1982 Liberty Bowl

1982 Liberty Bowl
24th Liberty Bowl
1234 Total
Illinois 0663 15
Alabama 7077 21
DateDecember 29, 1982
Season1982
StadiumLiberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
LocationMemphis, Tennessee
MVPAlabama DB Jeremiah Castille
RefereeRaymond Bower (CIFOA)
Attendance54,123
United States TV coverage
NetworkMetroSports
AnnouncersHarry Kalas, Joe Kapp and Johnny Holliday
Liberty Bowl
 < 1981  1983

The 1982 Liberty Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game held on December 29, 1982, in Memphis, Tennessee, at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The 24th edition of the Liberty Bowl featured the Illinois Fighting Illini of the Big Ten Conference and the Alabama Crimson Tide of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Alabama won the game, 21–15.

Alabama entered the game with a 7–4 record, having lost their final three regular season games. The team was led by coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, who was coaching his final game after twenty-five years with the program, announcing he would retire and hand over control of the team to Ray Perkins following the game.[1] Bryant's retirement made the Liberty Bowl one of the most covered games of the season as many news stations and newspapers sent reporters to cover the game.[2][3]

Illinois was led by head coach Mike White and quarterback Tony Eason. The team was making their first bowl appearance since 1964, having won each of their previous bowls.

  1. ^ "After many a splendid season, the Bear hangs up his hat". Sports Illustrated. December 27, 1982. Archived from the original on December 6, 2008. Retrieved September 10, 2008.
  2. ^ "The Liberty Bowl 1982". Archived from the original on December 11, 2008. Retrieved September 10, 2008.
  3. ^ "Bear bow makes Libert Bowl a hot ticket". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. December 23, 1982.