1990’s Game History

The 1991 New Year’s Day game was one of record-breaking proportion. The Michigan Wolverines exploded for a Gator Bowl record 715 total yards. The domination came through the air and on the ground. Quarterback Elvis Grbac passed for 296 yards and four touchdowns, with 167 yard and two scores going to wideout Desmond Howard. Tailbacks John Vaughn and Ricky Powers combined for 240 yards on the ground. The Burkhalter trophy was awarded collectively, for the first time, to the entire Michigan offensive line for their efforts. The Wolverines’ defense forced six turnovers. The only bright spot for Ole Miss was a Gator Bowl-record 51 yard field goal by Brian Lee. The kick saved the Rebs from a shutout, as Michigan danced away with a 35-3 victory.

MVP: Tyrone Ashley (FS, Mississippi), Matt Elliott (LG, Michigan), Steve Everitt (C, Michigan), Dean Dingman (RG, Michigan), Greg Skrepenak (ST, Michigan)

Coaches: Gary Moeller (Michigan), Billy Brewer (Mississippi)

Total Payout: $2,200,000

Attendance: 68,297

Chairman: Victor Jackson

Network: ESPN

Michigan-35      Mississippi-3

MICH-Desmond Howard, 63-yd, pass from Elvis Grbac (J.D. Carlson kick)— MISS-Brian Lee, 51-yd. field goal— MICH-Jarrod
Bunch, 7-yd. pass from Grbac (Carlson kick)— MICH-Howard, 50-yd. pass from Grbac (Carlson kick)— MICH-Bunch,
5-yd. run (Carlson kick)— MICH-Derrick Alexander, 33-yd. pass from Grbac (Carlson kick)

Rushing: MISS-Randy baldwin 8-53, Ed Thigpen 6-32, Marvin Courtney 1-6, Darron Billings 2-6, Tom Lukke 14-5, Russ Shows
5-(minus 9). MICH-Jon Vaughn 15-128, Ricky Powers 14-112, Burnie Legette 5-54, Jarrod bunch 11-54, Desmond Howard 1-19,
Dennis Washington 3-15, Shawn Watson 1-5, Allen Jefferson 3-4.

Passing: MISS-Russ Shows 13-21-3, 175 yards, Tom Luke 5-11-1, 65 yards. MICH-Elvis Grbac 16-25-1, 296 yards, Ken Sollom
4-7-0, 28 yards.

Receiving: MISS-Vincent Brownlee 5-71, Camp Roberts 4-67, Darrick Owens 3-42, Randy Baldwin 2-15, Eddie Small 1-25,
Jeffrey Holder 1-11, Ed Thigpen 1-6, Marvin Courtney 1-3. MICH-Desmond Howard 6-167, Yale VanDyne 3-32, Derrick Alexander
2-50, Jarrod Bunch 1-12, Jon Vaughn 1-10, Kevin Owen 1-9, Ricky Powers 1-8, Dave Diebolt 1-7.

Oklahoma, who had been on probation for two years, were finally able to participate in postseason play again, and they would not take that opportunity for granted. The Cavaliers simply had no answer for the Sooners’ offense which scored 4 touchdowns in 4 straight possessions. Their special teams added another one in that stretch, from a blocked punt. Virginia’s quarterback, Matt Blundin, threw for 142 yards and two touchdowns but was greatly overshadowed by his counterpart, Cale Gundy, who threw for 329 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Mike Gaddis added 104 yards rushing and three touchdowns to assist his team in a 48-14 blowout. The 48 points were the most scored in a Gator Bowl in its 47 game history.

