2007 International Bowl

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2007 International Bowl
Inaugural Bowl Game
International bowl 150.jpg
1234Total
Western Michigan0170724
Cincinnati14100327
DateJanuary 6, 2007
Season 2006
Stadium Rogers Centre
Location Toronto, Ontario, Canada
MVPCincinnati WR Dominick Goodman
Referee Dan Capron (Big Ten)
Attendance26,717
United States TV coverage
Network ESPN2
Announcers John Saunders (Play by Play)
Doug Flutie (Analyst)
Craig James (Analyst)
Todd Harris (Sideline)
International TV coverage
Network TSN (Canada)
International Bowl
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The 2007 International Bowl, held on January 6, 2007 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, was one of the college American football bowl games that ended the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The game pitted the University of Cincinnati against Western Michigan University.

Contents

Background

It was historically notable for several reasons:

Besides the historic significance of the game itself, the UC–WMU matchup was of particular interest because newly hired Cincinnati head coach Brian Kelly coached Central Michigan University during the 2006 regular season. Kelly and Central Michigan, the main rival of WMU, defeated Western Michigan 31–7 just eight weeks earlier. In addition, both schools had been charter members of the Mid-American Conference (WMU is still in the conference today, but UC left after the 1952–53 academic year).

Game summary

The game drew a crowd of 26,717. In this game, Cincinnati jumped out to a 24–0 lead with 10:22 left in the first half, but Western Michigan was able to score 24 unanswered points to tie the game at 24 early in the fourth quarter. The Bearcats defeated the Broncos 27–24 with WMU missing a late 51-yard field goal that could have sent the game into overtime. [1] [2]

Broadcast

The on-air ESPN crew included John Saunders, who was born and raised in Toronto and graduated from WMU; and Doug Flutie, who played two seasons with the Toronto Argonauts, both of which ended in Grey Cup championships.

References

  1. "Cincy overcomes blown 24-0 lead, wins International Bowl".[ permanent dead link ]
  2. "GoBEARCATS.COM Cincinnati Tops Western Michigan, 27-24, in International Bowl - University of Cincinnati Official Athletic Site University of Cincinnati". Archived from the original on January 16, 2017. Retrieved January 13, 2017.