Outback Bowl Selects Georgia to Face Purdue in 2000 Game

Tampa, FL -- Outback Bowl 2000 officials extended an invitation this afternoon to the University of Georgia to face Purdue University in the "first major sporting event of the new millennium." It will be the first meeting between No. 19 Purdue and the No. 21 Bulldogs.

The match-up pits two of the nation's best quarterbacks and offenses. The Boilermakers are led by Heisman Trophy candidate QB Drew Brees and have the top offense in the Big Ten and the nations 5th ranked passing offense. Georgia is led by QB Quincy Carter and possesses the 2nd ranked offense in the SEC.

"This completes what we feel will be a very exciting match-up for the Outback Bowl," said bowl Chairman Chris Griffin. "With Georgia and Purdue this community will be hosting two of the best and most exciting teams in the country."

"The fans are going to see two of the best players in college football in Drew Brees and Quincy Carter," added Team Selection Chairman Terry Kors. "We may need to add some more statisticians to tally these offenses."

"I'm really happy for our team and especially our seniors," said Georgia head coach Jim Donnan. "This is our third consecutive bowl appearance and I know our team looks forward to once again experiencing the great bowl atmosphere in Tampa. At the same time, we're committed to the preparation necessary to play a tough Big Ten team in Purdue." They have one of the country's very best quarterbacks in Drew Brees and I'm certain our team looks forward to the challenge."

Outback Bowl 2000 kicks-off the millennium and the New Year's Day bowl lineup. The game is telecast internationally on ESPN TV at 11A.M. ET. Tickets to the Outback Bowl are $45 each and are available at Ticketmaster outlets throughout Florida, via phone at Ticketmaster by calling (813) 287-8844 and on-line at www.ticketmaster.com. (Note - only priority seating Membership packages will be sold directly through the bowl office). Information on the Outback Bowl game, bowl events, area hotels and the Tampa Bay area can be found on the bowl's web site at www.outbackbowl.com.

OUTBACK BOWL 2000 NOTES

FIRST TIME: Despite playing football for more than a century this will be the first meeting between Georgia and Purdue. In it's thirteen previous games the Outback Bowl has hosted five previous first-meeting matchups including Michigan vs Alabama in 1988, Clemson vs Illinois in 1991, Michigan vs NC State in 1994, Wisconsin vs Duke in 1995 and Georgia vs Wisconsin in the 1998 game. Three other years the bowl matched teams for only the second meeting.

BULLDOG TRADITION: Georgia has been playing football for 107 years and has compiled a 632-358-54 record ranking them 10th in all-time victories. The program has won or shared five national championships, 10 SEC championships and appeared in 34 bowl games. They are 17-14-3 in bowl games including a 1-1 mark in this bowl. Georgia lost to Boston College 27-24 in the inaugural "Hall of Fame Bowl" in Tampa in 1986, and defeated Wisconsin 33-6 in the 1998 Outback Bowl. Two Bulldogs have won the Heisman Trophy: Frank Sinkwich (1942) and Herschel Walker (1982). Georgia also has 11 inductees into the College Football Hall of Fame.

GEORGIA IN '99: The 7-4 Bulldogs are ranked 21st in the AP Poll and 23rd in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll. They rank 2nd in the SEC in Total Offense (419.4 ypg), 2nd in First Downs (241), 3rd in Passing Offense (257 ypg) and 4th in Rushing Offense (162.4 ypg). Georgia's 20 interceptions also leads the SEC and ranks 5th best nationally. The Bulldogs offense is led by sophomore QB Quincy Carter (216-380-6, 56.8%, 2,713 yds., 17 TDs, 128.42 rating) who ranks 14th nationally and 2nd in the SEC in total passing yards and has also rushed for 255 yards and 5 TDs. Jasper Sanks leads the Bulldog ground game (177-896 yds, 5.1 avg., 6 TDs). Carters favorite receivers are FL Terrence Edwards (53 catches, 772 yds, 9 TDs), TE Randy McMichael (34 - 457 yds, 3 TDs) and TE Jevaris Johnson and FL Michael Green each with 31 receptions. The defense features DT Richard Seymour (74 tackles, 4 sacks, 10 TFL), LB Boss Bailey (66 tackles, 5 sacks, 5 TFL) and LB Orantis Grant (69 tackles, 2 sacks). Cornerbacks Jamie Henderson and Cory Robinson each have 5 interceptions.

PURDUE TRADITION: Playing its 112th season of football this will be Purdue's first bowl game in Florida and the first New Year's Day bowl since the 1967 Rose Bowl where it defeated USC 14-13. The Boilermakers are 6-1 in bowl games and 4-3 against SEC opponents. In fact, the last time Purdue played an SEC team was in 1979 when they defeated Tennessee in the Bluebonnet Bowl.

PURDUE IN '99: The Boilermakers are ranked 19th in the AP Poll and 20th in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll. The team is ranked 8th nationally in total offense and 5th in passing offense and leads the Big Ten Conference in seven categories including Total Offense (456.4 Yds/game), Passing Offense (328 Yds/game), First Downs (275), 3rd Down Conversions (48.6%), Punt Returns (14.9), Sacks Allowed (12) and PAT Kicking (37-37). The Purdue offense is led by Heisman Trophy candidate QB Drew Brees, as well as WR Chris Daniels (109-1,133 Yds, 5 TDs ) and RB Montrell Lowe (158-754 Yds, 4.8 Avg., 5 TDs). The defense is led by LB Willie Fells (85 tackles, 5 TFL 3 Int.), LB Jason Loerzel (71 tackles, 7 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 Int.), SS Adrian Beasley (70 tackles, 5 Int.), and DE Akin Ayodele (59 tackles, 18 TFL, 9.5 sacks).