2010 Orange Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 2010 FedEx Orange Bowl game featured the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
and the Iowa Hawkeyes
on Tuesday, January 5, 2010, at Land Shark Stadium in Miami Gardens
, Florida
. Iowa won the game 24–14, securing the Hawkeyes' first major bowl win since the 1959 Rose Bowl.
Georgia Tech was selected to participate in the Orange Bowl after a 11–2 season that culminated in a 39–34 victory in the 2009 ACC Championship Game
. Iowa was selected as the other half of the matchup after a 10–2 season that ended with a 12–0 win against Minnesota
. In the weeks between the teams' selection and the playing of the game, media attention focused on Georgia Tech's proficient offense and Iowa's highly rated defense.
The game was part of the 2009–2010 Bowl Championship Series
(BCS) of the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season
and the last game of the season for both teams. It was the coldest Orange Bowl in Miami's history with a kick-off temperature of 49 degrees.
The game was televised in the United States on FOX
, and marked the end of the broadcast agreement between the BCS and FOX, as ESPN
took over all BCS broadcast rights in 2011. This was Iowa's second Orange Bowl appearance (first appearance in 2003 Orange Bowl
), and Georgia Tech's sixth appearance, but first since 1967. It was the first time that the two teams had played against each other.
On July 14, 2011, the NCAA vacated Georgia Tech's appearance in the bowl game as a consequence for major violations committed by the football program.
(BCS) bowl game
s that have been played at the conclusion of every college football season since 2006.Between 1998 and 2006, there were four BCS games. As defined by contract, the bowl matches the champion of the Atlantic Coast Conference
(ACC) against an at-large pick chosen by a special committee. On December 5, 2009, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
defeated the Clemson Tigers
in the 2009 ACC Championship Game
, thus winning an automatic bid to the 2010 Orange Bowl Game.
The at-large spot in the Orange Bowl was filled via a round-robin
selection procedure defined by the other Bowl Championship series games (the Sugar
, Fiesta
, and Rose bowls) and the automatic bids. The order of at-large selections rotates annually among the BCS bowls. In 2010, after the bowls who lost host teams to the 2010 BCS National Championship Game
chose their replacements, the Orange Bowl picked first, followed by the Fiesta Bowl, then the Sugar Bowl.
Having lost their SEC tie-in (Alabama Crimson Tide
) to the national title game, the Sugar Bowl
chose the Florida Gators
as the replacement. Likewise, the Fiesta Bowl
picked the Texas Christian Horned Frogs
to replace the Big-12 champion 2010 Texas Longhorns
. The Orange Bowl then selected the Iowa Hawkeyes
, while the Fiesta Bowl picked the Boise State Broncos
to set up a battle of the unbeatens. The Sugar Bowl was thus left to select Big East Conference
champion Cincinnati Bearcats
, fulfilling the BCS' contractual obligation to provide a game for the conference's champion.
over South Carolina. Iowa's first game over Northern Iowa would be a sign of things to come in the season. With just 7 seconds left in the game, Northern Iowa attempted a 40 yard field goal that would be blocked. Iowa avoided touching the ball thinking the ball had crossed the line of scrimmage, while in fact it did not. Northern Iowa's recovery allowed for another attempt with 1 second left. But once again, the attempt would be blocked, giving Iowa a 17-16 victory.
Iowa would win their next 7 games, including a 21-10 win over top-five ranked Penn State
, a last minute stop to beat Michigan
, and a last second touchdown to get a win over Michigan State
.
On November 7, Iowa appeared to be headed for a 10-0 record when they took an early 10-0 lead against the Northwestern Wildcats
. However, early in the second quarter, quarterback Ricky Stanzi
was knocked out of the game with an ankle injury, in a play that resulted in the Wildcats' first touchdown. Iowa would not score again in the game, and would lose 17-10. The Hawkeye's following game, vs. Ohio State
, would determine which team would earn a berth to the Rose Bowl. Down 24-10 with 11:11 left, Iowa would stage a comeback to force overtime. But redshirt freshman
quarterback James Vandenberg, filling in for the injured Stanzi, would throw an interception in first overtime series. Ohio State would take advantage and seal a 27-24 victory with a 39 yard field goal. Iowa would end the season strong with a 12-0 shutout over the Minnesota Gophers. Iowa stayed at the Fountaine Bleu in Miami, before the Orange Bowl.
with a 9-4 record under first year head coach Paul Johnson
, including a share of the ACC Coastal Crown, a win over Florida State, rival Georgia Bulldogs
and a 38-3 loss in the 2008 Chick-fil-A Bowl
.
