2003 Orange Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 2003 FedEx Orange Bowl game was a post-season college football
bowl game
between the Iowa Hawkeyes
and the USC Trojans
on January 2, 2003, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida
. USC won the game, 38–17. The game was part of the 2002-2003 Bowl Championship Series
(BCS) of the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season
and represented the concluding game of the season for both teams. The Orange Bowl was first played in 1935, and the 2003 game represented the 69th edition of the Orange Bowl. The contest was televised in the United States on ABC.
, the New Year's Day pairings never would have occurred. The Rose Bowl normally features the champions of the Big Ten (in 2002, the Ohio State Buckeyes
) and the Pac-10. However, because the Buckeyes had finished #2 in the BCS, they were set to play in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl
for the national championship against Miami (Fla.)
The Orange Bowl had the next pick after the Fiesta Bowl pairing, and #3 (#5 BCS) Iowa was chosen. The Rose Bowl had the next BCS selection. The next, best available team to choose was #8 (#7 BCS) Oklahoma, who won the Big 12 Championship Game, to play Pac-10 winner Washington State in the 2003 Rose Bowl
. When it came time for the Orange Bowl and Sugar Bowl to make a second pick, both wanted USC. However, a BCS rule stated that if two bowls want the same team, the bowl with the higher payoff has the option. The Orange Bowl immediately extended an at-large bid to the number 5 ranked Trojans and paired them with at-large number 3 Iowa in a Big Ten/Pac-10 "Rose Bowl" matchup in the 2003 Orange Bowl. Rose Bowl committee executive director Mitch Dorger was not pleased with the results. This left the Sugar Bowl with #14 BCS Florida State, the winner of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Notre Dame at 10-2 and #9 in the BCS standings was invited to the 2003 Gator Bowl
. Kansas State at #8 also was left out.
, who was fired following the game.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
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...
between the Iowa Hawkeyes
2002 Iowa Hawkeyes football team
The 2002 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa during the 2002 college football season. The Hawkeyes played their home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa and were coached by Kirk Ferentz....
and the USC Trojans
2002 USC Trojans football team
The 2002 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 2002-2003 NCAA Division I-A college football season....
on January 2, 2003, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida
Miami Gardens, Florida
Miami Gardens is a Miami suburban city located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The city name comes from one of the major roadways through the area, Miami Gardens Drive. According to the 2010 U.S...
. USC won the game, 38–17. The game was part of the 2002-2003 Bowl Championship Series
Bowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
(BCS) of the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season
2002 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season ended the season with what most consider an exciting double overtime national championship game. Ohio State and Miami both came into the Fiesta Bowl undefeated. The underdog Buckeyes defeated the Hurricanes 31–24, ending Miami's 34 game winning...
and represented the concluding game of the season for both teams. The Orange Bowl was first played in 1935, and the 2003 game represented the 69th edition of the Orange Bowl. The contest was televised in the United States on ABC.
Teams
Prior to the BCSBowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
, the New Year's Day pairings never would have occurred. The Rose Bowl normally features the champions of the Big Ten (in 2002, the Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes are the intercollegiate sports teams and players of The Ohio State University, named after the state tree, the Buckeye. The Buckeyes participate in the NCAA's Division I in all sports and the Big Ten Conference in most sports...
) and the Pac-10. However, because the Buckeyes had finished #2 in the BCS, they were set to play in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl
2003 Fiesta Bowl
The 2003 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl took place on January 3,2003 in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil Stadium. The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Miami Hurricanes by a score of 31–24 in double overtime. It also served as the BCS National Championship Game for the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season...
for the national championship against Miami (Fla.)
The Orange Bowl had the next pick after the Fiesta Bowl pairing, and #3 (#5 BCS) Iowa was chosen. The Rose Bowl had the next BCS selection. The next, best available team to choose was #8 (#7 BCS) Oklahoma, who won the Big 12 Championship Game, to play Pac-10 winner Washington State in the 2003 Rose Bowl
2003 Rose Bowl
The 2003 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 2003. It was the 89th Rose Bowl game. It was a match-up between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Washington State Cougars. The game was won by Oklahoma 34-14. Nate Hybl who played quarterback for the Sooners, was named the Rose...
. When it came time for the Orange Bowl and Sugar Bowl to make a second pick, both wanted USC. However, a BCS rule stated that if two bowls want the same team, the bowl with the higher payoff has the option. The Orange Bowl immediately extended an at-large bid to the number 5 ranked Trojans and paired them with at-large number 3 Iowa in a Big Ten/Pac-10 "Rose Bowl" matchup in the 2003 Orange Bowl. Rose Bowl committee executive director Mitch Dorger was not pleased with the results. This left the Sugar Bowl with #14 BCS Florida State, the winner of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Notre Dame at 10-2 and #9 in the BCS standings was invited to the 2003 Gator Bowl
2003 Gator Bowl
The 2003 Gator Bowl was a post-season American college football bowl game between the NC State Wolfpack and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida on January 1, 2003. The game was the final contest of the 2002 NCAA Division I–A football season for both teams and...
. Kansas State at #8 also was left out.
University of Iowa Hawkeyes
The Hawkeyes tied for the Big Ten conference championship with Ohio State. However, Iowa and Ohio State did not play each other. Also, Iowa had lost one game, 31-36 to in-State rival Iowa State.USC Trojans
On October 5, in the 300th game for USC on live television, the Washington State Cougars defeated the USC Trojans 30-27 in overtime. The Cougars scored with 1:50 left to play to force overtime. The Cougars and Trojans ended up tied for first place in the Pac-10, but the Cougars won the tie-breaker by virtue of the head-to-head competition victory. The final game of the season had been moved to December 2 with Washington State at UCLA. Originally it was thought that the Bruins would be the team playing for the Rose Bowl. A 52-21 loss to USC put the Bruins out of contention and the Trojans and Cougars in. Washington State defeated UCLA 48-27 in the Rose Bowl Stadium to advance to the Rose Bowl game. This was the final game for UCLA head coach Bob ToledoBob Toledo
Bob Toledo is a former American football coach and player. Toledo served as the head coach at University of California, Riverside , the University of the Pacific , the University of California, Los Angeles , and Tulane University...
, who was fired following the game.
Scoring
- Iowa - C.J. Jones 100-yard kickoff return (Kaeding kick)
- USC - Fargas 4-yard run (Killeen kick)
- Iowa - Kaeding 35-yard field goal
- USC - Killeen 35-yard field goal
- USC - Williams 18-yard pass from Palmer (Killeen kick)
- USC - Fargas 50-yard run (Killeen kick)
- USC - McCullough 5-yard run (Killeen kick)
- USC - Byrd 6-yard run (Killeen kick)
- Iowa - Brown 18-yard pass from Banks (Kaeding kick)