MVP: Cale Gundy (QB, Oklahoma), Tyrone Davis (WR, Virginia)

Coaches: Gary Gibbs (Oklahoma), George Welsh (Virginia)

Total Payout: $2,000,000

Attendance: 62,003

Chairman: Russell Godwin

Network: TBS

Oklahoma-48    Virginia-14

OU-Joey Mickey, 10-yd pass from Cale Gundy (Scott Blanton kick)— OU-Mike Gaddis, 2-yd run (Blanton kick)— OU-Gladdis,
8-yd run (Blanton kick)— OU-Russell Jones, 4-yd blocked punt return (Blanton kick)— OU-Mickey, 13-yd. pass from Gundy (kick
blocked)— UVA-Tyrone Davis, 22-yd. pass from Matt Bludin (Michael Husted kick)—OU-Kenyon Rasheed, 7-yd. run (Blanton
kick)— OU-Gladdis, 7-yd run (Blanton kick)— UVA-Terrence Tomlin, 23-yd. pass from Blundin (Husted kick)

Rushing: OU-Mike Gaddis 20-104, Dewell Brewer 12-58, Mike McKinley 6-41, Kenyon Rasheed 6-25, Albert Hall 1-18, Cale
Gundy 4-13, Steve Collins 1-1, Billy McDade 1-1. UVA-Terry Kirby 13-66, Nikki Fisher 6-39, Charles Way 2-12, Gary Steele 2-6, Matt
Blundin 1-(-1), Bobby Goodman 1-(-9), Aaron Mundy 1-(-12)

Passing: OU-Cale Gundy 25-31-0, 329 yards, Steve Collins 2-5-0, 28 yards. UVA-Matt Blundin 12-26-11, 142 yardds, Terry Kirb
0-1-0,0 yards, Bobby Goodman 0-2-0,0 yards

Receiving: OU-Corey Warren 5-110, Joey Mickey 5-55, Albert Hall 5-44, Rickey Brady 3-47, Ted Long 3-36, Kenyon Rasheed
3-25, Tink Collins 1-17, Mike Gaddis 1-12, Pete Schmitt 1-11. UVA-Aaron Mundy 3-44, Larry Holmes 3-31, Tyrone Davis 2-26,
Terrence Tomlin 1-23, Dave Sweeney 1-8, Brian Satola 1-6, Terry Kirby 1-4

Not many teams can draw a crowd to the Jacksonville game like the neighboring Florida Gators. Attendance was once again above 70,000 people to watch the Gators and the NC State Wolfpack battle in the fog. Gators’ Errict Rhett carried the ball a record 36 times for 182 yards and caught the ball 7 times for 60 yards. His efforts were helped by quarterback Shane Matthews who threw for 247 yards, two touchdowns, and added a score on the ground. NC State’s Terry Jordan threw for 213 yards but was intercepted twice. The Gators defense who was ninth in run defense held the Wolfpack to 54 yards. The Gators captured their sixth Gator Bowl win, 27-10.

MVP: Errict Rhett (RB, Florida), Reggie Lawrence (WR, North Carolina State)

Coaches: Steve Spurrier (Florida), Dick Sheridan (North Carolina State)

Total Payout: $3,200,00

Attendance: 71,233

Chairman: Dave Middleton

Network: TBS

Florida-27       N.C. State – 10

FLA-Judd Davis 26 FG— FLA-Shane Matthews 1 run (Judd Davis Kick)— FLA-Willie Jackson 17 pass from Matthews (Davis
kick)— NCS-Steve Videtich 23 FG— FLA-Judd Davis 42 FG—NCS-Audrey Shaw 11 pass from Terry Jordan (Videtich
kick)— FLA-Harrison Houston 34 pass from Matthews (Davis kick)

Rushing: FLA-Rhett 30-182, Matthews 8-8, Malone 2-6,Randolph 1-2. NCS-Barbour 11-50, George 1-5, Manior 4-4, Goines 1(-1), Jordan 8 (-4)

Passing: FLA-Matthews 19-38-0, 247 yards NCS – NCS-Jordan22-42-2, 213 yards

Receiving: FLA-Rhett 7-60, W. Jackson 3-42, Houston 2-40, Keller 3-38, Everett 1-31, Hill 1-16, C. Dean 1-14, J. Jackson 1-6,
NCS-R. Lawrence 5-77, Auer 5-48, Shaw 5-33, Goines 3-26, Schultz 1-23, George 1-10, Barbour 2-(-4)

In 1993 the Gator Bowl would enter into a new era forever. Not long before the game, it was announced that Jacksonville would accomplish their long-time goal of bringing an NFL team to the city, the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, this did not distract the Alabama Crimson Tide who unleashed a second half fury to pull away from the North Carolina Tar heels. Highly criticized quarterback Brian Burgdorf threw for 166 yards and accounted for all 3 Tide touchdowns. Corey Holliday set Carolina bowl records with 9 catches for 125 yards. The Tide shutout the Heels in the second half to win convincingly, 24-10.