The Yellow Jackets opened the 2009 college football season
with a 37-17 win over . Georgia Tech's second game against the Clemson Tigers
saw the Yellow Jackets build up a 24-0 lead, only to see Clemson crawl back to take a 27-24 lead in the fourth quarter. GT would survive, winning 30-27 on a last minute field goal. In Tech's first road game of the year, the Yellow Jackets would leave Land Shark Stadium with a 17-33 loss to the Miami Hurricanes
.
Following the loss, Georgia Tech would win 8 straight games, including a win over #4 Virginia Tech
. The win would be GT's first home win over a top-five team since 1962.
In Tech's final game of the regular season, the Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate
rivalry game vs Georgia
, GT would lose its second game of the season. Down 6 with less than two minutes remaining, the Yellow Jackets gave up their run offense and had four consecutive incomplete "Hail Mary" passes. On 4th and 10 at Georgia's 46 yard line, quarterback Josh Nesbitt's pass to a wide open Demaryius Thomas
was dropped, sealing a 30-24 win for the Bulldogs.
In a week 2 rematch, GT faced Clemson in the 2009 ACC Championship Game
. In an exciting, high scoring game that saw no punts, the Yellow Jackets barely eked out a 39-34 victory to earn their first BCS berth.
. The team was ranked 42nd in passing offense and 95th in rushing offense.
drove 80 yards, culminating in a 3 yard touchdown pass to Marvin McNutt
. The Yellow Jackets' second drive ended in another punt. Iowa scored another touchdown on the following drive, with Stanzi hitting Colin Sandeman for 21 yards, giving the Hawkeyes a 14-0 lead. On the ensuing drive, GT punted for the third time in a row. On Iowa's next drive, Stanzi was intercepted by Jerrad Tarrant. Tarrant returned the interception for a touchdown, cutting Iowa's lead in half.
was sacked, ending the quarter.
. On the next drive, Iowa's Daniel Murray
connected on a 33-yard field goal to give Iowa a 17-7 lead.
ended up in his own endzone. He narrowly avoided a safety by dodging tacklers and reaching the 1 yard line. But the 11 yard loss hurt the Yellow Jackets and they were once again forced to punt. Iowa's next drive ended with a Brandon Wegher 32 yard touchdown rush, giving the Hawkeyes a 24-14 lead. Down 10, with less than 2 minutes left, Georgia Tech was forced to go for it on a 4th and 8 on their own 32. Nesbitt's pass to Demaryius Thomas fell incomplete, allowing Iowa to run out the clock. A final sack of Nesbitt by Iowa Defensive End
Adrian Clayborn
helped to seal the deal for the Hawkeyes, giving them their first major bowl victory in 51 years.
2009 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team
The 2009 Yellow Jackets football team represented the Georgia Institute of Technology in the 2009–2010 Football Season. The team was coached by second year head coach Paul Johnson...
and the Iowa Hawkeyes
2009 Iowa Hawkeyes football team
The 2009 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa and the Iowa Hawkeyes athletic program during the 2009 college football season. The team played its home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. 2009 marked Kirk Ferentz's 11th year as head coach of Iowa...
on Tuesday, January 5, 2010, at Land Shark Stadium in Miami Gardens
Miami Gardens, Florida
Miami Gardens is a Miami suburban city located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The city name comes from one of the major roadways through the area, Miami Gardens Drive. According to the 2010 U.S...
, 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...
. Iowa won the game 24–14, securing the Hawkeyes' first major bowl win since the 1959 Rose Bowl.
Georgia Tech was selected to participate in the Orange Bowl after a 11–2 season that culminated in a 39–34 victory in the 2009 ACC Championship Game
2009 ACC Championship Game
The 2009 ACC Championship Game was a college football game between the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Clemson Tigers. The game, sponsored by Dr. Pepper, was the final regular-season contest of the 2009 college football season for the Atlantic Coast Conference. Georgia Tech defeated Clemson,...
