2003 Outback Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 2003 Outback Bowl was a college football
bowl game
held on January 1, 2003 at Raymond James Stadium
in Tampa, Florida
. The Michigan Wolverines
, third place finishers in the Big Ten Conference
, defeated the Florida Gators
, who finished second the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference
, 38-30. Michigan running back
Chris Perry was named the game's MVP.
scored on a 2-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 7-7. Later in the second quarter, Graham scored again on a 1-yard run, but a two-point conversion attempt by Ran Carthon
failed. Florida led 13-7. Chris Perry scored again on a 1-yard run to give Michigan a 14-13 lead. Florida kicker Matt Leach connected on a 29-yard field goal to retake the lead for the Gators, 16-14. John Navarre
threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Ronald Bellamy to give Michigan a 21-16 halftime lead.
In the third quarter, Florida quarterback
Rex Grossman
threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Keiwan Ratliff to put Florida up 23-21. Michigan answered with two more touchdown runs by Chris Perry, from 7 and 12 yards out, to lead 35-23. In the fourth quarter, Grossman found wide receiver Aaron Walker for a 3-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 35-30. Adam Finley connected on a 33-yard field goal to increase Michigan's lead to 38-30, which held up as the final score.
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...
held on January 1, 2003 at Raymond James Stadium
Raymond James Stadium
Raymond James Stadium, also known as the "Ray Jay", is a multi-purpose football stadium located in Tampa, Florida. It is home to the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers as well as the NCAA's South Florida Bulls football team. The stadium seats 65,857 , and it is expandable to 75,000 for special events...
in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
. The Michigan Wolverines
2002 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 2002 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 2002 college football season. The team's head coach was Lloyd Carr. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium. The team was led by All-Americans Bennie Joppru and Marlin Jackson as well as...
, third place finishers in the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
, defeated the Florida Gators
2002 Florida Gators football team
The 2002 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2002 college football season...
, who finished second the Eastern Division 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...
, 38-30. Michigan 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...
Chris Perry was named the game's MVP.
Game summary
Michigan got on the board first after a 4-yard touchdown run by Chris Perry to open up a 7-0 lead. In the second quarter, Florida running back Earnest GrahamEarnest Graham
Earnest Graham, Jr. is an American football running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League . He was signed by the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football at Florida....
scored on a 2-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 7-7. Later in the second quarter, Graham scored again on a 1-yard run, but a two-point conversion attempt by Ran Carthon
Ran Carthon
Arandric Kornell "Ran" Carthon is a former American college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League for three seasons in the early 2000s...
failed. Florida led 13-7. Chris Perry scored again on a 1-yard run to give Michigan a 14-13 lead. Florida kicker Matt Leach connected on a 29-yard field goal to retake the lead for the Gators, 16-14. John Navarre
John Navarre
John Robert Navarre is a former American football quarterback who was a three-year starter for the Michigan Wolverines from 2001 to 2003, leading the Wolverines to the 2003 Big Ten Conference championship in his final year of eligibility...
threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Ronald Bellamy to give Michigan a 21-16 halftime lead.
In the third quarter, Florida quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Rex Grossman
Rex Grossman
Rex Daniel Grossman, III is an American football quarterback for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League . Grossman played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he has played professionally for the Chicago Bears, Houston Texans and Washington Redskins of...
threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Keiwan Ratliff to put Florida up 23-21. Michigan answered with two more touchdown runs by Chris Perry, from 7 and 12 yards out, to lead 35-23. In the fourth quarter, Grossman found wide receiver Aaron Walker for a 3-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 35-30. Adam Finley connected on a 33-yard field goal to increase Michigan's lead to 38-30, which held up as the final score.
First quarter
- Michigan - Chris Perry, 4-yard run (Adam Finley kick)
Second quarter
- Florida - Earnest GrahamEarnest GrahamEarnest Graham, Jr. is an American football running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League . He was signed by the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football at Florida....
, 2-yard run (Matt Leach kick) - Florida - Earnest Graham, 1-yard run (Ran CarthonRan CarthonArandric Kornell "Ran" Carthon is a former American college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League for three seasons in the early 2000s...
run failed) - Michigan - Chris Perry, 1-yard run (Adam Finley kick)
- Florida - Matt Leach, 29-yard field goal
- Michigan - Ronald Bellamy, 8-yard pass from John NavarreJohn NavarreJohn Robert Navarre is a former American football quarterback who was a three-year starter for the Michigan Wolverines from 2001 to 2003, leading the Wolverines to the 2003 Big Ten Conference championship in his final year of eligibility...
(John Hines kick)
Third quarter
- Florida - Keiwan Ratliff, 33-yard pass from Rex GrossmanRex GrossmanRex Daniel Grossman, III is an American football quarterback for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League . Grossman played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he has played professionally for the Chicago Bears, Houston Texans and Washington Redskins of...
(Matt Leach kick) - Michigan - Chris Perry, 7-yard run (Adam Finley kick)
- Michigan - Chris Perry, 12-yard run (Adam Finley kick)
Fourth quarter
- Florida - Aaron Walker, 3-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Matt Leach kick)
- Michigan - Adam Finley, 33-yard field goal