Citrus Bowl

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Citrus Bowl
Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl
BWW Citrus Bowl logo.png
Stadium Camping World Stadium
Location Orlando, Florida
Previous stadiums Florida Field (1973)
Previous locations Gainesville, Florida (1973)
Operated 1947–present
Conference tie-ins Big Ten, SEC
Previous conference tie-ins OVC (1947–1967)
MAC (1968–1975)
SoCon (1968–1972)
SEC (1972–1973)
ACC (1987–1991)
Payout US$4,250,000 (As of 2015)
Sponsors
Florida Citrus Growers Association (1983–2002)
CompUSA (1994–1999)
Ourhouse.com (2000)
Capital One (2001–2014)
Buffalo Wild Wings (2015–2017)
Former names
Tangerine Bowl (1947–1982)
Florida Citrus Bowl (1983–1993)
CompUSA Florida Citrus Bowl (1994–1999)
Ourhouse.com Florida Citrus Bowl (2000)
Capital One Florida Citrus Bowl (2001–2002)
Capital One Bowl (2003–2014)
2016 season matchup
LSU vs. Louisville (LSU 29–9)
2017 season matchup
TBD (January 1, 2018)[1]

The Citrus Bowl, is an annual college football bowl game played at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.[2] It was previously known as the Tangerine Bowl (1947–1982), the Florida Citrus Bowl (1983–2002), the Capital One Bowl (2003–2014) and the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl (2015-2017). The bowl is operated by Florida Citrus Sports, a non-profit group that also organizes the Russell Athletic Bowl and Florida Classic.

Since becoming one of the premier bowls, the Citrus Bowl is typically played at 1 p.m. EST on New Year's Day, immediately before the Rose Bowl, both of which have been televised on ESPN since 2011. When January 1 is a Sunday, the game has been played on January 2 or December 31, to avoid conflicting with the National Football League schedule. As of 2015, at $4.25 million per team,[3] it has the largest payout of all the non-College Football Playoff (CFP) bowls. In nearly every year since 1985, the game has featured two teams ranked in the Top 25.

History[edit]

The game, which began play in 1947, is one of the oldest of the non-CFP bowls, along with the Gator Bowl and Sun Bowl. By 1952, the game was dubbed the "Little Bowl with the Big Heart", because all the proceeds from the game went to charity.

Before 1968, the game featured matchups between schools throughout the South, often featuring the Ohio Valley Conference champion or other small colleges, although a few major colleges did play in the bowl during this early era as well.

From 1964 through 1967, it was one of the four regional finals in the College Division (which became Division II and Division III in 1973), along with the Pecan, Grantland Rice, and Camellia bowls.

In 1968, the Boardwalk Bowl in Atlantic City took over as a regional final, and the Tangerine Bowl became a major college bowl game, featuring teams from the University Division (which became Division I in 1973).

In 1986, it was one of the bowl games considered for the site of the "winner take all" national championship game between Penn State and Miami, before the Fiesta Bowl was eventually chosen.

The 1990 season game had national championship implications; Georgia Tech won the Florida Citrus Bowl, finished 11–0–1, and were voted the 1990 UPI national champion.

The 1997 season game, which featured nearby Florida beating Penn State, holds the game's attendance record at 72,940.

In 2004, the bowl bid to become the fifth BCS game, but was not chosen, primarily due to the stadium's aging condition. In July 2007, the Orange County Commissioners voted in favor of spending $1.1 billion to build the Amway Center for the Orlando Magic, the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, and to upgrade the Citrus Bowl stadium.

Following the 2014 game, Capital One ceased its sponsorship of the bowl, and moved its sponsorship to the Orange Bowl.[4] Buffalo Wild Wings was announced as the new title sponsor of the bowl game in 2014. Buffalo Wild Wings had previously been the title sponsor of what is now the Cactus Bowl.[5] In the offseason of 2017, Buffalo Wild Wings ceased sponsoring the bowl as the search for a new sponsor is ongoing.

The 2016 season game was played on December 31, the first time in 30 years that the game was not played on January 1st or 2nd.

