Home Page | 1977 Arkansas Razorbacks football team
The 1977 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas in the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1977 NCAA Division I football season. In their first year under head coach Lou Holtz, the Razorbacks compiled an 11–1 record (7–1 against SWC opponents), finished in second place in the SWC, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 389 to 101. The Razorbacks' only loss was to SWC champion Texas by a 13–9 score. There was controversy during that game, when Arkansas QB Ron Calcagni's facemask was grabbed by a Texas player during a key drive, but the officials did not call the penalty, and Arkansas was forced to settle for a field goal. The team advanced to 1978 Orange Bowl, defeating No. 2 Oklahoma by a 31–6 score. Arkansas was ranked No. 3 in both the final AP poll and the final UPI Coaches Poll.
Offensive guard Leotis Harris and placekicker Steve Little were both consensus first-team picks for the 1977 College Football All-America Team. Little punted 48 times for 2,127 yards, and had the fourth-best average in college football, with 44.3 yards per punt. Little scored an average of 8.5 points per game for the Razorbacks, including 19 field goals (30 attempted) and 37 extra points. This was the eighth-best average per game, and the second-best among kickers. His 1.73 field goals per game was second-best to Paul Marchese of Kent State.
The Razorbacks also had the third-best scoring defense and tied for the fourth-best pass defense. The Hogs, along with the Indiana Hoosiers, gave up only 89.5 yards per game through the air, and the Hogs only surrendered 8.6 points per game. Only North Carolina and Ohio State allowed fewer points in 1977. The Hogs were ranked third by the AP, behind runner-up Alabama and champion Notre Dame. Rothman (FACT), a mathematical rating system in use since 1968 and NCAA-designated major selector, selected Arkansas as co-national champions with Notre Dame and Texas.
Schedule
Date
Opponent
Rank
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
Source
September 10
New Mexico State*
War Memorial Stadium
Little Rock, AR
W 53–10
53,167
September 17
No. 15 Oklahoma State*
War Memorial Stadium
Little Rock, AR
W 28–6
54,280
September 24
Tulsa*
No. 16
Razorback Stadium
Fayetteville, AR
W 37–3
43,524
October 1
at TCU
No. 12
Amon G. Carter Stadium
Fort Worth, TX
W 42–6
22,713
October 15
No. 2 Texas
No. 8
Razorback Stadium
Fayetteville, AR (rivalry)
ABC
L 9–13
44,296
October 22
Houston
No. 9
War Memorial Stadium
Little Rock, AR
W 34–0
53,924
October 29
at Rice
No. 8
Rice Stadium
Houston, TX
W 30–7
20,000
November 5
Baylor
No. 8
War Memorial Stadium
Little Rock, AR
W 35–9
53,620
November 12
at No. 11 Texas A&M
No. 8
Kyle Field
College Station, TX (rivalry)
W 26–20
54,000
November 19
SMU
No. 8
Razorback Stadium
Fayetteville, AR
W 47–7
43,791
November 24
Texas Tech
No. 6
Jones Stadium
Lubbock, TX (rivalry)
ABC
W 17–14
32,856
January 2, 1978
vs. No. 2 Oklahoma*
No. 6
Miami Orange Bowl
Miami, FL (Orange Bowl)
NBC
W 31–6
60,987
*Non-conference game
Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
Game summaries
Orange Bowl
1
2
3
4
Total
#6 Razorbacks
14
0
10
7
31
#2 Sooners
0
0
0
6
6
The 1978 Orange Bowl was played between No. 6 Arkansas and No. 2 Oklahoma. Entering the game, the Hogs were twenty-one point underdogs against the Sooners. Arkansas had three offensive starters suspended for the contest and another injured in bowl practice, which also led fans to believe the Sooners would roll. Roland Sales of Arkansas rushed for 205 yards on 23 carries, setting an Orange Bowl record. Sales would hold the record until Ahman Green carried for 206 yards in 1998, beating Sales by a single yard. He came in relief of star running back Ben Cowins, who the Hogs left in Fayetteville for a violation of team rules. Sales began the scoring on a one-yard run after a Billy Sims fumble. Hog QB Ron Calcagni would score next, after a fumble by Oklahoma fullback Kenny King. Steve Little completed a field goal to give the Hogs a 17–0 cushion in the third quarter. Sales scored on a four-yard run to stretch the Hog advantage to 24–0. Oklahoma would score on an eight-yard touchdown pass, but the Hogs would stop the two-point conversion. Barnabas White would tack on another Razorback touchdown, getting the ball from Mike Scott playing quarterback for the Hogs.
Scoring summary
Quarter
Time
Drive
Team
Scoring information
Score
Plays
Yards
TOP
ARK
OU
1
13:01
9
2
ARK
Roland Sales 1-yard touchdown run, Steve Little kick good
7
0
1
58
7
ARK
Ron Calcagni 1-yard touchdown run, Steve Little kick good
14
0
3
66
11
ARK
32-yard field goal by Steve Little
17
0
3
4:04
82
7
ARK
Roland Sales 4-yard touchdown run, Steve Little kick good
24
0
4
95
10
OU
Hicks 8-yard touchdown reception from Dean Blevins, 2-point run failed
24
6
4
70
9
ARK
Ben White 20-yard touchdown run, Steve Little kick good
31
6
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
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