MVP: Brian Burgdorf (QB, Alabama), Corey Holliday (WR, North Carolina)

Coaches: Gene Stallings ( Alabama), Mack Brown (North Carolina)

Total Payout: $3,000,000

Attendance: 67,205

Chairman: Scott McCaleb

Network: TBS

Alabama-24   North Carolina-10

ALA-Michael Proctor 22 yard field goal— UNC-William Henderson 1-yard run (Tripp Pignetti kick) — ALA-Brian
Burgdorf 33-yard run (Proctor kick) — UNC-Pignetti 23 yard field goal— ALA-Tarrant Lynch 8 yard pass from Burgdorf (Proctor kick)— ALA-Chad Key 10 yard pass from Burgdorf (Proctor kick)

Rushing: ALA-Palmer 1 for 13, Kitchens 1 for -1, Burgdorf 6 for 48, Williams 18 for 94,Steger 6 for 24, Anderson 7 for 11, Lee 2
for -23, Lynch 5 for 2. UNC-Brooks 1 for -12, Stanicek 12 for 2, L. Johnson 2 for 24, C. Johnson 6 for 27, Henderson 4 for 1

Passing: ALA-Burgdorf 15-23-0, 166 yds. TD. UNC-Stanicek 19-35-0, 225 yds. TD

Receiving: ALA-Palmer 5 for 62, T. Johnson 2 for 40, Key 3 for 33, Anderson 3 for 13, Lee 1 for 10, Lynch 1 for 8. UNC- Holliday
9 for 125, Brooks 1 for 5, L. Johnson 3 for 24, Wall 1 for 3, C. Johnson 1 for 6, Henderson 1 for 4, F. Jones 2 for 55

1994 was a year like no other for the storied Outback Steakhouse Gator Bowl. The game was kicked out of their stadium by the Jacksonville Jaguars, who were renovating the stadium to make it NFL worthy. The city of Gainesville pitched in to help, and the game was played in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, home of the Florida Gators. The game saw 62,200 loyal fans travel to the temporary venue. Vols’ running back James Stewart ran for 85 yards and two touchdowns on his way to winning the Bulkharter Trophy. Tennessee, led by Peyton Manning, took a 35-10 lead into the half and their defense did the work the rest of the way, winning 45-23.

MVP: James Stewart (RB, Tennessee), Maurice DeShazo (QB, Virginia Tech)

Coaches: Phillip Fulmer (Tennessee), Frank Beamer (Virginia Tech)

Total Payout: $3,000,000

Attendance: 62,200

Chairman: Carl N. Cannon

Network: TBS

Tennessee-45      Virginia Tech-23

UT-James Stewart, 1-yd run (John Becksvoort kick)— UT-Marcus Nash, 36-yd pass from Peyton Manning (Becksvoort kick)— UT-Jay
Graham, 1-run (Becksvoort kick)— VT-Dwayne Thomas, 1-yd run (Ryan Williams kick)— UT-James Stewart, 1-yd run
(John Becksvoort kick)— UT-Kendrick Jones, 19-yd pass from J. Stewart (Becksvoort kick)— VT-Ry. Williams, 28-yd field goal—
VT-Maurice DeShazo, 7-yd run (kick failed)— UT-J. Stewart, 5-yd run (Becksvoort kick)— UT-Becksvoort, 19-yd field goal— VT-Bryan
Still, 9-yd pass from Jim Druckenmiller

Rushing: VT-D.Thomas 19-102,DeShazo 11-39, Edmonds 5-29. UT-J. Stewart 22-85,Jones 1-76

Passing: VT-DeShazo 17-30-2, 140 yards, 0 TD. UT-Manning 12-19-1, 189 yards, 1 TD

Receiving: VT-Still 5-79,Holmes 5-45,Jennings 1-41. UT-Kent 6-119,Nash 3-54,Jones 2-3

The, now Toyota Gator Bowl, returned to Jacksonville a year later to be played in the brand new Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. The Syracuse Orangemen exploded for 20 points in the first quarter to put the game out of reach early. Future NFL greats Donovan McNabb and Marvin Harrison cut up the Clemson defense all afternoon. McNabb threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns, running for another. Two of McNabb’s touchdowns were thrown to Marvin Harrison as Syracuse blew out the Tigers 41-0, in the most lopsided victory in Gator Bowl history.

