2004 Gator Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 2004 Gator Bowl
was a post-season American college football
bowl game
between the Maryland Terrapins
and the West Virginia Mountaineers
at Alltel Stadium
in Jacksonville
, Florida
on 1 January 2004. The game was the final contest of the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season
for both teams, and ended in a 41–7 victory for Maryland.
The Maryland Terrapins (more often, simply 'Terps') earned a bid to the Gator Bowl following a 9–3 record during the 2003 regular season
. It was Ralph Friedgen
's third season as Maryland head coach and third consecutive bowl game, making him just the second Maryland head coach to do so in his first three seasons—the other being Bobby Ross
. At the conclusion of this game, Friedgen also became the first Atlantic Coast Conference
coach to ever win at least ten games in his first three seasons. Going into the game, Maryland's 30-win three seasons was the best three-year total in school history.
The West Virginia Mountaineers had finished the regular season with a record of 8–4, which already included a defeat at the hands of Maryland. Like Friedgen, it was Rich Rodriguez
's third year as head coach of his program. West Virginia entered the game on a seven-game winning streak, as co-champions of the Big East conference.
The game took place in front of a crowd of 78,892 fans. The Terps got off to a quick lead, and never relented. Early in the third quarter, Maryland led 31-0 before West Virginia scored its only points. Oddly enough, the bowl game was a re-match of a regular season game which had similarly lop-sided results: Maryland had won that contest too, 34-7. It marked the fourth Terps' win over the Mountaineers in three years, by an average score of 35-13.
tragedy. His first year as head coach in 2001, Friedgen had led the Terrapins to a 10-2 record and the BCS
Orange Bowl, for the team's first winning season in five years and the first bowl game in eleven years.
, Maryland, and fellow Big East foes Miami
and Cincinnati
. However, the Mountaineers recovered to win their next seven games and secure a conference co-championship with Miami. With it they also received a bowl bid to travel to Jacksonville to face the Terps in a post-season rematch.
returned it for 23 yards. Quarterback Scott McBrien
led the Terps on a drive with Bruce Perry
carrying 22 yards and a pass to Steve Suter for 16 and Jo Jo Walker for 29 yards. The Mountaineers held fast at their own 10-yard line and forced a field goal attempt. Nick Novak
made good a 27-yard kick for the first points in the game.
In the next two series, West Virginia and Maryland exchanged punts. Mountaineer running back Kay-Jay Harris
then fumbled the ball which was recovered by Shawne Merriman
for the Terps. Maryland suffered two fumbles, by running back Bruce Perry and Scott McBrien, but recovered both. They again tried for a field goal, but Nick Novak missed the 51-yard attempt.
West Virginia took over on downs on their 34-yard line and rushed three times for 16 yards before quarterback Rasheed Marshall
fumbled and Maryland linebacker Andrew Henley recovered it at midfield.
On their next possession, the Terps pushed to the Mountaineer 31-yard line before Scott McBrien completed a pass to Jafar Williams for a 31-yard touchdown.
West Virginia took over and made a first-down, but was forced to punt again. Scott McBrien then led the Terps on an 81-yard drive capped by a 22-yard touchdown pass again to Jafar Williams.
The Mountaineers were forced three-and-out and punted once more. Maryland drove down to the West Virginia 18, but a 35-yard field goal attempt by Nick Novak was again missed. Likewise, West Virginia pushed to the Maryland 24, before missing a 41-yard field goal of their own to end the half.
, Suter was able to tip the ball with one hand and catch it in mid-air as he was diving to the ground in a tangle with Frazier. This set up a two-yard rush by McBrien for a touchdown, and Maryland expanded its lead to 31-0.
West Virginia received the kick and Adam Jones
made a short return for six yards. Rasheed Marshall held onto the ball and rushed for another six yards. Kay-Jay Harris then broke free for a 29-yard run. The Mountaineers picked up another eight yards with a pass to Chris Henry. This set up a 15-yard run up the middle by quarterback Marshall for what would be West Virginia's only points of the game.
Maryland responded with another drive, including a 28-yard pass to the right to Josh Allen and a 43 yard pass up the middle to Dan Melendez. After another short run and short pass, Maryland settle for a 24-yard field goal by Novak.
