1966 Liberty Bowl The 1966 Liberty Bowl was a post - season American college football bowl game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Miami Hurricanes at Memphis Memorial Stadium in Memphis , Tennessee on December 10 , 1966 . The game was the final contest of the 1966 college football season for both teams , and ended in a 14 – 7 victory for the Miami Hurricanes . A then - record 39 , 101 tickets were sold for the game , but due to 36 - degree temperatures at game time , only 25 , 012 spectators attended . The game marked just the second time that Virginia Tech had played in a bowl game since the creation of the team in 1892 . The game also marked the second time in each school ' s history that the two teams had faced each other . The previous meeting , held in 1953 , ended in a 26 – 0 shutout victory for the Hurricanes . Current Virginia Tech head football coach and then - player Frank Beamer participated in the game as a backup cornerback for the Hokies . Pregame buildup . Virginia Tech . The Hokies were led on defense by All - America safety Frank Loria , who caught three interceptions and returned three punts for touchdowns as a junior during the 1966 season . In addition , Virginia Tech defensive end George Foussekis was named to the Associated Press second - team All - America team , and helped keep the Hurricanes ' offense in check for most of the game . On offense , fullback Tommy Groom served as the third of the Hokies ' three team captains during the game . Virginia Tech was coached by Jerry Claiborne , who was in his sixth year as head coach of the Hokies . Under Claiborne , Virginia Tech had amassed a strong 8 - 1 - 1 record with wins over Kentucky , Florida State , and Virginia and a 70 – 12 blowout win over traditional rival VMI in the final game of the season . The Hokies ' sole loss came in the first game of the season against Tulane , and Virginia Tech drew a 13 – 13 tie against West Virginia . Miami . The ninth - ranked Hurricanes boasted a 7 – 2 – 1 regular - season record , including wins over Southern California and Florida . The Hurricanes were led on the field by three - time All - America n lineback Ted Hendricks , who would later go on to a Hall of Fame career in the National Football League . Off the field , the Hurricanes were coached by Charlie Tate , who would head the Hurricanes football team until 1970 . Game summary . The game kicked off in frigid weather , and from the beginning , defense dominated . In the first half , Tech held Miami to just 16 yards of total offense . On the opposite side of the ball , Miami set bowl game records for fewest rushing yards allowed and fewest first downs allowed . The Hokies got the first big break of the game after blocking Miami ' s first punt of the game . Taking over at the Miami 21 - yard line , it took Virginia Tech just five plays to march into the end zone for an early 7 – 0 lead . Virginia Tech and Miami battled to a stalemate for the rest of the first half , and Tech went into halftime still clinging to a 7 – 0 lead . In the second half , Tech ' s fortune turned . Late in the third quarter , the Virginia Tech defense stopped Miami ' s offense for yet another time , but instead of receiving the punt cleanly , the Hokies committed a roughing the kicker penalty that allowed Miami to retain possession of the ball with a first down . A few plays later , Miami scored its first touchdown of the game . In the fourth quarter Miami finally took the lead on a 10 - play , 70 - yard drive . The Hokies were unable to answer the Hurricanes ' score , and Miami won the 1966 Liberty Bowl , 14 – 7 . Statistical summary . Miami ' s Jimmy Cox was named the game ' s most valuable player after catching five passes for 77 yards — accounting for nearly half of Miami ' s total offensive output . Miami earned just three rushing first downs during the game , setting a Liberty Bowl record that has yet to be broken . Each team had two players pass the ball . Tech ' s Tommy Stafford finished the game having completed four 13 passes for 59 yards and one interception . Several times during the game , the Hokies had also played with Barker passing the ball . He finished having completed two of his three passes for 13 yards . On the Miami side of the ball , Miller completed nine of 26 passes for 99 yards and Olivo completed one pass for nine yards . On the ground , Virginia Tech ' s Tommy Francisco led all runners with 21 carries for 55 yards . Backing up Francisco was Tech ' s Sal Garcia , who finished with three carries for 15 yards . Miami ' s leading rusher was McGee , who carried the ball 12 times for 36 yards . Backing up McGee was Acuff , who finished with six carries for 25 yards .