Conference tie-ins[edit]

From 1968 through 1975, the bowl featured the Mid-American Conference (MAC) champion against an opponent from the Southern Conference (1968–1971), the Southeastern Conference (SEC) (1973–1974), or an at-large opponent (1972, 1975). MAC teams were 6–2 during those games.

As the major football conferences relaxed restrictions on post-season play in the mid-1970s, the bowl went to a matchup between two at-large teams from major conferences, with one school typically (but not always) from the South.

From the 1987 season through the 1991 season, the bowl featured the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) champion against an at-large opponent. ACC teams were 3–2 during those games.

From the 1992 season through the 2015 season, the bowl featured an SEC vs. Big Ten matchup – the SEC won 14 of those games, while the Big Ten won 10.

During the 1990s, the second-place finisher in the SEC typically went to this bowl. Florida coach Steve Spurrier, speaking to the fact that Tennessee occupied that spot three of four years as Florida finished first, famously quipped "You can't spell 'Citrus' without U-T!"[6]

Currently, the bowl has tie-ins with the SEC and the Big Ten, holding the first selection after the CFP selection process for both conferences. Since the formation of the CFP, the Citrus Bowl has a chance to occasionally host an ACC team, replacing the Big Ten representative. This will happen the years in which the Orange Bowl is not a CFP semi-final game and selects a Big Ten team to match against their ACC team. This happened 2016, as the Orange Bowl was not a CFP semi-final and invited Michigan of the Big Ten to face Florida State of the ACC; the Citrus Bowl then invited Louisville of the ACC to face LSU of the SEC.[7]

Racial integration[edit]

The undefeated 1955 Hillsdale College football team refused an invitation to the game when bowl officials insisted that Hillsdale's four African-American players would not be allowed to play in the game.[8][9]

The University at Buffalo's first bowl bid was to the Tangerine Bowl in 1958. The Tangerine Bowl Commission hoped that the Orlando High School Athletic Association (OHSAA), which operated the stadium, would waive its rule that prohibited integrated sporting events. When it refused, the team unanimously voted to skip the bowl because its two black players (halfback Willie Evans and end Mike Wilson) would not have been allowed on the field.[10] Buffalo would not be bowl-eligible for another 50 years. During the 2008 season, when the Bulls were on the verge of bowl eligibility, the 1958 team was profiled on ESPN's Outside the Lines.[11][12] The 2008 team went on to win the Mid-American Conference title, and played in the International Bowl.

By 1966, the OHSAA's rule had been changed, and Morgan State of Baltimore, under head coach Earl Banks, became the first historically black college to play in (and win) the Tangerine Bowl.[13]

Gainesville[edit]

In early 1973, construction improvements were planned for the then 17,000-seat Tangerine Bowl stadium to expand to over 51,000 seats. In early summer 1973, however, construction was stalled due to legal concerns, and the improvements were delayed. Late in the 1973 season, Tangerine Bowl President Will Gieger and other officials planned to invite the Miami Redskins and the East Carolina Pirates to Orlando for the game. On November 19, 1973, East Carolina withdrew its interests, and the bowl was left with one at-large bid. In an unexpected and unprecedented move, game officials decided to invite the Florida Gators, and move the game to Florida Field in Gainesville, the Gators' home stadium. The larger stadium would be needed to accommodate the large crowd expected. The move required special permission from the NCAA, and special accommodations were made. Both teams would be headquartered in Orlando for the week, and spend most of their time there, including practices, and would be bused up to Gainesville.

The participants were greeted with an unexpected event, a near-record low temperature of 25 degrees Fahrenheit (-4 degrees Celsius). Despite the home-field advantage, in the game nicknamed the "Transplant Bowl",[14] Miami (OH), who found the cold much more to its liking, defeated the Gators 16–7. One of the players on the victorious Redskins squad was future Gators coach Ron Zook.

The one-time moving of the game, and the fears of a permanent relocation, rejuvenated the stalled stadium renovations in Orlando. The game returned to Orlando for 1974, and within a couple of years, the expansion project was complete.

Mascot Challenge[edit]

The "Capital One Mascot Challenge" (formerly known as the "Capital One National Mascot of the Year") was a contest where fans voted for their favorite college mascot. The contest began in 2002 with the winner being named during the halftime; the winning school was awarded $20,000 towards their mascot program. With the ending of Capital One's sponsorship of the Citrus Bowl, the challenge was moved in 2014 to the Orange Bowl with Capital One's sponsorship of that game.