. The rating put the Terps considerably ahead of number-four Ohio State, number-five Miami, and number-six Georgia.
The Associated Press
poll placed Maryland as #17 and the ESPN
/USA Today
Coaches' poll ranked them as #20 in the nation.
Terps' head coach Ralph Friedgen was picked as a coach of the Kai team for the Hula Bowl
opposite Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel
. Maryland players Lamar Bryant (OG), Eric Dumas (OL), Dennard Wilson (S), and Jeff Dugan
(TE) were selected to play for the Kai squad. Scott Smith
(DE) was selected for the Las Vegas All-American Classic
, while Madieu Williams
(FS) played in the Senior Bowl
. Bruce Perry
(TB), Scott McBrien (QB), and Leon Joe
(LB) played in the Gridiron Classic
.
Gator Bowl
The Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Held continuously since 1946, it is the sixth oldest college bowl, as well as the first one ever televised nationally...
was a post-season American college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
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...
between the Maryland Terrapins
2003 Maryland Terrapins football team
The 2003 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football season. It was the Terrapins' 51st season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
and the West Virginia Mountaineers
2003 West Virginia Mountaineers football team
The 2003 West Virginia Mountaineers rebounded from a 1–4 start to end the season 8–5 and captured a share of the Big East Conference Championship, the schools first since 1993...
at Alltel Stadium
Alltel Stadium
EverBank Field is an American football stadium in downtown Jacksonville, Florida, and the home stadium facility of the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League . It also hosts the annual Florida vs...
in Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
, 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...
on 1 January 2004. The game was the final contest of the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season
2003 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with an abundance of controversy, resulting in a split national championship. This was the first split title since the inception of the BCS, something the BCS intended to eliminate....
for both teams, and ended in a 41–7 victory for Maryland.
The Maryland Terrapins (more often, simply 'Terps') earned a bid to the Gator Bowl following a 9–3 record during the 2003 regular season
2003 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with an abundance of controversy, resulting in a split national championship. This was the first split title since the inception of the BCS, something the BCS intended to eliminate....
. It was Ralph Friedgen
Ralph Friedgen
Ralph Harry Friedgen is an American football coach. He was the head coach at the University of Maryland from 2001 to 2010. Friedgen was previously an offensive coordinator at Maryland, Georgia Tech, and in the National Football League with the San Diego Chargers...
's third season as Maryland head coach and third consecutive bowl game, making him just the second Maryland head coach to do so in his first three seasons—the other being Bobby Ross
Bobby Ross
Robert Joseph Ross is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at The Citadel , the University of Maryland, College Park , the Georgia Institute of Technology , and the United States Military Academy , compiling a career college football record of 103–101–2...
. At the conclusion of this game, Friedgen also became the first Atlantic Coast Conference
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...
coach to ever win at least ten games in his first three seasons. Going into the game, Maryland's 30-win three seasons was the best three-year total in school history.
The West Virginia Mountaineers had finished the regular season with a record of 8–4, which already included a defeat at the hands of Maryland. Like Friedgen, it was Rich Rodriguez
Rich Rodriguez
Richard A. "Rich" Rodriguez is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Arizona. Rodriguez previously served as the head football coach at Salem University , Glenville State College , West Virginia University , and the University...
's third year as head coach of his program. West Virginia entered the game on a seven-game winning streak, as co-champions of the Big East conference.
The game took place in front of a crowd of 78,892 fans. The Terps got off to a quick lead, and never relented. Early in the third quarter, Maryland led 31-0 before West Virginia scored its only points. Oddly enough, the bowl game was a re-match of a regular season game which had similarly lop-sided results: Maryland had won that contest too, 34-7. It marked the fourth Terps' win over the Mountaineers in three years, by an average score of 35-13.
Maryland
The 2003 season was Ralph Friedgen's third as head coach at Maryland. He had already compiled an impressive record in his first two years, elevating Terrapins football back to the national stage for the first time since Bobby Ross left the program in the wake of the Len BiasLen Bias
Leonard Kevin "Len" Bias was a first team All-American college basketball player at the University of Maryland. He was selected by the Boston Celtics as the second overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft on June 17, but died two days later from cardiac arrhythmia induced by a cocaine overdose...
tragedy. His first year as head coach in 2001, Friedgen had led the Terrapins to a 10-2 record and the BCS
Bowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
Orange Bowl, for the team's first winning season in five years and the first bowl game in eleven years.
