2010 PapaJohns.com Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 2010 PapaJohns.com Bowl was a postseason college football
bowl game
between the Connecticut Huskies
(UConn) of the Big East Conference
and the South Carolina Gamecocks
of the Southeastern Conference
(SEC), on January 2, 2010 at Legion Field
in Birmingham, Alabama
. The game was the final contest of the 2009 NCAA Division I-Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I-FBS) football season
for both teams, and it ended in a 20–7 victory for Connecticut.
Connecticut was selected to play in the 2010 PapaJohns.com Bowl following a tumultuous 7–5 regular season
that included five losses by a total of just fifteen points, a double-overtime
victory at Notre Dame
, and the murder of cornerback
Jasper Howard
. The Huskies faced South Carolina, who also had 7–5 regular-season, highlighted by wins over then-No. 4 Mississippi
and then-No. 15 Clemson
. Pregame coverage focused on the tragedy that marked the Huskies' season, as well as on head coach
es Randy Edsall
of Connecticut and Steve Spurrier
of South Carolina.
Connecticut scored twice in the first quarter: on a one-handed 37-yard touchdown
reception
by wide receiver
Kashif Moore and then on a 33-yard field goal
after South Carolina failed to convert a fourth-down play at its 32-yard line. Running back
Andre Dixon
scored for UConn on a 10-yard rush early in the fourth quarter. South Carolina scored its sole touchdown after the game had effectively been decided, on a two-yard run by Brian Maddox.
Dixon was named player of the game, and finished with 126 rushing yards and one touchdown. Connecticut wide receiver Marcus Easley
and South Carolina linebacker
Eric Norwood
were among four players from the teams to be selected in the subsequent 2010 National Football League (NFL) Draft
.
The Big East's contract with the bowl committee stated that the group would make its selection in coordination with the International Bowl
and the St. Petersburg Bowl after other Big East-affiliated bowl games made their selections. Conference champion Cincinnati
was awarded an automatic Bowl Championship Series
(BCS) berth in the 2010 Sugar Bowl
. The Gator Bowl
had the first pick after the BCS, and selected West Virginia
. The Meineke Car Care Bowl
, which had the next selection, considered both Pittsburgh
, which had the better regular-season record, and Rutgers
, whose fans had a better traveling reputation; it selected Pittsburgh.
Three bowl-eligible Big East teams remained: Connecticut, Rutgers, and South Florida
. The previous two years, Rutgers had played in the 2008 International Bowl
and the 2008 PapaJohns.com Bowl
. In the same period, South Florida played in the 2007 PapaJohns.com Bowl
and the 2008 St. Petersburg Bowl
. Connecticut had played in the 2009 International Bowl
the previous year. In general, bowl games and conferences prefer to have different teams play in each game each year. Partly because of this, Rutgers went to the 2009 St. Petersburg Bowl
, South Florida to the 2010 International Bowl
, and Connecticut to the 2010 PapaJohns.com Bowl.
For Connecticut's opponent, the PapaJohns.com Bowl had the right to select a SEC team, but only after all other bowls with contracts with the SEC made their selections. Conference champion Alabama
finished No. 1 in the BCS standings and earned a berth to the 2010 BCS National Championship Game
. Conference championship game loser Florida
took the SEC champion's automatic slot in the 2010 Sugar Bowl
, vacant since Alabama was selected to appear in the national championship game. The Capital One Bowl
had the next selection and opted for Louisiana State University (LSU)
. The Cotton Bowl
and Outback Bowl
selected Ole Miss
and Auburn
respectively. The Chick-fil-A Bowl
, which had the next pick, selected Tennessee
. The next selections were shared by the Liberty Bowl
and Music City Bowl
, which opted for Arkansas
and Kentucky
, respectively. The Independence Bowl, with the next-to-last selection, picked Georgia
, leaving the PapaJohns.com Bowl with the last available bowl-eligible SEC team, South Carolina.
The game was the first meeting between the two schools and the first PapaJohns.com Bowl appearance for each. The game was the 30th anniversary of South Carolina's last postseason game at Legion Field
, in the December 1979 Hall of Fame Bowl, and it was the 20th anniversary of head coach Steve Spurrier
's last Legion Field bowl game, with in the December 1989 All-American Bowl.
, ending the season with a victory in the 2009 International Bowl
. The departure of running back Donald Brown
—the NCAA rushing leader in 2008—as well as three other Huskies selected in the first two rounds of the 2009 NFL Draft
, was expected to hurt the team. In the Big East preseason media poll, the Huskies were picked to finish sixth in the conference.
, and never trailed in the game, winning 23–16. UConn's next game was its home opener, versus No. 19 North Carolina
. Connecticut led 10–0 through three quarters, but North Carolina tied the game with 2:36 left and took the lead when UConn was called for a holding penalty
in its end zone
, which by rule resulted in a safety. North Carolina won the game 12–10. Connecticut rebounded in its next game at Baylor
, winning 30–22; they then faced Division I-Football Championship Subdivision (Division I-FCS) opponent Rhode Island, an historic rival
of the team, and defeated them 52–10.
The Huskies opened Big East conference play at the Pittsburgh Panthers. UConn held a 21–6 lead with less than four minutes left in the third quarter, but Pittsburgh rallied to win with a field goal
as time expired. Connecticut closed the first half of its season versus Big East opponent Louisville
on homecoming
weekend. In the third quarter, with UConn leading 21–13, Louisville running back Bilal Powell
ran off left tackle near the end zone. He was caught by cornerback Jasper Howard
, who forced a fumble
. Connecticut kicked a field goal on the ensuing drive and won the game 38–25, giving the Huskies a 4–2 overall record, 1–1 within the Big East conference.
in Hartford, where he was pronounced dead. Coach Randy Edsall
was summoned to identify the body. Howard's murder was the first homicide on UConn's campus in more than thirty years.
Connecticut's next game, one week after Howard's death, was at West Virginia. In a close-run game, Connecticut lost 28–24 after West Virginia responded to the Huskies' late go-ahead score with one of its own. Two days after the game, the entire UConn team traveled to Howard's hometown of Miami, Florida
, for his funeral. The next game, the first at Rentschler Field since Howard's death, was against Rutgers. Connecticut came back in the fourth quarter to take a 24–21 lead with 38 seconds remaining; Rutgers completed an 81-yard touchdown pass one play later to win 28–24. UConn also lost the game that followed, 47–45, at undefeated No. 5 Cincinnati. After three straight losses, the Huskies' record dropped to 4–5 overall; 1–4 in the Big East. The losses to this point were by a combined total of 15 points.
. The Irish scored two touchdowns early but the Huskies responded with a touchdown and a field goal. Notre Dame expanded its lead to 17–10 in the third quarter, but Todman ran back the ensuing kickoff
96 yards for a game-tying touchdown. In the fourth quarter, Notre Dame once again took the lead on a 23-yard field goal; after two touchdown-scoring running plays were negated by holding penalties, Connecticut tied the score on a 29-yard field goal with 1:10 left, sending the game into overtime. The teams traded touchdowns in the first overtime, and the Huskies won the game with a touchdown in the second overtime. Edsall stated that the game was the "best win" in UConn football history.
Connecticut finished the regular season by beating Syracuse
and South Florida at home. The South Florida game, played as snow fell on Rentschler Field, was won on a last-second 42-yard field goal by kicker
Dave Teggart. The two wins gave UConn a final regular season record of 7–5 overall, 3–4 in the Big East. They finished in a three-way tie with Rutgers and South Florida for fourth place in the conference.
, losing their final three games, including the 2009 Outback Bowl
against Iowa
, by a combined score of 118–30. Steve Spurrier
was named head coach of the Gamecocks in 2005
; in his four seasons in charge of the program, the team had a combined record of 28–21 and was bowl-eligible every year.
. Their next game, against No. 21 Georgia, featured a kickoff returned for a touchdown, an interception returned for a touchdown, a safety, a blocked extra point attempt
, and 24 penalties
. In the end, quarterback Stephen Garcia
's pass on 4th-and-4 from the 7-yard line with 22 seconds remaining was batted down by the defense and fell incomplete
, preserving a 41–37 win for Georgia. South Carolina proceeded to beat Florida Atlantic
38–16.
In their next contest, South Carolina faced No. 4 Mississippi, and came away with a 16–10 upset; the Gamecocks had lost their previous 22 games against AP
top 5 teams. Next up was a win against in-state Division I-FCS opponent South Carolina State
With the victory, the Gamecocks earned their first Top 25 ranking of the 2009 season, appearing in the AP Poll at No. 25. South Carolina finished the first half of their season against SEC opponent Kentucky. Defensive end
Cliff Matthews knocked down Kentucky's pass attempt on what would have been a game-tying two-point conversion to preserve the 28–26 win. After six games, the Gamecocks had a record of 5–1 overall, 2–1 in the SEC,and were a consensus No. 22 in the AP, Coaches'
, and Harris poll
s.
-winning running back Mark Ingram
ran for a then-career record 246 yards and a touchdown; South Carolina lost 20–6. The defeat dropped the Gamecocks to No. 23 in the AP and Coaches' polls, and out of the Harris poll altogether; in the first BCS standings released that week, the Gamecocks were ranked 24th. South Carolina came back to beat Vanderbilt
14–10; the Gamecocks rose to No. 21 in all three polls, and No. 22 in the following week's BCS standings. The next game, against Tennessee, was never close; South Carolina fell behind 21–0 early in the second quarter and lost 31–13. The loss caused the Gamecocks to fall out of all three polls as well as the BCS standings. South Carolina then faced Arkansas, who scored 23 unanswered points on their way to delivering the Gamecocks a 33–16 loss. The following game was against No. 1 Florida, who was undefeated. South Carolina was within three points of Florida as the fourth quarter began, but Garcia was subsequently sacked
four times and intercepted twice; Florida won 24–14. The Gamecocks' record fell to 6–5 overall, 3–5 within the SEC.
