Game Summary - January 1, 2000
Purdue 25, Georgia 28
January 1, 2000 marked the beginning of a new millennium and the Outback Bowl would become "The First Sporting Event of the Millennium." In a game predicted to excite the fans, the Purdue Boilermakers, with Heisman finalist Drew Brees, would square-off against the Georgia Bulldogs and upcoming quarterback Quincy Carter. Neither team would disappoint as plenty of fireworks would ensue.
Drew Brees would show off his talent by taking Purdue out to an early lead, finding home-town receiver Chris Daniels for two first quarter TDs and Vinny Sutherland for another strike as the Boilermakers would surmount a 19-0 lead by the end of the first period. Penalties plagued Bulldogs who would see the lead stretch to 25-0 before Carter could get them back on track.
Terrance Edwards broke a run for 74 yards to finally put the Bulldogs on the board in the second period. Then with Purdue driving for what seemed to be another score Jamie Henderson made an interception at the 11 yard line and bolted 49 yards before Brees would force him to stubble well short of the endzone. The play would setup a Georgia 32-yard field goal just before halftime to close the lead to 25-10.
The Bulldogs continued to chip away at the Purdue lead in the second half with a Carter TD run and two-point conversion to narrow the gap to just 7 points. Purdue, meanwhile, would miss two FG attempts.
In what would clearly be their final possession the Dawgs began from their own 6 yard line. But 13 plays later Carter would roll right and loft a pass to the endzone where Randy McMichael would somehow pull in the ball after it was tipped by two defenders. The extra point kick would tie the game at 25-25 with 1:19 remaining.
In only the second overtime in college bowl history, Purdue won the toss, but was forced to settle for a 43 yard field goal attempt. Kicker Travis Dosch would miss badly on his third try of the day.
Now with the momentum, the Bulldogs marched confidently to the two yard line before kicker Hap Hines nailed a 19 yard field goal to complete the greatest comeback in the history of bowl games.
Despite the collapse, Drew Brees so dominated the bowl's record books that he was named MVP of the game. He set or tied six Outback Bowl records including passing yards with 378. In all, twenty-two Outback Bowl records were set or tied in the game.