bowl bowl post season american college football bowl game stadium jacksonville florida january game final contest ncaa division football season teams ended victory selected play bowl regular season record despite having played jacksonville end previous year selection virginia tech syracuse orange despite losing head head syracuse having better conference overall records controversial failed win share title time joining league played games held point selected opponent bowl kicked january jacksonville florida exactly year played game game early going promising defense minded quarter tech held florida state scoreless despite managing single field goal offense second quarter began find gaps defense scored points halftime held lead quarter tech struck scored points quarter managed field goal american suffered season ending injury game season freshman carried offense season continued perform post season bowl game yard run jones yard pass tech took lead going fourth quarter lead quickly yard catch run added points long touchdown pass went win game team selection start college football season held contracts big east conference notre dame allowing committee select notre dame team conferences fill available slots according contract committee selection teams conferences conferences champions given automatic bids bowl championship series game according contract allowed select bowl eligible team long wins second place team conference clause generated controversy record received bowl spot instead syracuse record syracuse fans coaches players protested selection place ahead second place syracuse representing conference finished second conference record entered college football season loss oklahoma national championship game loss second season finished record despite appearance previous year national championship game ranked team country usa_today college football preseason poll record games joining conference favored win faced challenges replacing winning quarterback starters previous year team adding challenges season loss starting wide receivers suffered season ending injuries game season bad preseason discarded games season win duke victory alabama birmingham game season suffered worst defeat history play member loss north_carolina florida state recovered loss beating lost miami following week wins followed loss miami losses followed brief winning streak rival state rival florida loss home defeat hands opponent dropped contention championship following loss florida accepted bid final game win opponent effect improve regular season record began prepare bowl virginia tech began season having gone previous season ending victory bowl fans hopes new season high previous year star quarterback selected pick nfl draft questions team cope loss important players despite fears began season ranked coaches poll picked annual poll media covering finish second conference opening game season defeated connecticut lost starting running tore anterior game absence affect game defeated western michigan continued winning streak virginia tech games season heading conference contest syracuse record ranked country october game home winning streak defeating lane stadium loss syracuse followed pittsburgh following week twin losses effectively knocked tech contention championship games place miami tech won games season miami remained undefeated matchup miami played conference title implications miami game accepted bid pick teams bowl championship series gave automatic bid champion miami defeated tech final regular season game teams began preparations bowl controversy selection bowl controversy losses pushed place conference miami earned automatic bid national championship game syracuse lost game instead attending syracuse earned bid insight bowl considered prestigious game lesser shorter history syracuse fans coaches players offended virginia tech awarded bid despite syracuse better record tech reputation bringing large numbers fans bowl games wake tech selection syracuse athletic director vowed lobby changes way bowl selection buildup matchup 31st game teams met time held advantage wins record heading bowl spread predicted reversal trend virginia tech favored win points reflective overall feeling hadn finished place joining league participate national championship game time years decline stature fact game rematch national championship game received coverage ticket sales game relatively rapid sold entire initial tickets fans purchased approximately tickets total ticket sales neared mark tech sales increased officials requested initial days later tickets sold expectations game growing demand tickets demonstrated incident nearly access passes game stolen transit printer causing police search offense conclusion regular season ranked total offense averaging yards game rushing offense ranked yards game passing offense scoring offense averaging points game average field offense led quarterback rating seventh highest country completed pass attempts yards touchdowns setting record total offense freshman recognition achievement named preferred passing target wide receiver led team catching passes yards seven touchdowns fellow wide receiver walker touchdowns catching season history point ground offense led running finished regular season yards rushing touchdowns rushing game assisted mobility gained yards regular season team rushing yards kicking game run successfully kicked field goals extra points season total points offense offense slightly worse national average regular season ranked total offense averaging yards game particular tech passing offense lacking segment offense ranked averaging yards figure somewhat balanced rushing attack ranked despite worse average totals tech ranked scoring offense points game prior bowl announced virginia tech offensive coordinator leaving team position despite confirmed coach bowl game act coach field led quarterback completed pass attempts passing yards touchdowns favorite passing target caught passes yards seven touchdowns recognition success davis named team selection set single season receiving records catching passes yards touchdowns school records despite numbers offense gained ground beginning season running leader rushing offense set records career rushing touchdowns career touchdowns suffering season ending injury game connecticut following injury role taken freshman running set tech freshman running record accumulating yards figure fifth named rookie year american defense defense ranked country conclusion regular season allowed yards game average state rushing defense ranked passing defense ranked defensive squad led middle linebacker tackles regular season team defensive tackle standout performer leading team tackles loss setting single season single game records category defense regular season defense second best country allowing yards game defensive statistical category worse ranking came punt return defense tech allowed yards return rushing defense passing defense defensively led linebacker tackles team named award given annually best linebacker country free safety team accumulating tackles unexpectedly linebacker diagnosed syndrome hospitalized prior game game summary bowl kicked est january stadium jacksonville florida person attendance announced television broadcast earned nielsen rating bowl new year day bowl game ratings increase previous year broadcast provided nbc country music artist performed song god usa prior game sang traditional pre game national anthem weather sunny variable winds miles hour temperature humidity percent referee exchange playing game teams split won traditional pre game coin toss determine possession elected kick begin state quarter fielded near florida state yard line returned yards state yard line play game long pass quarterback throw caught second play sacked loss yards pass incomplete returned kick territory offense began tech possession game state yard line play yard pass quarterback tight end long florida state yard line running gained yards run middle field jones gained yards play sacked loss yards jones regained lost unable pick facing fourth tech sent attempt yard