2001 Motor City Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 2001 Motor City Bowl was a National Collegiate Athletic Association
bowl game
in which the Toledo Rockets
of the MAC
defeated the Cincinnati Bearcats
of the Conference USA
23–16. It was played on December 29, 2001 at the Pontiac Silverdome
in Pontiac, Michigan
.
The Beracats were C-USA runner-ups fresh off the wins from five of their last six games, which included Syracuse
and #20 Southern Mississippi
. Marshall however was the four-time MAC champion who had also won five of their last six games, one of which was against Western Michigan
, who had defeated them earlier in the season, in the MAC Championship Game
.
This game marked the first time the Bearcats appeared in the Motor City Bowl. Marshall was a regular in Motown having appeared in the 1997, 1998 and 1999 contests.
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
in which the Toledo Rockets
Toledo Rockets football
The Toledo Rockets football team is a college football program in Division I FBS, representing the University of Toledo. The Rockets compete in the Mid-American Conference. Toledo began playing football in 1917, although it did not field teams in 1931, and 1943-1945. Since the inception of the AP...
of the MAC
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
defeated the Cincinnati Bearcats
Cincinnati Bearcats football
The Cincinnati Bearcats football program represents the University of Cincinnati in a college football. They compete at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level as members of the Big East Conference. The Bearcat football program is one of the nation's oldest, having fielded a team as...
of the Conference USA
Conference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
23–16. It was played on December 29, 2001 at the Pontiac Silverdome
Pontiac Silverdome
The Silverdome is a domed stadium located in the city of Pontiac, Michigan, USA, which sits on . It was the largest stadium in the National Football League until FedEx Field in suburban Washington, D.C...
in Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac, located within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County...
.
The Beracats were C-USA runner-ups fresh off the wins from five of their last six games, which included Syracuse
Syracuse Orange football
The Syracuse Orange football program is a college football team that represents Syracuse University. The team is a member of the Big East Conference, which is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I conference that is part of the Football Bowl Subdivision...
and #20 Southern Mississippi
Southern Miss Golden Eagles football
The Southern Miss Golden Eagles football program represents the University of Southern Mississippi in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. The Eagles are members of Conference USA and player their home games at M. M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg, Mississippi...
. Marshall however was the four-time MAC champion who had also won five of their last six games, one of which was against Western Michigan
Western Michigan Broncos football
The Western Michigan Broncos football program represents Western Michigan University in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I and the Mid-American Conference . Western Michigan has competed in football since 1906, when they played three games in their inaugural season...
, who had defeated them earlier in the season, in the MAC Championship Game
MAC Championship Game
The Marathon MAC Football Championship is a football game between the winners of the East and West divisions of the Mid-American Conference to determine the conference champion. The game has been played since 1997, when the conference was first divided into divisions and since 2003 has been...
.
This game marked the first time the Bearcats appeared in the Motor City Bowl. Marshall was a regular in Motown having appeared in the 1997, 1998 and 1999 contests.
Scoring summary
| Scoring play | Score | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Quarter | |||
| UT– France 28 yard FG, 9:24 | UT 3–0 | ||
| 2nd Quarter | |||
| UC– Ruffin 29 yard FG, 9:05 | Tie 3–3 | ||
| UC– Walker 28 yard pass from Guidugli (Ruffin kick), 2:43 | UC 10–3 | ||
| UC– Ruffin 46 yard FG, 0:00 | UC 13–3 | ||
| 3rd Quarter | |||
| UT– France 42 yard FG, 11:33 | UC 13–6 | ||
| UT– Bolden 28 yard TD run (France kick), 1:44 | Tie 13-13 | ||
| 4th Quarter | |||
| UT– France 30 yard FG, 9:42 | UT 16-13 | ||
| UC–Ruffin 25 yard FG, 6:26 | Tie 16-16 | ||
| UT– Taylor 24 yard TD run (France kick), 3:23 | UT 23–16 | ||