After a bye week, South Carolina closed out their regular season with a game against their fierce in-state rivals, the No. 15 Clemson Tigers
, who had already clinched a berth in the 2009 ACC Championship Game
that would be played the next week. Clemson star running back C. J. Spiller
returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown; he was held to 18 yards rushing the rest of the game. The Gamecocks scored 24 unanswered points to take a 24–7 lead through three quarters, and matched the Tigers the rest of the way to win 34–17. This win gave South Carolina a final regular season record of 7–5 overall, 3–5 in the SEC.
on January 5, 2011, following the PapaJohns.com Bowl.
Edsall was praised for coaching the Huskies to a successful season despite the off-field distractions. By appearing in the 2010 PapaJohns.com Bowl, UConn made its third straight bowl appearance and fourth since joining the Big East for the 2004 season. There were rumors that Edsall was a candidate for the Notre Dame head coaching position, vacated by the firing of Charlie Weis
. On December 11, Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly
was given the Notre Dame job; Edsall remained with Connecticut.
Pregame coverage also discussed the performance of Steve Spurrier as head coach of South Carolina. His Gamecock teams had been competitive in the SEC, but were unable to win championships; during his tenure to that point, they had finished no higher than second in the SEC East division. Nevertheless, analysts described him as one of "the game's better minds and motivators" and "still one of the craftiest coaches around". The 2010 PapaJohns.com Bowl marked Spurrier's return to Birmingham; in the United States Football League
he competed against the local Birmingham Stallions
as head coach of the Tampa Bay Bandits
from 1983 to 1985. Legion Field was also the home of the 1992
and 1993 SEC Championship Game
s; teams coached by Spurrier participated in both contests.
Eric Norwood
described Todman as a speedy back, with "that burst and that breakaway speed to go with it", and compared him to Clemson running back C. J. Spiller. In contrast, Norwood described Dixon as a "taller, more downhill back, vertical guy".
In previous seasons, UConn had been largely dependent on running the ball; the team developed more balance in 2009, ranking 41st of 120 Division I FBS teams nationally in rushing offense and 46th in passing. Marcus Easley
's emergence as a productive wide receiver
was key to the development of the Huskies' passing attack. A former walk-on who entered the season with only five career receptions
, he led Connecticut in receiving in 2009 with 44 catches for 853 yards and eight touchdowns. Quarterback Zach Frazer was inconsistent in the early season. He was injured in the game against North Carolina, but regained his starting role after backup Cody Endres was hurt in the Rutgers game later in the season. In UConn's four games before the bowl, Frazer performed well; he threw six touchdown passes against only two interceptions and helped the Huskies score an average of 41 points per game. Experts felt Frazer would need to have a good performance for Connecticut to have a chance to win.
-winning Florida quarterback Tim Tebow
—and 17 touchdowns against nine interceptions. Freshman wide receiver Alshon Jeffery was Garcia's most frequent passing target; he caught 43 passes for 735 yards and six touchdowns. Although South Carolina's passing attack had success, its running game was the worst in the SEC and 91st nationally. The Gamecocks' offensive line struggled, ranking 104th in sacks allowed. It did not help matters that Eric Wolford, the running game coordinator and offensive line coach, left the team before the bowl game to become head coach at Youngstown State
.
, 60th in scoring defense, 48th against the run, and 94th against the pass. UConn's pass defense was hurt by the loss of Jasper Howard; following his death, freshman cornerback
Blidi-Wreh Wilson was forced into the starting lineup alongside senior Robert McClain
. Top performers for the Connecticut defense included defensive end
Lindsey Witten
, who led the Big East with 11.5 sacks, and linebacker
Lawrence Wilson
, who led the Big East and was fourth in the nation with 136 tackles, averaging over 11 per game.
The game started at 1:04 pm CST on Saturday, January 2, 2010, at Legion Field
in Birmingham, Alabama
. Official attendance for the game was 45,254. The Gamecocks sold 8,593 tickets of their 10,000-ticket allotment; South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier estimated about 30,000 of the fans in attendance supported the Gamecocks. UConn sold or distributed only 4,500 of its 10,000 tickets for the game. The game was telecast on ESPN
, with Dave Neal and Andre Ware
in the broadcasting booth and Cara Capuano
reporting from the sidelines. The temperature at kickoff was around 35 °F (1.7 °C), abnormally cold for Birmingham at that time of year. Game officials were:
to South Carolina to begin the game. The Gamecocks gained only a single yard in three plays on their first possession, forcing them to punt
the ball back to the Huskies. UConn proceeded to also gain only one yard; they punted the ball back to South Carolina. After another Gamecock punt, the Huskies took over at their 34-yard line and earned a first down—the first of the game—after three consecutive Dixon rushing plays. Two completed passes to Marcus Easley earned Connecticut a second first down, moving them to the South Carolina 39-yard line. After a two-yard Jordan Todman run and an incomplete pass, Zach Frazer threw a pass down the right sideline
ahead of Kashif Moore. Reaching out, Moore made a one-handed running catch into the end zone
for the first touchdown of the game. After the extra point
conversion, Connecticut led 7–0 with 6:37 left in the quarter.
South Carolina regained possession on their 26-yard line following the kickoff, but was only able to advance the ball nine yards in three plays. Rather than punt the ball, the Gamecocks attempted to gain a first down on 4th-and-1 at the 32-yard line. Steven Garcia's quarterback sneak
attempt was stopped for no gain by the UConn defense, returning the ball to Connecticut on loss of downs
. The Huskies began their next drive in a favorable position due to the Gamecocks' turnover on downs. A 16-yard run by Todman advanced the ball to the South Carolina 16-yard line, where Connecticut's offense was stymied by South Carolina's defense. Dave Teggart made a 33-yard field goal, giving the Huskies a 10–0 lead with 3:35 left in the quarter. On the ensuing possession, South Carolina again went three-and-out, punting the ball to Connecticut. The Huskies began driving down the field, collecting two first downs before the first quarter ended. At the end of the first quarter, UConn held a 10–0 lead.
from Todman to Easley that fell incomplete. After that, the Huskies advanced the ball off short runs by Dixon and Todman, and passes from Frazer to Easley and Moore. South Carolina stopped UConn's drive at the 27-yard line; Connecticut settled for a 44-yard field goal that extended its lead to 13–0.
Garcia led the Gamecocks on their next drive, either passing or rushing himself on every play except the last. After a first-down sack
by Kendall Reyes
pushed South Carolina back to its 18-yard line, the Gamecocks advanced the ball to the Connecticut 35-yard line. On 4th-and-10, Stephen Flint was tackled nine yards behind the line of scrimmage
, returning the ball to UConn on loss of downs. The two teams traded punts until halftime; Connecticut still held a 13–0 lead.
The Gamecocks responded with a drive that earned two first downs. After a sack on third down by Lawrence Wilson
, South Carolina punted. The Gamecocks got the ball back on their 8-yard line after the Huskies went three-and-out. After two first downs and a 15-yard personal foul penalty against it, South Carolina faced a 1st-and-10 on its 26-yard line. Garcia fumbled, and the ball was recovered by Scott Lutrus of UConn at the 35-yard line. Four Dixon rushing plays advanced the ball to the 24-yard line; the quarter expired with the Huskies leading 13–0 and in good position to expand their margin.
on the UConn 7-yard line.
After three Dixon runs failed to get a first down, Connecticut punted; the kick by Desi Cullen was partially blocked, and South Carolina recovered the ball at the UConn 40-yard line. Garcia promptly completed his deepest pass of the game, a 38-yard connection to wide receiver D.L. Moore. The Gamecocks scored on the next play, a two-yard run by Brian Maddox, which ended the Huskies' bid for a shutout. South Carolina attempted an onside kick
to retain possession, but Connecticut recovered the ball. Dixon drove UConn to within the Gamecock 2-yard line; rather than running up the score
, the Huskies were content to run out the clock
. Connecticut won the game 20–7.
on 33 carries, giving him 1,093 rushing yards on the year; he became the 12th UConn player to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season. Jordan Todman carried the ball nine times for 36 yards; his 1,118 rushing yards on the season made Connecticut one of three teams in Division I-FBS to have at least two players rush for over 1,000 yards in 2009. Wide receiver Kashif Moore was credited with one rushing attempt for one yard, while quarterback Zach Frazer carried the ball twice for a loss of 13 yards.
In the UConn passing game, Frazer completed 9 of 21 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown, with no interceptions. Todman attempted one pass that fell incomplete
. Marcus Easley caught four passes for 40 yards; Moore caught two passes for 40 yards and a touchdown. Moore had two pass receptions for 26 yards, while Todman caught one pass for a single yard.
For South Carolina, quarterback Stephen Garcia completed 16 of 38 passes for 129 yards and no touchdowns. He threw one interception, to Connecticut safety Robert Vaughn; this was the fifth consecutive game in which Garcia had thrown an interception. He turned over the ball a second time on a fumble recovered by UConn. Garcia was also the Gamecocks' leading rusher; he ran the ball 15 times for 56 yards. The South Carolina rushing attack was supplemented by running backs Kenny Miles, who had six carries for 24 yards; Bryce Sherman, who had two carries for three yards; and Brian Maddox, who had two carries for two yards and scored the Gamecocks' only touchdown. Wide receiver Stephen Flint lost nine yards on one rushing attempt. In the receiving game, wide receiver D. L. Moore led the team in yardage, with 38 yards on one reception. The leading Gamecock receiver of the season, Alshon Jeffery, had three catches for 28 yards, all in the first half. Running back Kenny Miles had four receptions for 23 yards, while wide receiver Jason Barnes had two catches for 21 yards. Garcia's remaining passes were caught by wide receiver Tori Gurley, who had three catches for 14 yards; Moe Brown, who caught one pass for 12 yards; and tight end Weslye Saunders, who lost seven yards on two receptions.
