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2003 Nokia Sugar Bowl
2003 Nokia Sugar Bowl
BCS Bowl Game; 69th Sugar Bowl
Georgia Bulldogs	Florida State Seminoles
(12–1)	(9–4)
SEC	ACC
26	13
Head coach: ; Mark Richt	Head coach: ; Bobby Bowden
Date	January 1, 2003
Season	2002
Stadium	Louisiana Superdome
Location	New Orleans, Louisiana
MVP	Musa Smith (RB, Georgia)
Favorite	Georgia by 7.5
Referee	Chuck McFerrin (Pac-10)
Attendance	74,269
United States TV coverage
Network	ABC
Announcers	Brad Nessler, Bob Griese; and Lynn Swann
Nielsen ratings	9.2
Sugar Bowl
< 2002	2004 >

The 2003 Sugar Bowl, a 2002–03 BCS game, was played on January 1, 2003. This 69th edition to the Sugar Bowl featured the Georgia Bulldogs, and the Florida State Seminoles. Georgia came into the game 12–1 and ranked 3rd in the BCS, whereas Florida State came into the game 9–4 and ranked 14th in the BCS. Sponsored by Nokia, the game was officially known as the Nokia Sugar Bowl.

Teams

The Sugar Bowl during the BCS era usually selected the SEC champion, meaning that the winner of the SEC in 2002, Georgia received an invitation to the Sugar Bowl. Their opponent would be ACC champion Florida State.

Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia defeated Arkansas in the 2002 SEC Championship Game to earn a BCS berth as their conference's champion. Georgia entered the bowl with a 12–1 record (7–1 in conference).

Florida State Seminoles

Florida State won the ACC title outright by virtue of their 7–1 conference record. At the time, the ACC champion would go to the Orange Bowl, however the Orange Bowl chose Iowa and USC instead, leaving the Seminoles to play in the Sugar Bowl. Florida State entered the bowl with an 9–4 record (7–1 in conference).

Game summary

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 (who had replaced quarterback Fabian Walker) threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Craphonso Thorpe. 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.

The Seminoles defensive tackle Darnell Dockett was suspended from the game after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor theft charge.^[1]

Scoring summary

Quarter	Time	Drive			Team	Scoring information	Score
Quarter	Time	Plays	Yards	TOP	Team	Scoring information	UGA	FSU
1	4:19	9	62	4:04	UGA	23-yard field goal by Billy Bennett	3	0
2	13:41	8	69	3:42	FSU	Anquan Boldin 5-yard touchdown reception from Fabian Walker, Xavier Beitia kick good	3	7
2	6:41	1	71	0:10	UGA	Interception returned 71 yards for touchdown by Bruce Thornton, Billy Bennett kick good	10	7
2	3:43	1	37	0:07	UGA	Terrence Edwards 37-yard touchdown reception from D.J. Shockley, Billy Bennett kick good	17	7
3	11:06	9	68	3:54	UGA	42-yard field goal by Billy Bennett	20	7
3	8:49	4	9	2:04	UGA	25-yard field goal by Billy Bennett	23	7
3	0:00	5	66	2:29	FSU	Craphonso Thorpe 40-yard touchdown reception from Anquan Boldin, 2-point run failed	23	13
4	10:17	11	62	4:43	UGA	35-yard field goal by Billy Bennett	26	13
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.							26	13

Statistics

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 3 Bulldogs	3	14	6	3	26
No. 14 Seminoles	7	0	6	0	13

Statistics	UGA	FSU
First downs	11	18
Plays–yards	51–276	67–262
Rushes–yards	36–151	41–115
Passing yards	125	147
Passing: comp–att–int	10–15–0	13–26–2
Time of possession	26:09	33:51

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Georgia	Passing	David Greene	9/14, 88 yds
	Rushing	Musa Smith	23 car, 145 yds
	Receiving	Terrence Edwards	3 rec, 60 yds, 1 TD
Florida State	Passing	Anquan Boldin	6/14, 78 yds, 1 TD
	Rushing	Leon Washington	10 car, 48 yds
	Receiving	Craphonso Thorpe	1 rec, 40 yds, 1 TD

Aftermath

Georgia completed the season 13–1. They ranked #3 in both major polls. Florida State finished the season 9–5 and #21/#24 in the polls.

References

^ "Seminoles' Dockett suspended for bowl". The Times-Union. December 23, 2002. Archived from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved September 26, 2013.