The 1989 Gator Bowl (January) was a college football postseason

bowl game In North America, a bowl game is one of a number of post-season college football games that are primarily played by teams belonging to the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). For most of its history, the Division I Bowl Subdivi ...

between the

Michigan State Spartans The Michigan State Spartans are the athletic teams that represent Michigan State University. The school's athletic program includes 23 varsity sports teams. Their mascot is a Spartan warrior named Sparty, and the school colors are green and wh ...

and the Georgia Bulldogs

Background

Michigan State finished 2nd in the

Big Ten Conference The Big Ten Conference (stylized B1G, formerly the Western Conference and the Big Nine Conference) is the oldest Division I collegiate athletic conference in the United States. Founded as the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representati ...

after a 0–3–1 start ended with six straight victories before being invited to their second straight bowl game and first ever Gator Bowl. Georgia finished 3rd 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 o ...

and first bowl game since 1987. The game happened immediately after the December 1989 United States cold wave. Workers at Gator Bowl Stadium flushed 503 toilets continuously in the hopes of avoiding water pipe problems but the stadium still suffered $5000 in damages.

Game summary

First quarter

UGA – Rodney Hampton 6 pass from Wayne Johnson (John Kasay kick), 0:01 left.

Second quarter

*Georgia – 39 yard field goal from Steve Crumley, 11:00 left. *Georgia – Rodney Hampton 30 yard touchdown pass from Wayne Johnson (

John Kasay John David Kasay (born October 27, 1969) is a former American football kicker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 21 seasons, primarily with the Carolina Panthers. He played college football at Georgia and was selected by the Se ...

kick), 7:06 left. *Michigan State –

Andre Rison Andre Previn Rison (born March 18, 1967) is a former American football wide receiver who played professionally for the National Football League's Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers ...

4 yard touchdown pass from Bobby McAllister (John Langeloh kick), 2:55 left.

Third quarter

*Georgia – Kirk Warner 18 yard touchdown pass from Wayne Johnson (

kick), 7:48 left *Michigan State –

55 pass from Bobby McAllister (kick failed), 3:55 left. *Georgia – 36 yard field goal from Steve Crumley, 2:16 left.

Fourth quarter

*Michigan State – Blake Ezor 3 yard touchdown run (John Langeloh kick), 14:24 left. *Georgia – Rodney Hampton 32 yard touchdown run (

kick), 11:58 left. *Michigan State –

50 yard touchdown pass from McAllister (Langeloh kick), 3:49 left. Andre Rison caught 9 pass for 252 yards. Wayne Johnson went 15-of-27 for 227 yards.

Aftermath

This was Vince Dooley's final game with the Bulldogs. The following year,

Ray Goff Ray Goff (born July 10, 1955) is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Georgia from 1989 to 1995, compiling a record of 46–34–1. Playing career Goff attended the University of Georgia, ...

became head coach. The Bulldogs did not return to the Gator Bowl until 2014. As for the Spartans, they reached another bowl game the same year. They have not played in the Gator Bowl since this game.

Statistics

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1989 Gator Bowl (01) Gator Bowl Gator Bowl Michigan State Spartans football bowl games Georgia Bulldogs football bowl games January 1989 sports events in the United States 1989 in sports in Florida