2000 Gator Bowl
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA football yearly game
|game_name=Gator Bowl
|subheader=55th Gator Bowl
|title_sponsor=Toyota
|date_game_played=January 1
|year_game_played=2000
|football_season=1999
|visitor_school=Georgia Institute of Technology
|visitor_name_short=Georgia Tech
|visitor_nickname=Yellow Jackets
|visitor_record=8–3
|visitor_coach=George O'Leary
|visitor_conference=ACC
|visitor_1q =0
|visitor_2q =7
|visitor_3q =6
|visitor_4q =0
|home_school=University of Miami
|home_name_short=Miami
|home_nickname=Hurricanes
|home_record=8–4
|home_coach=Butch Davis
|home_conference=Big East
|home_1q =7
|home_2q =14
|home_3q =0
|home_4q =7
|MVP= LB Nate Webster (Miami)
QB Joe Hamilton (Georgia Tech)
|visitor_rank_AP=17
|home_rank_AP=23
|type=b
|stadium=Alltel Stadium
|city=Jacksonville, Florida
|referee= Bill McCabe (Mtn. West)
|attendance=43,416
|us_station=NBC
|us_announcers=Tom Hammond, James Lofton, Craig Sager
}}
The 2000 Gator Bowl featured the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Miami Hurricanes.
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.{{Cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/football/sfc/99bowls/gator.htm|title = USA TODAY Latest news}}
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
| class="wikitable"
! Statistics !! GT !! Miami | ||
| First Downs | 29 | 22 |
| Yards Rushing | 217 | 239 |
| Yards Passing | 245 | 208 |
| Total Offense Yards | 462 | 447 |
| Punts-Average | 6-26.2 | 5-42.6 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 1-0 | 1-1 |
| Interceptions | 2 | 1 |
| Penalties-Yards | 7-75 | 9-90 |
| Time of Possession | 32:20 | 27:40 |
References
{{reflist}}
{{1999 bowl game navbox}}
{{Gator Bowl navbox}}
{{Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets bowl game navbox}}
{{Miami Hurricanes bowl game navbox}}
Category:Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football bowl games
Category:Miami Hurricanes football bowl games
Category:January 2000 sports events in the United States
Category:2000 in sports in Florida
Category:2000s in Jacksonville, Florida
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