1988 Hall of Fame Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1988 Hall of Fame Bowl, part of the 1987 bowl game season, took place on January 2, 1988, at Tampa Stadium in Tampa
, Florida
. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference
(SEC), and the Michigan Wolverines
of the Big Ten Conference
(Big 10). In what was the first ever meeting between the schools, Michigan was victorious in by a final score of 28–24.
to compile an 7–4 record. Following their loss against Auburn in the Iron Bowl
, the Crimson Tide accepted an invitation to play in the Hall of Fame Bowl. The appearance marked the first for Alabama in the Hall of Fame Bowl, and their 40th overall bowl game
.
, and Ohio State
to finish with a record of 7–4. Their appearance marked the first for Michigan in the Hall of Fame Bowl, and their 19th overall bowl game. In mid December 1987, head coach Bo Schembechler
underwent quadruple bypass heart surgery and was unable to coach in the bowl game. Due to this circumstance, Gary Moeller
was given the coaching responsibilities for the game.
scored on touchdown runs of 25 and 14 yards as Michigan took a 14–3 lead to halftime. In the third quarter, Morris scored on a 77-yard touchdown run, stretching Michigan's lead to 21–3. Alabama responded with a 16 yard touchdown pass from Jeff Dunn to tight end Howard Cross, making it 21–9. In the fourth quarter, Bobby Humphrey
scored on touchdown runs of 1 and 17 yards as Alabama took a 24–21 lead. Michigan scored the game winning touchdown on a 20 yard pass from Demetrius Brown to John Kolesar for a 28–24 win.
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC), and the Michigan Wolverines
1987 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1987 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1987 college football season. The team's head coach was Bo Schembechler...
of the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
(Big 10). In what was the first ever meeting between the schools, Michigan was victorious in by a final score of 28–24.
Alabama
The 1987 Alabama squad finished the regular season with losses to Florida, , Notre Dame and Auburn1987 Auburn Tigers football team
The 1987 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. Coached by Pat Dye, the team finished the season with a 9–1–2 record and won their first of three straight SEC titles. Auburn went on to tie an undefeated Syracuse team in the 1988...
to compile an 7–4 record. Following their loss against Auburn in the Iron Bowl
Iron Bowl
The Iron Bowl is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Alabama Crimson Tide football team of the University of Alabama and the Auburn Tigers football team of Auburn University. The series is considered one of the best and most hard-fought rivalries in all of sports...
, the Crimson Tide accepted an invitation to play in the Hall of Fame Bowl. The appearance marked the first for Alabama in the Hall of Fame Bowl, and their 40th overall bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
.
Michigan
The 1987 Michigan squad finished the regular season with losses to Notre Dame, Michigan State1987 Michigan State Spartans football team
The 1987 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team went 9–2–1 overall and 7–0–1 in conference play, becoming Big Ten Conference champions. Michigan State beat Southern California to win the 1988 Rose Bowl,...
, and Ohio State
1987 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1987 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1987-1988. The Buckeyes compiled a 6–4–1 record.-Schedule:-Coaching staff:* Earle Bruce - Head Coach - 9th year...
to finish with a record of 7–4. Their appearance marked the first for Michigan in the Hall of Fame Bowl, and their 19th overall bowl game. In mid December 1987, head coach Bo Schembechler
Bo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8...
underwent quadruple bypass heart surgery and was unable to coach in the bowl game. Due to this circumstance, Gary Moeller
Gary Moeller
Gary O. Moeller is an American football coach best known for being head coach at the University of Michigan from 1990 to 1994. During his five seasons at Michigan, he won 44 games, lost 13 and tied 3 for a winning percentage of .758...
was given the coaching responsibilities for the game.
Game summary
Alabama scored first following a 51-yard field goal by kicker Phillip Doyle, and led 3–0 after the first quarter. In the second quarter, Jamie MorrisJamie Morris
James Walter "Jamie" Morris is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and a record-setting running back in college for the University of Michigan Wolverines...
scored on touchdown runs of 25 and 14 yards as Michigan took a 14–3 lead to halftime. In the third quarter, Morris scored on a 77-yard touchdown run, stretching Michigan's lead to 21–3. Alabama responded with a 16 yard touchdown pass from Jeff Dunn to tight end Howard Cross, making it 21–9. In the fourth quarter, Bobby Humphrey
Bobby Humphrey
Bobby Gene Humphrey is a former professional American football player who was selected in the first round by the Denver Broncos in the 1989 NFL Supplemental Draft after a stellar career at the University of Alabama...
scored on touchdown runs of 1 and 17 yards as Alabama took a 24–21 lead. Michigan scored the game winning touchdown on a 20 yard pass from Demetrius Brown to John Kolesar for a 28–24 win.