1955 Gator Bowl

American college football game December 2025 August 2023 Gator Bowl December 31 1955 1955 Gator Bowl Stadium Jacksonville, Florida Vanderbilt University Vanderbilt Commodores 7–3 Arthur Guepe SEC 7 6 6 6 Auburn University Auburn Tigers 8–1–1 8 8 Ralph Jordan SEC 0 7 0 6 RB Joe Childress (Auburn)http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2011/Bowls.pdf Bowl/All-Star Game Records: Most Valuable Players in Former Major Bowls National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 2011 NCAA Division I Football Records 96 NCAA.org October 3, 2011 PDFQB Don Orr (Vanderbilt) Auburn by 6 Fred Koster (SEC) 32,174http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2011/Bowls.pdf Bowl/All-Star Game Records: Major Bowl Game Attendance National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 2011 NCAA Division I Football Records 34 NCAA.org October 2, 2011 PDF 70,000 CBS 1954 The 1955 Gator Bowl, part of the 1955 bowl game season, was the eleventh annual contest and took place on December 31, 1955, at the Gator Bowl Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. The competing teams were the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Auburn Tigers, both representing the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Vanderbilt upset favored Auburn 25–13 to secure their first ever bowl victory.Auburn six point choice over Vandy today Associated Press Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 11 December 31, 1955 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=C89RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=C2wDAAAAIBAJ&dq=vanderbilt%20auburn%20gator%20bowl&pg=4826%2C5515946 October 3, 2011http://www.vanderbilt.edu/magazines/vanderbilt-magazine/2009/03/where-are-they-now/ Where Are They Now? Spring 2009 Vanderbilt University Vanderbilt Magazine Vanderbilt.edu October 9, 2011 This remained the lone bowl victory for the Commodores until their 16–14 victory over Boston College in the 2008 Music City Bowl.Vanderbilt wins first bowl game since 1955 Teresa M. Walker The Tuscaloosa News Associated Press January 1, 2009 http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20090101/NEWS/901010265 October 9, 2011 Teams Vanderbilt 1955 Vanderbilt Commodores football team The 1955 Vanderbilt squad finished the regular season 7–3.2009 Commodore Football Media Guide 2009 Vanderbilt University Nashville, Tennessee 159 http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/vand/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/ResultsLetterwinners09.pdf Yearly Results PDF October 3, 2011 March 2, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120302202805/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/vand/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/ResultsLetterwinners09.pdf dead The Commodores lost to Georgia, Ole Miss and Tennessee. They accepted an invitation to play in the Gator Bowl in the days following their loss to Tennessee.Vanderbilt, Tigers Gator Bowl foes Associated Press St. Petersburg Times 12 November 29, 1955 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OmFSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dXoDAAAAIBAJ&dq=vanderbilt%20auburn%20gator%20bowl&pg=5428%2C5884166 October 3, 2011 The appearance was the first all-time bowl appearance for Vanderbilt. Auburn 1955 Auburn Tigers football team The 1955 Auburn squad finished the regular season 8–1–1. The Tigers lost to Tulane and tied Kentucky in route to their third-place finish in the conference. They accepted an invitation to play in the Gator Bowl against Vanderbilt in the days following their victory over long-time rival Alabama. The appearance was the fifth overall bowl appearance and third consecutive in the Gator Bowl for the Tigers. Game summary Vanderbilt got on the scoreboard first after Don Orr threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Joe Stephenson to give the Commodores a 7–0 lead.Vandy surprises favored Auburn Norris Anderson The Miami News C1 January 1, 1956 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aoJVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Rz8NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1453%2C69817 October 3, 2011 Auburn responded on the next drive to tie the game at seven after Howell Tubbs connected with Fob James for a 38-yard touchdown reception. The Commodores retook a 13–7 lead on the next drive after Orr scored on a three-yard touchdown run to cap a five-play, 76-yard drive that included a 45-yard run by Orr himself. After having a 51-yard Orr touchdown pass called back because of a holding penalty, Vanderbilt scored later in the quarter on a one-yard Orr touchdown run. The Commodores then scored their final points on the first play of the fourth quarter when Don Hunt scored on a one-yard touchdown run to give Vanderbilt a 25–7 lead. Auburn scored the final points of the game late in the fourth when Joe Childress caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from Jimmy Cook to make the final score 25–13. For their performances, Vanderbilt quarterback Don Orr and Auburn running back Joe Childress mere named co-MVPs of the game. Vanderbilt Auburn expand 1 4:25 Vanderbilt 39 RecTD Joe Stephenson Don Orr 7 good Earl Jalufka 7 0 2 14:10 Auburn 10 73 RecTD Fob James Howell Tubbs 38 good Howell Tubbs 7 7 2 11:59 Vanderbilt 5 76 RushTD Don Orr 3 no good Earl Jalufka 13 7 3 4:02 Vanderbilt 51 RushTD Don Orr 1 no good Earl Jalufka 19 7 4 Vanderbilt 3 26 RushTD Don Hunt 1 no good (blocked) Earl Jalufka 25 7 4 Auburn 6 66 RecTD Joe Childress Jimmy Cook 7 no good Howell Tubbs 25 13 25 13 References Gator Bowl Category:Gator Bowl Category:Vanderbilt Commodores football bowl games Category:Auburn Tigers football bowl games Category:20th century in Jacksonville, Florida Category:December 1955 sports events in the United States Gator Bowl