 Backing up Thomas was Tommy Edwards, son of former Virginia Tech player Ken Edwards, who played with the Hokies from 1967 to 1969, including the Hokies' trip to the 1968 Liberty Bowl.By participating in the Gator Bowl and in the previous season's Independence Bowl, the Edwardses became the first father-son combo in Virginia Tech history to have competed in a bowl game.At the beginning of December, Virginia Tech's offensive preparations for the Gator Bowl were disrupted when offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill abruptly quit the team in order to join friend Nick Saban, who had been hired as the head coach at Michigan State.