List of Capital One Mascot Challenge winners 
Season Mascot University
2002 Monte University of Montana
2003 Cocky University of South Carolina
2004 Monte University of Montana
2005 Herbie Husker University of Nebraska–Lincoln
2006 Butch T. Cougar Washington State University
2007 Zippy University of Akron
2008 Cy the Cardinal Iowa State University
2009 The Bearcat University of Cincinnati
2010 Big Blue Old Dominion University
2011 Wolfie Jr. University of Nevada, Reno
2012 Raider Red Texas Tech University
2013 Rocky the Bull University of South Florida
2014 Aubie Auburn University

Game results[edit]

Program cover for 1967 game

Italics denote a tie game.

No. Season Date played Winning team Losing team Notes
1 1946 January 1, 1947 Catawba 31 Maryville 6 notes
2 1947 January 1, 1948 Catawba 7 Marshall 0 notes
3 1948 January 1, 1949 Murray State 21, Sul Ross State 21 notes
4 1949 January 2, 1950 Saint Vincent 7 Emory & Henry 6 notes
5 1950 January 1, 1951 Morris Harvey 35 Emory & Henry 14 notes
6 1951 January 1, 1952 Stetson 35 Arkansas State 20 notes
7 1952 January 1, 1953 East Texas State 33 Tennessee Tech 0 notes
8 1953 January 1, 1954 Arkansas State 7, East Texas State 7 notes
9 1954 January 1, 1955 Omaha 7 Eastern Kentucky 6 notes
10 1955 January 2, 1956 Juniata 6, Missouri Valley 6 notes
Teams competing from both NCAA College & University divisions
11 1956 January 1, 1957 West Texas State 20 Mississippi Southern 13 notes
12 1957 January 1, 1958 East Texas State 10 Mississippi Southern 9 notes
13 1958 December 27, 1958 East Texas State 26 Missouri Valley 7 notes
14 1959 January 1, 1960 Middle Tennessee 21 Presbyterian 12 notes
15 1960 December 30, 1960 The Citadel 27 Tennessee Tech 0 notes
16 1961 December 29, 1961 Lamar 21 Middle Tennessee 14 notes
17 1962 December 22, 1962 Houston 49 Miami (OH) 21 notes
18 1963 December 28, 1963 Western Kentucky 27 Coast Guard 0 notes
NCAA College Division (Small College) East Regional Final
19 1964 December 12, 1964 East Carolina 14 Massachusetts 13 notes
20 1965 December 11, 1965 East Carolina 31 Maine 0 notes
21 1966 December 10, 1966 Morgan State 14 West Chester 6 notes
22 1967 December 16, 1967 Tennessee–Martin 25 West Chester 8 notes
NCAA University Division (Major College)
23 1968 December 27, 1968 Richmond 49 #15 Ohio 42 notes
24 1969 December 26, 1969 #20 Toledo 56 Davidson 33 notes
25 1970 December 28, 1970 #15 Toledo 40 William & Mary 12 notes
26 1971 December 28, 1971 #14 Toledo 28 Richmond 3 notes
27 1972 December 29, 1972 Tampa 21 Kent State 18 notes
NCAA Division I
28 1973 December 22, 1973 #15 Miami (OH) 16 Florida 7 notes
29 1974 December 21, 1974 #15 Miami (OH) 21 Georgia 10 notes