. Iowa was selected as the other half of the matchup after a 10–2 season that ended with a 12–0 win against Minnesota
2009 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team
The 2009 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team was the third under head coach Tim Brewster. They began play on September 5, 2009, at Syracuse, a member of the Big East Conference. On September 12, the Minnesota opened the new TCF Bank Stadium with a 20–13 win against Air Force, moving from the...
. In the weeks between the teams' selection and the playing of the game, media attention focused on Georgia Tech's proficient offense and Iowa's highly rated defense.
The game was part of the 2009–2010 Bowl Championship Series
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...
(BCS) of the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season
2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on September 2, 2009, progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in Pasadena, California on January 7, 2010, featuring the...
and the last game of the season for both teams. It was the coldest Orange Bowl in Miami's history with a kick-off temperature of 49 degrees.
The game was televised in the United States on FOX
Fox Sports (USA)
Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...
, and marked the end of the broadcast agreement between the BCS and FOX, as 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....
took over all BCS broadcast rights in 2011. This was Iowa's second Orange Bowl appearance (first appearance in 2003 Orange Bowl
2003 Orange Bowl
The 2003 FedEx Orange Bowl game was a post-season college football bowl game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the USC Trojans on January 2, 2003, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. USC won the game, 38–17...
), and Georgia Tech's sixth appearance, but first since 1967. It was the first time that the two teams had played against each other.
On July 14, 2011, the NCAA vacated Georgia Tech's appearance in the bowl game as a consequence for major violations committed by the football program.
Team selection
The Orange Bowl is one of five Bowl Championship SeriesBowl 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...
(BCS) 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...
s that have been played at the conclusion of every college football season since 2006.Between 1998 and 2006, there were four BCS games. As defined by contract, the bowl matches the champion of the 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...
(ACC) against an at-large pick chosen by a special committee. On December 5, 2009, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
2009 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team
The 2009 Yellow Jackets football team represented the Georgia Institute of Technology in the 2009–2010 Football Season. The team was coached by second year head coach Paul Johnson...
defeated the Clemson Tigers
2009 Clemson Tigers football team
The 2009 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University in the 2009 college football season. The Tigers were led by head coach Dabo Swinney, who was in his first full season as head coach. The Tigers played their home games in Memorial Stadium...
in the 2009 ACC Championship Game
2009 ACC Championship Game
The 2009 ACC Championship Game was a college football game between the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Clemson Tigers. The game, sponsored by Dr. Pepper, was the final regular-season contest of the 2009 college football season for the Atlantic Coast Conference. Georgia Tech defeated Clemson,...
, thus winning an automatic bid to the 2010 Orange Bowl Game.
The at-large spot in the Orange Bowl was filled via a round-robin
Round-robin
The term round-robin was originally used to describe a document signed by multiple parties in a circle to make it more difficult to determine the order in which it was signed, thus preventing a ringleader from being identified...
selection procedure defined by the other Bowl Championship series games (the Sugar
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
, Fiesta
Fiesta Bowl
The Fiesta Bowl, now sponsored by Frito-Lay and named with their Tostitos brand, is a United States college football bowl game played annually at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Between its origination in 1971 and 2006, the game was hosted in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil...
, and Rose bowls) and the automatic bids. The order of at-large selections rotates annually among the BCS bowls. In 2010, after the bowls who lost host teams to the 2010 BCS National Championship Game
2010 BCS National Championship Game
The 2010 Citi BCS National Championship Game was the finale of the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season, and was played between the Texas Longhorns and the Alabama Crimson Tide. It was hosted by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California,...
chose their replacements, the Orange Bowl picked first, followed by the Fiesta Bowl, then the Sugar Bowl.
Having lost their SEC tie-in (Alabama Crimson Tide
2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
The 2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 77th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference and its 18th within the SEC Western Division...
) to the national title game, the Sugar Bowl
2010 Sugar Bowl
The 2010 Sugar Bowl Game was an American college football bowl game that was part of the Bowl Championship Series for the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season and was the 76th Sugar Bowl...
chose the Florida Gators
2009 Florida Gators football team
The 2009 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2009 college football season...
as the replacement. Likewise, the Fiesta Bowl
2010 Fiesta Bowl
The 2010 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl game was a post-season college football bowl game between the #4 TCU Horned Frogs, champions of the Mountain West Conference, and the #6 Boise State Broncos, champions of the Western Athletic Conference. The game was played Monday, January 4, 2010, at University of...
picked the Texas Christian Horned Frogs
2009 TCU Horned Frogs football team
The 2009 TCU Horned Frogs football team represented Texas Christian University in the 2009 college football season. The team was coached by Gary Patterson. The Frogs played their home games at Amon G. Carter Stadium, which is located on campus in Fort Worth. The Horned Frogs finished the season...
to replace the Big-12 champion 2010 Texas Longhorns
2010 Texas Longhorns football team
The 2010 Texas Longhorn football team represented the University of Texas at Austin in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Mack Brown, who has a contract lasting through the 2016 season...
