1993 Peach Bowl (December)
Encyclopedia
1993 Peach Bowl matched the Clemson Tigers of the Atlantic Coast Conference
and the Kentucky Wildcats
of the Southeastern Conference
. Clemson entered the game at 8-3 and ranked #24 in the AP poll after being ranked as high as #21 during the season; Kentucky was 6-5 and unranked. Clemson was favored by 2 points. The teams' last meeting had been in 1985, with Kentucky winning 26-7.
Kentucky fielded the opening kickoff and drove down field to the Clemson 2 yard line. Kentucky quarterback Pookie Jones threw a pass to receiver Alfonzo Browning and Browning stretched to put the ball across the goal line for a touchdown. Replays showed that Browning scored but this was before college football's instant replay rule and the official ruling of a fumble stood. Clemson took over on its own 1 yard line and marched 99 yards (15 running plays, 3 passing plays) for a 2 yard touchdown run by running back Emory Smith and a 7-0 lead.
Kentucky was stopped again on the Clemson 1 yard line before scoring its first points in the second quarter on a 34 yard field goal by Nicky Nickels.
After a scoreless third quarter Kentucky took a 10-7 lead when Jones threw a 5 yard touchdown pass to Mark Chatmon. A 26 yard field goal by Nickels gave Kentucky a 13-7 lead, and Dan Ariza's 55 yard punt pinned Clemson at its own 18 yard line. Clemson quarterback Patrick Sapp completed a screen pass to Emory Smith for a 57 yard gain. With less than one minute on the clock Sapp threw an interception to Kentucky linebacker Marty Moore
but Moore, instead of downing the ball so that the Wildcats could run out the clock, attempted a return and fumbled the ball away, with Clemson recovering. Sapp then threw a 21 yard touchdown pass to Henry Smith and the PAT gave Clemson a 14-13 lead. With only 20 seconds remaining Kentucky took over on offense but could not advance past the Wildcats' 40 yard line.
Clemson's Emory Smith was named the game's MVP.
Kentucky had 20 first downs to Clemson's 14, and 139 rushing yards (on 34 carries, 4.1 yards per carry) to Clemson's 119 (on 46 carries, 2.6 yards per carry). Kentucky completed 16 of 32 passes for 154 yards; Clemson completed 8 of 16 passes for 129 yards. Clemson threw three interceptions, Kentucky none; Kentucky fumbled twice, losing both, while Clemson recovered its only fumble. Kentucky had 293 yards of total offense; Clemson, 248. Kentucky was penalized 4 times for 35 yards, Clemson 10 times for 75 yards. Kentucky punted 5 times (40.6 average), Clemson 6 (38.8 average).
Clemson's Emory Smith had 45 yards rushing and 1 touchdown on 8 attempts; Moe Williams
had 58 yards on 13 attempts.
Clemson finished the season with a record of 9-3 and a final ranking at #23 in the AP poll and #22 in the coaches' poll. Kentucky finished at 6-6 and unranked. The following season saw a reversal of fortune for both programs as Clemson finished 5-6 and Kentucky finished 1-10.
The two programs met again in the 2006 Music City Bowl
.
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
and the Kentucky Wildcats
1993 Kentucky Wildcats football team
The 1993 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky in the 1993 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Wildcats scored 207 points while allowing 195 points. Kentucky played in the 1993 Peach Bowl.-Season:...
of 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...
. Clemson entered the game at 8-3 and ranked #24 in the AP poll after being ranked as high as #21 during the season; Kentucky was 6-5 and unranked. Clemson was favored by 2 points. The teams' last meeting had been in 1985, with Kentucky winning 26-7.
Kentucky fielded the opening kickoff and drove down field to the Clemson 2 yard line. Kentucky quarterback Pookie Jones threw a pass to receiver Alfonzo Browning and Browning stretched to put the ball across the goal line for a touchdown. Replays showed that Browning scored but this was before college football's instant replay rule and the official ruling of a fumble stood. Clemson took over on its own 1 yard line and marched 99 yards (15 running plays, 3 passing plays) for a 2 yard touchdown run by running back Emory Smith and a 7-0 lead.
Kentucky was stopped again on the Clemson 1 yard line before scoring its first points in the second quarter on a 34 yard field goal by Nicky Nickels.
After a scoreless third quarter Kentucky took a 10-7 lead when Jones threw a 5 yard touchdown pass to Mark Chatmon. A 26 yard field goal by Nickels gave Kentucky a 13-7 lead, and Dan Ariza's 55 yard punt pinned Clemson at its own 18 yard line. Clemson quarterback Patrick Sapp completed a screen pass to Emory Smith for a 57 yard gain. With less than one minute on the clock Sapp threw an interception to Kentucky linebacker Marty Moore
Marty Moore
Marty Moore and raised in Fort Thomas, Kentucky is a former professional American football player who played linebacker for eight seasons for the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns. Moore also holds the distinction of being the first Mr. Irrelevant ever to play in a Super Bowl...
but Moore, instead of downing the ball so that the Wildcats could run out the clock, attempted a return and fumbled the ball away, with Clemson recovering. Sapp then threw a 21 yard touchdown pass to Henry Smith and the PAT gave Clemson a 14-13 lead. With only 20 seconds remaining Kentucky took over on offense but could not advance past the Wildcats' 40 yard line.
Clemson's Emory Smith was named the game's MVP.
Kentucky had 20 first downs to Clemson's 14, and 139 rushing yards (on 34 carries, 4.1 yards per carry) to Clemson's 119 (on 46 carries, 2.6 yards per carry). Kentucky completed 16 of 32 passes for 154 yards; Clemson completed 8 of 16 passes for 129 yards. Clemson threw three interceptions, Kentucky none; Kentucky fumbled twice, losing both, while Clemson recovered its only fumble. Kentucky had 293 yards of total offense; Clemson, 248. Kentucky was penalized 4 times for 35 yards, Clemson 10 times for 75 yards. Kentucky punted 5 times (40.6 average), Clemson 6 (38.8 average).
Clemson's Emory Smith had 45 yards rushing and 1 touchdown on 8 attempts; Moe Williams
Moe Williams
Maurece Jabari "Moe" Williams is a former American football running back in the National Football League . He formerly played for the Minnesota Vikings and Baltimore Ravens...
had 58 yards on 13 attempts.
Clemson finished the season with a record of 9-3 and a final ranking at #23 in the AP poll and #22 in the coaches' poll. Kentucky finished at 6-6 and unranked. The following season saw a reversal of fortune for both programs as Clemson finished 5-6 and Kentucky finished 1-10.
The two programs met again in the 2006 Music City Bowl
2006 Music City Bowl
The 2006 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl featured a contest between the Clemson Tigers and the Kentucky Wildcats. Clemson entered the game with a record of 8-4 after having been ranked in the AP poll for most weeks of the season, as high as #10; Kentucky was 7-5 and unranked...
.
Sources
- 2001 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, '1993 Peach Bowl', p. 168