MVP: Donovan McNabb (QB, Syracuse), Peter Ford (CB, Clemson)

Coaches: Paul Pasqualoni (Syracuse), Tommy West (Clemson)

Total Payout: $3,017,020

Attendance: 67,940

Chairman: Carl N. Cannon

Network: NBC

Syracuse-41     Clemson-0

SU-Malcolm Thomas, 1-yd run (Mare kick)— SU-Donovan McNabb, 5-yd run (kick blocked)— SU-Marvin Harrison, 38-yd
pass from D. McNabb (Mare Kick)— SU-Malcolm Thomas, 2-yd run (Mare kick)— SU-Marvin Harrison, 56-yd pass from D.
McNabb (Mare Kick)— SU-Kaseem Sinceno, 15-yd pass from D. McNabb (Mare Kick)

Rushing: CU-Priester 15-36, Smith 6-30, Greene 8-16. SU-Thomas 14-71, Downing 6-37, Jones 10-25

Passing: CU-Greene 9-19-2, 63 yards, 0 TDs. SU-McNabb 13-23-1, 309 yards, 3 TDs

Receiving: CU-Wyatt 3-21, Priester 2-16, Horne 1-15. SU-Harrison 7-173, Wilson 2-70, Sinceno 2-47

The 1997 game was played between two top-tier teams in their respective conferences. West Virginia finished tied for first the in the Big East, and North Carolina finished second in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The two teams certainly did not disappoint the 52,000 faithful who attended the game. Carolina quarterback Oscar Davenport threw for 175 yards and accounted for both of the Tarheel touchdowns. Mountaineers’ David Saunders had a game high 130 yards receiving on 9 catches with one touchdown. Jay Taylor made two field goals from 47 yards but it was not enough to overcome the 20-13 loss.

MVP: Oscar Davenport (QB, North Carolina), David Saunders (WR, West Virginia)

Coaches: Mack Brown (North Carolina), Don Nehlen (West Virginia)

Total Payout: $2,600,000

Attendance: 52,103

Chairman: Davis Johnson, Sr.

Network: NBC

All-Americans: Dre Bly (DB, North Carolina), Cuante Curtis (LB, West Virginia)

UNC-20     West Virginia-13

UNC-Barnes 18-yd pass from Davenport (McGee kick)— UNC-FG McGee 22-yds— WVA-FG Tatlor 47-yds— UNC-Davenport 5-yd
run (McGee kick) — WVA-Saunders 34-yd pass from Johnston (Turner Kick)— UNC-FG McGee 20-yds— WVA-FG Tatlor 47-yds

Rushing: UNC-Johnson 25-79, Davenport 14-31, Linton 2-4, Watson 1-0. WVA-Zereoue 21-63, White 6-16, Swoope 4-6, Johnston 5 – minus 19

Passing: UNC-Davenport 14-26-0-175 WVA-Johnston 17-34-3-197

Receiving: UNC-Jones 4-32, Brown 3-62, Johnson 3-33, Stevens 2-25, Barnes 1-18, Watson 1-5 WVA-Saunders 9-130, Vanterpool 5-56, White 2-1, Swoope 1-10

North Carolina returned for consecutive years in 1998, this time to face Conference-foe Virginia Tech. The result was the same for the Tar Heels, who jumped out to an early 16 point lead in the first quarter. Carolina’s defense smothered the Hokies limiting them to only 185 yards of offense in the game. Chris Keldorf threw for 290 yards and three touchdowns. North Carolina’s defense turned a fumble into a touchdown, and returned a blocked punt to pay dirt. Shayne Graham hit a field goal from 40 yards out to put the only Hokie points on the board in a 42-3 wollaping.