West Virginia
West Virginia's 2003 season started off badly, with a 1-4 record including losses to WisconsinWisconsin Badgers football
The Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football...
, Maryland, and fellow Big East foes Miami
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
and Cincinnati
Cincinnati Bearcats football
The Cincinnati Bearcats football program represents the University of Cincinnati in a college football. They compete at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level as members of the Big East Conference. The Bearcat football program is one of the nation's oldest, having fielded a team as...
. However, the Mountaineers recovered to win their next seven games and secure a conference co-championship with Miami. With it they also received a bowl bid to travel to Jacksonville to face the Terps in a post-season rematch.
First quarter
The game started with a West Virginia kick off into the Maryland endzone where Steve SuterSteve Suter
Steve Suter is an American former football player. He played as wide receiver and return specialist for the Maryland Terrapins and also briefly played Canadian football for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He gained fame for his explosive returning ability and elusiveness...
returned it for 23 yards. Quarterback Scott McBrien
Scott McBrien
Scott McBrien is a former American football quarterback. He played football for several professional and college teams, most notably, the Green Bay Packers in the NFL, and the Maryland Terrapins at the University of Maryland.-Early years:McBrien was born in Rockville, Maryland to Ernie and...
led the Terps on a drive with Bruce Perry
Bruce Perry
Bruce Perry is a former American football running back in the National Football League who was released by the Philadelphia Eagles to make room for veteran quarterback Koy Detmer's return to the team...
carrying 22 yards and a pass to Steve Suter for 16 and Jo Jo Walker for 29 yards. The Mountaineers held fast at their own 10-yard line and forced a field goal attempt. Nick Novak
Nick Novak
Nicholas Ryan "Nick" Novak is an American football placekicker for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
made good a 27-yard kick for the first points in the game.
In the next two series, West Virginia and Maryland exchanged punts. Mountaineer running back Kay-Jay Harris
Kay-Jay Harris
Kevin Jermaine "Kay-Jay" Harris is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football at West Virginia....
then fumbled the ball which was recovered by Shawne Merriman
Shawne Merriman
Shawne DeAndre Merriman is an American football linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was drafted 12th overall by the San Diego Chargers in the 2005 NFL Draft. On November 2, 2010, the Chargers waived Merriman...
for the Terps. Maryland suffered two fumbles, by running back Bruce Perry and Scott McBrien, but recovered both. They again tried for a field goal, but Nick Novak missed the 51-yard attempt.
West Virginia took over on downs on their 34-yard line and rushed three times for 16 yards before quarterback Rasheed Marshall
Rasheed Marshall
Rasheed Malik Marshall is an American football wide receiver that is currently a free agent. He previously played for the Columbus Destroyers of the Arena Football League. He was formerly a wide receiver and kick returner in the National Football League for the St. Louis Rams...
fumbled and Maryland linebacker Andrew Henley recovered it at midfield.
On their next possession, the Terps pushed to the Mountaineer 31-yard line before Scott McBrien completed a pass to Jafar Williams for a 31-yard touchdown.
Second quarter
The Terps kicked off to start to 2nd quarter, and with a touchback, West Virginia took over on their 20-yard line. After a three-and-out series, they brought on their special teams unit. Steve Suter received the punt on the Maryland 24 and ran it 76 yards for a touchdown.West Virginia took over and made a first-down, but was forced to punt again. Scott McBrien then led the Terps on an 81-yard drive capped by a 22-yard touchdown pass again to Jafar Williams.
The Mountaineers were forced three-and-out and punted once more. Maryland drove down to the West Virginia 18, but a 35-yard field goal attempt by Nick Novak was again missed. Likewise, West Virginia pushed to the Maryland 24, before missing a 41-yard field goal of their own to end the half.
Third quarter
After Grant Wiley returned the kick 28 yards for the Mountaineers, they were once again held three-and-out and forced to punt. After driving to mid-field, Scott McBrien launched a 43-yard pass to Steve Suter. Despite good coverage from cornerback Lance FrazierLance Frazier
Elance "Lance" Frazier is an American Canadian football safety for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League, as well as a Wide Receiver / Defensive Back for the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League...