South Carolina did not gain a first down until its second drive of the second quarter, when Garcia completed a 19-yard pass to Alshon Jeffrey on 3rd-and-16. Maddox's late touchdown allowed the Gamecocks to avoid their first shutout
in three seasons. UConn did not commit a single penalty
.
With the win, Connecticut finished the season with a final record of 8–5; South Carolina fell to 7–6. Financially, both teams roughly broke even on the game: the Huskies were given an expense allowance of about $1.2 million from the Big East and spent just over $1 million, while the Gamecocks received just under $1 million from the SEC and spent about $900,000.
In the postgame press conference, South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said:
Throughout the offseason, Spurrier apologized for his team's performance, held himself accountable for the loss, and promised the team would perform significantly better the next season. Acknowledging that the team had underperformed expectations, he promised he would resign or retire rather than let the program degenerate to the point where he might be fired or forced out.
Both teams made assistant coaching changes in the offseason. Less than 24 hours after the conclusion of the PapaJohns.com Bowl, South Carolina announced new offensive line coach Shawn Elliott, who previously worked at Appalachian State
. Two Connecticut assistants left for other jobs: defensive backs coach Scott Lakatos went to Georgia, while tight ends coach Dave McMichael departed for West Virginia. They were replaced with new defensive backs coach Darrell Perkins, who previously coached at Louisiana-Monroe
, and new tight ends coach Jonathan Wholley, a member of the UConn football team between 2001–04 who most recently coached at Fordham.
The Gamecocks performed better in 2010
. With a 36–14 win over Florida
, South Carolina won the SEC East division and clinched a spot in the SEC Championship Game
for the first time in school history. South Carolina finished 2010 on a down note, however, as they lost the championship game 56–17 to eventual 2011 BCS National Championship Game
winner Auburn
and then lost the 2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl
26–17 to Florida State
.
Connecticut began the 2010 season
with a 30–10 loss at Michigan
. They dropped to 3–4 after seven games with losses to Temple
, Rutgers
, and Louisville
as Zach Frazer was benched and Cody Endres was dismissed from the team. Frazer returned as the starter and the Huskies turned their season around by winning five straight games, good enough to win a share of the Big East conference championship and the right to play in a BCS bowl, even though they were not ranked in the final BCS standings. UConn played in the 2011 Fiesta Bowl
, losing 48–20 to Oklahoma
. Following the game, coach Randy Edsall left the Huskies to take the head coaching position at Maryland
.
Multiple players from the 2010 PapaJohns.com Bowl went on to play professional football; both teams had two players selected in the 2010 National Football League (NFL) Draft
. For UConn, wide receiver Marcus Easley was selected in the fourth round by the Buffalo Bills
, and cornerback Robert McClain was selected in the seventh round by the Carolina Panthers
. Gamecock linebacker Eric Norwood was selected in the fourth round by the Panthers. Defensive end Clifton Geathers, selected in the sixth round by the Cleveland Browns, was the other South Carolina player drafted.
The 2010 PapaJohns.com Bowl was the final game by that name. Although Papa John's
had an option to renew its sponsorship for two years, it decided not to because of rising costs. The company instead opted to refocus its marketing dollars on the NFL and its sponsorship of Louisville's home field, Papa John's Cardinal Stadium
. The game's name changed to the BBVA Compass Bowl starting with the 2011 contest. Per the bowl's website, the 2010 PapaJohns.com Bowl remains the game in the bowl series with the greatest economic impact, at $18.4 million.
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 Connecticut Huskies
Connecticut Huskies football
The Connecticut Huskies football team is a collegiate football team that competes in NCAA Division I-A and the Big East Conference. Connecticut first fielded a team in 1896, and participated in Division I-AA until 1999. The Huskies began their two-year Division I-A transition period in 2000, and...
(UConn) of the Big East Conference
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
and the South Carolina Gamecocks
South Carolina Gamecocks football
The South Carolina Gamecocks football team represents the University of South Carolina in NCAA Division I college football. The Gamecocks have been a member of the Southeastern Conference since 1992. Steve Spurrier is the current head coach, and the team plays its home games at Williams-Brice...
of the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC), on January 2, 2010 at Legion Field
Legion Field
Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak...
in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
. The game was the final contest of the 2009 NCAA Division I-Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I-FBS) football season
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...
for both teams, and it ended in a 20–7 victory for Connecticut.
Connecticut was selected to play in the 2010 PapaJohns.com Bowl following a tumultuous 7–5 regular season
Season (sports)
In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...
that included five losses by a total of just fifteen points, a double-overtime
Overtime (sports)
Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw. In most sports, this extra period is only played if the game is required to have a clear winner, as in single-elimination...
victory at Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
, and the murder of cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
Jasper Howard
Jasper Howard
Jasper Tyrone Howard , was a cornerback for the University of Connecticut Huskies from 2007 to 2009. He was fatally stabbed on October 18, 2009, hours after UConn's win over the Louisville Cardinals.- Early life :...
. The Huskies faced South Carolina, who also had 7–5 regular-season, highlighted by wins over then-No. 4 Mississippi
2009 Ole Miss Rebels football team
The 2009 Ole Miss Rebels football team represented the University of Mississippi during the 2009 college football season. The team was led by Houston Nutt, who was in his second season as the Rebels' head coach...
and then-No. 15 Clemson
2009 Clemson Tigers football team
The 2009 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University in the 2009 college football season. The Tigers were led by head coach Dabo Swinney, who was in his first full season as head coach. The Tigers played their home games in Memorial Stadium...
. Pregame coverage focused on the tragedy that marked the Huskies' season, as well as on head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
es Randy Edsall
Randy Edsall
Randy Douglas Edsall is an American college football coach. He is currently the head coach at the University of Maryland. Edsall was the head coach at the University of Connecticut from 1999 until the 2011 Fiesta Bowl, and oversaw the program's promotion from the NCAA Division I–AA level to...
of Connecticut and Steve Spurrier
Steve Spurrier
Stephen Orr Spurrier is an American college football coach and player. Spurrier is the current head coach of the University of South Carolina's Gamecocks football team. He is also a former professional player and coach...
of South Carolina.
Connecticut scored twice in the first quarter: on a one-handed 37-yard touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
reception
Reception (American football)
In American football, a reception is part of a play in which a forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage is received by a player in bounds, who, after the catch, proceeds to either score a touchdown or be downed. Yards gained from the receiving play are credited to the player as receiving...
by wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
Kashif Moore and then on a 33-yard field goal
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
after South Carolina failed to convert a fourth-down play at its 32-yard line. Running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Andre Dixon
Andre Dixon
Andre Jamar Dixon is an American football running back who currently plays for the Sacramento Mountain Lions. He was signed by the Hartford Colonials as a first round draft pick in 2010. He played college football at Connecticut....
scored for UConn on a 10-yard rush early in the fourth quarter. South Carolina scored its sole touchdown after the game had effectively been decided, on a two-yard run by Brian Maddox.
Dixon was named player of the game, and finished with 126 rushing yards and one touchdown. Connecticut wide receiver Marcus Easley
Marcus Easley
Marcus Landon Easley is an American football wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft with the 107th selection.-College career:...
and South Carolina linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Eric Norwood
Eric Norwood
Eric Norwood is an American football defensive end for the Carolina Panthers. He formerly played for the University of South Carolina. During his collegiate career, he set school career records in tackles for loss and quarterback sacks...
were among four players from the teams to be selected in the subsequent 2010 National Football League (NFL) Draft
2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
.
Team selection
In 2010, the PapaJohns.com Bowl selection committee had a contractual arrangement with the Big East and the SEC that allowed the committee to pick one team from each conference. The Big East had had a contractual bowl bid to the game since its inception in 2006. The SEC agreed to send its ninth bowl-eligible team to the bowl starting in 2008, but did not have enough bowl-eligible teams in either 2008 or 2009 to take advantage of the bid. In 2010, the SEC received $900,000 for sending a team to the game, while the Big East received $600,000.The Big East's contract with the bowl committee stated that the group would make its selection in coordination with the International Bowl
International Bowl
The International Bowl was a National Collegiate Athletic Association collegiate American football bowl game played in Toronto from 2007 through 2010...
and the St. Petersburg Bowl after other Big East-affiliated bowl games made their selections. Conference champion Cincinnati
2009 Cincinnati Bearcats football team
The 2009 Cincinnati Bearcats football team represented the University of Cincinnati in the college football season of 2009–2010. The team, coached by Brian Kelly, played its home games in Nippert Stadium....
was awarded an automatic 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) berth in the 2010 Sugar Bowl
2010 Sugar Bowl
The 2010 Sugar Bowl Game was an American college football bowl game that was part of the Bowl Championship Series for the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season and was the 76th Sugar Bowl...
. The Gator Bowl
2010 Gator Bowl
The 2010 Gator Bowl game was a post-season college football bowl game between the Florida State University Seminoles from the ACC, and the West Virginia University Mountaineers representing the Big East, and was played on Friday, January 1, 2010, at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium in Jacksonville,...
had the first pick after the BCS, and selected West Virginia
2009 West Virginia Mountaineers football team
The 2009 West Virginia Mountaineer football team represented West Virginia University in the college football season of 2009. The Mountaineers were led by head coach Bill Stewart and played their home games at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia...
. The Meineke Car Care Bowl
2009 Meineke Car Care Bowl
The 2009 Meineke Car Care Bowl was the eighth edition of the college football bowl game, and was played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The game started at 4:30 PM US EST on Saturday, December 26, 2009 and was telecasted on ESPN and ESPN360...
