2009 Capital One - Profiles, History & More

Player profiles, team history, the breakout players, the best bowl moments and more for the 2009 Capital One Bowl.

Capital One Bowl History formerly the Florida Citrus
2008	Michigan 41, Florida 35
2007	Penn State 20, Tennessee 10
2006	Wisconsin 24, Auburn 10
2005	Iowa 30, LSU 25
2004	Georgia 34, Purdue 27 (OT)
2003	Auburn 13, Penn State 9
2002	Tennessee 45, Michigan 17
2001	Michigan 31, Auburn 28
2000	Michigan St 37, Florida 34
1999	Michigan 45, Arkansas 31
1998	Florida 21, Penn State 6
1997	Tennessee 48, Northwestern 28
1996	Tennessee 20, Ohio State 14
1995	Alabama 24, Ohio State 17
1994	Penn St 31, Tennessee 13
1993	Georgia 21, Ohio State 14
1992	California 37, Clemson 13
1991	Georgia Tech 45, Nebraska 21
1990	Illinois 31, Virginia 21
1989	Clemson 13, Oklahoma 6
1988	Clemson 35, Penn State 10
1987	Auburn 16, USC 7
1985	Ohio State 10, BYU 7
1984	Florida State 17, Georgia 17
1983	Tennessee 30, Maryland 23
1982	Auburn 33, Boston College 26
1981	Missouri 19, So Mississippi 17
1980	Florida 35, Maryland 20
1979	LSU 34, Wake Forest 10
1978	NC State 30, Pittsburgh 17
1977	Florida St 40, Texas Tech 17
1976	Oklahoma State 49, BYU 21
1975	Miami-Ohio 20, So Carolina 7
1974	Miami-Ohio 21, Georgia 10
1973	Miami-Ohio 16, Florida 7
1972	Tampa 21, Kent State 18
1971	Toledo 28, Richmond 3
1970	Toledo 40, William & Mary 12
1969	Toledo 56, Davidson 33
1968	Richmond 49, Ohio 42
1967	UT Martin 25, West Chester 8
1966	Morgan St 14, West Chester 6
1965	East Carolina 31, Maine 0
1964	East Carolina 14, Massachusetts 13
1963	Western Kentucky 27, Coast Guard 0
1962	Houston 49, Miami-Ohio 21
1961	Lamar 21, Middle Tenn. St 14
1960	Middle Tenn. St 21, Presbyterian 12
1958 (Dec.)	East Texas State 26, Missouri Valley 7
1958 (Jan.)	East Texas State 10, Southern Mississippi 9
1957	West Texas A&M 20, Southern Mississippi 13
1956	Juniata 6, Missouri Valley 6
1955	Nebraska-Omaha 7, Eastern Kentucky 6
1954	Arkansas State 7, East Texas State 7
1953	East Texas State 33, Tennessee Tech 0
1952	Stetson 35, Arkansas State 20
1951	Morris Harvey 35, Emory & Henry 14
1950	Saint Vincent 7, Emory & Henry 6
1949	Murray State 21, Sul Ross 21
1948	Catawba 7, Marshall 0
1947	Catawba 31, Maryville (Tenn.) 0

2009 Capital One Bowl

Georgia (9-3) vs. Michigan State (9-3)
 
Jan. 1, 1:00 p.m. ET, ABC

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2009 CFN Capital One Bowl Preview

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By Richard Cirminiello

Best Bulldog Bowl Moment: Georgia has a very rich bowl tradition that includes 41 invites and victories in the Rose Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Gator Bowl, Orange Bowl, and Sugar Bowl.  Fueled by freshman sensation Herschel Walker, the Dawgs took a perfect mark into the 1981 Sugar Bowl, where No. 7 Notre Dame awaited.  Walker shook off a dislocated shoulder in the first quarter to score a pair of touchdowns leading Georgia to a 17-10 win and the national title.     
 
Best Spartan Bowl Moment: While rival Michigan has a timeshare in Pasadena, it’s been a long time since Michigan State has played a meaningful game in January. The Spartans are 3-1 in the Rose Bowl, including a couple of wins over UCLA in the 1950s. In the 1954 game, No. 3 Michigan State rallied from a 14-0 halftime deficit to pull out the win, getting a touchdown run and a back-breaking punt return for a score from RB Billy Wells. 

The Last Time You'll See ...

Georgia: QB Matt Stafford. As a general rule of thumb, players projected to go in the first 10 picks of the NFL Draft should be advised to leave school early. Stafford is one of those players. Yeah, others have better production and make fewer mistakes, but there aren’t many GMs who’d pass on the junior if given a chance. He’s got the arm strength and pocket presence of a franchise quarterback, and the potential to be the first player overall selected.
 
Michigan State: RB Javon Ringer. Early in his career, it looked as if Ringer might never stay healthy for an entire season. Once he scattered those doubts, he went on to become one of the premier running backs in the country. The definition of a workhorse, he enters the Capital One Bowl fourth nationally with 1,590 yards on the ground and behind only Ball State’s MiQuale Lewis with 21 touchdowns.
 
Breakout Player ...

Georgia: RB Caleb King. If, as expected, Knowshon Moreno bolts for the NFL, King is a name to keep in mind for 2009 and beyond. Similarly built to Moreno at 5-11 and 212 pounds, he’s got the potential to be the next big thing at the position, provided he learns to do the little things better. A missed block in the Florida game cost the redshirt freshman playing time at the end of the year. Mark Richt might want to get King and Richard Samuel some reps in Orlando in anticipation of what’s to come next year.
 
