Music City Bowl Player Profile & More

2006 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl Player Profile, History & More

Clemson (8-4) vs. Kentucky (7-5)

Dec. 29th, 1:00 p.m. ET, ESPN

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Music City Bowl History
2005	Virginia 34, Minnesota 31
2004	Minnesota 20, Alabama 16
2003	Auburn 28, Wisconsin 14
2002	Minnesota 29, Arkansas 14
2001	Boston College 20, Georgia 16
2000	West Virginia 49, Mississippi 38
1999	Syracuse 20, Kentucky 13
1998	Virginia Tech 38, Alabama 7

Music City Bowl Player Profile
QB Andre’ Woodson, Kentucky – Night and day.  It’s the most accurate way to describe Woodson’s sophomore and junior season, which he’s about to complete in Kentucky’s first bowl game in seven years.  A year ago, he lacked confidence, made poor decisions and struggled to find the end zone, throwing just six touchdown passes in 11 starts.  The tepid results opened the door for hot-shot backup Curtis Pulley to compete for the starting job and actually take a slight lead in the race following spring practice.  Can you say wake-up call?  Sensing he was about to lose a spot atop the depth chart that he deeply coveted, Woodson grew up quickly and completely changed his approach to the game, doing the little things necessary to be a successful SEC quarterback.  As he openly admits, he used to coast through practices, film study and workouts, but no more.  Woodson re-dedicated himself in the summer in every aspect of his preparation, becoming one of the team leaders, while holding off Pulley for the starting job.  The results this season have been better than anyone could have imagined.  Woodson threw for a league-best 3,216 yards and 28 touchdown passes, while getting picked off just seven times and finishing the regular season No. 15 nationally in passing efficiency.  It’s official.  Kentucky’s starting quarterback is no longer up for grabs.  Built like a strong-armed defensive end with improving accuracy, Woodson is 6-5 and 230 pounds, giving him outstanding field vision to locate top receivers Keenan Burton and Dicky Lyons.  With a new attitude, the junior has blossomed into a pro prospect, while saving two jobs, head coach Rich Brooks’ and his own.    

Best Tiger Bowl Moment – It’s been nearly a quarter of a century since Clemson participated in one of college football’s marquee bowl games.  Back in 1982, the Tigers played No. 4 Nebraska in the Orange Bowl with national supremacy hinging on the outcome.  Danny Ford’s underrated defensive unit frustrated the star-studded Husker offense in a 22-15 win that gave the University a perfect season and its only national championship.    

Best Wildcat Bowl Moment – Considering that Kentucky has won just two bowl games over the last 54 years, there aren’t many options.  If you dig deep enough, however, you’ll find a hidden gem in the 1951 Sugar Bowl.  Under the guidance of Bear Bryant, the Wildcats shocked national champion Oklahoma 13-7 behind a stingy defense and a pair of Wilbur Jamerson touchdowns to finish with 11 wins for the first time in school history.

Kentucky's best win ... Kentucky 24 ... Georgia 20
Kentucky's Tony Dixon ran for a three-yard touchdown with just over a minute to play, and then Trevard Lindley sealed the upset picking off Matthew Stafford. The Bulldogs took the lead halfway through the third quarter on a three-yard Danny Ware touchdown run, but the extra point went wide leaving the door open for UK to tie it with a field goal and leading to the Dixon run. Stafford threw a ten-yard touchdown pass to Mario Raley in the first quarter and Brannan Southerland ran for a one-yard score to take a 14-3 lead in the first half, but UK came back on two Keenan Burton touchdown catches.

Kentucky's worst loss ... LSU 49 ... Kentucky 0
LSU rolled over Kentucky with 278 passing yards and 268 on the ground with JaMarcus Russell and Matt Flynn each throwing two touchdown passes and Jacob Hester running for two first half scores. Russell connected with Dwayne Bowe on first half scoring passes from seven and 48 yards out on the way to a 28-0 first half lead, and then Bowe caught an eight-yard touchdown pass from Matt Flynn in the third. Kentucky only gained 227 yards of total offense.

