2009 Texas Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 2009 Texas Bowl
was the fourth edition of the college football
bowl game
, and was played at Reliant Stadium
in Houston, Texas
. The game started at 2:30 PM US CST on Thursday, December 31, 2009
. The game was telecast on ESPN
for the first time in bowl history after being televised by the NFL Network
for the first three games. The Texas Bowl matched the Big 12 Conference
sixth-place Missouri Tigers
against independent Navy Midshipmen
. Navy defeated Missouri 35–13.
This was the first time that either team appeared in the Texas Bowl. It was the seventh year in a row that Navy appeared in a bowl game, and a team record fifth year in a row that Missouri made a post-season appearance. Missouri came off two straight bowl wins while Navy had lost three bowl games in a row. The game marked the third time that the two teams had played each other and the second time they had met in a bowl game. Prior to the 2009 Texas Bowl, Missouri held a 2–0 advantage with a 35–14 victory in 1948 and a 21–14 win in 1961
in the Orange Bowl
.
, but that would be the best part of the day for Missouri. Despite a fumble
by Navy, the Midshipmen defense shut Missouri down, and gave the ball back to Navy QB Ricky Dobbs
, who atoned for his fumble on the previous drive with a one-yard TD rush, his 25th of the season. Dobbs would fumble again in the endzone, resulting in Missouri having a chance to take the lead before halftime, but Missouri fumbled on the next play, and Dobbs atoned for his fumble once more with a touchdown. Missouri cut it to 14–10 for halftime, but they would not draw any closer. Navy dominated the rest of the game. After halftime, Navy took a 21–10 lead on a Dobbs pass to Bobby Doyle. Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert
then threw an interception, and Navy didn't look back. Navy ate up most of the 3rd quarter before a 4th down stop. However, Missouri could only amass a field goal out of a 95 yard drive, and that sealed the game. Navy would run down Missouri's throat, winning by a final count of 35–13. Ricky Dobbs took Texas Bowl
MVP honors.
Texas Bowl
The Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas, formerly known as the Texas Bowl, is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I FBS college football bowl game that was held for the first time in 2006 in Houston, Texas. The bowl replaced the now-defunct Houston Bowl, which was played annually from 2000 to 2005...
was the fourth edition of the college football
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...
, and was played at Reliant Stadium
Reliant Stadium
Reliant Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Houston, Texas, USA. Reliant Stadium has a seating capacity of 71,500, a total square footage of with of natural grass playing surface....
in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. The game started at 2:30 PM US CST on Thursday, December 31, 2009
2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on September 2, 2009, progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in Pasadena, California on January 7, 2010, featuring the...
. The game was telecast on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
for the first time in bowl history after being televised by the NFL Network
NFL Network
NFL Network is an American television specialty channel owned and operated by the National Football League . It was launched November 4, 2003, only eight months after the league's 32 team owners voted unanimously to approve its formation...
for the first three games. The Texas Bowl matched the Big 12 Conference
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
sixth-place Missouri Tigers
2009 Missouri Tigers football team
The 2009 Missouri Tigers football team, their 120th season, represented the University of Missouri in college football's 2009 season. The team was coached by Gary Pinkel, who returned for his ninth season with Mizzou, and played their home games at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium...
against independent Navy Midshipmen
2009 Navy Midshipmen football team
The 2009 Navy Midshipmen football team represented the United States Naval Academy in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS college football season. The Midshipmen, led by third year head coach Ken Niumatalolo, played their home games at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.On November 7, 2009 athletic...
. Navy defeated Missouri 35–13.
This was the first time that either team appeared in the Texas Bowl. It was the seventh year in a row that Navy appeared in a bowl game, and a team record fifth year in a row that Missouri made a post-season appearance. Missouri came off two straight bowl wins while Navy had lost three bowl games in a row. The game marked the third time that the two teams had played each other and the second time they had met in a bowl game. Prior to the 2009 Texas Bowl, Missouri held a 2–0 advantage with a 35–14 victory in 1948 and a 21–14 win in 1961
1960 college football season
The 1960 college football season marked the last time that the University of Minnesota was a national champion on the gridiron. Murray Warmath's Minnesota Gophers were not in the Top 20 in preseason polling, but received the AP Trophy at the end of the regular season...
in the Orange Bowl
Orange Bowl
The Orange Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It has been played annually since January 1, 1935 and celebrated its 75th playing on January 1, 2009...
