New Year's Eve in Tampa

While I was home for a few weeks from the Peace Corps, my good friend John Simpkins gave me an incredible gift by inviting me to come to Tampa Bay with he and his girlfriend and watch Michigan play Florida in the Outback Bowl.  Not only did he invite me, but he paid for my flight and accommodation, as I was a poor Peace Corps volunteer  We had a great time at the game, and a blast on New Year's eve as well.  It was a great chance to get a little taste of Michigan football, one of the things I missed the most about being away from the United States. 

TAMPA, Fla. -- The University of Michigan football team started the new year with an offensive explosion against No. 22 Florida, claiming a 38-30 victory in the 2003 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. The No. 12-ranked Wolverines (10-3, 6-2 Big Ten) claimed their fourth 10-win season in Lloyd Carr's eight-year tenure as head coach and the 23rd double-digit win season in U-M history.

Junior tailback Chris Perry (Advance, N.C./Fork Union Military, Va.) was named the Outback Bowl Most Valuable Player after setting a bowl game record and a modern era Michigan bowl record with four touchdowns in the game. Perry matched his career high with 28 carries for 85 rushing yards and four TDs, and added a career-best six receptions for 108 yards.