bowl bowl post season american college football bowl game jacksonville florida january game final contest ncaa division football season teams ended victory entered game headed star quarterback led regular season record despite injured season entered game regular season record command head coach second year tenure contest featured high scoring offenses emphasized different aspects game aspects exemplified game saw pass yards ran yards tigers jumped early lead maintained game yard touchdown run game opening drive helped expand lead end quarter tigers narrowed tech lead second quarter scored touchdown halftime went second half lead injuries knocked leading running backs game starting quarterback removed game proved ineffective defense despite changes tigers unable reduce lead stood end quarter late touchdown moved tigers touchdowns answered touchdown making final score recognition performance leading team victory named game valuable player final collegiate game months bowl selected overall selection nfl draft handful players participated selected draft team selection college football season bowl right select bowl eligible team bowl game administrators contract include notre dame school met certain entry requirements conference champions guaranteed spot bowl championship series game possibility large selection team conference finished high poll win conference championship virginia tech college football season went undefeated regular season lost offseason following championship game loss tech fans anticipated possible repeat undefeated regular season national championship run annual preseason poll media members covering football picked finish second tech received place votes miami preseason associated_press college football poll 11th games college football season scheduled picked host annual opening game national season picked opponent day game severe lightning storms hit virginia area espn commentator rental car struck lightning game postponed severe weather rescheduled eventually canceled canceled opened regular season win followed win shutout wins early schedule featured wins temple west_virginia syracuse pittsburgh virtue winning games season tech rose national ranking prior facing miami november virginia tech star quarterback suffered severely ankle game pittsburgh strong performing wide receiver temporarily crippled left foot despite injuries commentators predicted high scoring game referred game year predicted winner likely year national championship game injured backup quarterback started game fell quarter desperation tried play despite injury participated plays leaving game good miami quarterback threw long touchdown passes miami won game loss knocked tech contention national championship conference championship miami fellow member fell poll week game week rebounded beating ranked win tech defeated state rival virginia annual battle commonwealth cup loss miami knocked contention championship accompanying automatic bid possibility tech receive large game bid scored high final poll administrators game wanted invite tech considered long shot availability notre dame teams large attract greater television revenue ticket sales officials plans based different possibilities selected bowl notre dame fighting irish play bowl selected pittsburgh given nod bowl december selections announced bowl selected oregon state notre dame instead virginia tech left available bowl picked day entered college football season season year head coach fans college football analysts predicted continue resurgence season year hired pointed undefeated season second year assuming head coaching job sign expect analysts anticipated moderate improvement previous year annual preseason poll media covered football tied second teams far perennial favorite nationally debuted preseason poll preseason coaches poll tigers opened season opponent citadel beat victory followed wins missouri opponent games typical tigers won succession win beat virginia duke maryland north_carolina final win streak starting quarterback replaced backup second quarter injury record national ranking hosted game posted school record offensive effort upset victory tigers took lead remaining game yellow jackets drove yards plays ending handed catch touchdown giving loss season defeat eliminated tigers national championship contention chance win conference championship defeated following week coached father matchup marked second time father son faced opposing head football coaches meeting previous year tommy lost points father meeting dominated start game effort impress voters ran score game ended win gave football championship dropped ranking spot team assured accepted bid november prior annual state rivalry game south_carolina game south_carolina took point lead seconds remaining drove length field kicked field goal time expired giving tigers win end regular season buildup weeks bowl media fan attention focused possible disappointment selected game coaching situations schools issue tech quarterback return year collegiate football matchup announced bowl spread favored win points betting line remained month december game began field incidents involving players team notable event involved backup players indicted money suspended bowl exchange appearing game teams guaranteed split virginia tech disappointment immediately bowl bypassed virginia tech favor lower ranked notre dame protests tech fans opponents system erupted said selection unfair virginia tech pick notre dame interview immediately selection said bid provided motivation win bowl going statement play great game nation said hand enthusiastic bid win game given tigers win season bowl appearance marked continued improvement showing previous year players viewed game reward successful season players perceived point view revenue sharing agreements schools selection resulted payment million selected bowl game instead receiving million revenue agreement bowl tech received million coaching changes endured questions coaching weeks months prior head coach interviewed north_carolina prior end regular season debated accept school head football coaching job november week tech selection announced departing north_carolina school considered vacant head coaching position nfl declined position football coaches targeted teams fill vacant head coaching positions offensive coordinator interviewed job declined position defensive coordinator interviewed head coaching job virginia likewise declined job tech situation