Tampa Bay Football History Network

1999 Outback Bowl

The Outback Bowl moved to a new venue for 1999. The Penn State Nittany Lions and Kentucky Wildcats accepted invitations to play in the first college bowl game at Raymond James Stadium. For number twenty-two ranked PSU (8-3), it was the second trip to the Outback Bowl. KU (7-4) was making its first appearance in the game and a large contingent of Kentucky fans gave the Outback Bowl its first sellout with a crowd of 66,005.

Penn State made its twenty-ninth bowl trip under head coach Joe Paterno, which tied him with Paul "Bear" Bryant for most bowl games. It was the school's thirty-fourth bowl trip overall and eighth straight on New Year's Day. Kentucky appeared in its ninth bowl game and the school's first since 1993. Head Coach Hal Mumme brought Kentucky to a New Year's Day game for the first time since Bear Bryant took them to the 1952 Cotton Bowl. It was the fifth meeting between the two schools, but the first since 1978.

Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch passed for what was an Outback record 336 yards and complied a then record 344 yards of total offensive. Couch (30 of 48 with 2 TDs and 2 INTs) threw two early touchdown passes and the Wildcats lead 14-3 after the first quarter. The momentum changed when cornerback Anthony King intercepted Couch twice in the second quarter. Penn State's Eric McCoo ran for 105 yards, place kicker Travis Forney hit a record four field goals, and the Nittany Lions sacked the QB five times. Kentucky's Craig Yeast did have a record 67 yard kickoff return, but fourteen Wildcat penalties helped Penn State scored 23 unanswered points in a 26-14 victory. PSU defensive end Courtney Brown, who recorded seven tackles and two sacks, was named the game's MVP.

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