Citrus Bowl Discussion

Submitted by Anonymous Coward (not verified) on

I figured it would be kinda cool to discuss the Citrus Bowl, anything about it is welcome. From 2001-2014 it was known as the Capital One Citrus Bowl. Capital One moved their Sponsorship to the Orange Bowl and BDubs came from what is now the Cactus Bowl.

Last year's Capital One Citrus Bowl matchup was #16 Mizzou vs #25 Minnesota where the Tigers beat the Golden Goofs 33 - 17. The MVP was Mizzou DE Marcus Golden. Both teams finished the 2015 season (5-7). Minnesota was invited to the Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field. Mizzou was not invited to a bowl.

Michigan is tied 3rd all time with Tennessee, Auburn and Penn State for most appearances in the game. Georgia is tied with Florida for first with 6. 

The last time Michigan played in the bowl game was 2007 in a 41-35 Victory over the Florida Gators. 

Last time Michigan State played Alabama, Bama was #16 and MSU was #9. The Crimson Tide crushed Staee 49-7. This matchup was the 2010 Captial One Citrus Bowl.

I think our first appearance in this game was 1999 where we played Arkansas and won 45-31. (1998 season) Jon Jansen was the Captain of the team. Michigan finished 3rd in the conference at #12 behind the Ohio State Buckeyes and Wisconsin Badgers in conference. Anthony Thomas was the Citrus Bowl MVP. 

The game began in 1947 in front of 9,000 fans and is one of the oldest non CFP bowl games along with the Gator Bowl and Sun Bowl. The 1991 game was considered a National Championship victory for Georgia Tech. 

The 1998 game had the largest crowd of 72,940 in a contest between Florida and Penn State. 

In 1958 Buffalo refused to play in the bowl game because they wouldn't allow intergrated sporting events. Buffalo was not bowl eligible again for 50 years. 

Due to construction in 1973, the game between Miami (OH) and Florida was moved to The Swamp under special permission from the NCAA and required special accommodations to be made. Near record low temps of 25 degrees occurred during this game, which nicknamed it the transplant bowl as the RedHawks found the cold to their liking in their 16-7 win. One of the Miami players was future Gators HC Ron Zook. 

Also, Capital One held a mascot challenge from 2001-2014 where the winner was honored at half time. This has moved to the orange bowl this season. 

Michigan takes on former Offensive Coordinator Doug Nussmeier, Go Blue!

MGoBoard

EGD

December 10th, 2015 at 5:39 AM ^

The Citrus Bowl used to be one of the best matchup every year. Look at the games in the '90s--usually it was between the B1G and SEC runners up and featured top-15 or even top-10 teams facing off. The 1996 game was particularly compelling, with #4 Ohio State playing #3 Tennessee.

We obviously won't see #3 vs #4 matchup anymore, but it's still a big-time game. Yet I think the game lost a lot of goodwill with the name change, as people really don't think of the Capitol One Bowl as being any more prestigious than the Outback Bowl or Alamo Bowl or whatever. Hopefully the change back to Citrus Bowl will help recapture some of that.

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UofMfanJJ (not verified)

December 10th, 2015 at 5:52 AM ^

Pretty interesting how many name changes its been through since being the Tangerine Bowl. I think it said the SEC has an edge since it became exclusively SEC vs B1G in the 90s There was also a joke because the Citrus Bowl was usually the SEC #2 and one of the coaches made a joke "can't spell the citrus bowl without U-T (referring to Tennesse)"

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MH20

December 10th, 2015 at 8:03 AM ^

The Tangerine Bowl is the original name for the Citrus Bowl.

The Russell Athletic Bowl has had many names since its inception in 1990, starting as the Blockbuster Bowl.  It was called the Tangerine Bowl for three seasons in the early 2000s before becoming the Champs Sports Bowl in 2004, where it stayed until 2012 when changed to the name it has now.

(Source: Wikipedia)

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UMgradMSUdad

December 10th, 2015 at 8:23 AM ^

What is now the Citrus Bowl was the Tangerine Bowl from 1947-1982.  

What is now the Russell Athletic Bowl began in Miami in 1990 as the Blockbuster Bowl, then the Carquest Bowl, then Micronpc Bowl.  In 2001 it moved to Orlando and became the Visit Florida Tangerine Bowl then the Mazda Tangerine Bowl, then Champs Sports Bowl. It really illustrates the idiocy of using a corporate name for a bowl game.  

