1996 Gator Bowl
Syracuse 41, Clemson 0
Jan. 1, 1996
Jacksonville, Fla.
Syracuse finished the season in grand style, recording the most-lopsided victory in Gator Bowl history defeating Clemson, 41-0. SU scored early and often, taking a 20-0 lead after the first quarter.
Bowl MVP Donovan McNabb threw for three touchdowns and ran for one more. Marvin Harrison, who suffered a broken thumb in the game but continued playing, had seven receptions for 173 yards and two TDs to close out his stellar career.
Several Florida-born players had outstanding performances, led by Jacksonville native Malcolm Thomas, who ran for two scores. Tampa’s Kevin Abrams returned from an elbow injury suffered against Boston College and had two interceptions. Donovin Darius led SU with 10 tackles. Sean Reali set a then-Syracuse record with a 73-yard punt. Every eligible player entered the game for the Orange.Â
The scoring started with a Thomas touchdown run, followed by a McNabb 5-yard TD. The first quarter ended with a 38-yard scoring pass from McNabb to Harrison.Â
The win was SU’s sixth straight bowl victory and ninth overall.
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RUSHING: Syracuse - Thomas 14-71, Downing 6-37, Jones 10-25, Konrad 6-24, R. Johnson 1-6, McNabb 8-5, Morris 1-4, Sparks 2-2, Harrison 1-1. TEAM 1-minus 17. Clemson - Priester 15-36, Smith 6-30, Greene 8-16, Solomon 4-8, Downs 1-0.
PASSING: Syracuse - McNabb 13-23-1-309. Clemson - Greene 9-19-2-63, Solomon 2-4-0-6, Wyatt 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING: Syracuse - Harrison 7-173, Wilson 2-70, Sinceno 2-47, Maddox 1-18, Williams 1-1. Clemson - Wyatt 3-21, Priester 2-16, Horne 1-15, Woods 1-11, Crooks 2-10, Smith 2-minus 4.
Jan. 1, 1996
Jacksonville, Fla.
Syracuse finished the season in grand style, recording the most-lopsided victory in Gator Bowl history defeating Clemson, 41-0. SU scored early and often, taking a 20-0 lead after the first quarter.
Bowl MVP Donovan McNabb threw for three touchdowns and ran for one more. Marvin Harrison, who suffered a broken thumb in the game but continued playing, had seven receptions for 173 yards and two TDs to close out his stellar career.
Several Florida-born players had outstanding performances, led by Jacksonville native Malcolm Thomas, who ran for two scores. Tampa’s Kevin Abrams returned from an elbow injury suffered against Boston College and had two interceptions. Donovin Darius led SU with 10 tackles. Sean Reali set a then-Syracuse record with a 73-yard punt. Every eligible player entered the game for the Orange.Â
The scoring started with a Thomas touchdown run, followed by a McNabb 5-yard TD. The first quarter ended with a 38-yard scoring pass from McNabb to Harrison.Â
The win was SU’s sixth straight bowl victory and ninth overall.
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 Score By Quarter |  1 |  2 |  3 |  4 |  F |
 Syracuse |  20 |  0 |  14 |  7 |  41 |
 Clemson |  0 |  0 |  0 |  0 |  0 |
 Scoring Summary | ||
 Team |  Play |  Score |
 SU |  Thomas 1 run (Mare kick) |  7-0 |
 SU |  McNabb 5 run (kick failed) |  13-0 |
 SU |  Harrison 38 pass from McNabb (Mare kick) |  20-0 |
 SU |  Thomas 2 run (Mare kick) |  27-0 |
 SU |  Harrison 56 pass from McNabb (Mare kick) |  34-0 |
 SU |  Sinceno 15 pass from McNabb (Mare kick) |  41-0 |
 Team Stats |  SU |  CU |
 First Downs |  21 |  12 |
 Rushing Yardage |  158 |  90 |
 Passing Yardage |  309 |  69 |
 Total Offense (Plays-Yds) |  73-467 |  58-159 |
 Passes |  13-23 |  11-24 |
 Passes Had Intercepted |  1 |  2 |
 Punts/Avg. |  4/43.5 |  6/49.3 |
 Punt Returns |  4-24 |  1-4 |
 Kickoff Returns |  1-33 |  5-101 |
 Fumbles-Lost |  1-0 |  1-0 |
 Penalties-Yards |  7-65 |  1-16 |
RUSHING: Syracuse - Thomas 14-71, Downing 6-37, Jones 10-25, Konrad 6-24, R. Johnson 1-6, McNabb 8-5, Morris 1-4, Sparks 2-2, Harrison 1-1. TEAM 1-minus 17. Clemson - Priester 15-36, Smith 6-30, Greene 8-16, Solomon 4-8, Downs 1-0.
PASSING: Syracuse - McNabb 13-23-1-309. Clemson - Greene 9-19-2-63, Solomon 2-4-0-6, Wyatt 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING: Syracuse - Harrison 7-173, Wilson 2-70, Sinceno 2-47, Maddox 1-18, Williams 1-1. Clemson - Wyatt 3-21, Priester 2-16, Horne 1-15, Woods 1-11, Crooks 2-10, Smith 2-minus 4.