, which had the next selection, considered both Pittsburgh
2009 Pittsburgh Panthers football team
The 2009 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season was the fifth under head coach Dave Wannstedt. The 2009 season marked the team's ninth at Heinz Field and the University's 120th season overall. The 2009...
, which had the better regular-season record, and Rutgers
2009 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team
The 2009 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University in the 2009 college football season. Their head coach was Greg Schiano and they played their home games at Rutgers Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. The Scarlet Knights finished the season 9–4, 3–4 in Big East play and...
, whose fans had a better traveling reputation; it selected Pittsburgh.
Three bowl-eligible Big East teams remained: Connecticut, Rutgers, and South Florida
2009 South Florida Bulls football team
The 2009 South Florida Bulls football team represented the University of South Florida in the 2009 college football season. Their head coach was Jim Leavitt, and they played their home games at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. The 2009 college football season was only the 13th season overall...
. The previous two years, Rutgers had played in the 2008 International Bowl
2008 International Bowl
The 2008 International Bowl was played on January 5, 2008 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The game featured the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers University—who finished 5th in the Big East Conference—and the Cardinals of Ball State University—who finished co-champions...
and the 2008 PapaJohns.com Bowl
2008 PapaJohns.com Bowl
The 2008 PapaJohns.com Bowl was the third edition of the college football bowl game, and was played at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. The game was played starting at 2 PM US CST on Monday, December 29, 2008...
. In the same period, South Florida played in the 2007 PapaJohns.com Bowl
2007 PapaJohns.com Bowl
The 2007 PapaJohns.com Bowl was a postseason college football match between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Southern Miss Golden Eagles at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. The University of Cincinnati represented the Big East Conference and the University of Southern Mississippi represented...
and the 2008 St. Petersburg Bowl
2008 St. Petersburg Bowl
The 2008 magicJack St. Petersburg Bowl was the inaugural edition of the new college football bowl game, and was played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida...
. Connecticut had played in the 2009 International Bowl
2009 International Bowl
The 2009 International Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game between the Connecticut Huskies and the Buffalo Bulls at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on January 3, 2009. The game was the final contest of the 2008 NCAA Division I-Football Bowl Subdivision football...
the previous year. In general, bowl games and conferences prefer to have different teams play in each game each year. Partly because of this, Rutgers went to the 2009 St. Petersburg Bowl
2009 St. Petersburg Bowl
The 2009 St. Petersburg Bowl presented by Beef 'O' Brady's, formerly known as the St. Petersburg Bowl, was the second edition of the college football bowl game and was played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. The game began at 8:00 PM US EST on Saturday, December 19, 2009, was...
, South Florida to the 2010 International Bowl
2010 International Bowl
The 2010 International Bowl was the fourth and final edition of the college football bowl game, and was played at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The game started at 12:00 PM US EST on Saturday, January 2, 2010. The game was telecast on ESPN2 and the South Florida Bulls defeated the...
, and Connecticut to the 2010 PapaJohns.com Bowl.
For Connecticut's opponent, the PapaJohns.com Bowl had the right to select a SEC team, but only after all other bowls with contracts with the SEC made their selections. Conference champion Alabama
2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
The 2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 77th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference and its 18th within the SEC Western Division...
finished No. 1 in the BCS standings and earned a berth to the 2010 BCS National Championship Game
2010 BCS National Championship Game
The 2010 Citi BCS National Championship Game was the finale of the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season, and was played between the Texas Longhorns and the Alabama Crimson Tide. It was hosted by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California,...
. Conference championship game loser Florida
2009 Florida Gators football team
The 2009 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2009 college football season...
took the SEC champion's automatic slot in the 2010 Sugar Bowl
2010 Sugar Bowl
The 2010 Sugar Bowl Game was an American college football bowl game that was part of the Bowl Championship Series for the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season and was the 76th Sugar Bowl...
, vacant since Alabama was selected to appear in the national championship game. The Capital One Bowl
2010 Capital One Bowl
The 2010 Capital One Bowl was the sixty-fourth edition of the college football bowl game, and was played at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. The game was played on January 1 and matched the LSU Tigers against the Penn State Nittany Lions...
had the next selection and opted for Louisiana State University (LSU)
2009 LSU Tigers football team
The 2009 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University in the college football season of 2009–2010. The team's head coach was Les Miles who served his fifth year at the helm of LSU football. They played their home games at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana...
. The Cotton Bowl
2010 Cotton Bowl Classic
The 2010 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic game was a post-season college football bowl game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys, representing Oklahoma State University, from the Big 12 Conference and the Ole Miss Rebels, representing the University of Mississippi, from the Southeastern Conference that took...
and Outback Bowl
2010 Outback Bowl
The 2010 Outback Bowl was the 24th edition of the college football bowl game, and was played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The game started at 11 AM US EST on Friday, January 1, 2010. The game was telecast on ESPN and matched Auburn University against Northwestern University...
selected Ole Miss
2009 Ole Miss Rebels football team
The 2009 Ole Miss Rebels football team represented the University of Mississippi during the 2009 college football season. The team was led by Houston Nutt, who was in his second season as the Rebels' head coach...
and Auburn
2009 Auburn Tigers football team
The 2009 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tigers were led by first year head coach Gene Chizik...
respectively. The Chick-fil-A Bowl
2009 Chick-fil-A Bowl
The 2009 Chick-fil-A Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Tennessee Volunteers on December 31, 2009, in the Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia. Virginia Tech defeated Tennessee 40–12. The game was part of the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season...
, which had the next pick, selected Tennessee
2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team
The 2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 2009 college football season. The team was coached by Lane Kiffin. The 2009 season would be his 1st and only at Tennessee – leaving to take the head coaching job at the University of Southern Cal on January...
. The next selections were shared by the Liberty Bowl
2010 Liberty Bowl (January)
The 2010 Liberty Bowl was the fifty-first edition of the college football bowl game, and was played at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee. The game started at 5:30 PM US EST on Saturday, January 2, 2010...
and Music City Bowl
2009 Music City Bowl
The 2009 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl was the twelfth edition of the college football bowl game, and will be played at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee. The game was played on Sunday, December 27, 2009 and was telecast on ESPN...
, which opted for Arkansas
2009 Arkansas Razorbacks football team
The 2009 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas in the 2009 football season. The Razorbacks played five home games at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas and two home games at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas. Head coach...
and Kentucky
2009 Kentucky Wildcats football team
The 2009 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Rich Brooks, in his seventh and ultimately final season at Kentucky, and played its home games at Commonwealth Stadium. The Wildcats competed...
, respectively. The Independence Bowl, with the next-to-last selection, picked Georgia
2009 Georgia Bulldogs football team
The 2009 Georgia Bulldogs football team represented the University of Georgia in 2009. The Bulldogs competed in the East Division of the Southeastern Conference . This was the Georgia Bulldogs' ninth season head coach Mark Richt. The Bulldogs finished the season 8–5, 4–4 in SEC play and won the...
, leaving the PapaJohns.com Bowl with the last available bowl-eligible SEC team, South Carolina.
The game was the first meeting between the two schools and the first PapaJohns.com Bowl appearance for each. The game was the 30th anniversary of South Carolina's last postseason game at Legion Field
Legion Field
Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak...
, in the December 1979 Hall of Fame Bowl, and it was the 20th anniversary of head coach Steve Spurrier
Steve Spurrier
Stephen Orr Spurrier is an American college football coach and player. Spurrier is the current head coach of the University of South Carolina's Gamecocks football team. He is also a former professional player and coach...
's last Legion Field bowl game, with in the December 1989 All-American Bowl.
Connecticut
The Connecticut Huskies finished 8–5 in 20082008 Connecticut Huskies football team
The 2008 Connecticut Huskies football team represents the University of Connecticut in the 2008 college football season as a member of the Big East Conference...
, ending the season with a victory in the 2009 International Bowl
2009 International Bowl
The 2009 International Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game between the Connecticut Huskies and the Buffalo Bulls at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on January 3, 2009. The game was the final contest of the 2008 NCAA Division I-Football Bowl Subdivision football...
. The departure of running back Donald Brown
Donald Brown (American football)
Donald Eugene Brown II is an American football running back for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was the starting running back for the University of Connecticut Huskies from 2006 to 2008.-High school career:Brown attended Red Bank Catholic High School in Red Bank, New...
—the NCAA rushing leader in 2008—as well as three other Huskies selected in the first two rounds of the 2009 NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
, was expected to hurt the team. In the Big East preseason media poll, the Huskies were picked to finish sixth in the conference.
Early season
The Huskies opened the 2009 season at Ohio University2009 Ohio Bobcats football team
The 2009 Ohio Bobcats football team competed on behalf of Ohio University during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bobcats were led by head coach Frank Solich and played their home games in Peden Stadium located in Athens, Ohio....
, and never trailed in the game, winning 23–16. UConn's next game was its home opener, versus No. 19 North Carolina
2009 North Carolina Tar Heels football team
The 2009 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina during its 57th season in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tar Heels played in the Coastal Division of the conference. The Tar Heels finished the season 8–5, 4–4 in ACC play and lost in the Meineke Car...
. Connecticut led 10–0 through three quarters, but North Carolina tied the game with 2:36 left and took the lead when UConn was called for a holding penalty
Holding (American football)
In gridiron football, holding is the illegal restraining of another player who is not in possession of the ball. Holding is banned in most football leagues because it does not allow fair play of the game and increases the risk for injury....
in its end zone
End zone
In gridiron-based codes of football, the end zone refers to the scoring area on the field. It is the area between the end line and goal line bounded by the sidelines. There are two end zones, each being on an opposite side of the field...
, which by rule resulted in a safety. North Carolina won the game 12–10. Connecticut rebounded in its next game at Baylor
2009 Baylor Bears football team
The 2009 Baylor Bears football team represented Baylor University in college football's 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Art Briles. The Bears played their home games at Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco, Texas...
