The Orange Bowl has been an annual college football bowl game since 1935. The 2008-9 FEDEX Orange Bowl game will be played on January 1, 2009. The 2008-9 FEDEX Orange Bowl game will feature 2 NCAA college football teams that will be ranked in the top 25 of the Associated Press Poll and the Coaches Poll preceding the contest.
In addition to hosting the FEDEX Orange Bowl on January 1, 2009, Dolphin Stadium is scheduled to host the BCS National Championship Game again on January 8, 2009.
The FEDEX Orange Bowl is televised exclusively on the Fox Sports Television network.
Orange Bowl History
The first ever Orange Bowl was played on January 1, 1935. Because the University of Miami had recently emerged from bankruptcy in late 1934, the University of Miami had only 6 weeks to prepare for the big event. Accordingly, only 5,135 fans watched that first Orange Bowl where Bucknell University defeated the University of Miami 26-0. Each team received only $12,500.00 for appearing in the Orange Bowl. The 1936 Orange Bowl did not fare much better, as only 6,568 fans watched Catholic University defeated Ole Miss 20-19 in a thrilling contest. But later that same year, sponsors of the Orange Bowl approved an Orange Bowl Committee Charter to further develop and implement plans for the annual Orange Bowl classic. The Orange Bowl Committee made plans for an Orange Bowl festival that would draw broad fan interest to the Miami, Florida area during the New Years holiday. With an Orange Bowl parade to kick off the celebration on the day of the game and a thrilling halftime show to keep fans interested during the game, the Orange Bowl made a name for itself as one of the most celebrated annual college football bowl games, and the tradition continued on for the next 70 years.
The 1936 and 1937 Orange Bowl games were played at a stadium located at N.W. 4th Street, on property located adjacent to the current site of the Miami Orange Bowl located at 1501 N.W. 3rd Street. From 1937 through 1995, the Orange Bowl was played at the Miami Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. With the exception of the 1999 FEDEX Orange Bowl, Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida has hosted the FEDEX Orange Bowl since 1996. The 1999 FEDEX Orange Bowl was played at the Miami Orange Bowl due to a scheduling conflict with a Miami Dolphins NFL playoff game to be played at Dolphin Stadium.
In the 1940’s, the Southeastern Conference (the SEC) champion was on display at the annual Orange Bowl classic. In the 1950’s, the Orange Bowl agreed to showcase the Big Seven and the Atlantic Coast Conference (the ACC) in the annual Orange Bowl classic. In 1954 and again in 1956, the Orange Bowl hosted its first ever National Championship Games when Jim Tatum’s Maryland Terrapins met Bud Wilkinson’s Oklahoma Sooners. In 1954, Oklahoma shut out Maryland 7-0 to win the National Championship and in 1956, Oklahoma added to its 30-game winning streak by defeating Maryland 20-6. The 1960’s saw legendary head coaches Paul “Bear” Bryant (Alabama), Joe Paterno (Penn State) and Dan Devine (Missouri and later the University of Notre Dame) coach in numerous Orange Bowl classics. The 1970’s also brought more fame and fortune to the Orange Bowl classic. The Nebraska Cornhuskers won back-to-back National Championships in 1971 and 1972 with Orange Bowl victories. In 1971, Nebraska defeated LSU 17-12 and in 1972, Nebraska defeated Alabama 38-6. Jerry Tagge was named the Most Valuable Player for Nebraska in each game and Nebraska was voted the #1 team in all of college football after each Orange Bowl victory. Some other legendary contests included: Head Coach Ara Parseghian and Notre Dame defeating Head Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant and Alabama 13-11 in the 1975 Orange Bowl; Head Coach Barry Switzer and Oklahoma defeating Head Coach Bo Schembechler and Michigan 14-6 in the 1976 Orange Bowl; Head Coach Woody Hayes and Ohio State defeating Head Coach Bill Mallory and Colorado 27-10 in the 1977 Orange Bowl; Head Coach Lou Holtz and Arkansas defeating Head Coach Barry Switzer and Oklahoma 31-6 in the 1978 Orange Bowl; and Head Coach Barry Switzer and Oklahoma winning three consecutive Orange Bowl classics – 31-24 over Head Coach Tom Osborne and Nebraska in the 1979 Orange Bowl, 24-7 over Head Coach Bobby Bowden and Florida State in the 1980 Orange Bowl, and 18-17 over Head Coach Bobby Bowden and Florida State in the 1981 Orange Bowl.