. The Orange Bowl then selected the Iowa Hawkeyes
2009 Iowa Hawkeyes football team
The 2009 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa and the Iowa Hawkeyes athletic program during the 2009 college football season. The team played its home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. 2009 marked Kirk Ferentz's 11th year as head coach of Iowa...
, while the Fiesta Bowl picked the Boise State Broncos
2009 Boise State Broncos football team
The 2009 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 2009 college football season. The Broncos played their home games at Bronco Stadium, most famous for its blue artificial turf surface, often referred to as the "smurf-turf"...
to set up a battle of the unbeatens. The Sugar Bowl was thus left to select Big East Conference
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
champion Cincinnati Bearcats
2009 Cincinnati Bearcats football team
The 2009 Cincinnati Bearcats football team represented the University of Cincinnati in the college football season of 2009–2010. The team, coached by Brian Kelly, played its home games in Nippert Stadium....
, fulfilling the BCS' contractual obligation to provide a game for the conference's champion.
Iowa
The Hawkeyes entered the 2009 season after a 9-4 overall 2008 record that included a 31-10 win in the 2009 Outback Bowl2009 Outback Bowl
The 2009 Outback Bowl was a college football bowl game played as the first official sporting event in the USA on January 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Scheduled for a kickoff of 11 AM US EST and telecast on ESPN, the game pit the South Carolina Gamecocks against the Iowa...
over South Carolina. Iowa's first game over Northern Iowa would be a sign of things to come in the season. With just 7 seconds left in the game, Northern Iowa attempted a 40 yard field goal that would be blocked. Iowa avoided touching the ball thinking the ball had crossed the line of scrimmage, while in fact it did not. Northern Iowa's recovery allowed for another attempt with 1 second left. But once again, the attempt would be blocked, giving Iowa a 17-16 victory.
Iowa would win their next 7 games, including a 21-10 win over top-five ranked Penn State
2009 Penn State Nittany Lions football team
The 2009 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the 2009 college football season. The team is coached by Joe Paterno and plays its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. Penn State had the highest graduation rate among all of...
, a last minute stop to beat Michigan
2009 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 2009 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 2009 college football season. They played their home games at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan and competed in the Big Ten Conference...
, and a last second touchdown to get a win over Michigan State
2009 Michigan State Spartans football team
The 2009 Michigan State Spartans football team competed on behalf of the Michigan State University in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Spartans were coached by Mark Dantonio, who was in his third season with the Spartans...
.
On November 7, Iowa appeared to be headed for a 10-0 record when they took an early 10-0 lead against the Northwestern Wildcats
2009 Northwestern Wildcats football team
The 2009 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University in the Big Ten during the 2009–2010 college football season. Pat Fitzgerald, in his fourth season at Northwestern, was the team's head coach. The Wildcats home games were played at Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois...
. However, early in the second quarter, quarterback Ricky Stanzi
Ricky Stanzi
-Kansas City Chiefs:Stanzi was selected with the 135th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. Stanzi is second quarterback behind Tyler Palko. Regular starter Matt Cassel was placed on Injured Reserve, ending his 2011 season.-External links:***...
was knocked out of the game with an ankle injury, in a play that resulted in the Wildcats' first touchdown. Iowa would not score again in the game, and would lose 17-10. The Hawkeye's following game, vs. Ohio State
2009 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 2009 Ohio State Buckeyes football team competed in football on behalf of The Ohio State University for the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Buckeyes were coached by Jim Tressel and played their home games in Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. They finished with a record of 11–2 and...
, would determine which team would earn a berth to the Rose Bowl. Down 24-10 with 11:11 left, Iowa would stage a comeback to force overtime. But redshirt freshman
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
quarterback James Vandenberg, filling in for the injured Stanzi, would throw an interception in first overtime series. Ohio State would take advantage and seal a 27-24 victory with a 39 yard field goal. Iowa would end the season strong with a 12-0 shutout over the Minnesota Gophers. Iowa stayed at the Fountaine Bleu in Miami, before the Orange Bowl.
