2004 Music City Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 2004 Gaylord Hotels
Music City Bowl
(presented by Bridgestone
) was held on December 31, 2004, in Nashville, Tennessee
at The Coliseum
. The game featured the Alabama Crimson Tide
, of the SEC
, and the Minnesota Golden Gophers
, of the Big Ten
. The game was ultimately won by Minnesota, 20–16.
Alabama was led by head coach Mike Shula
and entered a game with a 6–5 record, as the team ended their 2004 regular season
by losing three of their final four games. The Crimson Tide offense was led by quarterback Spencer Pennginton, who was a backup at the beginning of the season, but was put into the starting role when Brodie Croyle
was injured versus Western Carolina
. Pennington led the Crimson Tide to a 3–4 record as a starter and was the starting quarterback in the bowl game. Alabama also entered to the second-ranked overall defense in the country.
Glen Mason
led the Golden Gophers into the bowl game, who also had a 6–5 record. The Golden Gophers ended their 2004 regular season by losing five of their final six games after a 5–0 start. The Minnesota offense was led by two 1,000-yard rushers in Laurence Maroney
and Marion Barber III
, the latter of which would be named MVP of the bowl game. The two running back
s combined for 2,617 yards and twenty-three touchdowns.
fumbled the ball, which Freddie Roach recovered and returned to the Minnesota 2–yard line. On their first play, Alabama quarterback Spencer Pennington completed a 2–yard touchdown pass to Le'Ron McClain
, and following a Brian Bostick PAT, the Crimson Tide took an early 7–0 lead. On their next two drives, Minnesota quarterback Bryan Cupito threw two interceptions, which Roman Harper
and Anthony Madison
intercepted, respectively.
Following the interception by Madison, Alabama began their drive at the 2–yard line. The Crimson Tide offense moved the ball only four yards before Spencer Pennington fumbled the ball. Keith Lipka recovered the fumble and returned it for a 1–yard touchdown, Minnesota and Alabama were back level at 7–7.
Following a return by Tyrone Prothro
on the kickoff, Alabama began at their own 15–yard line. The offense quickly picked up a first down after a 14–yard pass from Pennington to D. J. Hall
. After the first down, the Crimson Tide offense stalled before Prothro fumbled the ball, recovered by Minnesota defensive back Justin Fraley. Running backs Marion Barber and Laurence Maroney quickly moved the ball forty-two yards in the final 2:54 to the Alabama 5–yard line before the end of the first quarter.
, Minnesota took a 14–7 lead.
Alabama began their first drive of the second quarter at the 35–yard line following the kickoff. The Crimson Tide offense was quickly stifled as Pennington was sacked for an 8–yard loss on the first play. After two more plays, the offense only gained three yards before a Bo Freeland punt to the Minnesota 31–yard line. As usual, the Minnesota offense struck to their ground game as Barber and Maroney combined for sixty yards on ten carries to get the ball to the Alabama 9–yard line. After an incomplete pass and two penalties, the Golden Gophers finished the drive with a 26–yard field goal
from Rhys Lloyd, extending their lead to 17–7.
On their second drive of the quarter, Alabama began at their own 27–yard line. Le'Ron McClain caught a 7–yard pass on the first play as the Alabama offense steadily moved down field to the 46–yard line. On a 2nd-and-6, Spencer Pennington complted a 40–yard pass to wide receiver Keith Brown as the offense moved the ball to the Minnesota 6–yard line. On a 3rd-and-goal situation, Minnesota's defense gave the Alabama offense an automatic first down, placing the ball at the 2–yard line. After a 1–yard rush, McClain ran into the endzone for a 1–yard touchdown as Alabama trailed 17–14 with less than three minutes left in the fist half.
After conservative play-calling by Minnesota, the Golden Gophers punted the ball to Alabama with only twenty-eight seconds remaining. After a 15–yard penalty on Minnesota, the Alabama offense moved to the 31–yard line. Spencer Pennington completed two quick passes to Matt Caddell and D. J. Hall, moving the ball to the Minnesota 47–yard line. After a timeout, Pennington completed yet another pass Keith Brown to the 37–yard line. On the final play before halftime, Pennington lateral
led the ball to Tyrone Prothro for a 13–yard gain. The offense ran out of time, and failing to score, Alabama trailed 17–14 at halftime.
For the remainder of the quarter, both offenses struggled to move the ball. Both teams combined for four punts and one turnover in the final 10:10 of the third quarter.
Down 20–14, the Alabama offense started at their own 14–yard line following the missed field goal. Spencer Pennington completed a 23–yard pass to D. J. Hall, moving the ball to the 43–yard line. Three incomplete passes followed, forcing Alabama to punt once again. Minnesota took over at their own 10–yard line and failed to gain a first down, forcing a punt. However, Alabama tackled the Rhys Lloyd in the endzone, gaining two points from the safety, and bringing themselves within four points at 20–16.
Following the safety, Minnesota was forced to give Alabama the ball on a free kick. On the first three plays, Pennington completed three passes, giving Alabama a first down at the Minnesota 19–yard line. On the next three plays, the Pennington threw two incomplete passes, and a short, 4–yard completion to Matt Caddell. On 4th-and-6, Pennington threw another incompletion, turning the ball over on downs.
