1986 Gator Bowl

August 2023 Gator Bowl Mazda December 27 1986 1986 Gator Bowl Stadium Jacksonville, Florida Stanford University Stanford Cardinal 8–3 Jack Elway Pac-10 20 17 0 0 7 14 Clemson University Clemson Tigers 7–2–2 Danny Ford ACC NR 18 7 20 0 0 Rodney Williams (QB, Clemson)Brad Muster (RB, Stanford) Richard Burleson (SEC) 80,104 CBS Verne Lundquist, Pat Haden, and John Dockery The 1986 Gator Bowl (December) game was a post-season college football bowl game between the Stanford Cardinal and the Clemson Tigers, played on December 27, 1986, at Gator Bowl Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. It was the 42nd edition of the bowl game. Through a sponsorship agreement announced in November, the bowl was officially known as the Mazda Gator Bowl.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25710491/mazda_puts_money_in_gator_bowl_purse/ Mazda puts money in Gator Bowl purse Florida Today 27 November 20, 1986 November 25, 2018 newspapers.com Teams 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season Stanford Cardinal 1986 Stanford Cardinal football team Under third-year head coach Jack Elway, Stanford was making its first bowl appearance since the 1978 Bluebonnet Bowl. The Cardinal was led by running back Brad Muster, who was only the second Cardinal back to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nC4tAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Er0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=1318%2C9617181 Gator Bowl: Stanford, Clemson duel today in Jacksonville The Rock Hill Herald December 26, 1986 December 13, 2012 Stanford's starting quarterback, John Paye, was sidelined for the game due to a shoulder injury and backup Greg Ennis was named the starter.https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-12-28-sp-1036-story.html Gator Bowl : Stanford's Rally Falls Short of Clemson, 27-21 Los Angeles Times December 28, 1986 December 13, 2012 Clemson Tigers 1986 Clemson Tigers football team The champions of the Atlantic Coast Conference, Clemson had recorded ties in its last two regular season games. Under head coach Danny Ford, the Tigers were led by tailbacks Kenny Flowers and Terrence Flagler. Game summary Clemson completely dominated the first half of the game, recording 291 yards of offense and 15 first downs, and scored touchdowns on runs from quarterback Rodney Williams and backs Chris Lancaster and Ray Williams. David Treadwell added two field goals to put the Tigers up 27–0 at halftime. Stanford recovered in the second half, holding the Tigers scoreless while gradually bringing the score closer. Muster scored on a one-yard run in the third quarter, and then twice more on fourth quarter passes from Ennis. The Cardinal had several chances to tie or win the game, but Ennis was intercepted inside the 10-yard line on one drive, and turned the ball over on downs with less than two minutes remaining.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-stanfords-bi/140000907/ The San Francisco Examiner Stanford's big ending fizzles December 28, 1986 January 31, 2024 Newspapers.com Scoring First quarter Clemson - Chris Lancaster 5-yard run (David Treadwell kick) Second quarter Clemson - Rodney Williams 1-yard run (Treadwell kick) Clemson - Treadwell 22-yard field goal Clemson - Ray Williams 14-yard run Clemson - Treadwell 46-yard field goal Third quarter Stanford - Brad Muster 1-yard run (David Sweeney kick) Fourth quarter Stanford - Muster 13-yard pass from Greg Ennis (Sweeney kick) Stanford - Muster 37-yard pass from Ennis (Sweeney kick) Aftermath This was Coach Elway's only winning season with the Cardinal. This was the first of a run of three straight ACC titles for Danny Ford's Clemson teams. Muster and Rodney Williams shared Most Valuable Player honors. Muster would go on to play for the NFL's Chicago Bears. Junior Clemson kicker David Treadwell was named a 1987 consensus All-American and would go on to a successful NFL kicking career with the Denver Broncos and New York Giants. Through the first 75 editions of the Gator Bowl (1946–2020), Stanford's appearance in 1986 was the only time that a Pac-10 or Pac-12 team played in the bowl. References Gator Bowl Category:Gator Bowl Category:Clemson Tigers football bowl games Category:Stanford Cardinal football bowl games Category:20th century in Jacksonville, Florida Category:December 1986 sports events in the United States Category:1986 in sports in Florida