Georgia Tech
The Georgia Tech ended the 2008 college football season2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on August 28, 2008, progressing through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in Miami Gardens, Florida on January 8, 2009, where the #2...
with a 9-4 record under first year head coach Paul Johnson
Paul Johnson (American football coach)
Paul Johnson is an American football coach. He is currently the head coach at the Georgia Institute of Technology, a position he has held since the 2008 season. Previously, Johnson served as the head coach at Georgia Southern University from 1997 to 2001 and at the United States Naval Academy...
, including a share of the ACC Coastal Crown, a win over Florida State, rival Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia Bulldogs
The Georgia Bulldogs are the athletic teams of the University of Georgia. The Bulldogs compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and are members of the Southeastern Conference...
and a 38-3 loss in the 2008 Chick-fil-A Bowl
2008 Chick-fil-A Bowl
The 2008 Chick-fil-A Bowl was the 41st annual edition of the Chick-fil-A Bowl, formerly known as the Peach Bowl and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. It pitted the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets against the Louisiana State Tigers in a postseason American college football game in Atlanta, Georgia...
.
The Yellow Jackets opened the 2009 college football season
2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on September 2, 2009, progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in Pasadena, California on January 7, 2010, featuring the...
with a 37-17 win over . Georgia Tech's second game against the Clemson Tigers
2009 Clemson Tigers football team
The 2009 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University in the 2009 college football season. The Tigers were led by head coach Dabo Swinney, who was in his first full season as head coach. The Tigers played their home games in Memorial Stadium...
saw the Yellow Jackets build up a 24-0 lead, only to see Clemson crawl back to take a 27-24 lead in the fourth quarter. GT would survive, winning 30-27 on a last minute field goal. In Tech's first road game of the year, the Yellow Jackets would leave Land Shark Stadium with a 17-33 loss to the Miami Hurricanes
2009 Miami Hurricanes football team
The 2009 Miami Hurricanes football team represented the University of Miami during the 2009 Division I college football season. The Hurricanes were coached by Randy Shannon and played their home games at Land Shark Stadium...
.
Following the loss, Georgia Tech would win 8 straight games, including a win over #4 Virginia Tech
2009 Virginia Tech Hokies football team
The 2009 Virginia Tech Hokies football team represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach was Frank Beamer...
. The win would be GT's first home win over a top-five team since 1962.
In Tech's final game of the regular season, the Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate
Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate
Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate is the nickname given to an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team of the Georgia Institute of Technology and the Georgia Bulldogs football team of the University of Georgia. The two Georgia universities are...
rivalry game vs Georgia
2009 Georgia Bulldogs football team
The 2009 Georgia Bulldogs football team represented the University of Georgia in 2009. The Bulldogs competed in the East Division of the Southeastern Conference . This was the Georgia Bulldogs' ninth season head coach Mark Richt. The Bulldogs finished the season 8–5, 4–4 in SEC play and won the...
, GT would lose its second game of the season. Down 6 with less than two minutes remaining, the Yellow Jackets gave up their run offense and had four consecutive incomplete "Hail Mary" passes. On 4th and 10 at Georgia's 46 yard line, quarterback Josh Nesbitt's pass to a wide open Demaryius Thomas
Demaryius Thomas
Demaryius Antwon Thomas is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He played college football for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Thomas led the team in receiving in all 3 of his seasons at Tech, 2007, 2008,...
was dropped, sealing a 30-24 win for the Bulldogs.
In a week 2 rematch, GT faced Clemson in the 2009 ACC Championship Game
2009 ACC Championship Game
The 2009 ACC Championship Game was a college football game between the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Clemson Tigers. The game, sponsored by Dr. Pepper, was the final regular-season contest of the 2009 college football season for the Atlantic Coast Conference. Georgia Tech defeated Clemson,...
. In an exciting, high scoring game that saw no punts, the Yellow Jackets barely eked out a 39-34 victory to earn their first BCS berth.
Iowa offense
Iowa entered the Orange bowl ranked 83rd (of 120 Division I FBS teams) in total offenseTotal offense
Total offense is an American football and Canadian football statistic representing the total number of yards rushing and yards passing by a team or player...