, winning 30–22; they then faced Division I-Football Championship Subdivision (Division I-FCS) opponent Rhode Island, an historic rival
Ramnapping Trophy
The Ramnapping Trophy was formerly awarded to the winner of the annual college football game between the University of Connecticut and the University of Rhode Island...
of the team, and defeated them 52–10.
The Huskies opened Big East conference play at the Pittsburgh Panthers. UConn held a 21–6 lead with less than four minutes left in the third quarter, but Pittsburgh rallied to win with a field goal
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
as time expired. Connecticut closed the first half of its season versus Big East opponent Louisville
2009 Louisville Cardinals football team
The 2009 Louisville Cardinals football team represented the University of Louisville in the college football season of 2009–2010. The Cardinals were coached by Steve Kragthorpe, who was in his third season at Louisville. The Cardinals played their home games at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. The...
on homecoming
Homecoming
Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni of a school. It most commonly refers to a tradition in many universities, colleges and high schools in North America...
weekend. In the third quarter, with UConn leading 21–13, Louisville running back Bilal Powell
Bilal Powell
-New York Jets:Powell was drafted by the New York Jets in the fourth round with the 126th overall selection in the 2011 NFL Draft. Powell made his professional debut on November 17, 2011 against the Denver Broncos.-External links:** UofLSports.com...
ran off left tackle near the end zone. He was caught by cornerback Jasper Howard
Jasper Howard
Jasper Tyrone Howard , was a cornerback for the University of Connecticut Huskies from 2007 to 2009. He was fatally stabbed on October 18, 2009, hours after UConn's win over the Louisville Cardinals.- Early life :...
, who forced 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...
. Connecticut kicked a field goal on the ensuing drive and won the game 38–25, giving the Huskies a 4–2 overall record, 1–1 within the Big East conference.
Jasper Howard murder
Later that night, Howard and several other UConn football players were at a dance at the Student Union Center on the Connecticut campus. At 12:26 am a fire alarm sounded, forcing the evacuation of the building. As the students exited, an altercation broke out between a group of UConn football players and a group of non-students. The attackers brandished knives and stabbed Howard before fleeing. Howard was taken by ambulance to Windham Community Memorial Hospital, and then evacuated by helicopter to St. Francis HospitalSaint Francis Hospital & Medical Center
Saint Francis Hospital & Medical Center is an acute care hospital located on Woodland Street in Hartford, Connecticut. The hospital was established in 1897 by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Chambéry. The hospital has 617 beds and 65 bassinets. It is the largest Catholic hospital in New...
in Hartford, where he was pronounced dead. Coach Randy Edsall
Randy Edsall
Randy Douglas Edsall is an American college football coach. He is currently the head coach at the University of Maryland. Edsall was the head coach at the University of Connecticut from 1999 until the 2011 Fiesta Bowl, and oversaw the program's promotion from the NCAA Division I–AA level to...
was summoned to identify the body. Howard's murder was the first homicide on UConn's campus in more than thirty years.
Connecticut's next game, one week after Howard's death, was at West Virginia. In a close-run game, Connecticut lost 28–24 after West Virginia responded to the Huskies' late go-ahead score with one of its own. Two days after the game, the entire UConn team traveled to Howard's hometown of Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, for his funeral. The next game, the first at Rentschler Field since Howard's death, was against Rutgers. Connecticut came back in the fourth quarter to take a 24–21 lead with 38 seconds remaining; Rutgers completed an 81-yard touchdown pass one play later to win 28–24. UConn also lost the game that followed, 47–45, at undefeated No. 5 Cincinnati. After three straight losses, the Huskies' record dropped to 4–5 overall; 1–4 in the Big East. The losses to this point were by a combined total of 15 points.
Late season
Connecticut's next game was a nationally-televised appearance at the Notre Dame Fighting Irish2009 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team
The 2009 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame in the 2009 college football season. Charlie Weis entered his fifth season as head coach with the expectation from the Notre Dame administration that his team would be in position to compete for a BCS Bowl berth...
. The Irish scored two touchdowns early but the Huskies responded with a touchdown and a field goal. Notre Dame expanded its lead to 17–10 in the third quarter, but Todman ran back the ensuing kickoff
Kickoff (American football)
A kickoff is a method of starting a drive in American football and Canadian football. Typically, a kickoff consists of one team – the "kicking team" – kicking the ball to the opposing team – the "receiving team"...
96 yards for a game-tying touchdown. In the fourth quarter, Notre Dame once again took the lead on a 23-yard field goal; after two touchdown-scoring running plays were negated by holding penalties, Connecticut tied the score on a 29-yard field goal with 1:10 left, sending the game into overtime. The teams traded touchdowns in the first overtime, and the Huskies won the game with a touchdown in the second overtime. Edsall stated that the game was the "best win" in UConn football history.
Connecticut finished the regular season by beating Syracuse
2009 Syracuse Orange football team
The 2009 Syracuse Orange football team represented Syracuse University during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Orange was coached by Doug Marrone and played its home games in the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York. The Orange finished the season 4–8 and 1–6 in Big East...
and South Florida at home. The South Florida game, played as snow fell on Rentschler Field, was won on a last-second 42-yard field goal by kicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
Dave Teggart. The two wins gave UConn a final regular season record of 7–5 overall, 3–4 in the Big East. They finished in a three-way tie with Rutgers and South Florida for fourth place in the conference.
South Carolina
The South Carolina Gamecocks went 7–6 in 20082008 South Carolina Gamecocks football team
The 2008 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the college football season of 2008-2009. The team's head football coach was Steve Spurrier, who served his fourth season at USC...
, losing their final three games, including the 2009 Outback Bowl
2009 Outback Bowl
The 2009 Outback Bowl was a college football bowl game played as the first official sporting event in the USA on January 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Scheduled for a kickoff of 11 AM US EST and telecast on ESPN, the game pit the South Carolina Gamecocks against the Iowa...
against Iowa
2008 Iowa Hawkeyes football team
The 2008 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa and the Iowa Hawkeyes football program in the 2008 college football season. Coached by Kirk Ferentz, the Hawkeyes played their seven home games in Kinnick Stadium.-Previous season:...
, by a combined score of 118–30. Steve Spurrier
Steve Spurrier
Stephen Orr Spurrier is an American college football coach and player. Spurrier is the current head coach of the University of South Carolina's Gamecocks football team. He is also a former professional player and coach...
was named head coach of the Gamecocks in 2005
2005 South Carolina Gamecocks football team
The 2005 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the Southeastern Conference during the 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season...
; in his four seasons in charge of the program, the team had a combined record of 28–21 and was bowl-eligible every year.
Early season
South Carolina opened its 2009 season with a win against North Carolina State2009 North Carolina State Wolfpack football team
The 2009 NC State Wolfpack Football Team represented North Carolina State University in the college football season of 2009-2010. The team's head football coach was Tom O'Brien. The Wolfpack played their home games at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was Tom O'Brien's third...
. Their next game, against No. 21 Georgia, featured a kickoff returned for a touchdown, an interception returned for a touchdown, a safety, a blocked extra point attempt
Convert
The convert or try, in American football known as "point after", and Canadian football "Point after touchdown", is a one-scrimmage down played immediately after a touchdown during which the scoring team is allowed to attempt to score an extra one point by kicking the ball through the uprights , or...
, and 24 penalties
Penalty (American football)
In American football and Canadian football, a penalty is a sanction called against a team for a violation of the rules, called a foul. Officials initially signal penalties by tossing a bright yellow or orange colored "penalty flag" onto the field toward or at the spot of a foul...
. In the end, quarterback Stephen Garcia
Stephen Garcia
Stephen Garcia is an American football quarterback formerly of the University of South Carolina Gamecocks of the Southeastern Conference. He is from Lutz, Florida and attended Thomas Jefferson High School where he had 8,000 yards passing and 83 touchdowns as well as 1,345 yards rushing and 17...
's pass on 4th-and-4 from the 7-yard line with 22 seconds remaining was batted down by the defense and fell incomplete
Incomplete pass
An incomplete pass is a term in American football which means that a legal forward pass hits the ground before a player on either team gains possession. For example, if the quarterback throws the ball to one of his wide receivers, and the receiver either does not touch it or tries to catch it...
, preserving a 41–37 win for Georgia. South Carolina proceeded to beat Florida Atlantic
2009 Florida Atlantic Owls football team
The 2009 Florida Atlantic University Owls football team represented Florida Atlantic University in the 2009 college football season. The team was coached by Howard Schnellenberger and played their home games at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. The Owls were in their fourth season of...
38–16.
In their next contest, South Carolina faced No. 4 Mississippi, and came away with a 16–10 upset; the Gamecocks had lost their previous 22 games against AP
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
top 5 teams. Next up was a win against in-state Division I-FCS opponent South Carolina State
South Carolina State Bulldogs football
The South Carolina State Bulldogs are the college football team representing the South Carolina State University. The Bulldogs play in NCAA Division I Football Championship as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.-National championships:*1976*1977...
With the victory, the Gamecocks earned their first Top 25 ranking of the 2009 season, appearing in the AP Poll at No. 25. South Carolina finished the first half of their season against SEC opponent Kentucky. Defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
Cliff Matthews knocked down Kentucky's pass attempt on what would have been a game-tying two-point conversion to preserve the 28–26 win. After six games, the Gamecocks had a record of 5–1 overall, 2–1 in the SEC,and were a consensus No. 22 in the AP, Coaches'
Coaches Poll
The USA Today Coaches' Poll is the current name for a weekly ranking of the top 25 NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football and Division I college basketball teams....
