1976 Liberty Bowl: No roses for Terry Donahue… yet
With Dick Vermeil’s departure, Terry Donahue took over as head coach of the Bruins and would eventually become something of an institution in LA. However, in Year 1 he was just trying to live up to Vermeil’s Rose Bowl win, but without Sciarra at quarterback.
UCLA climbed to as high as No. 2 in the AP Poll in 1976, but ultimately finished at No. 15 with a record of 9-2-1 after falling to Alabama 36-6 in the Liberty Bowl. This was the first bowl that UCLA went to that was not the Rose Bowl.
Barry Krauss of Alabama was named the MVP of the game.