. The team was ranked 42nd in passing offense and 95th in rushing offense.
Georgia Tech offense
At the conclusion of the regular season before the Orange Bowl, Georgia Tech's offense was among the best in Division I, ranked 10th in total offense, 2nd in rushing offense, but only 116th in passing offense (out of 120 teams). The triple option was able to rack up an average of 306.23 rushing yards per game before the Orange Bowl.Iowa defense
Iowa's defense was considered among the best in Division I, ranking 10th in total defense. The Hawkeyes ranked 34th in rushing defense and 4th in passing defense.Georgia Tech defense
The Yellow Jackets were ranked 54th in total defense, 68th in rushing defense, and 45th in passing defense.First Quarter
The first drive of the coldest Orange Bowl ever started with an Iowa fumble at its own 47 yard line. Despite having good starting field position, Georgia Tech was forced to punt. On Iowa's second drive of the game, quarterback Ricky StanziRicky Stanzi
-Kansas City Chiefs:Stanzi was selected with the 135th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. Stanzi is second quarterback behind Tyler Palko. Regular starter Matt Cassel was placed on Injured Reserve, ending his 2011 season.-External links:***...
drove 80 yards, culminating in a 3 yard touchdown pass to Marvin McNutt
Marvin McNutt
Marvin McNutt is a 215 pound, 6'4" junior at the University of Iowa where he majors in interdepartmental studies. McNutt is the first team wide receiver for the Iowa Hawkeyes. He is also the all time leader for Iowa in receiving touchdowns, which he accomplished on October 22nd, 2011 against Indiana...
. The Yellow Jackets' second drive ended in another punt. Iowa scored another touchdown on the following drive, with Stanzi hitting Colin Sandeman for 21 yards, giving the Hawkeyes a 14-0 lead. On the ensuing drive, GT punted for the third time in a row. On Iowa's next drive, Stanzi was intercepted by Jerrad Tarrant. Tarrant returned the interception for a touchdown, cutting Iowa's lead in half.
Second Quarter
The second quarter started with 6 straight punts. With less than one minute left in the half, Iowa faced a 4th and 5 on Georgia Tech's 43. But Stanzi's pass fell incomplete to Marvin McNutt. With only 12 seconds left, GT quarterback Josh NesbittJosh Nesbitt
Joshua Leonard Nesbitt is an American football player, currently a member of the Buffalo Bills'. He was formerly the starting quarterback for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.-High school career:...
was sacked, ending the quarter.
Third Quarter
Georgia Tech started the third quarter off with the ball. Their first drive ended in a 41-yard field goal attempt that was missed by kicker Scott BlairScott Blair
Scott Blair was an American football placekicker for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets where he was a four year starter. He played high school football for the Calhoun Yellow Jackets in Calhoun, Georgia.- References :...
. On the next drive, Iowa's Daniel Murray
Daniel Murray
Daniel Murray or Dan Murray may refer to:* Daniel Murray , Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin* Daniel Murray , Canadian mathematician...
connected on a 33-yard field goal to give Iowa a 17-7 lead.
Fourth Quarter
On the first drive of the fourth quarter, Georgia Tech's Anthony Allen rushed for a 1 yard touchdown to cut Iowa's lead to 17-14. Iowa was forced to punt on its following drive. On the first play of the next drive, Nesbitt was intercepted, giving Iowa great field position at Georgia Tech's 15. On a 4th and goal on the 3 yard line, Iowa attempted a fake field goal. Kicker Murray fumbled the ball on the attempt giving GT possession. On the first play of the next drive, while trying to evade defenders, Jonathan DwyerJonathan Dwyer
Jonathan Avery Dwyer is an American football running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Steelers in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia Tech....
ended up in his own endzone. He narrowly avoided a safety by dodging tacklers and reaching the 1 yard line. But the 11 yard loss hurt the Yellow Jackets and they were once again forced to punt. Iowa's next drive ended with a Brandon Wegher 32 yard touchdown rush, giving the Hawkeyes a 24-14 lead. Down 10, with less than 2 minutes left, Georgia Tech was forced to go for it on a 4th and 8 on their own 32. Nesbitt's pass to Demaryius Thomas fell incomplete, allowing Iowa to run out the clock. A final sack of Nesbitt by Iowa Defensive End
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
Adrian Clayborn
Adrian Clayborn
Adrian Clayborn , a native of St. Louis, Missouri, is an American football defensive end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.-Personal life:...
helped to seal the deal for the Hawkeyes, giving them their first major bowl victory in 51 years.