, and Harris poll
Harris Interactive College Football Poll
The Harris Interactive College Football Poll is a weekly ranking of the top 25 NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football teams. The rankings are compiled by Harris Interactive, a market research company that specializes in Internet research....
s.
Late season
After winning five of their first six games, the Gamecocks proceeded to lose four of their next five. Against No. 2 Alabama, eventual Heisman TrophyHeisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
-winning running back Mark Ingram
Mark Ingram, Jr.
Mark Ingram, Jr. is a running back for the New Orleans Saints. Ingram is the son of former NFL wide receiver Mark Ingram, Sr....
ran for a then-career record 246 yards and a touchdown; South Carolina lost 20–6. The defeat dropped the Gamecocks to No. 23 in the AP and Coaches' polls, and out of the Harris poll altogether; in the first BCS standings released that week, the Gamecocks were ranked 24th. South Carolina came back to beat Vanderbilt
2009 Vanderbilt Commodores football team
The 2009 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University during the 2009–10 college football season. The team's head coach was Bobby Johnson, who served his eighth season as the Commodores' head coach...
14–10; the Gamecocks rose to No. 21 in all three polls, and No. 22 in the following week's BCS standings. The next game, against Tennessee, was never close; South Carolina fell behind 21–0 early in the second quarter and lost 31–13. The loss caused the Gamecocks to fall out of all three polls as well as the BCS standings. South Carolina then faced Arkansas, who scored 23 unanswered points on their way to delivering the Gamecocks a 33–16 loss. The following game was against No. 1 Florida, who was undefeated. South Carolina was within three points of Florida as the fourth quarter began, but Garcia was subsequently sacked
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
four times and intercepted twice; Florida won 24–14. The Gamecocks' record fell to 6–5 overall, 3–5 within the SEC.
After a bye week, South Carolina closed out their regular season with a game against their fierce in-state rivals, the No. 15 Clemson Tigers
2009 Clemson Tigers football team
The 2009 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University in the 2009 college football season. The Tigers were led by head coach Dabo Swinney, who was in his first full season as head coach. The Tigers played their home games in Memorial Stadium...
, who had already clinched a berth in the 2009 ACC Championship Game
2009 ACC Championship Game
The 2009 ACC Championship Game was a college football game between the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Clemson Tigers. The game, sponsored by Dr. Pepper, was the final regular-season contest of the 2009 college football season for the Atlantic Coast Conference. Georgia Tech defeated Clemson,...
that would be played the next week. Clemson star running back C. J. Spiller
C. J. Spiller
Clifford "C.J." Spiller Jr. is an American Football running back for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was an All-American at Clemson University and was drafted 9th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft...
returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown; he was held to 18 yards rushing the rest of the game. The Gamecocks scored 24 unanswered points to take a 24–7 lead through three quarters, and matched the Tigers the rest of the way to win 34–17. This win gave South Carolina a final regular season record of 7–5 overall, 3–5 in the SEC.
Pregame buildup
In the weeks preceding the game, media coverage focused on the tragic circumstances surrounding the Huskies' season. On December 21, 2010, the team was declared the winner of the 2009 FedEx Orange Bowl/FWAA Courage Award, given to a person or team who displayed courage on or off the field, overcame injury or physical handicap, prevented a disaster, or lived through hardship. The award was presented at the 2010 Orange Bowl2010 Orange Bowl
The 2010 FedEx Orange Bowl game featured the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Iowa Hawkeyes on Tuesday, January 5, 2010, at Land Shark Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida...
on January 5, 2011, following the PapaJohns.com Bowl.
Edsall was praised for coaching the Huskies to a successful season despite the off-field distractions. By appearing in the 2010 PapaJohns.com Bowl, UConn made its third straight bowl appearance and fourth since joining the Big East for the 2004 season. There were rumors that Edsall was a candidate for the Notre Dame head coaching position, vacated by the firing of Charlie Weis
Charlie Weis
Charles Joseph "Charlie" Weis is an American football coach. He currently serves as offensive coordinator for the Florida Gators. For five years, from December 2004 through 2009, he was the head football coach at the University of Notre Dame...
. On December 11, Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly
Brian Kelly (coach)
Brian Keith Kelly is an American football coach and former player in the United States. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Notre Dame, a position he has held since the 2010 season...
was given the Notre Dame job; Edsall remained with Connecticut.
Pregame coverage also discussed the performance of Steve Spurrier as head coach of South Carolina. His Gamecock teams had been competitive in the SEC, but were unable to win championships; during his tenure to that point, they had finished no higher than second in the SEC East division. Nevertheless, analysts described him as one of "the game's better minds and motivators" and "still one of the craftiest coaches around". The 2010 PapaJohns.com Bowl marked Spurrier's return to Birmingham; in the United States Football League
United States Football League
The United States Football League was an American football league which was in active operation from 1983 to 1987. It played a spring/summer schedule in its first three seasons and a traditional autumn/winter schedule was set to commence before league operations ceased.The USFL was conceived in...
he competed against the local Birmingham Stallions
Birmingham Stallions
The Birmingham Stallions were a franchise in the United States Football League, an attempt to establish a second professional league of American football in the United States in competition with the National Football League. They played their home games at Birmingham, Alabama's Legion Field...
as head coach of the Tampa Bay Bandits
Tampa Bay Bandits
The Tampa Bay Bandits were a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. They were members of the United States Football League . They were a charter member of the USFL and folded along with the league after the 1985 season....
from 1983 to 1985. Legion Field was also the home of the 1992
1992 SEC Championship Game
The 1992 SEC Championship Game was played on December 5, 1992 at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. The game was the inaugural championship game and determined the 1992 football champion of the Southeastern Conference . The Alabama Crimson Tide, winners of the Western division of the SEC,...
and 1993 SEC Championship Game
1993 SEC Championship Game
The 1993 SEC Championship Game was won by the Florida Gators 28-13 over the Alabama Crimson Tide. The game was played at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama on December 4, 1993 and was televised to a national audience on ABC....
s; teams coached by Spurrier participated in both contests.
Connecticut offense
The Connecticut offense was led by the rushing attack of running backs Jordan Todman and Andre Dixon, who were described as "one of the best running-back tandems in the nation". The two combined for 27 touchdowns and more than 2,100 rushing yards during the regular season. South Carolina linebackerLinebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Eric Norwood
Eric Norwood
Eric Norwood is an American football defensive end for the Carolina Panthers. He formerly played for the University of South Carolina. During his collegiate career, he set school career records in tackles for loss and quarterback sacks...
described Todman as a speedy back, with "that burst and that breakaway speed to go with it", and compared him to Clemson running back C. J. Spiller. In contrast, Norwood described Dixon as a "taller, more downhill back, vertical guy".
In previous seasons, UConn had been largely dependent on running the ball; the team developed more balance in 2009, ranking 41st of 120 Division I FBS teams nationally in rushing offense and 46th in passing. Marcus Easley
Marcus Easley
Marcus Landon Easley is an American football wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft with the 107th selection.-College career:...
's emergence as a productive wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
was key to the development of the Huskies' passing attack. A former walk-on who entered the season with only five career receptions
Reception (American football)
In American football, a reception is part of a play in which a forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage is received by a player in bounds, who, after the catch, proceeds to either score a touchdown or be downed. Yards gained from the receiving play are credited to the player as receiving...
, he led Connecticut in receiving in 2009 with 44 catches for 853 yards and eight touchdowns. Quarterback Zach Frazer was inconsistent in the early season. He was injured in the game against North Carolina, but regained his starting role after backup Cody Endres was hurt in the Rutgers game later in the season. In UConn's four games before the bowl, Frazer performed well; he threw six touchdown passes against only two interceptions and helped the Huskies score an average of 41 points per game. Experts felt Frazer would need to have a good performance for Connecticut to have a chance to win.
South Carolina offense
The Gamecocks struggled offensively for most of 2009, ranking only 76th in total offense and 96th in scoring. Their offense was quarterbacked by Stephen Garcia. A highly-touted prospect coming out of high school, Garcia had a breakout season in 2009, finishing second in the SEC with 2,733 passing yards—more than former Heisman TrophyHeisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
-winning Florida quarterback Tim Tebow
Tim Tebow
Timothy Richard "Tim" Tebow is an American football player who is currently the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Broncos as the 25th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft...
—and 17 touchdowns against nine interceptions. Freshman wide receiver Alshon Jeffery was Garcia's most frequent passing target; he caught 43 passes for 735 yards and six touchdowns. Although South Carolina's passing attack had success, its running game was the worst in the SEC and 91st nationally. The Gamecocks' offensive line struggled, ranking 104th in sacks allowed. It did not help matters that Eric Wolford, the running game coordinator and offensive line coach, left the team before the bowl game to become head coach at Youngstown State
Youngstown State Penguins
Youngstown State University is in NCAA Division I. Nicknamed the Penguins, they play in the Horizon League and Missouri Valley Football Conference, and compete in the following sports:*Baseball *Basketball *Cross Country...
.
Connecticut defense
Connecticut had a weaker defense in 2010 than in previous seasons. The Huskies were 72nd in total defenseTotal offense
Total offense is an American football and Canadian football statistic representing the total number of yards rushing and yards passing by a team or player...
, 60th in scoring defense, 48th against the run, and 94th against the pass. UConn's pass defense was hurt by the loss of Jasper Howard; following his death, freshman cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
Blidi-Wreh Wilson was forced into the starting lineup alongside senior Robert McClain
Robert McClain
Robert "Reggie" McClain is a 7th round draft pick with the Carolina Panthers. He was a cornerback, punt returner, and kick returner with the University of Connecticut Huskies....
. Top performers for the Connecticut defense included defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
Lindsey Witten
Lindsey Witten
Lindsey Rashaun Witten is an American football defensive end for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He was cut at the end of camp and signed by the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League...
