Head Coach: Jim Donnan
Final Record: Overall: 8-4; SEC: 5-3
Team Captains:
Quincy Carter
Jonas Jennings
Brett Millican
Richard Seymour
Marcus Stroud

'Dogs Win Fourth Consecutive Bowl Game; Richt Replaces Donnan At Helm

Georgia made its first appearance ever in the Jeep Oahu Bowl in Honolulu on Christmas Eve and dominated Virginia, 37-14, to win its fourth consecutive bowl game--a school record. It also marked the first time since 1980-83 Georgia had been ranked in the top 20 four consecutive years in the final national polls.

However, the winds of change had already blown earlier in December when head coach Jim Donnan had been relieved of his duties.

On December 26, FSU offensive coordinator Mark Richt was named head coach of the Bulldogs. His credentials are impressive having worked at FSU for 15 seaons--the last seven heading up the nation's top offense of the 1990's.

Georgia's Attendance Ranks Seventh Nationally

The University of Georgia's 2000 football home-game attendance average of 84,487 ranks seventh nationally according to figures released by the NCAA.

It marks the 20th consecutive year that Georgia has finished in the nation's top ten in average home attendance and the 16th time in the last 20 years the Bulldogs have finished in the top seven nationally.

Bulldogs In the 2000 Rankings

Date -- AP -- Coaches
Preseason -- 10   11
Aug. 27 -- 10   11
Sept. 3 -- 9    10
Sept. 10 -- 23     22
Sept. 17 -- 24    24
Sept. 24 -- 25   24
Oct. 1 -- 19   19
Oct. 8 -- 14   13
Oct. 15 -- 12    12
Oct. 22 -- 13    12
Oct. 29 -- 17    17
Nov. 5 -- 14     13
Nov. 12 -- 22   21    
Nov. 19 -- 19   18
Nov. 26 -- 24   24
Dec. 3 -- 24     24  
Final -- 20    17

Edwards Named MVP in Bulldogs' Victory in Jeep O'ahu Bowl

Honolulu, Hawaii -- The 24th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs (8-4) defeated the Virginia Cavaliers 34-17 in the 2000 Jeep O'ahu Bowl in front of an Aloha Stadium crowd of 24,187 and an ESPN national television audience on Christmas Eve. The Bulldogs were led by sophomore receiver Terrence Edwards (pictured), who was named the game's Most Valuable Player.

Georgia jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter. The Bulldogs got on the board with a 35-yard field goal by freshman kicker Billy Bennett. On the Bulldogs' next series, one play after a successful fake punt, Edwards scampered 40 yards into the end zone on a reverse to give Georgia a 10-0 lead. On Virginia's next possession, junior running back Tyree Foreman was hit by freshman cornerback Dantra Clements, who caused a fumble that was recovered by freshman safety Kentrell Curry in the end zone for the 17-0 lead.

Virginia got on the board on its next possession, going 97 yards on five plays, capped by a 14-yard touchdown run by senior receiver Demetrius Dotson to bring the score to 17-7. Georgia answered on its next possession with a four-play, 80-yard scoring drive keyed by a 57-yard run by Edwards and capped by a three-yard touchdown run by senior running back Verron Haynes, increasing the Bulldogs' lead to 24-7.

The Cavaliers pulled within 24-14 in the third quarter as senior linebacker Byron Thweatt returned a Georgia fumble 58 yards, but that was as close as Virginia would get. Georgia added two more touchdowns for the final margin, a 21-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Cory Phillips to freshman receiver Damien Gary and a four-yard fumble return by sophomore safety Cap Burnett after senior linebacker Kendrell Bell knocked the ball loose.

Edwards led the Bulldogs in both receiving and rushing with eight catches for 79 yards and five rushes for 97 yards and one touchdown.

Worth Noting...

  • With the win, Georgia compiled four consecutuve seasons with eight wins or more for the second time in school history and won four straight bowl games for the first time in school history.
  • The 37 points scored by the Bulldogs was the second-most points scored in a bowl by Georgia. The Bullodgs scored 40 points in the 1942 Orange Bowl.
  • Jim Donnan, coaching in his final game at Georgia, finished with a 40-19 record in five seasons with the Bulldogs.

Georgia 17 7 0 13 37
Virginia 0 7 7 0 14
GA- Bennett 35-yard field goal, 1st Q 4:30
GA- Edwards 40-yard run (Bennett kick), 1st Q 1:12
GA- Curry 0-yard fumble recovery (Bennett kick), 1st Q 0:51
UVA- Dotson 14-yard run (Greene kick), 2nd Q 14:15
GA- Haynes 3-yard run, 2nd Q 13:08
UVA- Thweatt 58-yard fumble recovery (Greene kick), 3rd Q 4:46
GA- Gary 21-yard pass from C. Phillips (Bennett kick), 4th Q 13:13
GA- Burnett 4-yard fumble recovery (Bennett kick failed), 4th Q 12:57