1952 Gator Bowl

American college football game December 2025 August 2023 January 2020 Gator Bowl 1952 Gator Bowl - Overhead (Taps 1952).png January 1 1952 1951 Miami Hurricanes 7–3 Andy Gustafson Independent 7 7 0 0 Clemson Tigers 7–2 Frank Howard SoCon 19 0 0 0 0 HB Jim Dooley (Miami) bg Gator Bowl Stadium Jacksonville, Florida 37,208 The 1952 Gator Bowl was an American college football bowl game played on January 1, 1952, at Gator Bowl Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. It was the seventh annual playing of the Gator Bowl. The game pitted the Miami Hurricanes against the Clemson Tigers Background The Hurricanes, after losing their first game of the season to Tulane, won the next four games to lean into the AP rankings at #19 before facing #14 Kentucky. However, a 32–0 loss in Kentucky dropped them out of the rankings, though they did win three of their final four games to finish with seven regular season victories, a slight drop from the nine the previous season. This was their third bowl game in six years and first bowl game appearance outside of the Orange Bowl. Clemson won the first three games of the season to rise to #16 in the polls before a matchup with #20 Pacific dropped them out, with a loss to South Carolina twelve days later making them 3–2. The Tigers would rebound to win their final four regular season games to finish 5th in the Southern Conference while finishing their fourth consecutive season .500 or better. This was their third bowl game in four seasons and second Gator bowl in three years. Game summary Harry Mellios scored two touchdowns for Miami (the first from 11 yards out and the second from 2 yards out) in the first half, with the scores proving to be the difference in a game dominated by stagnation. Miami won the game despite having less first downs (5 to Clemson's 14), less rushing yards (119 to the Tigers' 145), less passing yards (55 to Clemson's 88), and more penalties and punts (four for 30 yards and 9 punts for 44.5 yards average). However, it was the four interceptions thrown by Clemson quarterback Billy Hair (all caught by MVP Jim Dooley, who played both offense and defense) that proved crucial to the victory.https://www.taxslayergatorbowl.com/game-history/1950s-game-history/ 1950s Game History taxslayergatorbowl.com January 5, 2020https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41768767/miami_bumps_clemson_140_in_gator_bowl/ Miami Bumps Clemson, 14-0, In Gator Bowl AP The Pantagraph Bloomington, Illinois 11 January 2, 1952 January 5, 2020 newspapers.com The attendance for the game was 37,208.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-state-revengeful-miami-blanks-clemso/137589549/ The State Revengeful Miami blanks Clemson in Gator 14–0 January 2, 1952 December 28, 2023 Newspapers.com Aftermath Miami was not invited to another bowl game until 1961 (though they did finish 6th ranked in the AP Poll in 1956). Their next Gator Bowl appearance would not be until 2000. Clemson left the Southern Conference after the game, joining the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1953. They were not invited to a bowl game again until 1957, with the next Gator Bowl appearance not being until 1977. References Gator Bowl Category:Gator Bowl Category:Miami Hurricanes football bowl games Category:Clemson Tigers football bowl games Gator Bowl Category:January 1952 sports events in the United States