, who led the Big East with 11.5 sacks, and linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Lawrence Wilson
Lawrence Wilson
Lawrence Jamel Wilson is an American football linebacker for the Carolina Panthers. He finished his collegiate career second in tackles all-time for the Huskies. In both his junior and senior seasons, he led the Big East in tackles and was selected to the All-Big East First Team. He finished...
, who led the Big East and was fourth in the nation with 136 tackles, averaging over 11 per game.
South Carolina defense
South Carolina had a strong defense, especially against the pass; the Gamecocks were 15th in the nation in total defense, 22nd in scoring defense, 46th in run defense, and 12th in passing defense. The Gamecock defense was led by linebacker Eric Norwood. Described as "one of the most disruptive defenders in the country", Norwood was a three-time All-SEC selection and had compiled seven sacks on the season, tied for third-best in the conference. He was South Carolina's all-time leader in both sacks and tackles for loss.Game summary
Legion Field
Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak...
in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
. Official attendance for the game was 45,254. The Gamecocks sold 8,593 tickets of their 10,000-ticket allotment; South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier estimated about 30,000 of the fans in attendance supported the Gamecocks. UConn sold or distributed only 4,500 of its 10,000 tickets for the game. 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....
, with Dave Neal and Andre Ware
Andre Ware
Andre Ware is a sports analyst and commentator and a former American football player. He was the 1989 Heisman Trophy winner as a quarterback for the University of Houston, becoming the first African-American quarterback to win the award. In the 1990 NFL Draft, Ware was the first round selection ...
in the broadcasting booth and Cara Capuano
Cara Capuano
Cara Capuano is an American sports anchor for ESPNU. Before joining ESPNU in 2008, she was a former sports reporter for FSN. She joined Fox Sports Northwest in August 2004, as a reporter and anchor for the Northwest Sports Report, and the Detroit Sports Report...
reporting from the sidelines. The temperature at kickoff was around 35 °F (1.7 °C), abnormally cold for Birmingham at that time of year. Game officials were:
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Referee (R) | Ron Cherry |
| Umpire (U) | Rich McMahan |
| Head linesman (H) | Troy Gray |
| Line judge (L) | Todd Lapenta |
| Back judge (B) | Barry Hendon |
| Field judge (F) | Jeff Heaser |
| Side judge (S) | Vince Parker |
First quarter
Connecticut kicked offKickoff (American football)
A kickoff is a method of starting a drive in American football and Canadian football. Typically, a kickoff consists of one team – the "kicking team" – kicking the ball to the opposing team – the "receiving team"...
to South Carolina to begin the game. The Gamecocks gained only a single yard in three plays on their first possession, forcing them to punt
Punt (football)
In some codes of football, a punt is a play in which a player drops the ball and kicks it before it touches the ground. A punt is in contrast to a drop kick, in which the ball touches the ground before being kicked....
the ball back to the Huskies. UConn proceeded to also gain only one yard; they punted the ball back to South Carolina. After another Gamecock punt, the Huskies took over at their 34-yard line and earned a first down—the first of the game—after three consecutive Dixon rushing plays. Two completed passes to Marcus Easley earned Connecticut a second first down, moving them to the South Carolina 39-yard line. After a two-yard Jordan Todman run and an incomplete pass, Zach Frazer threw a pass down the right sideline
Sidelines
The "sidelines" is a term commonly used to define the white or colored lines which mark the outer boundaries of a sports field. American football sidelines, for example, mark the edge of the field. Should a player pass through the sidelines, he is considered out of bounds...
ahead of Kashif Moore. Reaching out, Moore made a one-handed running catch into the end zone
End zone
In gridiron-based codes of football, the end zone refers to the scoring area on the field. It is the area between the end line and goal line bounded by the sidelines. There are two end zones, each being on an opposite side of the field...
for the first touchdown of the game. After the extra point
Extra Point
Extra Point is a twice-daily, two-minute segment on ESPN Radio that covers generic sports-related topical news and opinion. The AM edition airs Monday through Saturday at various times between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. ET, and the PM edition airs Monday through Friday between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET...
conversion, Connecticut led 7–0 with 6:37 left in the quarter.
South Carolina regained possession on their 26-yard line following the kickoff, but was only able to advance the ball nine yards in three plays. Rather than punt the ball, the Gamecocks attempted to gain a first down on 4th-and-1 at the 32-yard line. Steven Garcia's quarterback sneak
Quarterback sneak
A quarterback sneak is a play in Canadian and American football in which the quarterback, upon taking the center snap, dives ahead while the offensive line surges forward...
attempt was stopped for no gain by the UConn defense, returning the ball to Connecticut on loss of downs
Turnover on downs
In American football, a turnover on downs occurs when a team fails to convert a fourth down into a first down by gaining the required yardage.A team has four chances to gain ten yards or to score. Any ground gained during one down short of these ten yards is kept for the next chance...
. The Huskies began their next drive in a favorable position due to the Gamecocks' turnover on downs. A 16-yard run by Todman advanced the ball to the South Carolina 16-yard line, where Connecticut's offense was stymied by South Carolina's defense. Dave Teggart made a 33-yard field goal, giving the Huskies a 10–0 lead with 3:35 left in the quarter. On the ensuing possession, South Carolina again went three-and-out, punting the ball to Connecticut. The Huskies began driving down the field, collecting two first downs before the first quarter ended. At the end of the first quarter, UConn held a 10–0 lead.
Second quarter
Beginning the second quarter with a 1st-and-10 at their 44-yard line, Connecticut failed to make progress and punted. After the Gamecocks again went three-and-out and punted, the Huskies tried a trick passHalfback option play
The halfback option play is an unorthodox play in American football. It resembles a normal running play, but the running back has the option to throw a pass to a wide receiver or tight end before crossing the line of scrimmage....
from Todman to Easley that fell incomplete. After that, the Huskies advanced the ball off short runs by Dixon and Todman, and passes from Frazer to Easley and Moore. South Carolina stopped UConn's drive at the 27-yard line; Connecticut settled for a 44-yard field goal that extended its lead to 13–0.
Garcia led the Gamecocks on their next drive, either passing or rushing himself on every play except the last. After a first-down sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
by Kendall Reyes
Kendall Reyes
Kendall A. Reyes is an American football defensive tackle with the University of Connecticut Huskies football team. In 2010, he served as one of four team captains and was named to the All-Big East Conference first team following the season.-External links:* UConnHuskies.com...
pushed South Carolina back to its 18-yard line, the Gamecocks advanced the ball to the Connecticut 35-yard line. On 4th-and-10, Stephen Flint was tackled nine yards behind the line of scrimmage
Line of scrimmage
In American and Canadian football a line of scrimmage is an imaginary transverse line beyond which a team cannot cross until the next play has begun...
, returning the ball to UConn on loss of downs. The two teams traded punts until halftime; Connecticut still held a 13–0 lead.
Third quarter
The Huskies received the ball to start the half, but were unable to obtain a first down after three straight running plays. UConn punted; South Carolina was called for roughing the kicker, giving Connecticut a first down after the penalty. After two plays netted no yardage, UConn threw a pass on 3rd-and-10 that fell incomplete. The Gamecocks were called for a personal foul, again giving the Huskies a first down. Connecticut advanced the ball to the South Carolina 26-yard line, but Frazer fumbled; the ball was recovered by South Carolina.The Gamecocks responded with a drive that earned two first downs. After a sack on third down by Lawrence Wilson
Lawrence Wilson
Lawrence Jamel Wilson is an American football linebacker for the Carolina Panthers. He finished his collegiate career second in tackles all-time for the Huskies. In both his junior and senior seasons, he led the Big East in tackles and was selected to the All-Big East First Team. He finished...
, South Carolina punted. The Gamecocks got the ball back on their 8-yard line after the Huskies went three-and-out. After two first downs and a 15-yard personal foul penalty against it, South Carolina faced a 1st-and-10 on its 26-yard line. Garcia fumbled, and the ball was recovered by Scott Lutrus of UConn at the 35-yard line. Four Dixon rushing plays advanced the ball to the 24-yard line; the quarter expired with the Huskies leading 13–0 and in good position to expand their margin.
Fourth quarter
Less than two minutes into the fourth quarter, UConn struck again. On his fifth run of the quarter, Dixon rushed into the end zone from ten yards out, giving Connecticut a 20–0 lead and effectively putting the game away as South Carolina would need three scores to take the lead. The two teams exchanged three-and-outs before South Carolina began a drive that penetrated Connecticut territory; however, South Carolina was soon pushed back to its 47-yard-line. On 4th-and-19, Garcia threw a deep pass that was intercepted by safety Robert VaughnRobert Vaughn
Robert Francis Vaughn, , is an American actor noted for stage, film and television work. His best known roles include the suave spy Napoleon Solo in the 1960s television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E., wealthy detective Harry Rule in the 1970s television series The Protectors, Albert Stroller in...
on the UConn 7-yard line.
After three Dixon runs failed to get a first down, Connecticut punted; the kick by Desi Cullen was partially blocked, and South Carolina recovered the ball at the UConn 40-yard line. Garcia promptly completed his deepest pass of the game, a 38-yard connection to wide receiver D.L. Moore. The Gamecocks scored on the next play, a two-yard run by Brian Maddox, which ended the Huskies' bid for a shutout. South Carolina attempted an onside kick
Onside kick
In American and Canadian football, an onside kick is a type of kick used at a kickoff or other free kick, or scrimmage kick or other kick during play, in which the ball is kicked favorably for the kicking team to avoid giving away the ball...
to retain possession, but Connecticut recovered the ball. Dixon drove UConn to within the Gamecock 2-yard line; rather than running up the score
Running up the score
In North American sports, "running up the score" occurs when a team continues to play in such a way as to score additional points after the outcome of the game is no longer in question and the team is assured of winning...