MVP: Chris Keldorf (QB, North Carolina), Nick Sorensen (QB, Virginia Tech)

Coaches: Carl Torbush (North Carolina), Frank Beamer (Virginia Tech)

Total Payout: $2,600,000

Attendance: 54,116

Chairman: John Harrison

Network: NBC

UNC-42      Virginia Tech-3

UNC-McGee 29-yd field goal— UNC-Barnes 62-yd pass from Keldorf (McGee Kick)— UNC-Bly 6-yd blocked punt return (kick
failed)— UNC-Ellis fumble recovery in end zone (pass fail)— UNC-Linton 1-yd run (kick failed)— VT-Graham 40-yd field goal
— UNC-Barnes 14-yd pass from Keldorf (McGee Kick)— UNC-Carrick 4-yd pass from Keldorf (McGee Kick)

Rushing: UNC-Linton 20-68; Geter 7-25; D. Williams 5-24; Keldorf 5 (-8). VT-Oxendine 10-39; Scales 1-29; Pegues 7-27;
Sorensen 10-19; Parker 4-2; Hawkins 1-1; Clark 7 (-22)

Passing: UNC-Keldorf 12-28-0, 290 yards;Schmitz 1-1-0, 28 yards. VT-Clark 9-17-0, 66 yards; Sorensen 4-8-0, 24 yards

Receiving: UNC-Barnes 3-89; Linton 6-81, Crumpler 5-77; Brown 2-39; Simmons 1-28; Carrick 1-4 VT-Parker 4-32; Steuwe 2-24;
Harrison 4-21; Scales 1-13; Ellison 1-3; Oxendine 1 (-3)

A battle between two storied college football programs went down to the wire in the 54th Jacksonville game. Georgia Tech and Notre Dame combined for 745 yards of total offense and 11 touchdowns between the two. The scoring was back and forth throughout the contest. Tech quarterback Joe Hamilton threw the ball for 237 yards and three touchdowns with zero interceptions in a near perfect game. Hamilton also was on the receiving end of a touchdown pass from Joe Burns. Dez White caught the ball 4 times for 130 yards and a pair of 40 plus yard touchdowns. Notre Dame’s offense certainly was not chopped liver either. Autry Denson ran for 130 yards and two scores. The game was close but Tech’s consistent scoring proved to be the nail in Notre Dame’s coffin, winning 35-28.

MVP: Joe Hamilton (QB, Georgia Tech), Dez White (SE, Georgia Tech), Autry Denson (TB, Notre Dame)

Coaches: George O’Leary (Georgia Tech), Bob Davie (Notre Dame)

Total Payout: $3,330,648

Chairman: Andy Cheney

Network: NBC

Georgia Tech – 35    Notre Dame – 28

GT-Joe Burns 5-yd pass to Hamilton (Chambers kick) — ND-Autry Denson 9-yd run (Sanson kick) — GT-Phillip Rogers
2-yd run (Chambers kick)— GT-Mike Sheridan 9-yd pass from Hamilton (Chambers kick)— ND-Autry Denson 1-yd run (Sanson
kick)— ND-Jarious Jackson 2-yd run (Kick blocked)— GT-Dez White 44-yd pass from Hamilton (Chambers kick)— ND-Autry
Denson 1-yd run (Bobby Brown pass from Jackson)— GT-Dez White 55-yd pass from Hamilton (Chambers kick)

Rushing: ND-Denson 26-130; Spencer 3-17; Jackson 12-12. GT-C. Rogers 13-82; Burns 12-25; P. Rogers 10-28; Hamilson 10-19;
Wilder 2-10.

Passing: ND-Jackson 13-24-0, 150 yds. GT-Hamilton 13-20-0, 237 yds; Burns 1-1-0, 5 yds.

Receiving: ND-M. Johnson 5-43; Brown 2-42; J. Johnson 1-27; Nelson 2-20; Holooway 2-11; Denson 1-7. GT-White 4-129; C.
Rogers 4-52; Matvay 1-28; Sheridan 1-9; Wilder 1-7; Andrzejewski 1-7; Hamilton 1-5; Burns 1-5