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Colorado practices before the 1957 Orange Bowl

By Jimmy Burns
Miami Herald Sports Editor
January 2, 1957

Forget the dull first quarter, and the 23rd Orange Bowl classic Tuesday in which Colorado rallied to beat Clemson, 27-21, after blowing a 20-point lead, ranks with the most thrilling offensive battles in this series.

No script writer, giving full reign to his imagination, could have conjured up a more thrilling finish than the four-touchdown second half which left the 72,552 spectators, second largest crowd in Orange Bowl history, wild with excitement and limp from tension.

Looking less like a football team in the two opening quarters than a bunch of kids playing on a sandlot, Clemson came charging back to score three touchdowns and lead briefly in the fourth quarter, 21-20.

Press box habitués reasoned that coach Frank Howard must have spit tobacco juice into the player’s eyes to send them back so enraged.  Instead Howard had threatened to resign and the Tigers charged out and for several thrill-punctuated moments feasted on raw Buffalo meat, as they clawed and chewed their way into a temporary lead.

The outcome demonstrated that the Big Seven, which every other year has to choose a proxy for Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, had chosen wisely.  Colorado had courage, because only a team with grit could have recovered so quickly from three rocking touchdown blows.

It looked like the Orange had been grafted into a lemon when the second quarter ended with Colorado leading, 20 to 0.  The Tigers, most representative of the Atlantic Coast conference, had offered little resistance to the Buffaloes’ multiple offense, which fired the first drive.

The Buffaloes shifted from the T into single-wing and worked equally well behind balanced and unbalanced lines

Two breaks made it easier for the Buffaloes to run up their totals and it looked like this could become a mismatch, second only to Alabama’s 61-6 conquest of Syracuse.

Instead the revitalized Tigers came close to matching the great rally Alabama staged to beat Boston College, 37 to 21 in 1943.  Clemson gave it everything it that thrilling second half when defenses took a holiday and the ground smashing tactics of the two rivals kept the fans in a constant uproar.

This was a game in which the two rivals were partial to brute strength, rather than passes or trickery, and only a pass interception robbed Clemson of its finally chance to pull the game from the fire.  The Tigers mistakes had come early and although they earned glory from this game, they could not make up the deficit.

The game was in contention until the final moments, although the end came with Colorado ripping up the field after wresting the ball from the determined Tigers.

Only Howard cooks’ fumble with inches of Clemson’s double stripes had restrained the Buffaloes from stretching their lead by a touchdown as the half ended.

The outlook was dark for the Tigers as they came back to see the sun light bouncing off the Tigers 20 to 0 on the east end scoreboard.  It was a disheartening sight and the spectators hardly dare hope for more than a competitive second half.

The tigers had had a transfusion of spirit.  They regained some of their regular season skill and determination and Joe Wells put the Tigers on the move by returning Leroy Clark’s kickoff to his 31.

Clemson ate the up 69 yards with 18 plays, Bob Spooner carrying the ball 11 times for 51 yards.  The Buffaloes were knocked to their haunches time after time as the Tigers advanced. Wells went the last three yards through left tackle for the touchdown and Charley Bussey kicked the extra point.  Six minutes and seven seconds remained in the third period.

The tigers made good use of them after Boyd Dowler’s punt became a touchback. The tigers sped 80 yards in seven plays, the big thriller coming when Wells broke through right tackle and sped on t52 yards to score.  Bussey’s kick again was good and Colorado lead on 20-14.

It was as if someone had borrowed the magic wand used in Ernie Steller’s halftime show.  Regardless of what had happened suspense, which had AWOL, was back.  It had become a football game and the crowd was to remain in a constant uproar.

The Tigers tried what looked like an onside kick but it won only a muffled boot by Dick Marazza.  Alert John Grdijan recovered the ball at Colorado’s 45 and the crowd whooped.  This was the type of football it wanted. This had become a game, and the fans were hungry for more thrills.

Charley Horne bounced off right tackle for no gain as the third quarter ended as the teams were in the home stretch now.  It was anyone’s ball game.  The tigers failed to gain, but they were soon to have another chance.

Cook fumbled at his 21, and Tommy Sease recovered only eleven yards from a touchdown.  Wells sped far and fast to the north and was hauled down at Colorado’s one.  Spooner went through left guard for the touchdown and the clock showed 11:22 remaining to play.

This was an important extra point try.  Bussey made it and as the scoreboard flashed Clemson, 21; Colorado, 20, Charley and his teammates hopped up and down in sheer joy.

The Tigers tried an onside kick, but this time John Wooten was alert, pouncing on the ball at his 47.  The covered the 53 yards in eight plays, Bayuk a powerful brute, carrying the ball to the one with a 14-yard explosion through center.  He made the touchdown and with 7 minutes, 13 seconds left, Ellwin Indorf kicked the point to put the Buffaloes ahead again 27-21. 

The Tigers had one more chance, but Lady Luck turned her back after presenting the opportunity. It came when Dowler fumbled and Willie Smith pounced on the ball at Colorado’s 27.  The crowd stood up, roaring for the kill, but on the second play, Bob Stransky, a Buffalo hero, made his second helpful pass interception. This time he ripped back to his 35 and the Buffaloes retained possession until the end.

A sustained offense was delayed until the second quarter when Eddie Dove, despite fumbling a punt, returned it to his 25.  The Buffaloes drove the 75 yards in 11 plays, Bayuk contributing the longest gain – 15 yards, right through the middle.

Bayuk lowered his head and butted out the last two yards to score with 9 minutes and eight second to play in the half.  Cook made the point after and Colorado was leading 7 to 0.

Stransky set up the second touchdown by intercepting Bussey’s pass on Clemson’s 47.  He sped to the 10, where was knocked out of bounds by Bussey.

Two plays later, Dowler rolled out from the single wing and followed his interference around left end fo the touchdown, with Bayuk leading the interference.  Cook kicked the extra point to make it, 14 to 0.

Another touch of disaster was in store for the Tigers.  It was preceded by Horace Turbeville, deep in his own territory, being spilled for a 10-yard loss by Frank Clarke, as a pass was attempted.

Turbeville’s fourth down punt was blocked by this same Clarke, and was downed on Clemson’s 26.  Cook went the distance around right end on a single wing play to score. Four minutes and two seconds were left.

The Tigers lost the ball in midfield on downs and the Buffaloes pushed on within inches, missed because of the fumble.