2.13.2009

FIRST ROUND - Bracket 52 Results

RESULTS - BRACKET 52
Round 1
(seed) year school - score

(77) 1993 Notre Dame - 40
(1972) 1989 Iowa - 12
This was no contest. One of the best Notre Dame teams in the field quickly dismissed the '89 Hawkeyes. QB Kevin McDougal and RB Lee Becton ran the option to perfection (with some assistance from Bob Seger), and a loaded Irish defense shut down QB Matt Rodgers and the Iowa offense.

(948) 2007 Mississippi State - 14
(1101) 1988 Fresno State - 27
Sylvester Croom's best team in the field didn't last long. Fresno RB Aaron Craver surprisingly found plenty of running lanes against Mississippi State's usually stout defense. The only highlight for the Croomdawgs was this Derek Pegues punt return for touchdown.

(589) 2007 Cincinnati - 24
(1460) 1977 Tennessee State - 17
Tennessee State brought an excellent defensive game plan (and some excellent songs) into their first round matchup with heavy favorite Cincinnati. It took a Mike Mickens interception in the final minute to stave off a huge upset bid.

(436) 1985 Florida State - 35
(1613) 2001 Rice - 19
Florida State quarterbacks Danny McManus and Chip Ferguson each hooked up with WR Hassan Jones on touchdown throws against an overmatched defense. Rice QB Kyle Herm made some plays early running Ken Hatfield's wishbone, but that didn't last long.

(333) 1994 Colorado State - 29
(1716) 2006 Nevada - 22
The best Colorado State team in the tournament got off to a slow start. Nevada QB Jeff Rowe kept the Wolfpack in the game with his arm, but it was Ram QB Anthoney Hill who had the last laugh, finding WR Eric Olsen for what ended up being the game winning TD early in the fourth quarter.

(692) 2000 Louisville - 33
(1357) 2002 Iowa State - 24
There were plenty of highlights in this first round matchup. Dave Ragone threw for 412 yards, including a pair of touchdowns each to Arnold Jackson and Deion Branch. But the highlight of the day had to be this amazing run by Seneca Wallace. This tournament will definitely miss Seneca.



(845) 1978 Pittsburgh - 23
(1204) 1981 Tennessee - 16
Johnny Majors and the Volunteers stumbled against the Jackie Sherrill-led 1978 Pitt Panthers. Sophomore OL Mark May won the day in the trenches against Reggie White, opening enough holes for the RB duo of Freddy Jacobs and Rooster Jones to operate effectively.

(180) 1997 UCLA - 42
(1869) 2001 Wisconsin - 17
UCLA QB Cade McNown hit RB Skip Hicks on this 42-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter and the rout was on. Lee Evans could only watch as Wisconsin's overmatched defense gave up point after point on their way to elimination.

(205) 2000 Oregon - 34
(1844) 1978 New Mexico State - 17
The Oregon offense had no trouble moving the ball on the Aggie defense. They took a 27-7 lead into the half thanks in part to this Keenan Howry 27-yard touchdown catch from Joey Harrington.

(820) 1989 Northern Illinois - 32
(1229) 1986 Temple - 30
If a 1989 Northern Illinois vs 1986 Temple showdown doesn't get your blood boiling, you might want to check your pulse to see if you're still alive! 2000 Oregon had better be careful in the second round because NIU QB Stacey Johnson is capable of taking a game over at any time. NIU - Blood on Blood!

(717) 1980 Washington - 23
(1332) 1989 Florida - 17
Despite being arguably the most talented team on the field, Florida wasn't able to pull out the victory. DB Ray Horton returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter that gave the Huskies the lead for good. Emmitt Smith, thinking this was his best chance to advance in The Greatest Tournament of All Time, devastated after the loss.

(308) 1996 Alabama - 26
(1741) 1980 Princeton - 12
The Alabama defense locked down on Princeton and led the way to an easy first round win. The loaded secondary, including Kevin Jackson and DeShea Townsend, blanketed the Tiger receivers and limited QB Mark Lockenmeyer to only 87 passing yards.

(461) 2003 Bowling Green - 30
(1588) 1978 Tennessee - 19
Johnny Majors may have had the advantage of experience over Bowling Green's rookie head coach Gregg Brandon, but he never had a QB like Josh Harris. Harris paced an explosive Falcon offense with 264 yards passing, including this 7-yard TD strike to the talented Charles Sharon.

(564) 1991 BYU - 33
(1485) 1994 TCU - 22
BYU QB Ty Detmer was up for the challenge of this tournament. The senior out-dueled TCU QB Max Knake by throwing for 321 yards and 4 touchdowns.

(973) 1996 West Virginia - 38
(1076) 2003 Oregon State - 41 (3 OT)
With all the playmakers on the field, this game needed overtime to decide a winner. Mountaineer DB Mike Logan made a remarkable defensive play early in the game that appeared to set the tempo for the rest of the game. But Oregon State WR Mike Hass had other ideas. In a game that featured stars Steven Jackson, Derek Anderson, and Amos Zereoue, it was Hass who shined the brightest. Hass collected 197 yards and 3 touchdowns, including the game winner in the third overtime.

(52) 2002 USC - 35
(1997) 1987 North Carolina - 12
UNC DBs Derrick Donald and Dan Vooletich were no match for the USC passing attack. Carson Palmer hit Mike Williams and Keary Colbert on twin 37-yard touchdown passes in the first quarter and RB Sultan McCullough took over from there. UNC QB Mark Maye is sent packing.


Round 2 Matchups-
(77) 1993 Notre Dame vs (1101) 1988 Fresno State
(436) 1985 Florida State vs (589) 2007 Cincinnati
(333) 1994 Colorado State vs (692) 2000 Louisville
(180) 1997 UCLA vs (845) 1978 Pittsburgh
(205) 2000 Oregon vs (820) 1989 Northern Illinois
(308) 1996 Alabama vs (717) 1980 Washington
(461) 2003 Bowling Green vs (564) 1991 BYU
(52) 2002 USC vs (1076) 2003 Oregon State

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