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LSAClassOf2000

December 10th, 2015 at 8:23 AM ^

The 1995 game between Ohio State and Alabama was a pretty good game too, as I recall. You're right though - there were some good matchup in this bowl in the 1990s. I think Penn State manhandled Tennessee i nthe early 1990s in this game too. Actually, Penn State beat LSU by 1 or 2 points there about 5 or 6 years ago, if I am not mistaken. 

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bacon

December 10th, 2015 at 6:51 AM ^

A home game for the gators, but I think we'll be well prepared and healthy. I'll bet our defense will be eager to demonstrate that the OSU game was an anomaly and get back to dominating opponents. Rudock wants to go out on a high note and the offense in general will benefit from the extra prep and rest. Harbaugh knows how to get teams ready for big games, I'm hoping that much is obvious by our play in the citrus bowl.

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MGoGrendel

December 10th, 2015 at 8:18 AM ^

in bowl games.  Looking forward to adding to it this year.  

From 1997 to 2000 we won four bowl games in a row (thanks Lloyd!) and two wins were in the Citrus Bowl.  

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SpikeFan2016

December 10th, 2015 at 8:30 AM ^

What percentage of fans do you think we will be able to get this year?

 

UM sold out its official 10,000 tickets. Stadium is sold out and holds about 62,000. 

Anyway that we get 25,000 Michigan fans in there?

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sadeto

December 10th, 2015 at 9:39 AM ^

Interesting story about Buffalo taking a stand against segregation in sports. I do not remember that 2008 Outside the Lines episode. 

One point of clarification: Buffalo did not become bowl eligible for another 50 years in part because they suspended football from 1970 to 1977, then played in Division III and then FCS (I-AA) before rejoining FBS (I-A) in 1999. 

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Zoltanrules

December 10th, 2015 at 10:21 AM ^

My last visit to this bowl game was a game similar to OSU's pasting of us last month. Like OSU,Tennessee had on paper one of the best teams in the country. Inexplicably they didn't show up in their prior game, a loss in the SEC championship vs LSU, and came into the UM on a mission. ( Miami beat Nebraska for the BCS championship, while Illinois won the big10 and lost in the Rose. Maryland won the ACC over FSU too if I remember right).

Like the OSU game we couldn't stop them en route to a 45 -10 loss. Claussen, Washington, Stallworth, and Witten were men amongst boys. A young John Navarre was thrown to the wolves and began his illustrious career of mega yards and being under appreciated. Marquise Walker was our only bright spot.

The only good part was that the UT fans were generally very pleasant (since the outcome was never in doubt). I must have heard 100 times. " You'all are young and will back next year". The bad part is that I learned Rocky Top since I heard it after each first down/score.

I also do remember it didn't seem that hot but many UM fans were sunburned. Bring sunscreen and drink plenty of fluids.

The area around the stadium is sort of seedy so get in a lot reserved lot.

I see this year's game as a total toss up. Florida's D will have to be cracked via the air. I don't see us running on them for more than 75 yards. Thankfully this may be the worst throwing Qb we face all year. We need to position integrity and not let a running Qb escape containment. I think it comes down to Kenny Allen. UM 20, Florida 17.

edit: would love to see a home and home with Tennessee in the near future. I'd definitely go to Knoxville.

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Wolvie3758

December 10th, 2015 at 10:38 AM ^

to get excited about the bowl..The loss to OSU and the way it ended took away alot of the "Zing" this season had going for it..Yes you dont have to remind me of where we were last year..I get it..But as this season rolled along there was so much promise and excitement and after the MSU loss and what happened the team was NEVER the same...barely escaping a couple of teams..They did smash NW and beat Penn St on the road which are good but just cant get excited about this bowl for some reason...Until we are in a NY6 or CFP and not just talking about it I wont be satisfied...and for those who say wait till next year  etc etc etc..I get that but weve been saying that for a while now.

 

add in how bad the basketball team looks and it looks like "Here we go again" 

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coachdad

December 10th, 2015 at 10:58 AM ^

I am also frustrated by the way the season ended up, but I think we all would have taken the Citrus Bowl invite at the beginningg of the season. Things did not work out the way we would have liked, but we have exceeded all expectations for Year 1 of Harbaugh. The most important thing that has been accomplished is we got some of our swagger back. We went into OSU expecting to win and not just hoping to keep it close. It was a disaster i know, but Rome was not built in a day. This first year was exciting and when was the last time we could say that?

I reside in SEC country and have seen Florida play on a number of occasions. Their defense is extremely good. I mean one of the best we will have faced all year long. Our struggling running game will probably continue to struggle, but I do believe we can move the ball passing. Their offense is mediocre at best, but they do have a mobile QB and I suspect they will add some zone read after watching OSU's success againt us. I look for a very good bowl game, and hopefully a 10th win.

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