field goal kick successful remaining quarter took lead post score downed end zone second possession game began yard line running gained yards second pass gained yards game unable gain second time game return yards violating halo rule required yards player catching ball nearest defender rule rescinded second drive game started yard line penalty jones stopped little gain plays drive completed long pass wide receiver defenders advanced ball florida state yard line gain yards running plays long play gained little tech appeared gain touchdown passing play wide receiver play tech offensive committed holding penalty score yard penalty ball loose ball recovered state yard line tech denied chance score state play turnover sacked yard loss play virginia tech defender jumped pass intercepted green returned ball state yard line offense started drive inside territory play drive tech attempted reverse pass ball fell incomplete subsequent plays stopped gain tech time game kick stopped state yard line remaining quarter state pinned deep half field running play gained yards state earned yard line seven yard pass ball recovered sacked tech defense state yard line long rushing plays lost state earned yard line completed yard pass tech yard line final seconds quarter attempted touchdown pass ball fell incomplete quarter led second quarter second quarter began facing yard line play quarter resulted virginia tech sack game tackled long loss sack pushed field goal range ball bounced bounds tech yard line began possession second quarter running play stopped gain completed yard pass yard line tech play threw incomplete pass pushed yards false start penalty run yard holding penalty tech unable gain penalties remaining half returned kick yard line began possession second quarter running play stopped gain gained short pass short run yard holding penalty yards completed yard pass yard line gained yards scramble threw incomplete passes ball rolled end zone tech offense began drive yard line remaining quarter incomplete passes yard run later tech prepared punt ball away kick defense broke offensive line blocked kick ball rolled inside yard line offense took play block goal line game touchdown extra point attempt success remaining half took lead post score returned tech yard line began drive rushing plays resulted yard line unable enter half field incomplete passes running play resulted loss offense returned game yard line following kick remaining half play drive completed yard pass play advanced ball yards running play tech yard line stopped gain endured sack committed yard false start penalty pushed tech yard line unable elected try long field goal kick florida state entered game attempt yard kick kick successful remaining half extended lead virginia tech went proceeded run remaining seconds clock half ended leading quarter received ball begin game received ball begin second half returned yard line offense possession second half jones rushed yards completed pass florida state yard line sacked regained lost earned completed pass yard line tech rushes advanced ball yard line earned plays later jones goal line tech touchdown game extra point kick good tech tied score remaining quarter received tech returned yard line incomplete pass defense caught resulting yard gain florida state short run penalty gained play ball loose ball recovered defense began second possession second half state yard line tech unable capitalize field position threw incomplete pass sacked threw pass loss tech ball downed florida state yard line second possession second half began success possession state gained running plays completed yard pass yard line advanced ball short ground gains plays completed yard pass bell following pass tech yard line short gains incomplete pass failed gain state head coach ordered game attempt yard field goal kick attempt successful gave florida state lead remaining quarter following yard return offense began work yard line second play drive completed yard pass ran end zone second touchdown game extra point kick good regained lead seconds remaining quarter kicked ball returned kick yards yard line gained yards rushing plays time ran quarter ended leading fourth quarter fourth quarter began possession ball facing yards play quarter hit virginia tech defender released yard pass walker ran end zone touchdown extra point try good regained lead remaining game post score sailed end zone tech offense began drive quarter yard line tech play quarter yard completed pass followed yard run jones incomplete pass ran state yard line inside territory gaining ground difficult plays tech yards setting critical fourth play outside field goal range trailing needed potential scoring range fourth jones stopped gain running play turned ball downs play later cited game turning point turnover received ball yard line lead remaining game play turnover completed yard pass walker tech yard line plays followed yards sent game attempt yard field goal kick goal posts extending lead remaining game fielded inside yard line returned tech yard line tech gained yards running plays completed yard pass davis tech yard line jones carried ball gaining tech yard line completed pass short run jones resulted time yard line committed yard penalty unable gain field attempt convert fourth ball kick downed state yard line remaining game play drive jones gained yards yard line followed yard run jones tech yard line runs jones gained yards attempt field goal ordered offense attempt convert quarterback sneak resulted gain state drive continued play conversion completed yard pass walker touchdown score subsequent extra point gave state lead remaining game returned yard line incomplete pass gained yard line short pass sacked successive plays second sack florida state collided helmet twisting knee following injury tech sent backup quarterback attempt long pass pass intercepted seconds remaining game following interception ran clock secured win statistical summary recognition performances game receiver named valuable player winning team wide receiver named valuable player losing team walker finished game receiving yards average yards half field reception opposite ball davis caught passes yards average yards catch teams benefited receivers success opposing defenses florida state quarterback completed pass attempts touchdowns yards interception ran ball times game lost total yards positive rushes resulted rushing touchdown despite score game marked time season held negative rushing quarterback completed pass attempts yards touchdown backup quarterback threw interception pass attempt game wide receiver trick pass attempt fell incomplete ground running led players carries yards virginia tech running second overall rushing having carried ball times yards touchdown defensively tackles loss causing yards offense tackles loss encompassing yards loss tackles loss sacks tackles loss sacks successful field goals tied bowl record passing yards sixth recorded bowl history point receiving yards second recorded bowl yard pass walker longest bowl history opposite ball davis receiving yards ninth recorded bowl history yard reception ninth longest bowl history receivers totals bowl game records case receiving yards gained single player receiving yards allowed single player effects victory raised final record loss brought final record following loss record bowl games including bowl bowl games head coach victory gave head coach win career tying second overall division career wins list nfl draft strong performance college bowl players team selected play national_football_league nfl draft players selected led wide receiver picked round 20th overall following walker defensive taken supplemental draft expansion houston addition drafted running transferred team lack playing time players selected draft wide receiver selected second round 47th overall following davis linebacker defensive coaching changes following bowl loss offensive coordinator coach head coach announced prior game position offensive coordinator filled offensive line coach fill coach position vacated hired notre dame offensive coordinator
2002 Gator Bowl