1982 Tangerine Bowl


The 1982 Tangerine Bowl was held on December 18, 1982 at the Orlando Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The #18 Auburn Tigers defeated the Boston College Eagles by a score of 33–26.

Notability

The 1982 Tangerine Bowl was the last to be called the Tangerine Bowl; the name was changed to the Florida Citrus Bowl for the 1983 game.

Game summary

The first quarter was somewhat slow compared to the rest of the game; Boston College opened the scoring as Doug Flutie found the end zone on a 5-yard rush to put BC up 7–0. Auburn countered, though, scoring a 19-yard field goal. The first quarter ended 7–3. Auburn's offense turned it on in the second quarter, scoring on a Bo Jackson 1-yard rush and another 2-yard rush to take a 17–3 lead. BC converted a 34-yard field goal but Auburn found the end zone once again as Jackson scored from 6 yards out, though the two-point conversion failed and the second quarter ended 23–10. The third quarter saw Auburn's lead extend from 17 to 27 as they scored twice more, from a 23-yard field goal and then from a 15-yard rush. BC retaliated in the fourth, though, as Doug Flutie delivered two touchdown passes and was responsible for both successful two-point conversions. The 16-point comeback wasn't enough, as Auburn won the game, 33–26.

Aftermath

Auburn's win saw them rise in the polls and finish at #14. Boston College, who entered the game unranked, remained unranked.
Auburn fullback Greg Pratt, who scored a touchdown in the game and entered the next season as the starting fullback, died in spring practice after collapsing from heat exhaustion in spring practice.