reflected offensive coordinator announced leaving team head football coach job competed player 1980s rodriguez participate practices prior coach game replacing rodriguez temporary offensive coordinator joining press box bowl hired new coach effort prevent awarded head coach seven year contract extension worth million annually plus incentives debate regular season constant question hanging football team star quarterback return year school national_football_league requires players years high school eligible nfl draft played freshman year school years high school spring following bowl attempted discussion announced december returning fourth year team late december decision clear left team selected overall pick draft heading bowl decision air offense regular season rushing yards averaging game passing offense somewhat weaker ranked averaging yards game total offense ranked amounts added scoring offense tigers averaged points game good country category offense led quarterback finished regular season having completed percent passes yards touchdowns ran ball extremely successfully gaining yards touchdowns ground running game second yards team running ran times yards touchdowns favorite passing targets caught passes yards touchdowns regular season wide receivers recipients respectively passes caught passes yards touchdowns robinson unrelated baseball player caught passes yards touchdowns offense offense nationally rushing yards averaging game passing offense ranked category averaging yards game regular season combined tech ranked total offense scoring offense found success comparable rushing game averaging points game ranked offense led quarterback carried ball times yards touchdowns despite ankle injury limited mobility final games regular season tech successful running backs carries yards touchdowns regular season rushes yards touchdowns terms touchdowns rushing yards recognition accomplishments given recognizes college football player virginia favorite targets limited tech passing attack wide receiver caught passes yards touchdowns davis limited fact played tech games finished receiver terms tech receiver caught passes yards touchdowns defense defense strongest rush regular season tigers allowed average yards game ground good nationally passing defense nearly successful average tigers allowed yards game air making pass defense best division football regular season categories combined defense ranked terms points allowed tigers ranked giving average yards game team defensive leader tackles team pass forced regular season fellow linebacker team tackles including sacks interception forced pass pass defense tigers highest led team seven pass notable absence tigers defense bowl defensive end led team sacks suffered torn mid december practice backup defensive end missed game injury tore anterior practice defense defense likewise successful opponents rushing offense passing attack tech permitted average yards game ground 16th allowed yards game air total tech ranked defense country slightly better scoring defense allowed points game average good category worse tigers defensive leader team tackles figure included sacks pass forced year starting linebacker team including tackles loss pass recovered free safety year starter defense tech leading performer pass coverage team broke passes forced recovered game summary bowl kicked january jacksonville florida weather partly cloudy degrees percent humidity miles hour wind northwest won traditional coin toss determine possession elected kick begin game quarter fielded opening yard line returned yard line tigers offense performed game offensive play yard scramble subsequent running play incomplete pass caused ball defense tackled tigers yard line tech play turnover quarterback completed yard pass touchdown extra point kick successful lead remaining quarter post touchdown downed yard line tigers began second offensive possession began better tackled yard loss defensive tackle rush gain short pass forced punt gaining second punt kicked returned punt yard line rushes pass yard line tech yard line tigers possession didn produce possessions running play stopped gain sacked loss yards scramble gained yards punt downed tech yard line chance offense play drive yard gain play tech gained run backup running yard line incomplete pass completed yard toss yard penalty gave tech yard line completed yard throw wide receiver followed yard line reverse run johnson picked yards run middle gained yard line rushes failed reach yard line ran yards tech second touchdown game extra point good tech extended lead remaining quarter returned yard line drive began incomplete pass tigers gained game pass wide receiver yard line run gained yards gained run left run ran final seconds clock quarter ended leading second quarter second quarter began possession ball facing yard line tigers gained play quarter yard rush threw incomplete pass ran gain completed long pass gained tech yard line play completed pass ran end zone points game play broke foot kept rest game extra point good tigers narrowed tech lead remaining half post touchdown kick tech yard line broke free defense yard return yard line tech play return yard run right field ran straight ahead short gain yard line gained yards run left field yard line stopped loss yard sacked loss yards play incomplete pass entered game attempt yard field goal kick bounced field goal cross denying points remaining half tech lead following missed field goal offense started yard line play drive completed pass wide receiver ran yards yard line yard pass play followed run middle tech yard line completed yard pass running play stopped short marker faked quarterback sneak order attempt long pass unable pass sacked yard loss attempt field goal punt ball coach team attempt gain forward didn gain yards needed tigers turned ball downs tech yard line tech began drive incomplete pass followed short run prepared throw ball hit defender ball defender recovered loose football returned tech yard line tackled following turnover stopped short run threw incomplete passes attempt convert fourth sent attempt yard field goal kick narrowed lead remaining quarter returned post score tech yard line yard run followed pass davis tech yard line running plays set completed yard pass picked yard line took rushes pass goal line touchdown game extra point good tech extended lead halftime tech post touchdown bounced yard line returned yard line incomplete pass followed pass