2000 Gator Bowl

Last updated

2000 Toyota Gator Bowl
55th Gator Bowl
1234Total
Georgia Tech076013
Miami7140728
DateJanuary 1, 2000
Season 1999
Stadium Alltel Stadium
Location Jacksonville, Florida
MVP LB Nate Webster (Miami)
QB Joe Hamilton (Georgia Tech)
Referee Bill McCabe (Mtn. West)
Attendance43,416
United States TV coverage
Announcers Tom Hammond, James Lofton, Craig Sager
Gator Bowl
 < 1999   2001 > 

The 2000 Gator Bowl featured the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Miami Hurricanes.

Contents

Background

The Jackets had at one point been ranked as high as 7th in the polls before two losses had made them fall to 17th. They finished 2nd in the Atlantic Coast Conference. This was their third consecutive bowl season. The Hurricanes finished 2nd in the Big East Conference with a loss to Virginia Tech late in the season costing them a share of the title. But Miami was making their third bowl appearance under Davis, who was hired to help rebuild the program after a scandal that rocked the school in 1995.

Game summary

Tech had multiple opportunities to score, but two interceptions and two missed field goals doomed the Jackets in their first bowl loss since 1978. Miami scored the first 14 points of the game on a James Jackson rushing touchdown and an Andre King touchdown catch from Kenny Kelly. Tech mustered a Joe Hamilton touchdown late in the first half but Miami scored before the half ended on a Clinton Portis 73 yard run to lead 21–7. From that point on, Tech scored just six points on two Luke Manget field goals, which narrowed it to 21–13. But Ken Dorsey's touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne midway through the fourth quarter sealed the game for the Hurricanes. [1]

Aftermath

The Jackets would go to one more bowl game with O'Leary before he left the program. The Jackets would return to the Gator Bowl seven years later. Miami would go to the Sugar Bowl the next year, their last bowl game with Davis before he departed for the Cleveland Browns.

Statistics

StatisticsGTMiami
First Downs2922
Yards Rushing217239
Yards Passing245208
Total Offense Yards462447
Punts-Average6-26.25-42.6
Fumbles-Lost1-01-1
Interceptions21
Penalties-Yards7-759-90
Time of Possession32:2027:40

References

  1. "USA TODAY Latest news".