2000 Motor City Bowl

The2000 Motor City Bowlwas aNational Collegiate Athletic Associationbowl gamein which theMarshall Thundering Herdof theMACdefeated theCincinnati Bearcatsof theConference USA25–14.It was played on December 27, 2000, at thePontiac SilverdomeinPontiac, Michigan.The Bearcats were C-USA runners-up fresh off the wins from five of their last six games, which includedSyracuseand #20Southern Mississippi.Marshall however was the four-time MAC champion who had also won five of their last six games, one of which was againstWestern Michigan,who had defeated them earlier in the season, in theMAC Championship Game.

2000Motor City Bowl
Cincinnati Bearcats Marshall Thundering Herd (7–4) (7–5) C-USA MAC 14 25 Head coach: Rick Minter Head coach: Bob Pruett
1 2 3 4 Total Cincinnati 7 7 0 0 14 Marshall 9 0 13 3 25
Date	December 27, 2000
Season	2000
Stadium	Pontiac Silverdome
Location	Pontiac, Michigan
MVP	Byron LeftwichQB Marshall
Referee	Joe Rider (ACC)
Attendance	52,911
United States TV coverage
Network	ESPN
Announcers	Pam WardandDon McPherson

Cincinnati kickerJonathan Ruffinwas an All-America and had won theLou Groza Awardas the nation's best placekicker. QuarterbackDeontey Kennerled the Bearcat offense, while 330 lb defensive tackleMario Mondsled the defense.

Marshall's offense was led by futureNFLquarterbackByron Leftwich,its defense was led by four-year starterPaul Toviessi.This year marked the 30th anniversary of thetragic 1970 plane crashwhich took the lives of 75 Marshall football players, coaches, administrators, and boosters on November 14.

Marshall quarterback Byron Leftwich was named the game'sMVP.

The game was the 4th installment of theMotor City Bowl,matching the Conference USA against the Mid-American Conference for the first time in its history.

Scoring summary

Scoring play	Score
1st Quarter
MU–Watts77 yard TD pass fromLeftwich(Jenkinskick), 12:48	MU 7–0
UC– McCleskey 2 yard TD run (Ruffin kick), 8:28	Tie 7–7
MU– Safety Owens, 2:35	MU 9–7
2nd Quarter
UC– McCleskey 2 yard TD run (Ruffin kick), 1:44	UC 14–9
3rd Quarter
MU– Leftwich 1 yard TD run (Leftwich pass failed), 12:01	MU 15–14
MU– Wallace 4 yard TD run (Jenkins kick), 7:24	MU 22–14
4th Quarter
MU – Jenkins 25 yard FG, 00:43	MU 25–14