, Suter was able to tip the ball with one hand and catch it in mid-air as he was diving to the ground in a tangle with Frazier. This set up a two-yard rush by McBrien for a touchdown, and Maryland expanded its lead to 31-0.
West Virginia received the kick and Adam Jones
Adam Jones (American football)
Adam "Pac-Man" Bernard Jones is an American cornerback and return specialist who is currently playing for the Cincinnati Bengals. He was drafted in the first round with the sixth-overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans. He played college football at West Virginia.Jones has also...
made a short return for six yards. Rasheed Marshall held onto the ball and rushed for another six yards. Kay-Jay Harris then broke free for a 29-yard run. The Mountaineers picked up another eight yards with a pass to Chris Henry. This set up a 15-yard run up the middle by quarterback Marshall for what would be West Virginia's only points of the game.
Maryland responded with another drive, including a 28-yard pass to the right to Josh Allen and a 43 yard pass up the middle to Dan Melendez. After another short run and short pass, Maryland settle for a 24-yard field goal by Novak.
Fourth quarter
The teams traded punts, and then the Mountaineers punted once more. A 73-yard drive was then capped with a 14-yard pass to Jo Jo Walker for another touchdown, and the final points of the game. The next Mountaineers' possession was ended with a sack of second-string quarterback Charles Hales and a turnover on downs. Maryland took over on the West Virginia 38, and pushed to the 6-yard line before the game ended on 4th and 1.Postgame effects
The New York Times computer ranking system rated the Maryland Terrapins as the number-three team in the nation, after split-national champions USC and LSULSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
. The rating put the Terps considerably ahead of number-four Ohio State, number-five Miami, and number-six Georgia.
The Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
poll placed Maryland as #17 and the ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
/USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
Coaches' poll ranked them as #20 in the nation.
Terps' head coach Ralph Friedgen was picked as a coach of the Kai team for the Hula Bowl
Hula Bowl
The Hula Bowl was an independently administered post-season invitational college football game held each year in Hawaii from 1947 to 2008. The game was last played at Aloha Stadium in the Hālawa district of Honolulu, Hawaii. At one point the longest-running sporting event in Hawaii, it had been...
opposite Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel
Jim Tressel
James Patrick Tressel is a gameday consultant for the Indianapolis Colts, and former collegiate football head coach at both The Ohio State University from 2001 to 2011 and at Youngstown State University from 1986 to 2000. Tressel is most notable for his time at Ohio State. He was hired by the...
. Maryland players Lamar Bryant (OG), Eric Dumas (OL), Dennard Wilson (S), and Jeff Dugan
Jeff Dugan
Jeffery Stephen Dugan is a National Football League tight end/fullback who is currently a free agent....
(TE) were selected to play for the Kai squad. Scott Smith
Scott Smith
Scott Smith is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1999 to 2007, and was a cabinet minister in the government of Gary Doer...
(DE) was selected for the Las Vegas All-American Classic
Las Vegas All-American Classic
The North-South All-American Game is an annual post-season college football all-star game that was played each January or February from 2002 to 2006 , and then took 2 years off due to lack of sponsorship...
, while Madieu Williams
Madieu Williams
Madieu Mohammed Williams is an American football safety for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
(FS) played in the Senior Bowl
Senior Bowl
The Senior Bowl is a post-season college football exhibition game played in Mobile, Alabama which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility. First played in 1950 in Jacksonville, Florida, the game moved to Mobile's Ladd Peebles Stadium...
. Bruce Perry
Bruce Perry
Bruce Perry is a former American football running back in the National Football League who was released by the Philadelphia Eagles to make room for veteran quarterback Koy Detmer's return to the team...
(TB), Scott McBrien (QB), and Leon Joe
Leon Joe
Leon Maurice Joe is a professional American and Canadian football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
(LB) played in the Gridiron Classic
Gridiron Classic
The Gridiron Classic was the name given to a college football game played between teams from the Pioneer Football League and Northeast Conference at the end of the 2006-2009 seasons...
.
See also
- Maryland-West Virginia rivalry