Awards
Iowa's win gave them the 2010 Orange Bowl trophy, and Iowa Defensive End Adrian Clayborn was named the MVP. Clayborn and Stanzi, during the press conference at the end of the game, both announced their intention to return to Iowa for their senior years.Scoring summary
| Scoring Play | Score | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Quarter | |||
| Iowa — Marvin McNutt Marvin McNutt Marvin McNutt is a 215 pound, 6'4" junior at the University of Iowa where he majors in interdepartmental studies. McNutt is the first team wide receiver for the Iowa Hawkeyes. He is also the all time leader for Iowa in receiving touchdowns, which he accomplished on October 22nd, 2011 against Indiana... 3 yard pass from Ricky Stanzi Ricky Stanzi -Kansas City Chiefs:Stanzi was selected with the 135th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. Stanzi is second quarterback behind Tyler Palko. Regular starter Matt Cassel was placed on Injured Reserve, ending his 2011 season.-External links:***... (Daniel Murray kick), 8:10 |
Iowa 7–0 | ||
| Iowa — Colin Sandeman 21 yard pass from Ricky Stanzi (Daniel Murray kick), 4:04 | Iowa 14–0 | ||
| GT — Jerrard Tarrant Jerrard Tarrant Jerrard DaShawn Tarrant is an American football free safety for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. He attended Carrollton High School in Carrollton, Georgia.-College career:... 40 yard interception return (Scott Blair Scott Blair Scott Blair was an American football placekicker for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets where he was a four year starter. He played high school football for the Calhoun Yellow Jackets in Calhoun, Georgia.- References :... kick), 0:24 |
Iowa 14–7 | ||
| 2nd Quarter | |||
| No Scoring | Iowa 14–7 | ||
| 3rd Quarter | |||
| Iowa — Daniel Murray 33 yard field goal, 2:17 | Iowa 17–7 | ||
| 4th Quarter | |||
| GT — Anthony Allen 1 yard run (Scott Blair kick), 12:30 | Iowa 17–14 | ||
| Iowa — Brandon Wegher 32 yard run (Daniel Murray kick), 2:58 | Iowa 24–14 | ||
Final statistics
| IOWA | GT | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Downs | 21 | 9 |
| Total Yards | 403 | 155 |
| Passing Yards | 231 | 12 |
| Rushing Yards | 172 | 143 |
| Penalties | 4–25 | 9–68 |
| 3rd Down Conversions | 5–13 | 4–12 |
| 4th Down Conversions | 0–2 | 0–1 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of Possession | 32:23 | 27:37 |
Iowa statistical recap
| Iowa Passing | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C/ATT | Yds | TD | INT | |
| R. Stanzi | 17/29 | 231 | 2 | 1 |
| Iowa Rushing | ||||
| Car | Yds | TD | LG | |
| B. Wegher | 16 | 113 | 1 | 32 |
| A. Robinson | 14 | 59 | 0 | 15 |
| R. Stanzi | 6 | 10 | 0 | 9 |
| B. Morse | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Iowa Receiving | ||||
| Rec | Yds | TD | LG | |
| T. Moeaki | 4 | 85 | 0 | 54 |
| D. Johnson-Koulianos | 4 | 63 | 0 | 31 |
| C. Sandeman | 4 | 53 | 1 | 21 |
| M. McNutt | 4 | 21 | 1 | 8 |
| T. Stross | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
Georgia Tech statistical recap
| Georgia Tech Passing | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C/ATT | Yds | TD | INT | |
| J. Nesbitt | 2/9 | 12 | 0 | 1 |
| Georgia Tech Rushing | ||||
| Car | Yds | TD | LG | |
| J. Dwyer | 14 | 49 | 0 | 15 |
| J. Nesbitt | 20 | 26 | 0 | 13 |
| E. Peeples | 3 | 27 | 0 | 14 |
| A. Allen | 3 | 21 | 1 | 16 |
| M. Wright | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Georgia Tech Receiving | ||||
| Rec | Yds | TD | LG | |
| J. Dwyer | 2 | 12 | 0 | 11 |