Lions, competing as a football independent. In a game dominated by both defenses, Penn State was victorious in by a final score of 7–0. The game is notable as the first football game Alabama ever played against an integrated team.Alabama Football's Racial Dilemma https://www.footballstudyhall.com/2013/11/11/5090698/the-1953-orange-bowl-the-forgotten-chapter-in-the-integration-of 2 July 2022 Teams Alabama 1959 Alabama Crimson Tide football team The 1959 Alabama squad finished the regular season with a 7–1–2 record and played in a bowl for the first time since the 1954 Cotton Bowl Classic. This was the first bowl for Bear Bryant as head coach of the Crimson Tide. After Navy turned down an offer, Alabama accepted a bid to play in the inaugural Liberty Bowl on November 30. Alabama had been offered a spot in the Bluegrass Bowl, scheduled to be played the same day as the Liberty Bowl, but turned down that invitation; the Bluegrass Bowl was subsequently canceled.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-paducah-sun-only-one-bowl-berth-stil/126049258/ Only One Bowl Berth Still Open Fred Down UPI The Paducah Sun Paducah, Kentucky 11 November 30, 1959 June 8, 2023 newspapers.com Penn State 1959 Penn State Nittany Lions football team After starting the season 7–0, Penn State dropped two of their final three games to finish the regular season with a record of 8–2. The Nittany Lions accepted a bid for the Liberty Bowl on November 23 with the other opponent identified as being either Georgia, Georgia Tech, SMU or Navy.Penn State bowl opponent unpicked Associated Press Kentucky New Era November 24, 1959 12 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dOIrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HWcFAAAAIBAJ&dq=liberty-bowl&pg=1615%2C4159742 November 16, 2010 Alabama was selected as the opponent after Navy turned down an offer. The game marked the first bowl for Penn State since the 1948 Cotton Bowl Classic. Game summary In a game dominated by both defenses, the only points were scored at the end of the second quarter by the Nittany Lions on a fake field goal.Penn State outplays Crimson Tide, 7–0 Charles Land The Tuscaloosa News December 20, 1959 1 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FB8fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EJoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7076%2C2919090 November 16, 2010 This lone touchdown was scored by Roger Kochman on a 17-yard reception from Galen Hall with Sam Stellatella adding the extra point. Alabama Penn State expand 2 00:00 Penn State 2 plays, 22 yards 00:30 Other Roger Kochman 17-yard touchdown reception from Galen Hall on a fake field goal attempt, Sam Stellatella kick good 0 7 0 7 See also Alabama–Penn State football rivalry References Category:1959–60 NCAA football bowl games 1959 1959 1959 Category:December 1959 sports events in the United States Category:1959 in sports in Pennsylvania