30 1975 December 20, 1975 #12 Miami (OH) 20 South Carolina 7 notes
31 1976 December 18, 1976 #14 Oklahoma State 49 BYU 21 notes
32 1977 December 23, 1977 #19 Florida State 40 Texas Tech 17 notes
NCAA Division I-A
33 1978 December 23, 1978 NC State 30 Pittsburgh 17 notes
34 1979 December 22, 1979 LSU 34 Wake Forest 10 notes
35 1980 December 20, 1980 Florida 35 Maryland 20 notes
36 1981 December 19, 1981 Missouri 19 #18 Southern Miss 17 notes
37 1982 December 18, 1982 #18 Auburn 33 Boston College 26 notes
38 1983 December 17, 1983 Tennessee 30 #16 Maryland 23 notes
39 1984 December 22, 1984 Georgia 17, #15 Florida State 17 notes
40 1985 December 28, 1985 #17 Ohio State 10 #9 BYU 7 notes
41 1986 January 1, 1987 #10 Auburn 16 USC 7 notes
42 1987 January 1, 1988 #14 Clemson 35 #20 Penn State 10 notes
43 1988 January 2, 1989 #9 Clemson 13 #10 Oklahoma 6 notes
44 1989 January 1, 1990 #11 Illinois 31 #16 Virginia 21 notes
45 1990 January 1, 1991 #2 Georgia Tech 45 #19 Nebraska 21 notes
46 1991 January 1, 1992 #14 California 37 #13 Clemson 13 notes
47 1992 January 1, 1993 #8 Georgia 21 #15 Ohio State 14 notes
48 1993 January 1, 1994 #13 Penn State 31 #6 Tennessee 13 notes
49 1994 January 2, 1995 #6 Alabama 24 #13 Ohio State 17 notes
50 1995 January 1, 1996 #3 Tennessee 20 #4 Ohio State 14 notes
51 1996 January 1, 1997 #9 Tennessee 48 #11 Northwestern 28 notes
52 1997 January 1, 1998 #6 Florida 21 #11 Penn State 6 notes
53 1998 January 1, 1999 #15 Michigan 45 #11 Arkansas 31 notes
54 1999 January 1, 2000 #9 Michigan State 37 #10 Florida 34 notes
55 2000 January 1, 2001 #17 Michigan 31 #20 Auburn 28 notes
56 2001 January 1, 2002 #8 Tennessee 45 #17 Michigan 17 notes
57 2002 January 1, 2003 #19 Auburn 13 #10 Penn State 9 notes
58 2003 January 1, 2004 #11 Georgia 34 #12 Purdue 27 (OT) notes
59 2004 January 1, 2005 #11 Iowa 30 #12 LSU 25 notes
60 2005 January 2, 2006 #20 Wisconsin 24 #7 Auburn 10 notes
NCAA Division I FBS
61 2006 January 1, 2007 #5 Wisconsin 17 #13 Arkansas 14 notes
62 2007 January 1, 2008 Michigan 41 #12 Florida 35 notes
63 2008 January 1, 2009 #15 Georgia 24 #18 Michigan State 12 notes
64 2009 January 1, 2010 #11 Penn State 19 #15 LSU 17 notes
65 2010 January 1, 2011 #16 Alabama 49 #9 Michigan State 7 notes
66 2011 January 2, 2012 #9 South Carolina 30 #20 Nebraska 13 notes
67 2012 January 1, 2013 #6 Georgia 45 #23 Nebraska 31 notes
68 2013 January 1, 2014 #9 South Carolina 34 #19 Wisconsin 24 notes
69 2014 January 1, 2015 #16 Missouri 33 #25 Minnesota 17 notes
70 2015 January 1, 2016 #14 Michigan 41 #19 Florida 7 notes
71 2016 December 31, 2016 #20 LSU 29 #13 Louisville 9 notes