Since those early 1970’s and 1980’s contests, the Orange Bowl always seemed to be right in the middle of the National Championship picture. Head Coach Jimmy Johnson and the University of Miami won 2 National Championships with victories in the 1988 Orange Bowl (with a 20-14 victory over Head Coach Barry Switzer and the previously #1-ranked Oklahoma Sooners) and in the 1992 Orange Bowl (with a 22-0 victory over Head Coach Tom Osborne and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. In 1990 and 1991, Head Coach Bill McCartney and his #1-ranked Colorado team faced off against Head Coach Lou Holtz and the University of Notre Dame. In 1990, Notre Dame upset Colorado 21-6 to knock Colorado out of the #1 spot, but in 1991, Colorado exacted revenge on Notre Dame with a hard-fought 10-9 victory over Notre Dame. Since that 1991 Colorado National Championship, the winner of the Orange Bowl has gone on to win 6 National Championships – 12-0 Miami with a 22-0 victory over Nebraska in the 1992 Orange Bowl; 12-1 Florida State with a 18-16 victory over Nebraska in the 1994 Orange Bowl; 13-0 Nebraska with a 24-17 victory over Miami in the 1995 Orange Bowl; 13-0 Nebraska with a 42-17 victory over Tennessee in the 1998 Orange Bowl; 13-0 Oklahoma with a 13-2 victory over Florida State in the BCS National Championship Game in the 2001 Orange Bowl; and 13-0 USC with a 55-19 victory over Oklahoma in the BCS National Championship Game in the 2005 Orange Bowl.
Dolphin Stadium (then named Pro Player Stadium) hosted the BCS National Championship Game (see below) for the first time in the 67th Annual FEDEX orange Bowl in 2001. In that game, the Oklahoma University Sooners defeated the University of Miami Hurricanes 13-2 in a defensive battle. Four years later, Dolphin Stadium (then named Pro Player Stadium) hosted its second BCS National Championship Game (and 18th National Championship Game overall) in the 71st Annual FEDEX Orange Bowl in 2005. In that game, the USC Trojans crushed the Oklahoma Sooners 55-19 in a game that featured 2 Heisman Trophy winners for the first time in Orange Bowl history – Sooners’ Quarterback Jason White (the 2003 Heisman Trophy winner) and Trojans’ Quarterback Matt Leinart (the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner). Leinart got the better of White as he threw for over 300 yards and 5 touchdown passes to lead the Trojans to the Orange Bowl victory. Ironically, a third Heisman Trophy winner, Trojans’ Running Back Reggie Bush - the future 2005 Heisman Trophy winner - also played in the 2005 Orange Bowl, accounting for 149 all-purpose yards.
Although the 2006 Orange Bowl did not affect the final BCS National Championship picture, it pitted 2 legendary head coaches against each other in an epic battle. In the 2006 Orange Bowl, Head Coach Joe Paterno and his 3rd-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions defeated Head Coach Bobby Bowden and his 22nd-ranked Florida State Seminoles 26-23 in a close contest that came right down to the end of the game. No one in Dolphin Stadium was disappointed with the chess match between two of college football’s most respected coaches during the 2006 Orange Bowl classic.
Bowl Championship Series History (the BCS)
Before the start of the 1998 college football regular season, the 4 major college football bowls – the Rose Bowl, the Allstate Sugar Bowl, the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and the FEDEX Orange Bowl – joined with college football’s 6 major conferences – the Atlantic Coast Conference (the ACC), the Big East, the Big 12, the Big Ten, the Pacific-10 (the Pac-10), and the Southeastern Conference (the SEC) – and the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish to create the Bowl Championship Series (the BCS). The BCS runs through the 2009 college football regular season and the 2010 college football bowl season. Based on tradition and regional factors, each of the 4 big bowls will still have ties to a specific conference – the FEDEX Orange Bowl will host the ACC Champion; the Allstate Sugar Bowl will host the SEC Champion; the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl will host the Big 12 Champion; and the Rose Bowl will host the Big Ten and Pac-10 Champions.
Since 1998, the BCS selection process has changed slightly from season to season. Currently, the college football teams selected for the BCS Bowl Games will come from teams that have automatically qualified for a BCS bowl game and teams that will be selected as “at-large” teams. The two teams that are ranked #1 and #2 in the final BCS Standings will automatically qualify to play in the BCS National Championship Game. The Champions of each of the 6 BCS Conferences – the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10 and SEC – will receive automatic berths in one of the BCS bowl games. The Champion of the following conferences – Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, the Sun Belt Conference or the Western Athletic Conference – will receive an automatic berth in a BCS bowl game if either: (a) such team is ranked 12th or better in the final BCS Standings or (b) such team is ranked 16th or better in the final BCS Standings and that ranking in the final BCS Standings is better than the ranking of a champion of a conference that receives an automatic berth in a BCS bowl game. The University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish will receive an automatic berth to a BCS bowl game if it finishes 8th or better in the final BCS Standings. If there are less than 10 automatic qualifiers following the above procedures, and there exists an “at-large” team from a conference with an annual automatic berth for its champion is ranked #3 in the final BCS Standings, then that team shall become an automatic qualifier. If there are still less than 10 automatic qualifiers following the previous step, and there exists an “at-large” team from a conference with an annual automatic berth for its champion is ranked #4 in the final BCS Standings, then that team shall become an automatic qualifier. If any berths remain after all automatic qualifiers have been identified, then the bowls shall select "at-large" participants from a pool of eligible teams. An “at-large” team is a Division 1-A college football team that is bowl eligible that has won at least 9 regular-season college football games and is ranked among the top 14 teams in the final BCS Standings.
