Game Name: | Gator Bowl |
Date Game Played: | December 30 |
Year Game Played: | 1972 |
Football Season: | 1972 |
Stadium: | Gator Bowl |
City: | Jacksonville, Florida |
Visitor School: | Auburn University |
Visitor Name Short: | Auburn |
Visitor Nickname: | Tigers |
Visitor Record: | 9–1 |
Visitor Coach: | Ralph Jordan |
Visitor Conference: | SEC |
Visitor Rank Ap: | 6 |
Visitor Rank Coaches: | 7 |
Visitor 1Q: | 0 |
Visitor 2Q: | 10 |
Visitor 3Q: | 7 |
Visitor 4Q: | 7 |
Home School: | Colorado University |
Home Name Short: | Colorado |
Home Nickname: | Buffaloes |
Home Record: | 8–3 |
Home Coach: | Eddie Crowder |
Home Conference: | Big Eight |
Home Rank Ap: | 13 |
Home Rank Coaches: | T–14 |
Home 1Q: | 0 |
Home 2Q: | 0 |
Home 3Q: | 0 |
Home 4Q: | 3 |
Mvp: | Wade Whatley, QB, Auburn Mark Cooney, LB, Colorado |
Referee: | Charles Bowen (SEC; split crew: SEC, Big Eight) |
Attendance: | 71,114 |
Us Network: | ABC |
Us Announcers: | Bill Flemming and Lee Grosscup |
Different Previous: | 1971 |
Game Link: | Gator Bowl |
The 1972 Gator Bowl was held on December 30, 1972, at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida. The sixth-ranked Auburn Tigers defeated the 13th-ranked Colorado Buffaloes by a score of 24–3.[1]
The scoring was opened in the second quarter by Auburn, as they converted a 27-yard field goal to take a 3–0 lead. They extended their lead to ten as they found the end zone later in the same quarter off of a 1-yard run. They took a 10–0 lead into halftime. They controlled the third quarter as well, scoring on a 22-yard pass to take a 17–0 lead into the fourth quarter. The Tigers lost their shutout when the Buffaloes hit a 33-yard field goal, but Auburn quickly responded, scoring a 16-yard touchdown pass to make the score 24–3. The game finished with the same score.
6th-ranked Auburn rose to #5 following their win; #13 Colorado fell to #16.