Game records[edit]

Note: When there is a tie, the most recent one will be listed.

Team Scoring Records Performance Year
Most points scored (one team) 56, Toledo 1969
Most points scored (both teams) 91, Richmond vs. Ohio 1968
Most points scored (losing team) 42, Ohio 1968
Fewest points scored (winning team) 7, Omaha (tied with 2 others) 1955
Fewest points scored (both teams) 7, Catawba vs. Marshall 1948
Fewest points allowed 0, East Carolina (tied with 4 others) 1965
Largest margin of victory 42, Alabama 2011

MVPs[edit]

Multiple players were recognized in some games – detail, where known, is denoted with B (outstanding back), L (outstanding lineman), O (outstanding offensive player), D (outstanding defensive player), or M (overall MVP) per contemporary newspaper reports.

Three players have been recognized in multiple games; Chuck Ealey of Toledo (1969, 1970, 1971), Brad Cousino of Miami (OH) (1973, 1974), and Anthony Thomas of Michigan (1999, 2001).

Most appearances[edit]

Only teams with at least three appearances are listed.

Rank Team Appearances Record
T1 Georgia 6 4–1–1
T1 Florida 6 2–4
T3 Tennessee 5 4–1
T3 Michigan 5 4–1
T3 Auburn 5 3–2
T3 Penn State 5 2–3
T7 East Texas State 4 3–0–1
T7 Miami (OH) 4 3–1
T7 LSU 4 2–2
T7 Ohio State 4 1–3
T11 Toledo 3 3–0
T11 Clemson 3 2–1
T11 South Carolina 3 2–1
T11 Wisconsin 3 2–1
T11 Michigan State 3 1–2
T11 Nebraska 3 0–3
T11 Southern Missdagger 3 0–3

daggerIncludes two Southern Miss appearances under their former name, Mississippi Southern.

Wins by conference[edit]

Reflects games played since 1968, when the bowl started hosting major college teams.

Conference Appearances Wins Losses Ties Pct.
SEC 33 20 12 1 .621
Big Ten 26 12 14 0 .462
MAC 8 6 2 0 .750
ACC 11 4 6 1 .409
Big Eight 4 2 2 0 .500
Independent 7 1 6 0 .143
Southern 4 1 3 0 .250
Pac-10 2 1 1 0 .500
SWC 1 1 0 0 1.000
WAC 2 0 2 0 .000

Records are based on a team's conference affiliation at the time the game was played.
For example, Penn State has appeared both as a Big Ten team and as an Independent team.

Broadcasting[edit]

ABC televised the game from 1987 to 2010, with NBC airing it in 1984–85 and the syndicated Mizlou Television Network doing so prior to 1984. In March 2010, ESPN announced extensions to their television contracts with the Capital One Bowl and the Outback Bowl, along with a new contract with the Gator Bowl.[15] The contract for the now Citrus Bowl is through 2018. Under these new agreements, ESPN will broadcast all three games on either ABC, ESPN, or ESPN2.

Radio broadcast rights for the game are currently held by ESPN Radio. Sports USA Radio held the rights from 2003–2010.

Television[edit]

Date Network Play-by-play announcers Color commentators Sideline reporters
December 31, 2016 ABC Dave Pasch Greg McElroy Tom Luginbill
January 1, 2016 ABC Mike Patrick Ed Cunningham Jerry Punch
January 1, 2015 ABC Mike Patrick Ed Cunningham Jeannine Edwards
January 1, 2014 ABC Dave Pasch Brian Griese Tom Luginbill
January 1, 2013 ABC Rece Davis Jesse Palmer and David Pollack Samantha Ponder
January 2, 2012 ESPN Joe Tessitore Rod Gilmore Quint Kessenich
January 1, 2011 ESPN Brad Nessler Todd Blackledge Holly Rowe
January 1, 2010 ABC[16] Brad Nessler Todd Blackledge Erin Andrews
January 1, 2009 ABC Mike Patrick Todd Blackledge Holly Rowe
January 1, 2008 ABC Mike Patrick Todd Blackledge Holly Rowe
January 1, 2007 ABC Brad Nessler Bob Griese and Paul Maguire Erin Andrews
January 2, 2006[17] ABC Ron Franklin Bob Davie Holly Rowe
January 1, 2005[18] ABC Gary Thorne Ed Cunningham Jerry Punch
January 1, 2004[19] ABC Gary Thorne David Norrie Jerry Punch
January 1, 2003 ABC Sean McDonough David Norrie
January 1, 2002 ABC Sean McDonough Ed Cunningham
January 1, 2001 ABC Sean Grande David Norrie Chip Tarkenton
January 1, 2000[20] ABC Brent Musburger Gary Danielson Jack Arute
January 1, 1999 ABC[21] Terry Gannon Tim Brant Dean Blevins
January 1, 1998 ABC Brad Nessler Gary Danielson Dean Blevins
January 1, 1997 ABC Mark Jones John Spagnola
January 1, 1995 ABC Mark Jones Tim Brant
January 2, 1994 ABC Mark Jones Tim Brant John Spagnola
January 1, 1993 ABC Roger Twibell Tim Brant
January 1, 1992 ABC Brent Musburger Dick Vermeil
January 1, 1991 ABC Brent Musburger Dick Vermeil Mark Jones and Cheryl Miller
January 1, 1990 ABC Gary Bender Dick Vermeil
January 1, 1989 ABC Gary Bender Dick Vermeil Becky Dixon
January 2, 1988 ABC Gary Bender Lynn Swann Steve Alvarez
January 1, 1987 ABC Frank Gifford Lynn Swann Mike Adamle
December 28, 1985 NBC Jay Randolph Dave Rowe Tom Hammond
December 22, 1984 NBC Don Criqui Bob Trumpy
December 18, 1982 Mizlou Howard David Danny Abramowicz Steve Grad and Mike Hogewood

