2001 Motor City Bowl

August 2023 March 2026 2001 Motor City Bowl 2001 Motor City Bowl logo Toledo by 4½ 2001 Cincinnati Bearcats University of Cincinnati Toledo Rockets University of Toledo 7–4 C-USA 9–2 MAC Rick Minter Tom Amstutz 25 NR NR 0 13 0 3 3 0 10 10 December 29 Pontiac Silverdome Pontiac, Michigan Chester Taylor (RB, Toledo) 44,164 ESPN List of announcers of major college bowl games Pam Ward (Play by Play) Dean Blevins (Analyst) Alex Flanagan (Sideline) The 2001 Motor City Bowl was a post-season college football bowl game part of 2001–02 NCAA football bowl games in which the Toledo Rockets of the MAC defeated the Cincinnati Bearcats of the Conference USA 23–16. It was played on December 29, 2001, at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan. This was the last Bowl game that was played in the Pontiac Silverdome. Teams Cincinnati Bearcats 2001 Cincinnati Bearcats football team The Bearcats were C-USA runners-up. The Bearcats start the season with a loss to Purdue. They won against Louisiana–Monroe, and also won against Conference USA teams Army, Tulane, UAB, Houston, Connecticut, and Memphis. The Bearcats lost to Louisville, and against East Carolina. They also lost to Miami (OH). The Bearcats had lost its previous Motor City Bowl in 2000. Toledo Rockets 2001 Toledo Rockets football team The Rockets upset Minnesota to start the season. They won against Temple, Navy, and also won against Mid–American Conference teams Central Michigan, Northern Illinois, Ohio, Western Michigan, and Eastern Michigan. The Rockets lost to Ball State, and against rival Bowling Green. The Rockets won the MAC West Division co champion and would end up beating Marshall 41–36 in the 2001 MAC Championship Game. This game marked the first time the Rockets appeared in the Motor City Bowl. Last couple of minutes Rockets running back Chester Taylor rushed for a bowl record 190 yards on 31 carries and the game-winning touchdown. Cincinnati got the ball back but Toledo safety Andy Boyd knocked a potentially game-tying pass out of the hands of Ray Jackson in the end zone.Musselman Ron December 30, 2001 Defense Rescues UT 1, 4 Toledo Blade https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Rg4wAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yAMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5007%2C4457242 Taylor was selected as MVP of the game.Spadafore Jim December 30, 2001 Toledo wins behind Taylor 1D, 4D Detroit News https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65435861/motor-city-bowl-recap-pt-1/ Lage Larry December 30, 2001 Taylor's rushing revs Rockets to victory at Motor City Bowl D4 The Daily Item AP https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65437561/motor-city-bowl-ap-recap/Fay John December 30, 2001 Near-miracle win eludes Bearcats C1, C2 Cincinnati Enquirer https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65437700/motor-city-bowl-recap/ Scoring summary Source.https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/213632649 ESPN Game Cincinnati Toledo expand 1 9:29 Toledo 10 37 3:34 FG 27 Todd France 0 3 2 9:10 Cincinnati 7 18 2:13 FG 29 Jonathan Ruffin 3 3 2 3:37 Cincinnati 7 72 1:53 RecTD Tim Walker Gino Guidugli 28 good Jonathan Ruffin 10 3 2 0:00 Cincinnati 8 19 2:09 FG 46 Jonathan Ruffin 13 3 3 11:37 Toledo 8 55 2:36 FG 42 Todd France 13 6 3 1:52 Toledo 5 80 1:43 RushTD Tavares Bolden 28 good Todd France 13 13 4 9:45 Toledo 15 61 5:06 FG 30 Todd France 13 16 4 6:30 Cincinnati 9 60 2:22 FG 25 Jonathan Ruffin 16 16 4 3:23 Toledo 8 82 3:07 RushTD Chester Taylor 24 good Todd France 16 23 16 23 Statistics StatisticToledoCincinnati First downs 2419Rushes-yards 51–32220–13 Passing 135283Att-Comp-Int 28–14–147–29–0 Return yards 34 93 Punts-Avg 4–39 7–49 Fumbles-lost 0–0 1–0 Penalties-yards 8–75 6–48 Time of Possession34:1625:44 References Motor City Bowl Category:Little Caesars Pizza Bowl Category:Cincinnati Bearcats football bowl games Category:Toledo Rockets football bowl games Motor City Bowl Motor City Bowl Category:Organized events in Pontiac, Michigan Category:Sports in Pontiac, Michigan