Minnesota started their final drive with just 1:26 left. As Alabama had used all three of their timeouts in the second half, Minnesota quarterback Bryan Cupito only needed to take a knee twice to run out the remainder of the clock, giving Minnesota a 20–16 win for their seventh victory of the season. The loss sent Alabama to a .500 record at 6–6, losing their final three games.
Gaylord Hotels
Gaylord Hotels is the hospitality arm of Gaylord Entertainment Company. It oversees four large hotels and convention centers which the company refers to as "resorts":*Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee*Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, Florida...
Music City Bowl
Music City Bowl
The Music City Bowl is a post-season American college football bowl game certified by the NCAA that has been played in Nashville, Tennessee, since 1998.-Site:The first Music City Bowl was played at Vanderbilt Stadium in 1998...
(presented by Bridgestone
Bridgestone
The is a multinational rubber conglomerate founded in 1931 by in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan. The name Bridgestone comes from a calque translation and transposition of ishibashi, meaning "stone bridge" in Japanese....
) was held on December 31, 2004, in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
at The Coliseum
LP Field
LP Field is a football stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, owned by the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County....
. The game featured the Alabama Crimson Tide
2004 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
The 2004 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama during the 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season. This was the team's 72nd season in the SEC. The Crimson Tide were led by head coach Mike Shula who was entering his second season as head coach. They began their...
, of the SEC
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...
, and the Minnesota Golden Gophers
2004 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team
The 2004 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the college football season of 2004-2005. The team's coach was Glen Mason. It played its home games at the H.H.H. Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota....
, of the Big Ten
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...
. The game was ultimately won by Minnesota, 20–16.
Alabama was led by head coach Mike Shula
Mike Shula
Mike Shula is an American football quarterback coach for the Carolina Panthers, an NFL team. Between 2003 and 2006, he was the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide football program.- Early life :...
and entered a game with a 6–5 record, as the team ended their 2004 regular season
2004 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
The 2004 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama during the 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season. This was the team's 72nd season in the SEC. The Crimson Tide were led by head coach Mike Shula who was entering his second season as head coach. They began their...
by losing three of their final four games. The Crimson Tide offense was led by quarterback Spencer Pennginton, who was a backup at the beginning of the season, but was put into the starting role when Brodie Croyle
Brodie Croyle
John Brodie Croyle is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Alabama from 2002 to 2005...
was injured versus Western Carolina
Western Carolina Catamounts
The Western Carolina Catamounts are the athletic teams of Western Carolina University. The Catamounts compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Southern Conference. Western fields sixteen varsity sports teams. The Catamount football team competes in Division I Football...
. Pennington led the Crimson Tide to a 3–4 record as a starter and was the starting quarterback in the bowl game. Alabama also entered to the second-ranked overall defense in the country.
Glen Mason
Glen Mason
Glen O. Mason is an American football coach. Mason previously served as the head football coach at Kent State University, the University of Kansas, and the University of Minnesota, compiling a career college football record of 123–121–1.-Playing career:Mason played college football at...
led the Golden Gophers into the bowl game, who also had a 6–5 record. The Golden Gophers ended their 2004 regular season by losing five of their final six games after a 5–0 start. The Minnesota offense was led by two 1,000-yard rushers in Laurence Maroney
Laurence Maroney
Laurence Maroney is an American football running back who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots 21st overall in the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Minnesota.-Early years:Maroney attended Normandy Senior High School in St...
and Marion Barber III
Marion Barber III
Marion Sylvester Barber III is an American football running back for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Minnesota....
, the latter of which would be named MVP of the bowl game. The two running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
s combined for 2,617 yards and twenty-three touchdowns.
First quarter
Minnesota began the first drive of the game at their own 20–yard line following a touchback on the opening kickoff. Alabama quickly forced a turnover as Marion Barber IIIMarion Barber III
Marion Sylvester Barber III is an American football running back for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Minnesota....
fumbled the ball, which Freddie Roach recovered and returned to the Minnesota 2–yard line. On their first play, Alabama quarterback Spencer Pennington completed a 2–yard touchdown pass to Le'Ron McClain
Le'Ron McClain
- Baltimore Ravens :McClain signed with the Ravens on July 27, 2007. He scored his first career touchdown on a Kyle Boller pass against the San Diego Chargers on November 25, 2007...
, and following a Brian Bostick PAT, the Crimson Tide took an early 7–0 lead. On their next two drives, Minnesota quarterback Bryan Cupito threw two interceptions, which Roman Harper
Roman Harper
Roman Harper is an American football safety with the New Orleans Saints of the NFL. He was drafted in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Alabama...
and Anthony Madison
Anthony Madison
Anthony David Madison is an American football defensive back and is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
intercepted, respectively.
Following the interception by Madison, Alabama began their drive at the 2–yard line. The Crimson Tide offense moved the ball only four yards before Spencer Pennington fumbled the ball. Keith Lipka recovered the fumble and returned it for a 1–yard touchdown, Minnesota and Alabama were back level at 7–7.
