| 1998 Culligan Holiday Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date | December 30, 1998 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Season | 1998 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stadium | Qualcomm Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | San Diego, California | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MVP | Offensive: Keith Smith, Arizona Defensive: Mike Rucker, Nebraska | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Referee | Rogers Redding (SEC) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Halftime show | Marching bands | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 65,354[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Payout | US$1,800,968 per team[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States TV coverage | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Network | ESPN | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Announcers | Mike Tirico (Play by Play) Todd Blackledge (Analyst) Dr. Jerry Punch (Sideline) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 1998 Holiday Bowl was a college football bowl game played December 30, 1998 in San Diego, California. It was part of the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season. It featured the Arizona Wildcats, and the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Arizona scored the first points of the game with a 38-yard field goal from Mark McDonald opening up a 3–0 lead. They increased that to 6–0, following a 25-yard McDonald field goal, to close the first quarter scoring. In the third quarter, McDonald added his third field goal of the game, a 48-yarder, giving Arizona a 9–0 lead. Nebraska got on the board following a 25-yard field goal from Kris Brown, making it 9–3.
Nebraska quarterback Eric Crouch threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Shevin Wiggins to give Nebraska a 10-9 second quarter lead. Kris Brown added a 23-yard field goal before halftime to give Nebraska a 13-9 halftime lead.
After a third quarter, Arizona quarterback Keith Smith threw a 16-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Brad Brennan, and Arizona reclaimed a 16–13 lead. Eric Crouch threw his second touchdown pass of the game, to tight end Tracey Wistrom and Nebraska claimed a 20–16 lead. Running back Kelvin Eafon scored on a 1-yard touchdown run for Arizona, and Arizona got the final 23-20 margin of victory.[2]
Nebraska continued their bowl streak, while Arizona did not return to a bowl game again until 2008. The following year, Arizona and Nebraska would have a rematch against each other in the Holiday Bowl.