The 1984 Sun Bowl was a

college football College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States. Unlike most ...

postseason bowl game that featured the

Tennessee Volunteers The Tennessee Volunteers and Lady Volunteers are the 20 male and female varsity college athletics, intercollegiate athletics programs that represent the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Volunteers compete in NCAA Division I, ...

and the Maryland Terrapins.

Background

Maryland had won their second straight

Atlantic Coast Conference The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is a collegiate athletic conference located in the eastern United States. Headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC's fifteen member universities compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Associa ...

title highlighted by their comeback against Miami in which they went on a 42–9 run in the second half to topple the defending champs in Miami. Tennessee had finished tied for 5th in the

Southeastern Conference The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is an American college athletic conference whose member institutions are located primarily in the South Central and Southeastern United States. Its fourteen members include the flagship public universities of ...

in their 4th straight bowl appearance. This was Maryland's first Sun Bowl since 1978. This was Tennessee's first ever Sun Bowl, and Majors' third Sun Bowl as coach (1971 with Iowa State and 1975 with Pittsburgh).

Game summary

Tailback Johnnie Jones gave the Vols an early 7–0 lead on his touchdown plunge from 2 yards out.

Fuad Reveiz Fuad Reveiz (born February 24, 1963) is a former American football placekicker who played 10 seasons in the National Football League. He was drafted in the seventh round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. He also played for the San ...

made it 10–0 on his 24-yard field goal to end the quarter. He added another field goal from 52 yards out to make it 13–0. Tony Robinson threw a touchdown pass to Tim McGee from 6 yards out to make it 21–0. Tommy Neal started the comeback for the Terrapins on his 57-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter to make it 21–6. The Terps soon added a field goal to make it 21–9.

Rick Badanjek Richard Alan Badanjek (born April 25, 1962) is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and Atlanta Falcons. Having grown up the son of interracial parents, he was a 1981 graduate of ...

made it 21–16 on his touchdown plunge from a yard out.

Ferrell Edmunds Ferrell Edmunds Jr. (born April 16, 1965 in South Boston, Virginia) is a former professional American football player. Edmunds currently coaches the varsity football program at Dan River High School in Ringgold, Virginia. His three sons Trey, ...

caught a 40-yard touchdown pass from Frank Reich to make it 22–21. Pete Panuska gave the Vols the lead on his 100-yard kickoff return with :10 left in the third quarter to make it 27–22, after a missed conversion that would've made it a seven-point lead. With 2:28 to go, Badanjek scored on a touchdown plunge to make it 28–27, after a failed extra point kick. The Vols were driving for the win when Keeta Covington forced the ball loose from Robinson with time expiring, giving Maryland the win. Badanjek ran for two touchdowns, earning MVP honors. Frank Reich went 17-of-28 for 201 yards, with 1 touchdown and interception.

Aftermath

Neither team has played in the Sun Bowl since this game.

Statistics

References

Sun Bowl The Sun Bowl is a college football bowl game that has been played since 1935 in the southwestern United States at El Paso, Texas. Along with the Sugar Bowl and Orange Bowl, it is the second-oldest bowl game in the country, behind the Rose Bowl. ...

Sun Bowl Maryland Terrapins football bowl games Tennessee Volunteers football bowl games 1984 in sports in Texas December 1984 sports events in the United States {{Collegefootball-bowl-stub