.
Game summary
Navy wore their navy blue home jerseys with white and red trimmed shoulders, Missouri wore their white away jerseys. Missouri struck first with a 58 yard touchdown pass to Danario AlexanderDanario Alexander
Danario Alexander is an American football wide receiver for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. While considered by some to be a prime wide receiver prospect for the 2010 NFL Draft, Alexander was not drafted. On August 22, 2010, St...
, but that would be the best part of the day for Missouri. Despite a fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
by Navy, the Midshipmen defense shut Missouri down, and gave the ball back to Navy QB Ricky Dobbs
Ricky Dobbs
Ricky Dobbs is a United States Navy officer and former college football quarterback for the United States Naval Academy. During the 2009 season he broke the single season college football record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 27.-High school:Dobbs was known as "the Mayor" by...
, who atoned for his fumble on the previous drive with a one-yard TD rush, his 25th of the season. Dobbs would fumble again in the endzone, resulting in Missouri having a chance to take the lead before halftime, but Missouri fumbled on the next play, and Dobbs atoned for his fumble once more with a touchdown. Missouri cut it to 14–10 for halftime, but they would not draw any closer. Navy dominated the rest of the game. After halftime, Navy took a 21–10 lead on a Dobbs pass to Bobby Doyle. Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert
Blaine Gabbert
Blaine Gabbert is an American football quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League . He played college football for the University of Missouri Tigers before leaving early for the 2011 NFL draft after his junior year...
then threw an interception, and Navy didn't look back. Navy ate up most of the 3rd quarter before a 4th down stop. However, Missouri could only amass a field goal out of a 95 yard drive, and that sealed the game. Navy would run down Missouri's throat, winning by a final count of 35–13. Ricky Dobbs took Texas Bowl
Texas Bowl
The Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas, formerly known as the Texas Bowl, is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I FBS college football bowl game that was held for the first time in 2006 in Houston, Texas. The bowl replaced the now-defunct Houston Bowl, which was played annually from 2000 to 2005...
MVP honors.
Scoring summary
| Scoring play | Score | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Quarter | |||
| MIZZ — Blaine Gabbert Blaine Gabbert Blaine Gabbert is an American football quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League . He played college football for the University of Missouri Tigers before leaving early for the 2011 NFL draft after his junior year... 58 yard pass to Danario Alexander (Grant Ressel kick), 14:36 |
MIZZ 7–0 | ||
| NAVY — Ricky Dobbs Ricky Dobbs Ricky Dobbs is a United States Navy officer and former college football quarterback for the United States Naval Academy. During the 2009 season he broke the single season college football record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 27.-High school:Dobbs was known as "the Mayor" by... 1 yard rush (Joe Buckley kick), 2:58 |
TIE 7–7 | ||
| 2nd Quarter | |||
| NAVY — Ricky Dobbs 13 yard rush (Joe Buckley kick), 0:45 | NAVY 14–7 | ||
| MIZZ — Grant Ressel 31 yard field goal, 0:00 | NAVY 14–10 | ||
| 3rd Quarter | |||
| NAVY — Ricky Dobbs 3 yard pass to Bobby Doyle (Joe Buckley kick), 10:04 | NAVY 21–10 | ||
| 4th Quarter | |||
| MIZZ — Grant Ressel 31 yard field goal, 14:58 | NAVY 21–13 | ||
| NAVY — Marcus Curry 11 yard rush (Joe Buckley kick), 14:23 | NAVY 28–13 | ||
| NAVY — Ricky Dobbs 1 yard rush (Joe Buckley kick), 4:56 | NAVY 35–13 | ||