yard line completed pass yard line incomplete pass yard line completed yard pass robinson time minute remaining tech yard line completed pass tech yard line time seconds remaining threw incomplete pass followed incomplete pass converted pass tech yard line incomplete pass followed second following play seconds left clock coach ordered hunt game attempt yard field goal kick short right turned ball seconds remaining took knee run final seconds clock entered halftime lead quarter received ball begin game received ball begin second half received tech goal line returned yard line started possession second half play committed yard holding penalty gained yards run middle completed pass tight end yard line stopped short marker second time game kick committed yard penalty penalty allowed retain football gave yard line play penalty completed yard pass davis yard line pass ran straight ahead second touchdown game extra point missed tech extended lead remaining quarter recovered kick ran bounds tigers yard line yards linebacker injured play left game delay injured helped field yards gained yard run gained yards run middle followed gain yard run yard line caught yard pass ran yard left field play injured helped field replaced string freshman running threw incomplete pass ball kick bounced chest kick loose ball following turnover offense tech yard line remaining quarter kelly gained yard picked yards run middle field incomplete pass followed run gain incomplete pass facing fourth goal yard line sent field goal tigers called time hunt completed yard field goal attempt cut lead remaining quarter post score fielded yard line returned tech yard line play drive option run broke free defense yard run yard line short rushes followed pass yard line committed yard penalty ran straight ahead touchdown extra point kick good tech took lead left quarter post touchdown returned yard line loose football forward recovered player yard line tigers offense began drive play possession yard pass kelly followed pass kelly gained tech yard line ran straight ahead yards tech yard line incomplete passes completed yard false start penalty yard run followed unsuccessful fourth conversion attempt attempted pass ball intercepted returned ball tech yard line possession ball large lead proceeded start running clock executing running plays halt game clock conclusion incomplete passing plays gained yards run middle tackled loss incomplete pass tech ball downed yard line following punt backup quarterback game play sacked yard loss second play repeat davis sacked time yard loss threw incomplete pass going kick bounced bounds yard line offense returned field play attempted pass end zone throw intercepted defender downed ball end zone interception final play quarter ended virginia tech lead fourth quarter fourth quarter began possession ball starting drive yard line following play drive threw interception virginia tech defender yard line following turnover continued running clock rushing plays middle field short gain followed yard penalty advanced yard line gained run yard line slightly injured attempting pitch ball forward left game replaced backup quarterback tech advanced ball short runs setting fourth seven tech coach called time allowing enter game fourth play incomplete pass tech turned ball downs remaining game following turnover received ball yard line ran ball straight ahead yard gain gained yard run kelly ran yard line completed yard pass tech yard line completed yard pass throwing pass kelly tech yard line incomplete pass followed yard toss pass yard line ran bounds yard loss completed touchdown pass extra point kick good closed lead remaining limited time remaining attempted kick effort retain possession chance scoring deficit kick recovered led tech offense returned field yard line stopped gain run middle threw incomplete pass completed yard pass yard line gained yards run middle advanced ball short marker gained run middle following defender called personal foul ejected game penalty gave virginia tech yard line called yard penalty play consecutive penalties pitched ball ran end zone untouched extra point kick good extended lead remaining game post touchdown returned yard line went threw incomplete passes tigers punt returned tech yard line began possession replaced quarterback position running ran middle field short gain string running gained run middle ward picked run left field play tech committed yard penalty resulting tech proceeded run remaining seconds clock earned victory statistical summary recognition success leading bowl game win virginia tech quarterback named valuable player winning team finished game having completed passes yards touchdown interception ran ball times gain yards touchdown sacked twice resulting loss yards opposite ball wide receiver named mvp losing team caught seven passes yards touchdown game ground nearly margin tech running carried ball times yards touchdowns time touchdowns bowl game record tied bowl record touchdowns player fellow running backs gained yards yards respectively scores marked time players touchdowns bowl game ball pass attempts pass allowed bowl game point tigers air yards performed consistently game completed passes touchdown yards completed passes yards touchdown ground led carries yards carries yards defensively intercepted passes sacked times loss yards tech defense held yards total offense minutes left quarter defense sacked twice total loss yards effects win brought final record loss lowered final record despite win advance polls tech ended year ranked polls remained relatively stationary polls tigers remained associated_press poll dropped coaches poll victory bowl trips loss fifth straight bowl game fourth trips bowl point immediately conclusion asked nbc broadcaster intended return virginia tech year collegiate football responded discuss matters family tech head coach making decision announcement sparked fresh round speculation sports fans wondering choose return school enter nfl draft football coaching staff began intensive lobbying campaign effort convince stay january held press conference announce final years collegiate eligibility enter nfl draft immediately announcement predicted pick draft hypothesis realized april selected traded draft picks order right select nfl draft player bowl final collegiate contest players selected draft defensive selected pick center taken selection nfl draft selection wide receiver taken 15th picked defensive
2001 Gator Bowl