1942 Orange Bowl
The 2021 Orange Bowl marks the 80th anniversary of the University of Georgia’s first appearance in that game. The Jan. 1, 1942 Orange Bowl also was the university’s very first bowl game.
UGA defeated Texas Christian University by a final score of 40-26, led by Coach Wallace Butts. Halfback Frank Sinkwich factored prominently in the game with three touchdown passes and one rushing touchdown for a combined total of 355 yards (rushing and passing). He set what was then the Orange Bowl total offense record (a record which stood for decades) with 22 rushes for 139 yards and 9 of 13 passing for 240 yards, playing with a broken jaw that required a special helmet pad. Sinkwich, who also joined the United States Marine Corps, would go on the win the 1942 Heisman Trophy and lead UGA to a Rose Bowl victory in 1943 and a national championship. He accepted the Heisman Trophy while wearing his Marine Corps uniform.
1949 Orange Bowl
UGA played in the Orange Bowl again on Jan. 1, 1949, but lost the Texas Longhorns by a final score of 41-28. Texas was led by their star back Tom Landry, who would go on to coach the Dallas Cowboys for three decades and win two Super Bowls.
1960 Orange Bowl
UGA’s last appearance at the Orange Bowl came on Jan. 1, 1960. The Bulldogs defeated the Missouri Tigers by a final score of 14-0, led by quarterback Fran Tarkenton, who threw 9 of 16 passes for 131 yards. This was UGA’s first bowl appearance since 1950.
