2003 Gator Bowl

The 2003 Gator Bowl was a post-season American college football bowl game between the NC State Wolfpack and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida on January 1, 2003. The game was the final contest of the 2002 NCAA Division I–A football season for both teams and ended in a 28–6 victory for NC State.

Background

The Wolfpack had finished 4th in the Atlantic Coast Conference and were playing in a bowl game for the third consecutive year. At one point the Wolfpack were ranked at #10 before three straight losses knocked them out of the poll but they bounced back into the poll by beating Florida State in the last game of the season. This was their first appearance in the Gator Bowl since 1992. Notre Dame was in their first season under Tyrone Willingham and in their first bowl game since 2001. They were ranked as high as #4 before losing to Boston College in midseason and lost to USC in the last game of the regular season that cost them their shot at a BCS bowl game. This was Notre Dame's first Gator Bowl appearance since 1999.

1963 Gator Bowl

The 1963 Gator Bowl was a college football postseason bowl game that featured the Air Force Falcons and the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Background

This was the Falcons' first bowl game since 1959. The Tar Heels were co-champions of the Atlantic Coast Conference, which was their first conference title since the 1949 Southern Conference title. This was their first bowl game 1950.

Game summary

Willard ran for 94 yards on 18 carries.

Aftermath

The night after the game, a fire broke out in downtown Jacksonville, with 22 dying.

Statistics

References

1953 Gator Bowl

The 1953 Gator Bowl was a post-season college football bowl game between the Tulsa Golden Hurricane of the Missouri Valley Conference and the Florida Gators representing the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Florida defeated Tulsa 14–13. This was the Gators' first appearance in a NCAA-sanctioned bowl game

Game summary

An extra point by Rick Casares proved the difference.

References

1975 Gator Bowl

The 1975 Gator Bowl was a college football bowl game played between the Maryland Terrapins and the Florida Gators on December 29, 1975. Maryland would win the game by a score of 13-0.

References