{{short description|American college football game}} {{Use American English|date=December 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox NCAA football yearly game |game_name=Gator Bowl |year_game_played=1953 |subheader= |football_season=1952 |date_game_played=January 1 |stadium=Gator Bowl |city=Jacksonville, Florida |visitor_name_short=Tulsa |visitor_nickname=Golden Hurricane |visitor_record=8–1–1 |visitor_rank_AP=12 |visitor_rank_coaches=NR |visitor_coach=Buddy Brothers |visitor_conference=MVC |visitor_1q=0 |visitor_2q=0 |visitor_3q=7 |visitor_4q=6 |home_name_short=Florida |home_nickname=Gators |home_record=7–3 |home_coach=Bob Woodruff |home_conference=SEC |home_rank_AP=15 |home_rank_coaches=NR |home_1q=7 |home_2q=7 |home_3q=0 |home_4q=0 |referee= Ronald Gibbs (MVC;<br>split crew: MVC, SEC) |attendance=30,015 <small>(26,500 paid)</small><ref name=Turner>John H. Turner, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world-gators-weather-hurricane-tou/156187616/ "Gators Weather Hurricane Touchdowns in Second Half, Salvage 14–13 Bowl Victory,"] ''Tulsa World,'' Jan. 2, 1953, pp. 1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world-florida-defeats-hurricane-1/156187435/ 44].</ref> |payout= |MVP=RB John Hall (Florida)<br> T Marv Matuszak (Tulsa) |different_previous=1952 |different_next=1954 }} The '''1953 Gator Bowl''' was a post-season college football bowl game between the Tulsa Golden Hurricane of the Missouri Valley Conference and the Florida Gators representing the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Florida defeated Tulsa, 14–13.<ref name="angelfire">{{cite web|url=https://www.angelfire.com/ga/GoGators/bowl1953.html|title=MGGC Online|publisher=Angelfire|access-date=2015-10-01}}</ref> This was the Gators' first appearance in an NCAA-sanctioned bowl game.
==Game summary== An extra point by Rick Casares proved to be the difference. Florida outrushed the Golden Hurricane 233 to 182, while Tulsa outpassed the Gators 132 to 101. The Golden Hurricane turned the ball over twice, while Florida committed five turnovers. This was the first Gator Bowl in which more than one player was awarded MVP honors, a practice that continued until 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.taxslayerbowl.com/wp-content/uploads/boxscores/8thBoxScores.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-12-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905201220/http://www.taxslayerbowl.com/wp-content/uploads/boxscores/8thBoxScores.pdf |archive-date=2015-09-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The attendance for the game was 30,015.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ponca-city-news-missed-conversion-ni/132908389/|work=The Ponca City News|title=Missed conversion nips Tulsa, 14–13|date=January 2, 1953|accessdate=October 4, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
===Scoring summary=== *Florida - Rick Casares, 2-yard touchdown run (Casares kick) *Florida - J. Hall, 37-yard touchdown pass from Fred Robinson (Casares kick) *Tulsa - J. C. Roberts. 3-yard touchdown run (Tom Miner kick) *Tulsa - Howard Waugh, 2-yard touchdown run (kick failed)
===Game statistics===
*'''First Downs''' — Florida 20, Tulsa 17 *'''Yards Rushing''' — Florida 233, Tulsa 182 *'''Yards Passing''' — Florida 101, Tulsa 132 *'''Passing Completions-Attempts''' — Florida 7–11; Tulsa 10–16 *'''Penalty Yards''' — Florida 34, Tulsa 84 *'''Turnovers''' — Florida 5, Tulsa 2 *'''Punts''' — Florida 1, Tulsa 4
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{1952 bowl game navbox}} {{Gator Bowl navbox}} {{Tulsa Golden Hurricane bowl game navbox}} {{Florida Gators bowl game navbox}}
Gator Bowl Category:Gator Bowl Category:Tulsa Golden Hurricane football bowl games Category:Florida Gators football bowl games Category:20th century in Jacksonville, Florida Category:January 1953 sports events in the United States Gator Bowl