Michigan State: TE Charlie Gantt. A year after not catching a single pass behind Kellen Davis, Gantt pulled down 19 for 302 yards and four touchdowns in a statement sophomore season. Determined to be more than just a faceless blocker on running downs, he dropped weight in the offseason and worked on improving his ball skills. The results have been greater confidence from the Spartan quarterbacks and more chances to make plays in the passing game.
 
Best Non-Game Event
Florida Citrus Sports has an entire week of events between its two games, the Champs Sports Bowl and Capital One Bowl, called Bowl-a-Palooza, which this year is featuring Cheap Trick. At its games, the players’ favorites are usually the theme-park visits simply because it’s something they can't do every day, much less at most other bowls. 

Player Gift Package
Players receive a $400 Best Buy shopping spree while they are in Florida, a commemorative watch, and a goody bag.

Charitable Component
The governing organization, Florida Citrus Sports, has a charitable foundation that is benevolent throughout the year.

How Success is Measured
Finances are naturally a key factor, but as stated to its members and scouts who select the participants, Florida Citrus Sports is always looking for the best matchup.  Last year, it successfully achieved that with Michigan-Florida in the Capital One Bowl and Michigan State-Boston College in the Champs Sports Bowl, as both were lauded as two of the best games on the field last season.

MVP of the Bowl
Executive director Steve Hogan is a vital cog at Florida Citrus Sports, but he would probably say that this organization has been here since 1947, and it will likely continue to be throughout the years because of the hard work of the staff and the organization's members who volunteer each year.

Impact to the Community
The impact is significant. A recent assessment of the two games—the Champs Sports Bowl and Capital One Bowl—estimated that $71.7 million in new economic activity was generated as a result of the games last year. 

Role of Volunteers
Enormous. They help throughout the Bowl-a-Palooza week from the games to the Bowl-a-Palooza Concert  to the Spherion Orlando Citrus Parade and on and on.     

2009 CFN Capital One Bowl Preview

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Georgia Bowl History (28-15)

2008	Sugar	Georgia 41, Hawaii 10
2007	Chick-fil-A	Georgia 31, Virginia Tech 24
2006	Sugar	West Virginia 38, Georgia 35
2004	Outback	Georgia 24, Wisconsin 21
2003	Capital One	Georgia 34, Purdue 27 OT
2002	Sugar	Georgia 26, Florida St 13
2001	Music City	Boston College 20, Georgia 16
2000	Oahu	Georgia 37, Virginia 14
1999	Outback	Georgia 28, Purdue 25 OT
1998	Peach	Georgia 35, Virginia 33
1997	Outback	Georgia 33, Wisconsin 6
1995	Peach	Virginia 34, Georgia 27
1992	Citrus	Georgia 21, Ohio St 14
1991	Independence	Georgia 24, Arkansas 15
1989	Peach	Syracuse 19, Georgia 18
1988	Gator	Georgia 34, Michigan State 27
1987	Liberty	Georgia 20, Arkansas 17
1986	Hall of Fame	Boston College 27, Georgia 24
1985	Sun	Georgia 13, Arizona 13
1984	Citrus	Georgia 17, Florida St 17
1983	Cotton	Georgia 10, Texas 9
1982	Sugar	Penn St 27, Georgia 23
1981	Sugar	Pitt 24, Georgia 20
1980	Sugar	Georgia 17, Notre Dame 10
1978	Bluebonnet	Stanford 25, Georgia 22
1976	Sugar	Pitt 27, Georgia 3
1975	Cotton	Arkansas 31, Georgia 10
1974	Tangerine	Miami (Ohio) 21, Georgia 10
1973	Peach	Georgia 17, Maryland 16
1971	Gator	Georgia 7, North Carolina 3
1969	Sun	Nebraska 45, Georgia 6
1968	Sugar	Arkansas 16, Georgia 2
1967	Liberty	N.C. State 14, Georgia 7
1966	Cotton	Georgia 24, SMU 9
1964	Sun	Georgia 7, Texas 0
1959	Orange	Georgia 14, Missouri 0
1950	Presidential Cup	Texas A&M 40, Georgia 20
1948	Orange	Texas 41, Georgia 28
1947	Gator	Georgia 20, Maryland 20
1946	Sugar	Georgia 20, North Carolina 10
1945	Oil	Georgia 20, Tulsa 6
1942	Rose	Georgia 9, UCLA 0
1941	Orange	Georgia 40, TCU 26

 

Michigan State Bowl History (7-11)

2007	Champs Sports	Boston College 24, Michigan State 21
2003	Alamo	Nebraska 17, Michigan State 3
2001	Silicon Valley Classic	Michigan State 44, Fresno State 35
1999	Citrus	Michigan State 37, Florida 34
1997	Aloha	Washington 51, Michigan State 23
1996	Sun	Stanford 38, Michigan State 0
1995	Independence	LSU 45, Michigan State 26
1993	Liberty	Louisville 18, Michigan State 7
1990	John Hancock	Michigan State 17, USC 16
1989	Aloha	Michigan State 33, Hawaii 13
1988	Gator	Georgia 34, Michigan State 27
1987	Rose	Michigan State 20, USC 17
1985	Hall of Fame Classic	Georgia Tech 17, Michigan State 14
1984	Cherry	Army 10, Michigan State 6
1965	Rose	UCLA 14, Michigan State 12
1955	Rose	Michigan State 17, UCLA 14
1953	Rose	Michigan State 28, UCLA 20
1937	Orange	Auburn 6, Michigan State 0