2016 Holiday Bowl
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA football yearly game
| game_name = Holiday Bowl
| subheader = 39th Holiday Bowl
| title_sponsor = National Funding
| image =
| caption =
| date_game_played = December 27
| year_game_played = 2016
| football_season = 2016
| stadium = Qualcomm Stadium
| city = San Diego, California
| visitor_school = University of Minnesota
| visitor_name_short = Minnesota
| visitor_nickname = Golden Gophers
| visitor_record = 8–4
| visitor_conference = Big Ten
| visitor_rank_AP =
| visitor_rank_coaches =
| visitor_rank_BCS =
| visitor_rank_CFP =
| visitor_coach = Tracy Claeys
| visitor_1q = 0
| visitor_2q = 3
| visitor_3q = 7
| visitor_4q = 7
| home_school = Washington State University
| home_name_short = Washington State
| home_nickname = Cougars
| home_record = 8–4
| home_conference = Pac-12
| home_rank_AP =
| home_rank_coaches =
| home_rank_BCS =
| home_rank_CFP =
| home_coach = Mike Leach
| home_1q = 3
| home_2q = 3
| home_3q = 0
| home_4q = 6
| MVP = Offense: Minnesota RB Rodney Smith
Defense: Minnesota LB Blake Cashman
| anthem =
| referee = Gary Patterson (ACC)
| halftime =
| attendance = 48,704{{cite web | url=http://www.statbroadcast.com/events/archived.php?id=155841 | title=StatBroadcast® Systems - Box Score - Minnesota 17 at Washington State 12 }}
| us_network = ESPN/ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes
| us_announcers = Bob Wischusen, Brock Huard, Allison Williams{{cite web|title=Press Releases|date=6 December 2016 |url=http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2016/12/179886/|publisher=ESPN|access-date=7 December 2016}}
| ratings =
| intl_network =
| intl_announcers =
}}
The 2016 Holiday Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game, played at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California, on December 27, 2016. This was the last time the Holiday Bowl was played at Qualcomm Stadium. The game was played at SDCCU Stadium, the home of the San Diego State Aztecs. The 39th edition of the Holiday Bowl featured the Minnesota Golden Gophers of the Big Ten Conference versus the Washington State Cougars of the Pac-12 Conference. Sponsored by small business loan company National Funding, the game is officially known as the National Funding Holiday Bowl.{{cite web|title=MINNESOTA AND WASHINGTON STATE TO FACE OFF IN 2016 NATIONAL FUNDING HOLIDAY BOWL|url=http://www.sandiegobowlgames.com/minnesota-washington-state-face-off-2016-national-funding-holiday-bowl/|publisher=San Diego Bowl Game Association|access-date=December 5, 2016}}{{Dead link|date=January 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Teams
= Minnesota =
{{main article|2016 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team|2016 Big Ten Conference football season}}
This was Minnesota's first appearance in the Holiday Bowl. On December 15, Minnesota players threatened to boycott all football activity, including participation in the 2016 Holiday Bowl, in protest against a decision to suspend ten players from the team.{{cite news |first=Joe |last=Christensen |title=Gophers players boycott football after suspensions; Holiday Bowl in jeopardy |url=http://www.startribune.com/gophers-football-players-plan-to-threaten-boycott-of-bowl-game/406928136/ |work=Star-Tribune |date=December 16, 2016 |access-date=December 27, 2016}} The suspension was made as a result of school investigation into sexual assault charges from the beginning of school year. The legal process had already run its course, with no charges filed. On December 17, the Golden Gophers ended their boycott and announced they would play.{{cite news |first=Joe |last=Krawczynski |title=Minnesota team ends boycott threat, will go to Holiday Bowl |url=http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-players-to-boycott-all-football-activities/407048196/ |work=Star-Tribune |date=December 17, 2016 |access-date=December 27, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228124622/http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-players-to-boycott-all-football-activities/407048196/ |archive-date=December 28, 2016 }}
= Washington State =
{{main article|2016 Washington State Cougars football team|2016 Pac-12 Conference football season}}
This was Washington State's third appearance in the Holiday Bowl, having lost to #14 Brigham Young in 1981, and having defeated #5 Texas in 2003.
Game summary
= Scoring summary =
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=MINN|HomeName=WSU|state=}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=1
| Time=6:23
| Team=WSU
| DrivePlays=17
| DriveLength=76
| DriveTime=6:33
| Type=FG
| yards=26
| Kicker=Erik Powell
| Visitor=0
| Home=3
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=2
| Time=7:26
| Team=MINN
| DrivePlays=6
| DriveLength=14
| DriveTime=2:53
| Type=FG
| yards=43
| Kicker=Emmit Carpenter
| Visitor=3
| Home=3
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=2
| Time=0:33
| Team=WSU
| DrivePlays=7
| DriveLength=14
| DriveTime=1:56
| Type=FG
| yards=41
| Kicker=Erik Powell
| Visitor=3
| Home=6
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=3
| Time=3:23
| Team=MINN
| DrivePlays=10
| DriveLength=84
| DriveTime=5:22
| Type=RecTD
| Receiver=Shannon Brooks
| QB=Mitch Leidner
| yards=13
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=Emmit Carpenter
| Visitor=10
| Home=6
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=4
| Time=2:06
| Team=MINN
| DrivePlays=4
| DriveLength=31
| DriveTime=0:59
| Type=RushTD
| Runner=Rodney Smith
| yards=9
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=Emmit Carpenter
| Visitor=17
| Home=6
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=4
| Time=0:19
| Team=WSU
| DrivePlays=10
| DriveLength=79
| DriveTime=1:42
| Type=RecTD
| Receiver=Kyle Sweet
| QB=Luke Falk
| yards=8
| 2pt type=pass
| 2pt result=(Falk–Lewis) failed
| Visitor=17
| Home=12
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=17|Home=12}}
= Statistics =
| class="wikitable"
! Statistics !! style="background:#7a0019; color:#ffcc33"|MINN !! style="background:#981e32; color:#ffffff"|WSU | ||
| First Downs | 17 | 16 |
| Plays-yards | 61-279 | 74-303 |
| Third down efficiency | 3-12 | 7-19 |
| Rushes-yards | 41-150 | 23-39 |
| Passing yards | 129 | 264 |
| Passing, Comp-Att-Int | 11-20-0 | 30-51-1 |
| Time of Possession | 28:54 | 31:06 |
| class="wikitable"
! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics | |||
| rowspan=3 style="background:#7a0019; color:#ffcc33; text-align:center;"|MINN | Passing | Mitch Leidner | 11/20, 129 yds, 1 TD |
| Rushing | Rodney Smith | 17 car, 74 yds, 1 TD | |
| Receiving | Drew Wolitarsky | 5 rec, 73 yds | |
| rowspan=3 style="background:#981e32; color:#ffffff; text-align:center;"|WSU | Passing | Luke Falk | 30/51, 264 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Gerard Wicks | 5 car, 26 yds | |
| Receiving | Robert Lewis | 6 rec, 86 yds |
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{2016 bowl game navbox}}
{{Holiday Bowl navbox}}
{{Minnesota Golden Gophers bowl game navbox}}
{{Washington State Cougars bowl game navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Holiday Bowl}}
Category:2016–17 NCAA football bowl games