Clemson's best win ... Clemson 31 ... Georgia Tech 7
Clemson pulled off a shocker running for 321 yards on the normally stout Georgia Tech defense and getting beaten for three second half home runs. C.J. Spiller ripped off a 50-yard touchdown at the end of the third quarter to go up 17-0, and then the Yellow Jackets came up with their best drive of the night capped off with a brilliant 35-yard touchdown catch from James Johnson. Spiller answered with a brilliant 50-yard score  taking a short pass and making two defenders grasp for air on the way to the end zone. James Davis capped off a big day with a five-yard scoring run. Georgia Tech star receiver Calvin Johnson was held without a catch.

Clemson's worst loss ... Virginia Tech 24 ... Clemson 7
Virginia Tech RB Branden Ore ran for 203 yards and two scores while the defense held Clemson to just 166 yards of total offense in the stunning win. The Tigers scored first getting a good early drive finishing with a six-yard James Davis run, and then Tech turned it on with Sean Glennon getting into the end zone after Ore dove down to the six-inch line, Brandon Pace hitting a 37-yard field goal, and Ore running it in from 11 and three yards out. The Hokie D allowed 76 yards over the final three quarters.

2006 Music City Bowl
Virginia 34 ... Minnesota 31
Virginia overcame an early 14-0 deficit to finally get the winning points on a 39-yard field goal from Connor Hughes with 1:08 to play. Minnesota had one last shot, but QB Bryan Cupito's bomb was intercepted in the end zone. The Gopher passing game rolled with four Cupito touchdown passes, with two to Jared Ellerson from 57 and 23 yards out, but the balance of the Virginia attack, and the play of QB Marques Hagans, wouldn't let up. Hagans barely avoided a safety on Virginia's final drive, and ended up leading the offense to a 75-yard, 13 play drive for the winning field goal. Wali Lundy ran for two scores for the Cavaliers.
Player of the game: Virginia QB Marques Hagans completed 24 of 32 passes for 358 yards and two touchdowns with an interception and ran for 26 yards on ten carries.
Stat Leaders: Minnesota - Passing: Bryan Cupito, 18-28, 263 yds, 4 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Laurence Maroney, 26-109. Receiving: Ernest Wheelwright, 7-120, 1 TD
Virginia - Passing: Marques Hagans, 25-32, 358 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Wali Lundy, 16-59, 2 TD. Receiving: Deyon Williams, 6-88, 1 TD

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Clemson Bowl History (15-13)

2005	Champs Sports	Clemson 19, Colorado 10
2004	Peach	Clemson 27, Tennessee 14
2002	Tangerine	Texas Tech 55, Clemson 15
2001	Humanitarian	Clemson 49, Louisiana Tech 24
2000	Gator	Virginia Tech 41, Clemson 20
1999	Peach	Mississippi State 17, Clemson 7
1997	Peach	Auburn 21, Clemson 17
1996	Peach	LSU 10, Clemson 7
1995	Gator	Syracuse 41, Clemson 0
1993	Peach	Clemson 14, Kentucky 13
1991	Citrus	California 37, Clemson 13
1990	Hall of Fame	Clemson 30, Illinois 0
1989	Gator	Clemson 27, West Virginia 7
1988	Citrus	Clemson 13, Oklahoma 6
1987	Citrus	Clemson 35, Penn State 10
1986	Gator	Clemson 27, Stanford 21
1985	Independence	Minnesota 20, Clemson 13
1981	Orange	Clemson 22, Nebraska 15
1979	Peach	Baylor 24, Clemson 18
1978	Gator	Clemson 17, Ohio State 15
1977	Gator	Pittsburgh 34, Clemson 3
1959	Bluebonnet	Clemson 23, TCU 7
1958	Sugar	LSU 7, Clemson 0
1956	Orange	Colorado 27, Clemson 21
1951	Gator	Miami 14, Clemson 0
1950	Orange	Clemson 15, Miami 14
1948	Gator	Clemson 24, Missouri 23
1939	Cotton	Clemson 6, Boston College 3

Kentucky Bowl History (5-5)

1999	Music City	Syracuse 20, Kentucky 13
1998	Outback	Penn State 26, Kentucky 14
1993	Peach	Clemson 14, Kentucky 13
1984	Hall of Fame	Kentucky 20, Wisconsin 19
1983	Hall of Fame	West Virginia 20, Kentucky 16
1976	Peach	Kentucky 21, North Carolina 0
1951	Cotton	Kentucky 20, TCU 7
1950	Sugar	Kentucky 13, Oklahoma 7
1949	Orange	Santa Clara 21, Kentucky 13
1947	Great Lakes	Kentucky 24, Villanova 14