2000 Motor City Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 2000 Motor City Bowl was a National Collegiate Athletic Association
bowl game
in which the Marshall Thundering Herd
of the MAC
defeated the Cincinnati Bearcats
of the Conference USA
25–14. It was played on December 27, 2000 at the Pontiac Silverdome
in Pontiac, Michigan
. The Beracats were C-USA runner-ups fresh off the wins from five of their last six games, which included Syracuse
and #20 Southern Mississippi
. Marshall however was the four-time MAC champion who had also won five of their last six games, one of which was against Western Michigan
, who had defeated them earlier in the season, in the MAC Championship Game
.
Cincinnati kicker Jonathan Ruffin
was an All-America and had won the Lou Groza Award
as the nation's best placekicker. Quarterback Deontey Kenner led the Bearcat offense, while 330 lb defensive tackle Mario Monds
led the defense.
Marshall's offense was led by future NFL quarterback Byron Leftwich
, its defense was led by four-year starter Paul Toviessi. This year marked the 30th anniversary of the tragic 1970 plane crash which took the lives of 75 Marshall football players, coaches, administrators, and boosters on November 14.
Marshall quarterback Byron Leftwich was named the game's MVP
.
The game was the 4th installment of the Motor City Bowl
, matching the Conference USA against the Mid-American Conference for the first time in its history.
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
in which the Marshall Thundering Herd
Marshall Thundering Herd football
The Marshall Thundering Herd football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports program of Marshall University. The team represents the university as a member of the Conference USA Eastern division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, playing at the Division 1 Bowl Subdivision...
of the MAC
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
defeated the Cincinnati Bearcats
Cincinnati Bearcats football
The Cincinnati Bearcats football program represents the University of Cincinnati in a college football. They compete at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level as members of the Big East Conference. The Bearcat football program is one of the nation's oldest, having fielded a team as...
of the Conference USA
Conference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
25–14. It was played on December 27, 2000 at the Pontiac Silverdome
Pontiac Silverdome
The Silverdome is a domed stadium located in the city of Pontiac, Michigan, USA, which sits on . It was the largest stadium in the National Football League until FedEx Field in suburban Washington, D.C...
in Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac, located within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County...
. The Beracats were C-USA runner-ups fresh off the wins from five of their last six games, which included Syracuse
Syracuse Orange football
The Syracuse Orange football program is a college football team that represents Syracuse University. The team is a member of the Big East Conference, which is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I conference that is part of the Football Bowl Subdivision...
and #20 Southern Mississippi
Southern Miss Golden Eagles football
The Southern Miss Golden Eagles football program represents the University of Southern Mississippi in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. The Eagles are members of Conference USA and player their home games at M. M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg, Mississippi...
. Marshall however was the four-time MAC champion who had also won five of their last six games, one of which was against Western Michigan
Western Michigan Broncos football
The Western Michigan Broncos football program represents Western Michigan University in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I and the Mid-American Conference . Western Michigan has competed in football since 1906, when they played three games in their inaugural season...
, who had defeated them earlier in the season, in the MAC Championship Game
MAC Championship Game
The Marathon MAC Football Championship is a football game between the winners of the East and West divisions of the Mid-American Conference to determine the conference champion. The game has been played since 1997, when the conference was first divided into divisions and since 2003 has been...
.
Cincinnati kicker Jonathan Ruffin
Jonathan Ruffin
Jonathan Ruffin is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans VooDoo of the Arena Football League. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2003...
was an All-America and had won the Lou Groza Award
Lou Groza Award
The Lou Groza Award is presented annually to the top college football placekicker in the United States by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. The award is named after former Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland Browns player Lou Groza.-Winners:...
as the nation's best placekicker. Quarterback Deontey Kenner led the Bearcat offense, while 330 lb defensive tackle Mario Monds
Mario Monds
Mario A. Monds is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League for the Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins. He played college football at the University of Cincinnati and was drafted in the sixth round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins....
led the defense.
Marshall's offense was led by future NFL quarterback Byron Leftwich
Byron Leftwich
Byron Antron Leftwich is an American football quarterback in the National Football League who currently plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars seventh overall in the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Marshall University.Leftwich has also played...
, its defense was led by four-year starter Paul Toviessi. This year marked the 30th anniversary of the tragic 1970 plane crash which took the lives of 75 Marshall football players, coaches, administrators, and boosters on November 14.
Marshall quarterback Byron Leftwich was named the game's MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
.
The game was the 4th installment of the Motor City Bowl
Motor City Bowl
The Little Caesars Pizza Bowl is a post-season college football bowl game certified by the NCAA that has been played annually since 1997. The first five games were played at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan. Starting in 2002, the game was moved to 65,000-seat Ford Field in downtown...
, matching the Conference USA against the Mid-American Conference for the first time in its history.
Scoring summary
| Scoring play | Score | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Quarter | |||
| MU– Darius 77 yard TD pass from Leftwich Byron Leftwich Byron Antron Leftwich is an American football quarterback in the National Football League who currently plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars seventh overall in the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Marshall University.Leftwich has also played... (Jenkins kick), 12:48 |
MU 7–0 | ||
| UC– McCleskey 2 yard TD run (Ruffin kick), 8:28 | Tie 7–7 | ||
| MU– Safety Owens, 2:35 | MU 9–7 | ||
| 2nd Quarter | |||
| UC– McCleskey 2 yard TD run (Ruffin kick), 1:44 | UC 14–9 | ||
| 3rd Quarter | |||
| MU– Leftwich 1 yard TD run (Leftwich pass failed), 12:01 | MU 15–14 | ||
| MU– Wallace 4 yard TD run (Jenkins kick), 7:24 | MU 22–14 | ||
| 4th Quarter | |||
| MU – Jenkins 25 yard FG, 00:43 | MU 25–14 | ||