Between Dec. 16 and Dec. 31, BC Interruption will be taking a look back at the top 10 bowl games Boston College has appeared in, leading up to the Eagles matchup with Arizona in the AdvoCare V100 'Independence' Bowl.
2001 Music City Bowl Bowl: Boston College 20, Georgia 16
Of all the recent bowl game results, this one may have been the most surprising.
Boston College snapped its 22-game losing streak against ranked teams with a comeback 20-16 victory over No. 16 Georgia in the 2001 Music City Bowl. The Eagles were led by another All-America tailback William Green, who rushed for 149 yards, setting up one touchdown with a 75-yard run and scoring the game-winning touchdown on a seven-yard scamper with just 4:43 left in the game.
First-year Georgia coach Mark Richt lost control of the game's final two minutes before Mark Richt losing control of things was even a thing.
Trailing 20-16 with 1:32 left, Richt decided to punt on fourth-and-17 at the Bulldog's 43-yard line. The punt went into the end zone and BC took over at its 20. Georgia got the ball back with just 14 seconds to go 52 yards for the game-winning score. On the final play of the game, Georgia QB David Green was sacked by Doug Goodwin as the Eagles held on for the victory; spoiling Richt's bowl coaching debut.
Although BC was outgained 410-306, the team benefitted from two Georgia interceptions, two fumbles and two first downs picked up on UGA penalties. Eagles QB Brian St. Pierre finished with 109 yards and a touchdown on the drive set up by Green's 75-yard run.
Green, the nation's second-leading rusher, announced that he'd forego his senior year and enter the NFL Draft the following month. The consensus All-America running back finished the 2001 season with 1,559 yards and 2,974 for his career; then the third best mark in school history. Green's performance in the Music City Bowl was his 9th 100-yard performance of the season. Fun fact: With 100+ yards in the Independence Bowl, Andre Williams can jump Green to tie Mike Cloud for the most 100-yard games in a season with 10.
The win gave the Eagles wins in consecutive bowl games for just the second time in program history (1993-1994). The team would finish ranked in the final Associated Press (21) and ESPN USA Today (23) polls; the first time since 1994 the program ended the year ranked. Green (16th, Cleveland) and OT Marc Colombo (29th, Chicago) would both go on to get drafted in the following year's NFL Draft.
SCORING SUMMARY
Boston College 3 10 0 7 - 20
Georgia 7 3 6 0 - 16
FIRST QUARTER
UGA - Fred GIBSON 15 pass from David GREENE (Billy BENNETT kick), 14:05 left. Score: Georgia 7, Boston College 0.
BC - FG 25 Sandro SCIORTINO, 1:43 left. Score: Georgia 7, Boston College 3.
SECOND QUARTER
BC - Dedrick DEWALT 10 pass from Brian ST. PIERRE (SCIORTINO kick), 9:09 left. Score: Boston College 10, Georgia 7.
BC - FG 26 SCIORTINO, 3:05 left. Score: Boston College 13, Georgia 7.
UGA - FG 24 BENNETT, 0:39 left. Score: Boston College 13, Georgia 10.
THIRD QUARTER
UGA - Verron HAYNES 1 run (BENNETT kick failed), 5:26 left. Score: Georgia 16, Boston College 13.
FOURTH QUARTER
BC - William GREEN 7 run (SCIORTINO kick), 4:43 left. Score: Boston College 20, Georgia 16.
STATS
Team Statistics BC UGA
First Downs 16 23
Total Net Yds 306 410
Net Yds Rushing 197 122
Net Yds Passing 109 288
Interceptions 0 2
Penalties 4-20 9-74
Fumbles-Lost 2-0 2-2