Gridiron Classic (1999–2005)

The Gridiron Classic, also known as the Rotary Gridiron Classic presented by Tyco and later The Villages Gridiron Classic for sponsorship reasons, was a post-season college football all-star game played each January in Florida from 1999 through 2005.

Gridiron Classic (defunct)
StadiumCitrus Bowl (1999–2003)
The Villages Polo Stadium (2004–05)
LocationOrlando, Florida (1999–2003)
The Villages, Florida (2004–05)
Operated1999–2005
Sponsors
Tyco (1999–2002)
Rotary International (1999–2003)
The Villages (2004–05)

From 1999 to 2003, it featured a team representing Florida versus a team from the rest of the United States; it was played at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando. In 2004 and 2005, it was played at The Villages Polo Stadium in The Villages, a retirement community approximately 45 miles (72 km) northwest of Orlando.[1] During the two years at The Villages, the game used a North vs. South format.

On August 19, 2005, game organizers Florida Citrus Sports canceled the 2006 playing of the Gridiron Classic, after failing to find a sponsor once The Villages decided not to renew the annual game at their facility.[2] The game has not resumed since.

Game results

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Date Winning team Losing team Attendance Venue
January 16, 1999 Team Florida 17 Team USA 9 29,725[1][3] Citrus Bowl
Orlando, Florida
January 29, 2000 Team USA 21 Team Florida 14 21,298[3]
January 13, 2001 Team Florida 10 Team USA 0 20,958[4][3]
January 26, 2002 Team Florida 42 Team USA 13 20,344[1]
January 25, 2003 Team USA 20 Team Florida 17 9,375[1]
January 31, 2004 North All-Stars 35 South All-Stars 31 12,312[5] The Villages Polo Stadium
The Villages, Florida
January 15, 2005 South All-Stars 24 North All-Stars 21 12,635[6]
  • All-time series: Team Florida over Team USA (3–2); North and South tied (1–1).

MVPs

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Year Player Pos College Type Ref
1999 Daunte Culpepper
Paul Miranda
QB
CB
Central Florida
Central Florida
Offensive & Overall
Defensive
[7]
2000 JaJuan Dawson
Anthony Midget
WR
S
Tulane
Virginia Tech
Offensive
Defensive
[8]
2001 Rashard Casey
Chris Edmonds
QB
LB
Penn State
West Virginia
Offensive & Overall
Defensive
[9]
2002 Chad Hayes
Mel Mitchell
TE
S
Maine
Western Kentucky
Offensive
Defensive & Overall
[10]
2003 Jonathan Ruffin PK Cincinnati Overall [11]
2004 Troy Fleming RB Tennessee Overall [12]
2005 Marcus Randall QB LSU Overall [13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Schmadtke, Alan (August 6, 2003). "Gridiron Classic Moving To Villages". Orlando Sentinel.
  2. ^ "Gridiron classic canceled". Florida Today. August 20, 2005. Retrieved May 27, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c "Gridiron classic draws fewer spectators". bizjournals.com. January 15, 2001. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
  4. ^ "Gridiron Classic". Pensacola News Journal. Pensacola, Florida. January 14, 2001. Retrieved May 28, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Gridiron Classic". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. February 1, 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Gridiron Classic". Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park, New Jersey. January 16, 2005. Retrieved May 28, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Culpeper has his bowl in lifting Team Florida to 17-9 Classic win". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. January 17, 1999. Retrieved May 28, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Gardenour, Jeff (January 30, 2000). "Dawson fuels USA in Gridiron Classic". Florida Today. Cocoa, Florid]. Retrieved May 28, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Gridiron Classic". Lawrence Journal-World. Lawrence, Kansas. January 14, 2001. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
  10. ^ Caywood, Barbara (January 27, 2002). "Mitchell Gridiron's MVP". Florida Today. Cocoa, Florida. Retrieved May 28, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "USA tops Florida in Gridiron Classic". The Index-Journal. Greenwood, South Carolina. Associated Press. January 26, 2003. Retrieved May 28, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "North wins, Gridiron Classic records fall". Battle Creek Enquirer. Battle Creek, Michigan. Associated Press. February 1, 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "South captures Gridiron Classic". Hattiesburg American. Hattiesburg, Mississippi. January 16, 2005. Retrieved May 27, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
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