1973 Tangerine Bowl

The 1973 Tangerine Bowl was a college football postseason bowl game that featured the Florida Gators and the Miami Redskins.

Background

Miami completed a perfect regular season with a Mid-American Conference championship, their first since 1965. This was their first bowl game appearance since 1962, which was also in the Tangerine Bowl. Florida won their first two games, but lost their next four (two to ranked opponents), before a five-game winning streak gave the Gators their first over .500 season since 1970. While they finished tied for 5th in the Southeastern Conference, they qualified for their first bowl game since 1969. In early 1973, construction improvements were planned for the then 17,000-seat Tangerine Bowl stadium to expand to 51,000 seats. But construction was stalled due to legal concerns in the summer, with the improvements being delayed. Miami and East Carolina were planned to be the two teams invite, but the Pirates declined their interests, and the officials decided to move the game to Florida's stadium and invite them, which they accepted. The participants were greeted with a near-record low temperature of 25 degrees Fahrenheit (-4 degrees Celsius).

Game summary

Chuck Varner rushed for 157 yards on 28 carries in an MVP effort.^[1]

• Miami (Ohio) – Draudt 26 yard Field Goal
• Miami (Ohio) – Draudt 45 yard Field Goal
• Miami (Ohio) – Varner 3 yard touchdown run (Draudt kick)
• Florida – Moore 1 yard touchdown run (Williams kick)
• Miami (Ohio) – Draudt 27 yard field goal

Aftermath

The Redskins (renamed RedHawks in 1996) went to three straight Tangerine Bowls while winning four straight MAC titles, going 42-1-1 in that 4-year span. The Gators began a bowl streak, qualifying for a bowl for the next three seasons. The Tangerine Bowl returned to Orlando the following year, with renovations approved.

Statistics

References