The 1998 Motor City Bowl matched the

Marshall Thundering Herd The Marshall Thundering Herd is the intercollegiate athletic collection of teams that collectively represent the Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Thundering Herd athletic teams compete in the Sun Belt Conference, which are membe ...

and the

Louisville Cardinals The Louisville Cardinals (also known as the Cards) are the NCAA athletic teams representing the University of Louisville. The Cardinals teams play in the Atlantic Coast Conference, beginning in the 2014 season. While playing in the Big East Co ...

Background

Marshall was the only Division I-A or I-AA school to record 100 victories in the 1990s, and they had been in both Divisions for the decade. After twenty years of dominating Division I-AA and winning two championships, they moved to I-A starting with the 1997 season, joining the

Mid-American Conference The Mid-American Conference (MAC) is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I collegiate athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twel ...

. In their first season, they won the MAC title and played in the 1997 Motor City Bowl, which they lost. Marshall, led by

Chad Pennington James Chadwick Pennington (born June 26, 1976) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. He played college football at Marshall, where he won the Sammy Baugh Trophy, and was selecte ...

at quarterback, was looking for their first ever bowl victory, having lost their first two. This was Louisville's first bowl game since the 1993 Liberty Bowl. John L. Smith took over a program that had gone 1-10 the previous year, leading Louisville to 3rd place in Conference USA.

Game summary

The game went 12 minutes and 56 seconds before the first score, but when James Williams caught a touchdown pass from Chad Pennington, the scoring began. Marshall and Louisville were tied 21–21 at half time after six consecutive touchdowns combined from both teams to end the half with the average drive covering 84 yards. But Marshall scored 24 straight points in the second half before Louisville responded with a Collins touchdown. But it was too little too late as

Billy Malashevich Billy may refer to: * Billy (name), a name (and list of people with the name) Animals * Billy (dog), a dog breed * Billy (pigeon), awarded the Dickin Medal in 1945 * Billy (pygmy hippo), a pet of U.S. President Calvin Coolidge * Billy, a young ...

(who had kicked 6 extra points and a field goal previously in this game) kicked a field goal with ten minutes remaining that sealed the game for the Herd as they celebrated their first bowl win in Herd history.

threw for 411 yards and for 4 touchdowns on 18 of 24 passes.

Chris Redman Chris James Redman (born July 7, 1977) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League for nine seasons. He played college football at the University of Louisville and was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in ...

went 35 for 54 for 336 yards and

Leroy Collins Thomas LeRoy Collins (March 10, 1909 – March 12, 1991) was an American politician who served as the 33rd Governor of Florida. Collins began his governorship after winning a special election in 1954, was elected to a four-year term in 1956 ...

had 94 yards on 14 carries for three touchdowns. Marshall only punted once, on its first possession of the game.

Aftermath

Marshall would go to a bowl game for four consecutive years, including two more Motor City Bowls. In 2009, they returned to play in what was now renamed the

Little Caesars Pizza Bowl The Little Caesars Pizza Bowl (known as the Motor City Bowl until 2009) was a post-season college football bowl game that was played annually from 1997 to 2013. The first five games (1997–2001) were played at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, M ...

. This began Louisville's streak of nine consecutive bowl-eligible seasons, which ended after Louisville's Orange Bowl win in 2007. The two teams would meet again in the 2002 GMAC Bowl.

Statistics

References

Motor City Bowl The Little Caesars Pizza Bowl (known as the Motor City Bowl until 2009) was a post-season college football bowl game that was played annually from 1997 to 2013. The first five games (1997–2001) were played at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, ...

Little Caesars Pizza Bowl Louisville Cardinals football bowl games Marshall Thundering Herd football bowl games

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