Following a return by Tyrone Prothro
Tyrone Prothro
Tyrone Prothro is a former American football wide receiver who played for the University of Alabama between 2003–2005.- Collegiate career :...
on the kickoff, Alabama began at their own 15–yard line. The offense quickly picked up a first down after a 14–yard pass from Pennington to D. J. Hall
D. J. Hall
Martinez D. Hall is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent of the Arena Football League. He was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Alabama.-Early years:Hall attended Choctawhatchee High School in Ft. Walton...
. After the first down, the Crimson Tide offense stalled before Prothro fumbled the ball, recovered by Minnesota defensive back Justin Fraley. Running backs Marion Barber and Laurence Maroney quickly moved the ball forty-two yards in the final 2:54 to the Alabama 5–yard line before the end of the first quarter.
Second quarter
On the first play of the second quarter, Marion Barber rushed up the middle for a 5–yard touchdown. Following the PAT from Rhys LloydRhys Lloyd
Rhys John Lloyd is an American football placekicker for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
, Minnesota took a 14–7 lead.
Alabama began their first drive of the second quarter at the 35–yard line following the kickoff. The Crimson Tide offense was quickly stifled as Pennington was sacked for an 8–yard loss on the first play. After two more plays, the offense only gained three yards before a Bo Freeland punt to the Minnesota 31–yard line. As usual, the Minnesota offense struck to their ground game as Barber and Maroney combined for sixty yards on ten carries to get the ball to the Alabama 9–yard line. After an incomplete pass and two penalties, the Golden Gophers finished the drive with a 26–yard field goal
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
from Rhys Lloyd, extending their lead to 17–7.
On their second drive of the quarter, Alabama began at their own 27–yard line. Le'Ron McClain caught a 7–yard pass on the first play as the Alabama offense steadily moved down field to the 46–yard line. On a 2nd-and-6, Spencer Pennington complted a 40–yard pass to wide receiver Keith Brown as the offense moved the ball to the Minnesota 6–yard line. On a 3rd-and-goal situation, Minnesota's defense gave the Alabama offense an automatic first down, placing the ball at the 2–yard line. After a 1–yard rush, McClain ran into the endzone for a 1–yard touchdown as Alabama trailed 17–14 with less than three minutes left in the fist half.
After conservative play-calling by Minnesota, the Golden Gophers punted the ball to Alabama with only twenty-eight seconds remaining. After a 15–yard penalty on Minnesota, the Alabama offense moved to the 31–yard line. Spencer Pennington completed two quick passes to Matt Caddell and D. J. Hall, moving the ball to the Minnesota 47–yard line. After a timeout, Pennington completed yet another pass Keith Brown to the 37–yard line. On the final play before halftime, Pennington lateral
Lateral pass
In American football, a lateral pass or lateral, officially backward pass , occurs when the ball carrier throws the football to any teammate behind him or directly next to him...
led the ball to Tyrone Prothro for a 13–yard gain. The offense ran out of time, and failing to score, Alabama trailed 17–14 at halftime.
Third quarter
Minnesota kicked off to begin the third quarter, which Tyrone Prothro returned to the 26–yard line. Once again, the Alabama offense struggled to move the ball and was forced to punt. Minnesota's first drive began on their own 25–yard line. Laurence Maroney ran for ten yards on the first two plays of the drive, giving Minnesota a first down. Two plays later, Marion Barber broke off a 25–yard run to move the ball to the Alabama 23–yard line. After three more rushes by Barber and two incomplete passes, Rhys Lloyd kicked a 25–yard field goal to give Minnesota a six point lead.For the remainder of the quarter, both offenses struggled to move the ball. Both teams combined for four punts and one turnover in the final 10:10 of the third quarter.
Fourth quarter
Following another stalled drive for both offenses, Minnesota started a drive at Alabama's 48–yard line. Both Maroney and Barber split the carries again, gradually moving the ball downfield over the next 6:26 to the 14–yard line. Rhys Lloyd missed a 31–yard line to end Minnesota's drive, his sixth missed field goal of the season.Down 20–14, the Alabama offense started at their own 14–yard line following the missed field goal. Spencer Pennington completed a 23–yard pass to D. J. Hall, moving the ball to the 43–yard line. Three incomplete passes followed, forcing Alabama to punt once again. Minnesota took over at their own 10–yard line and failed to gain a first down, forcing a punt. However, Alabama tackled the Rhys Lloyd in the endzone, gaining two points from the safety, and bringing themselves within four points at 20–16.
Following the safety, Minnesota was forced to give Alabama the ball on a free kick. On the first three plays, Pennington completed three passes, giving Alabama a first down at the Minnesota 19–yard line. On the next three plays, the Pennington threw two incomplete passes, and a short, 4–yard completion to Matt Caddell. On 4th-and-6, Pennington threw another incompletion, turning the ball over on downs.
Minnesota started their final drive with just 1:26 left. As Alabama had used all three of their timeouts in the second half, Minnesota quarterback Bryan Cupito only needed to take a knee twice to run out the remainder of the clock, giving Minnesota a 20–16 win for their seventh victory of the season. The loss sent Alabama to a .500 record at 6–6, losing their final three games.