2000 Gator Bowl

August 2023 Gator Bowl 55th Gator Bowl Toyota January 1 2000 1999 Georgia Institute of Technology Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 8–3 George O'Leary ACC 0 7 6 0 University of Miami Miami Hurricanes 8–4 Butch Davis Big East 7 14 0 7 LB Nate Webster (Miami) QB Joe Hamilton (Georgia Tech) 17 23 b Alltel Stadium Jacksonville, Florida Bill McCabe (Mtn. West) 43,416 NBC 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.http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/football/sfc/99bowls/gator.htm 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 Statistics GT Miami First downs 29 22 Yards rushing 217 239 Yards passing 245 208 Total Offense Yards 462 447Punts-Average 6-26.2 5-42.6Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-1Interceptions 2 1Penalties-Yards 7-75 9-90Time of Possession 32:20 27:40 References Gator Bowl Category:Gator Bowl 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