Orange Bowl

Orange Bowl
Played on January 1 in Miami, Orange Bowl or FedEx Orange bowl was first played in 1935 at Miami Field and since then till 1937 it has been played there every year. However the following year the venue for Orange Bowl was changed to Miami Orange Bowl, where it stayed till 1995 and then again was played in 1999. Miami Orange bowl was located right were Miami Field was located. Orange Bowl is also referred as FedEx Orange Bowl because since 1989, FedEx have been its title sponsor.

Orange Bowl is a successor of Palm Festival Game that was first time held in 1932 by George E. Hussey. During those days, America was going under Great Depression hence the main aim of the Palm Festival Game was to help make Miami's economy better. Since the Palm Festival Game allotted a berth to a team automatically without considering its records, hence it was recognized by the NCAA. That is why later in 1935 Orange bowl was inaugurated that did not automatically allot berth to just any team, which made it recognized by the NCAA.

Due to the need of a football program at University of Miami and due to notable strength of the Big Eight Conference, Four of the National Championships were hosted at the Orange Bowl during the period of 1980's. At that time Orange Bowl was the highlight of the year and also in 80's another state school was inducted in the roster, which was Florida State.

During the early 90's FedEx Orange Bowl games took the top rank, as it continued to host some of the high ranked teams across nation along with making new additions such as Colorado Buffaloes that came in 1990 and 1991. Although in 1990 Colorado Buffaloes lost to Fighting Irish but following year they took an electrifying victory which took Orange Bowl back to being #1 and back to the National Championship. Orange Bowl got its second championship the following year when in a match up against Nebraska, Miami took a 22-0 victory.

Even after its 73 year history, Orange Bowl still keeps on providing some of the most fascinating match-ups to its fans. Back in 2006 septuagenarian icons met, after the duration of 2 years gave a match to remember. The match lasted for a record time of 4 hours and 45 minutes after going for three overtimes, however at the end of the day Nittany Lions came out victorious. Back in 2001 Florida State University Seminoles also made its come back in new millennium of FedEx Orange Bowl. FSU went toe to toe with Oklahoma for the Orange Bowl National Championship.

Orange Bowl hosted its first overtime with the beginning of the new millennium. It was a Match up between Michigan and Alabama when Tom Brady of Michigan made an Orange Bowl record by securing four touchdowns and 369 yards. Still trying to get back in the game, Alabama's David Terrell made a tremendous effort by securing 57 yard touchdown which ultimately tied the game, but in the end Michigan Wolverines came out victorious.

The Orange Bowl came as an inspiration from California's Rose Bowl. The Southwest, the needed to have an event similar to celebrated the ripening of oranges on New Year and hence this sport festivity was born and bore the name Orange Bowl. The Orange Bowl Stadium in Florida hosted all games till 1999. In no time it emerged to be the house the best annual American college football bowl game of the region. Due to ever-increasing fanfare and demand to see live college football action, a new custom built stadium, Sun Life came into being. The Sun Life Stadium hosts this magnificent event in Miami Gardens and continues to attract crowds of thousands to watch and enjoy the game.

Orange Bowl entered and initiated its respective Bowl game in 1935 making them stand second to the Rose Bowl in seniority. Other contemporaries of the Orange Bowl include the very famous Sun and Sugar Bowl. Officially a part of the Bowl Championship Series; this bowl game has contributed very exciting game play over eight decades.

Before the BCS Championship finale became independent of Bowl biding, Orange Bowl hosted one Bowl game and one BCS Championship Game. Affiliation with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) brings the championship under the Orange Bowl. Till date the game has been sponsored by two main factors Discover Financial and FedEx. NBC, ABC, Fox and ESPN have officially aired the game; entertaining college football fans with the zest and sprite of the Southwest. Orange Bowl Tickets invites to a New Year feast that feels like none other.