1999 Orange Bowl

NCAAFootballSingleGameHeader
Name=1999 Orange Bowl


Date=January 1, 1999
Year=1998
Visitor School=University of Florida
Visitor Name Short=Florida
Visitor Nickname=Gators
Visitor Record=9-2
Visitor

Visitor Coaches=7
Visitor BCS=8
Visitor Coach=Steve Spurrier
Visitor1=14
Visitor2=14
Visitor3=0
Visitor4=3
Visitor Total=31
Home School=Syracuse University
Home Name Short=Syracuse
Home Nickname=Orangemen
Home Record=8-3
Home

Home Coaches=17
Home BCS=15
Home Coach=Paul Pasqualoni
Home1=0
Home2=3
Home3=0
Home4=7
Home Total=10
Type=bg
MVP=Florida WR Travis Taylor
Stadium=Miami Orange Bowl
City=Miami, Florida
Attendance=67,919cite news | url=http://www.orangebowl.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=11800&KEY=&ATCLID=1249402 | title=BCS Game Results | publisher=orangebowl.org | date=September 26, 2007 | accessdate=2008-01-13]
US Network=ABC
US Announcers=Brad Nessler and Gary Danielson
Ratings=8.4

The 1999 Orange Bowl a 1998-1999 BCS game was played on January 1, 1999. This 65th edition of the Orange Bowl (the last one ever played at the Miami Orange Bowl) featured the Syracuse Orangemen, and the Florida Gators. Florida came into the game with a 9-2 record, whereas Syracuse was 8-3. Consequently, the Florida Gators were favorites playing in front of their home state.

Florida came out of the gates swinging, with quarterback Doug Johnson throwing two touchdown passes to wide receiver Travis Taylor creating a 14-0 Florida lead. Syracuse got on the scoreboard in the second quarter following a field goal to close the gap to 14-3. Florida added two more touchdowns before the half to widen the gap to 28-3.

Florida continued to dominate the game, before giving up a 62 yard touchdown from quarterback Donovan McNabb to wide receiver Maurice Jackson, with only 3 minutes left in the game. Florida then ran out the clock to finish the game. Florida, whose only two losses came against top 2 opponents, cranked out over 400 yards of total offense. Travis Taylor was named MVP, after catching 7 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Terry Jackson rushed for 108 yards on 21 carries.

Aftermath

The 1999 Orange Bowl victory clinched Florida's sixth consecutive 10-win season. They finished the season 10-2, and ranked in the final Top 5.

References

External links

* [http://www.orangebowl.org/ Official website of the Orange Bowl]
* [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/college/1998/bowls/orange/news/1999/01/02/orange_bowl/index.html/ Sports Illustrated Article]