, the Huskies were content to run out the clock
Running out the clock
In sports, running out the clock refers to the practice of a winning team allowing the clock to expire through a series of pre-selected plays, either to preserve a lead or hasten the end of a one-sided contest.- American football :...
. Connecticut won the game 20–7.
Scoring summary
Final statistics
For his performance in the 2010 PapaJohns.com Bowl, Connecticut running back Andre Dixon was named the player of the game. Dixon rushed for 126 yards and a touchdownTouchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
on 33 carries, giving him 1,093 rushing yards on the year; he became the 12th UConn player to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season. Jordan Todman carried the ball nine times for 36 yards; his 1,118 rushing yards on the season made Connecticut one of three teams in Division I-FBS to have at least two players rush for over 1,000 yards in 2009. Wide receiver Kashif Moore was credited with one rushing attempt for one yard, while quarterback Zach Frazer carried the ball twice for a loss of 13 yards.
In the UConn passing game, Frazer completed 9 of 21 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown, with no interceptions. Todman attempted one pass that fell incomplete
Incomplete pass
An incomplete pass is a term in American football which means that a legal forward pass hits the ground before a player on either team gains possession. For example, if the quarterback throws the ball to one of his wide receivers, and the receiver either does not touch it or tries to catch it...
. Marcus Easley caught four passes for 40 yards; Moore caught two passes for 40 yards and a touchdown. Moore had two pass receptions for 26 yards, while Todman caught one pass for a single yard.
For South Carolina, quarterback Stephen Garcia completed 16 of 38 passes for 129 yards and no touchdowns. He threw one interception, to Connecticut safety Robert Vaughn; this was the fifth consecutive game in which Garcia had thrown an interception. He turned over the ball a second time on a fumble recovered by UConn. Garcia was also the Gamecocks' leading rusher; he ran the ball 15 times for 56 yards. The South Carolina rushing attack was supplemented by running backs Kenny Miles, who had six carries for 24 yards; Bryce Sherman, who had two carries for three yards; and Brian Maddox, who had two carries for two yards and scored the Gamecocks' only touchdown. Wide receiver Stephen Flint lost nine yards on one rushing attempt. In the receiving game, wide receiver D. L. Moore led the team in yardage, with 38 yards on one reception. The leading Gamecock receiver of the season, Alshon Jeffery, had three catches for 28 yards, all in the first half. Running back Kenny Miles had four receptions for 23 yards, while wide receiver Jason Barnes had two catches for 21 yards. Garcia's remaining passes were caught by wide receiver Tori Gurley, who had three catches for 14 yards; Moe Brown, who caught one pass for 12 yards; and tight end Weslye Saunders, who lost seven yards on two receptions.
South Carolina did not gain a first down until its second drive of the second quarter, when Garcia completed a 19-yard pass to Alshon Jeffrey on 3rd-and-16. Maddox's late touchdown allowed the Gamecocks to avoid their first shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
in three seasons. UConn did not commit a single penalty
Penalty (American football)
In American football and Canadian football, a penalty is a sanction called against a team for a violation of the rules, called a foul. Officials initially signal penalties by tossing a bright yellow or orange colored "penalty flag" onto the field toward or at the spot of a foul...
.
Aftermath
In the postgame press conference, South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said:
Throughout the offseason, Spurrier apologized for his team's performance, held himself accountable for the loss, and promised the team would perform significantly better the next season. Acknowledging that the team had underperformed expectations, he promised he would resign or retire rather than let the program degenerate to the point where he might be fired or forced out.
Both teams made assistant coaching changes in the offseason. Less than 24 hours after the conclusion of the PapaJohns.com Bowl, South Carolina announced new offensive line coach Shawn Elliott, who previously worked at Appalachian State
Appalachian State Mountaineers football
The Appalachian State Mountaineers football team is the college football team at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. The Mountaineers have competed in the Southern Conference since 1972, and are currently a Division I Football Championship Subdivision member of the National...
. Two Connecticut assistants left for other jobs: defensive backs coach Scott Lakatos went to Georgia, while tight ends coach Dave McMichael departed for West Virginia. They were replaced with new defensive backs coach Darrell Perkins, who previously coached at Louisiana-Monroe
ULM Warhawks
The Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks are the sports teams of the University of Louisiana at Monroe in 14 sports: baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, football, men's and women's golf, women's soccer, softball, men's and women's track and field, women's tennis, and...
, and new tight ends coach Jonathan Wholley, a member of the UConn football team between 2001–04 who most recently coached at Fordham.
The Gamecocks performed better in 2010
2010 South Carolina Gamecocks football team
The 2010 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head football coach was Steve Spurrier, who was in his sixth season at USC...
. With a 36–14 win over Florida
2010 Florida Gators football team
The 2010 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2010 college football season...
, South Carolina won the SEC East division and clinched a spot in the SEC Championship Game
2010 SEC Championship Game
The 2010 SEC Championship Game was played on December 4, 2010, in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, to determine the 2010 football champion of the Southeastern Conference . The game featured the Auburn Tigers, the champion of the West Division, and the South Carolina Gamecocks, champion of the...
for the first time in school history. South Carolina finished 2010 on a down note, however, as they lost the championship game 56–17 to eventual 2011 BCS National Championship Game
2011 BCS National Championship Game
The 2011 Tostitos BCS National Championship Game was the final college football game to determine the national champion of the 2010 NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision season. The finale of the 2010-2011 Bowl Championship Series was played at the University of Phoenix Stadium, the host...
winner Auburn
2010 Auburn Tigers football team
The 2010 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 2010–2011 college football season. The Tigers, led by second year head coach Gene Chizik were members of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference and played their home games at Jordan-Hare Stadium...
and then lost the 2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl
2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl
The 2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl is the forty-third edition of the college football bowl game, and was played at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. It was played Friday, December 31, 2010 at 7:30 EST, and featured the #23 Florida State Seminoles versus the #19 South Carolina Gamecocks.-South...
26–17 to Florida State
2010 Florida State Seminoles football team
The 2010 Florida State Seminoles football team represented Florida State University in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS college football season. The Seminoles were led by 1st year head coach Jimbo Fisher and played their home games at Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium. They were members of...
.
Connecticut began the 2010 season
2010 Connecticut Huskies football team
The 2010 Connecticut Huskies football team represented the University of Connecticut in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season as a member of the Big East Conference. The team was coached by Randy Edsall and played its home games at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut...
with a 30–10 loss at Michigan
2010 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 2010 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Michigan played its home games at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan and competed in the Big Ten Conference. The season was the first since the renovation of...
. They dropped to 3–4 after seven games with losses to Temple
2010 Temple Owls football team
The 2010 Temple Owls football team represented Temple University during the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Owls, led by fourth-year head coach Al Golden, compete in the East Division of the Mid-American Conference and played their home games at Lincoln Financial Field...
, Rutgers
2010 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team
The 2010 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS college football season. The Scarlet Knights were led by head coach Greg Schiano in his 10th season. They played their home games at Rutgers Stadium and are members...
, and Louisville
2010 Louisville Cardinals football team
The 2010 Louisville Cardinals football team represented the University of Louisville in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS college football season. The Cardinals were led by head coach Charlie Strong, who was in his 1st season. They played their home games at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium and were members...
as Zach Frazer was benched and Cody Endres was dismissed from the team. Frazer returned as the starter and the Huskies turned their season around by winning five straight games, good enough to win a share of the Big East conference championship and the right to play in a BCS bowl, even though they were not ranked in the final BCS standings. UConn played in the 2011 Fiesta Bowl
2011 Fiesta Bowl
The 2011 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl game was a post-season college football bowl game played as part of the 2011 Bowl Championship Series of the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season...
, losing 48–20 to Oklahoma
2010 Oklahoma Sooners football team
The 2010 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football season of 2010–2011. It was the 116th year of season play for the Sooners. The team was led by head coach Bob Stoops, a two-time Walter Camp Coach of the Year award winner, who has a contract...
. Following the game, coach Randy Edsall left the Huskies to take the head coaching position at Maryland
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
.
Multiple players from the 2010 PapaJohns.com Bowl went on to play professional football; both teams had two players selected in the 2010 National Football League (NFL) Draft
2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
. For UConn, wide receiver Marcus Easley was selected in the fourth round by the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and cornerback Robert McClain was selected in the seventh round by the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
. Gamecock linebacker Eric Norwood was selected in the fourth round by the Panthers. Defensive end Clifton Geathers, selected in the sixth round by the Cleveland Browns, was the other South Carolina player drafted.
The 2010 PapaJohns.com Bowl was the final game by that name. Although Papa John's
Papa John's Pizza
Papa John's Pizza is the third largest take-out and delivery pizza restaurant chain in the United States, behind Pizza Hut and Domino's Pizza. It is based in Louisville, Kentucky. Papa John's slogan is "Better Ingredients. Better pizza. Papa John's"...
had an option to renew its sponsorship for two years, it decided not to because of rising costs. The company instead opted to refocus its marketing dollars on the NFL and its sponsorship of Louisville's home field, Papa John's Cardinal Stadium
Papa John's Cardinal Stadium
Papa John's Cardinal Stadium is a football stadium located in Louisville, Kentucky, USA and serves as the home of the University of Louisville football program. It opened in 1998, making it the second-to-last football stadium in NCAA Division I-A to open in the 20th century, with SMU's Gerald J....
. The game's name changed to the BBVA Compass Bowl starting with the 2011 contest. Per the bowl's website, the 2010 PapaJohns.com Bowl remains the game in the bowl series with the greatest economic impact, at $18.4 million.
External links
- 2010 PapaJohns.com Bowl highlights from ESPNESPNEntertainment 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....
.com (requires Adobe FlashAdobe FlashAdobe Flash is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast...
) - Official BBVA Compass Bowl Website