Radio[edit]

Date Network Play-by-play announcers Color commentators Sideline reporters
December 31, 2016 ESPN Radio Jason Benetti Kelly Stouffer Paul Carcaterra
January 1, 2016 ESPN Radio Beth Mowins Anthony Becht Paul Carcaterra
January 1, 2015 ESPN Radio Dave Lamont Tom Ramsey
January 1, 2014 ESPN Radio Dave Lamont Ray Bentley Ian Fitzsimmons
January 1, 2013 ESPN Radio Dave Lamont Kelly Stouffer Brett McMurphy
January 2, 2012 ESPN Radio Dave Lamont Ray Bentley

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "CITRUS BOWL RETURNS TO NEW YEAR’S DAY IN 2017-18". buffalowildwingscitrusbowl.com. Retrieved May 16, 2017. 
  2. ^ "Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl > Home". buffalowildwingscitrusbowl.com. 
  3. ^ "College Bowl Game Payouts". Statistic Brain. 
  4. ^ "Capital One to sponsor Orange Bowl". SI.com. 
  5. ^ Repchak, Matt (21 October 2014). "Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl begins new era for Orlando's New Year's Day game". Florida Citrus Sports. Retrieved 21 October 2014. 
  6. ^ Fuhrmeister, Chris (October 18, 2013). "The 14 best Steve Spurrier quotes of now and then". SB Nation. Retrieved March 6, 2017. 
  7. ^ Whaley, Anson (December 4, 2016). "Sorting out the ACC Bowl slotting mess, Pitt missed good chance to slide into elite bowl game". SB Nation. Retrieved March 6, 2017 – via cardiachill.com. 
  8. ^ "1955 Football Team". hillsdalechargers.com. Retrieved March 3, 2017. 
  9. ^ Cramer, Dick (December 2, 1955). "Better Kind Of Glory". The Michigan Daily. Ann Arbor, Michigan. p. 4. Retrieved March 3, 2017 – via The Michigan Daily Digital Archives. 
  10. ^ "Race Bias Makes Lemon Of Tangerine Bowl Bid". New York Age. New York City. December 6, 1958. Retrieved March 3, 2017 – via newspapers.com. 
  11. ^ Neal, Eric (2008). "All Or Nothing". ESPN. Retrieved November 20, 2008. 
  12. ^ "1958 Buffalo Football". hobbsbrother4. February 18, 2010. Retrieved March 3, 2017 – via YouTube. 
  13. ^ Schmuck, Peter (December 25, 2015). "1966 Morgan State bowl team that broke barriers to be honored". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved March 1, 2017. 
  14. ^ Clark, Bill (December 22, 1973). "Temp Takes Miami Bounce So Put On The Woolies". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved March 7, 2017 – via newspapers.com. 
  15. ^ "ESPN Signs Deal with Gator Bowl, Extends Agreements with Capital One Bowl and Outback Bowl; All Three Games to be Televised on New Year's Day". ESPN. Retrieved 24 December 2012. 
  16. ^ [1] Archived December 12, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
  17. ^ "AuburnTigers.com – Official Athletics Site of the Auburn Tigers – Auburn University". cstv.com. 
  18. ^ "Breaking News – ABC Sports Announces Its Post-Season Broadcast Team – TheFutonCritic.com". thefutoncritic.com. 
  19. ^ [2] Archived April 25, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
  20. ^ [3] Archived January 11, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
  21. ^ [4] Archived July 13, 2015, at the Wayback Machine.

Additional sources[edit]

  • Orlando Sentinel-Star (November 20, 1973); Various articles- Accessed via microfilm 01-03-2007.

External links[edit]