2003 Sugar Bowl
| 2003 Nokia Sugar Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date | January 1, 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Season | 2002 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stadium | Louisiana Superdome | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | New Orleans, Louisiana | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Referee | Chuck McFerrin (Pac-10) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 74,269 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The 2003 Sugar Bowl a 2002–2003 BCS game was played on January 1, 2003. This 69th edition to the Sugar Bowl featured the Florida State Seminoles, and the Georgia Bulldogs. Florida State came into the game 9–4 and ranked 14th in the BCS, whereas Georgia came into the game 12–1 and ranked 3rd in the BCS
Kicker Billy Bennett kicked a 23-yard field goal with 10 minutes left in the opening quarter to account for the quarter's only points. In the second quarter, FSU quarterback Fabian Walker threw a 5-yard slant pass to Anquan Boldin as FSU took a 7–3 lead. Florida State was driving again in the second quarter before cornerback Bruce Thornton stepped in front of a Walker pass and raced 73 yards to the opposite end zone, to give Georgia a 10–7 lead. Quarterback D.J. Shockley threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Terrence Edwards before halftime to give the Bulldogs a 17–7 half time lead.
Billy Bennett accounted for two more Georgia field goals in the third quarter, as Georgia posted a 23–7 lead. On the final play of the third quarter, wide receiver Anquan Boldin took a handoff from quarterback Fabian Walker and started to run a reverse, but ended up throwing a touchdown pass to Craphonso Thorpe on a trick play. The ensuing two-point conversion failed, and the lead was 23–13. Billy Bennett kicked another field goal in the fourth quarter, as Georgia held off Florida State. Georgia's running back, Musa Smith won the MVP award.
Seminoles defensive tackle Darnell Dockett was suspended from the game after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor theft charge.
Georgia finished off the season 13–1, and finished in the BCS Top 3. Florida State finished the season 9–5, and in the Top 25 once again.
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