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2008 Capital One Bowl

American college football game


American college football game

FieldValue
year_game_played2008
game_nameCapital One Bowl
football_season2007
visitor_name_shortMichigan
visitor_nicknameWolverines
visitor_schoolUniversity of Michigan
home_name_shortFlorida
home_nicknameGators
home_schoolUniversity of Florida
visitor_record8–4
visitor_conferenceBig Ten
home_record9–3
home_conferenceSEC
visitor_coachLloyd Carr
home_coachUrban Meyer
home_rank_AP9
home_rank_coaches12
home_rank_BCS12
visitor_1q7
visitor_2q14
visitor_3q7
visitor_4q13
home_1q7
home_2q7
home_3q14
home_4q7
date_game_playedJanuary 1
stadiumFlorida Citrus Bowl
cityOrlando, Florida
MVPChad Henne (Michigan QB)
oddsFlorida by 10½
refereeJeff Flanagan (ACC)
halftimeBoth school bands
attendance69,748
payout4.25 million per team
us_networkABC
us_announcers_linkList of announcers of major college bowl games
us_announcersMike Patrick (play-by-play)
Todd Blackledge (analyst)
Holly Rowe (sideline)
ratings9.13

Todd Blackledge (analyst) Holly Rowe (sideline)

The 2008 Capital One Bowl was held on January 1, 2008, at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. The game featured the University of Michigan Wolverines—who finished the 2007 season tied for second in the Big Ten Conference with an overall record of 8–4 (6–2 in the Big Ten)—and the #12 University of Florida Gators—who finished the 2007 season third in the Southeastern Conference's East Division with an overall record of 9–3 (5–3 in the SEC).

Pre-game buildup

This game was significant for several different reasons. It was the last game for the Michigan Wolverines' coach, Lloyd Carr, who had announced his retirement on November 19, 2007. During the game, Carr used a passing spread offense to attack on the first drive against Florida's defense. The game was also the last game for the Michigan senior class, who had lost each of their previous three bowl games. It was also an opportunity for Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators to play in front of a crowd of mostly Gator fans, as Orlando and Gainesville are separated by less than a two-hour drive.

Coming into this game, Florida was highly favored to win. As Michigan had lost early in the season to Appalachian State and Oregon, teams who both employed a spread offense similar to Florida's, many predicted that Michigan would suffer a similar fate against Florida. However, the Wolverines were able to generate 524 yards of offense in defeating the Gators, turning the ball over four times, twice within one yard of scoring.

This game was a bit of a grudge match because Florida coach, Urban Meyer had lobbied for his team to get into the BCS National Championship game over Michigan during the 2006 season. Ultimately, Meyer's lobbying was successful and Florida went on to defeat Michigan's hated rivals Ohio State, 41–14, in the BCS National Championship Game. Previously, Michigan and Florida met four years earlier in the 2003 Outback Bowl, with Michigan defeating Florida, 38–30. Florida's loss makes them the second defending BCS Champion to lose a non-BCS bowl game a year later, the first being Florida's SEC rivals the LSU Tigers in the 2005 edition of this bowl game against the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Game summary

Michigan started the game at their own 6-yard line and put together a 94-yard opening drive. Michigan quarterback Chad Henne connected on a 21-yard pass to Mario Manningham to put Michigan up 7–0. Over the course of the game, Michigan turned the ball over four times (two fumbles and two interceptions), which resulted in two Florida touchdown drives. These two touchdowns eventually put the Gators ahead 35–31 with just under six minutes to play. The Wolverines regained the lead when Adrian Arrington caught a touchdown pass to make the score 38–35 in favor of Michigan. Florida got the ball back but could not convert on fourth down from their own 25-yard line. Michigan ran three straight plays that resulted in a K.C. Lopata field goal to make the score 41–35 with 2:20 remaining. On Florida's last possession, quarterback Tim Tebow failed to complete a pass on four consecutive downs. After knocking down Tebow's final pass, Michigan ran out the clock to clinch the win, 41–35. Chad Henne was named the game's MVP.

Scoring summary

Game statistics

MichiganFlorida
**1st downs**
**Total yards**
**Passing yards**
**Rushing yards**
**Penalties**
**3rd down conversions**
**4th down conversions**
**Turnovers**
**Time of Possession**

Individual statistics

Michigan passingC/ATT*YdsTDINTMichigan rushingCaraYdsTDLGbMichigan receivingReccYdsTDLGb
Chad Henne25/3937332
Mike Hart32129223
Mario Manningham753023
Brandon Minor1-200
Team3-500
Chad Henne42400
Adrian Arrington9153237
Mario Manningham578124
Carson Butler165065
Greg Mathews762018
Mike Hart1707
Junior Hemingway1404
Mark Moundros1404
  • Completions/Attempts a Carries b Long play c Receptions
Florida passingC/ATT*YdsTDINTFlorida rushingCaraYdsTDLGbFlorida receivingReccYdsTDLGb
Tim Tebow17/3315430
Chas Henry1/11500
Percy Harvin13165166
Tim Tebow1657119
Kestahn Moore2907
Team1-100
Percy Harvin977120
Andre Caldwell240218
Aaron Hernandez331015
Cornelius Ingram117017
Louis Murphy1404
  • Completions/Attempts a Carries b Long play c Receptions

References

References

  1. World Features Syndicate via ''[[Long Beach Press-Telegram]]'', Dec. 28, 2007
  2. "Bowl Schedules/Results – 2007-08 Bowl Schedule".
  3. Heuser, John. (2008-01-15). "Capital One Bowl a hit on TV". mlive.com.
  4. [http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/112006/col_6345600.shtml Jacksonville Online]
  5. "2008 Capital 1 Bowl, University of Michigan Athletics".
  6. "Michigan vs. Florida - College Football Box Score - January 1, 2008".
Info: Wikipedia Source

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