1989 Orange Bowl

The 1989 Orange Bowl was a college football bowl game that was played on January 2 in Miami, Florida. The 55th edition of the game was the first that had an official corporate sponsor, Federal Express (now FedEx, who continued to sponsor the bowl until 2010). The second-ranked Miami Hurricanes defeated the sixth-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers of the Big Eight Conference.[2][3][4]

1989 Federal Express Orange Bowl
Miami Hurricanes Nebraska Cornhuskers
(10–1) (11–1)
Independent Big Eight
23 3
Head coach: 
Jimmy Johnson		 Head coach: 
Tom Osborne
APCoaches
22
APCoaches
66
1234 Total
Miami 71303 23
Nebraska 0030 3
DateJanuary 2, 1989
Season1988
StadiumOrange Bowl
LocationMiami, Florida
FavoriteMiami by 6½ points [1]
RefereeJimmy Harper (SEC)
Attendance79,480
United States TV coverage
NetworkNBC
AnnouncersDon Criqui and Bob Trumpy

It was a rematch of the 1984 game, in which Miami had won its first national championship. Despite the high rankings of both teams,[5] the game was not determining of the national title since top-ranked and undefeated Notre Dame (which had defeated Miami by a point earlier in the season) convincingly won the Fiesta Bowl in Arizona earlier in the day.[6]

Game summary

The rematch did not turn out to be as close as the 1984 game, and Miami led 20–0 at halftime. Nebraska finally scored with a 50-yard field goal in the third quarter, but Miami responded with its own in the fourth.[2] Hurricanes quarterback Steve Walsh also set a new Orange Bowl record with 44 attempted passes, with 23 completions.

Miami retained its #2 ranking in the final AP poll and Nebraska fell to tenth.[7]

Scoring

First quarter

Second quarter

  • Miami – Field goal, Huerta 18
  • Miami – Conley 42 pass from Walsh (Huerta kick)
  • Miami – Field goal, Huerta 37

Third quarter

  • Nebraska – Field goal, Gregg Barrios 50

Fourth quarter

  • Miami – Field goal, Huerta 37
Source:[2][8]

Statistics
Statistics    Miami     Nebraska 
First Downs2010
Rushes–yards28–6938–80
Passing yards28555
Passes23–48–38–22–3
Total yards354135
Punts–average4–409–37
Fumbles–lost1–00–0
Turnovers by33
Penalties-yards7–605–45
Time of possession30:1629:44
Source:[2][8]

Aftermath

The game was head coach Jimmy Johnson's last with Miami, as he left in February to become the second head coach of the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL.[9]

Nebraska and Miami have since faced off again in the post-season three times, twice in the Orange Bowl in 1992 and 1995, and once in the Rose Bowl in 2002.

References
  1. "The latest line". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 2, 1989. p. 27.
  2. Robbins, Danny (January 3, 1989). "Miami settles for No. 2". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). (Newsday). p. 3D.
  3. Walker, Ben (January 3, 1989). "No. 2 Miami storms past Huskers, 23-3". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. p. 17.
  4. "'Canes crush Cornhuskers". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. January 3, 1989. p. 1, part 2.
  5. Edes, Gordon (January 2, 1989). "Johnson states his case for No. 1". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). (Los Angeles Times). p. 5C.
  6. Telander, Rick (January 9, 1989). "No. 1 with a bullet". Sports Illustrated. p. 16.
  7. "It's not unanimous, but the Irish finish as No. 1". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 4, 1989. p. 7C.
  8. "Orange Bowl". Milwaukee Journal. (box score). January 3, 1989. p. 3C.
  9. "Miami's Johnson puts an end to Landry era". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. February 26, 1989. p. 1C.
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