Once the pool of automatic qualifiers and “at-large” teams is determined, there are team-selection procedures which the BCS bowls must follow. The two teams that are ranked #1 and #2 in the final BCS Standings will play in the BCS National Championship Game. If any bowl game loses a host team to the BCS National Championship Game, then that bowl can select a replacement team from the available pool of BCS teams. If two bowl games lose host teams, then the bowl losing the #1 ranked team gets the first replacement pick and the bowl losing the #2 ranked team gets the second replacement pick. If the Rose Bowl loses both the Big Ten and Pac-10 Champions to the National Championship Game, the Rose Bowl shall receive 2 replacement picks. A bowl choosing a replacement team cannot pick the host team for another BCS Bowl. Following the selection of any replacement teams, bowls with unfilled slots shall then select a team form the automatic-qualifiers and the “at-large” teams in the following order:
For January 2009, the Fiesta Bowl, Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl.
For January 2010, the Orange Bowl, the Fiesta Bowl and the Sugar Bowl.
For January 2011, the Sugar Bowl, the Orange Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl.
For January 2012, the Orange Bowl, the Fiesta Bowl and the Sugar Bowl.
All teams that earn automatic berths must be selected by the BCS bowls. No more than 2 teams from any single Conference may be selected to play in BCS bowl games in any single year, even if more than 2 teams were automatic qualifiers or considered “at-large” teams.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the BCS Conferences and Notre Dame can consider adjusting pairings to take into account any of the following circumstances: whether a team might play in the same BCS bowl game for the 2nd consecutive year; whether 2 teams matched up in a BCS bowl game already played each other during the college football regular season, whether 2 teams will play each other in a bowl game for the 2nd consecutive year, and whether a different pairing might have greater appeal given increased ticket sales, better television ratings and broader positive financial prospects for the BCS.
The BCS has attempted to match the two “best” college football teams in a national championship game since its inception, and the system has worked well for the most part. However, because of the subjectivity of the various poll rankings and the complicated process behind the calculation of the final BCS Standings, many college football head coaches and administrators, as well as certain media personalities, have long called for a playoff structure involving the top 8 or 16 college football teams. Some sort of playoff structure, similar to that of the NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament and the Final Four, will likely be endorsed and implemented in the near future to silence the critics.
Dolphin Stadium opened for play in September 1987 and is the home of NFL football’s Miami Dolphins. Dolphin Stadium has a seating capacity of 75,540 fans for football games. Dolphin Stadium (then named Pro Player Stadium) hosted the BCS National Championship Game (see below) for the first time in the 67th Annual FEDEX orange Bowl in 2001. In addition to hosting the FEDEX Orange Bowl on January 1, 2009, Dolphin Stadium is scheduled to host the BCS National Championship Game again on January 8, 2009.
With the exception of the 1999 FEDEX Orange Bowl, Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida has hosted the FEDEX Orange Bowl since 1996. The 1936 and 1937 Orange Bowl games were played at a stadium located at N.W. 4th Street, on property located adjacent to the current site of the Miami Orange Bowl located at 1501 N.W. 3rd Street. From 1937 through 1995, the Orange Bowl was played at the Miami Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. The 1999 FEDEX Orange Bowl was played at the Miami Orange Bowl due to a scheduling conflict with a Miami Dolphins NFL playoff game to be played at Dolphin Stadium.
Dolphin Stadium has hosted 3 Super Bowls – Super Bowl XXIII in 1989 (then named Joe Robbie Stadium), Super Bowl XXIX in 1995 (then named Joe Robbie Stadium), Super Bowl XXXIII in 1999 (then named Pro Player Stadium), and Super Bowl XLI in 2007. Dolphin Stadium is scheduled to host Super Bowl XLIV in 2010.
Stadium:
Dolphin Stadium
2269 Dan Marino Boulevard
Miami Gardens, Florida 33056
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