music city bowl music city bowl postseason college football game inaugural competition annual music city bowl represented represented sec game final competition team college football season game ended victory record college football regular season good earn bid inaugural music city bowl game facing gone regular season music city bowl kicked december nashville tennessee weather rain mixed freezing temperatures game early going marked defense teams struggled weather scored yard touchdown scramble quarterback clark touchdown provided game points second quarter alabama score yard touchdown pass struck field goal halftime took lead second half half tech offense finally got rolling scored points fourth quarters ending game run alabama offense effective pressure tech defensive end tech able turn points final virginia tech victory biggest win virginia tech bowl game history moore named game valuable player teams meet chick game september team selection music city bowl scheduled bowl beginnings dated city officials local companies came idea game plan developed financing obtained ncaa approved bowl game initial plans anticipated matching team prior start college football season officials signed agreement sec select conference sixth bowl eligible team spot left large bid officials met times commissioner effort reach contract agreement bowl eligible team game reached alabama alabama crimson tide entered college football season season included bowl game heading season tide nationally picked finish fifth sec west annual poll media members cover sec football voters expected alabama little improvement performance previous year alabama game season played renovated boasted seats new game alabama running scored school record rushing touchdowns alabama won breaking game losing streak ended season week later alabama repeated game success win bye week alabama traveled arkansas play arkansas alabama risen country virtue wins road game season resulted defeat alabama lost week later alabama suffered home loss season defeat hands florida florida loss alabama senior starting quarterback replaced freshman new starter alabama proceeded win games miss october endured loss team starting quarterback alabama defeated eventual sec national champion tennessee alabama rebounded loss wins southern miss upset win scored points seconds wins alabama record heading final weeks regular season second week crimson tide defeated final week season alabama faced traditional state rival auburn annual game reversing outcome previous year game alabama upset victory end regular season following iron bowl alabama bowl destination unclear sec championship game determined conference champion december speculation centered alabama potentially attending games peach bowl music city bowl time championship game sun bowl eliminated option tennessee won sec championship game bid bowl teams selected independence bowl leaving alabama selected inaugural music city bowl choice official december alabama began preparing matchup virginia tech virginia tech began season going previous year including loss north_carolina bowl prior season annual preseason poll football media picked finish fourth west_virginia favored win conference pre season attention focused tech perform attend sixth consecutive bowl game season end games brought success virginia tech home defeated away beat win virginia tech traveled home miami hurricanes virtue season opening wins ranked coaches poll improved ranking win overtime football game virginia tech history overtime win starting quarterback injured injury left unable play tech game contest clark absence didn distract won win pittsburgh traveled boston play shut national ranking coaches poll basis tech start following victory faced lightly regarded temple lost consecutive games road games lost players injury season began point managed biggest college football history beat virginia tech lane stadium rebounded upset loss temple shutting beating west_virginia wins record ranked poll traveled carrier dome play new_york syracuse gave second loss season loss came despite presence returned injury prior west_virginia game tech rebounded losing effort time defeating final regular season game lost virginia annual competition tech led points halftime virginia quarterback led comeback won game virginia minutes remaining game loss virginia brought regular season record tech coach said better expected season start despite sentiment fans supporters pointed fact losses deciding points came late fourth quarter near end game plays separated tech undefeated record tech bowl destination unclear immediately virginia loss likely bowl possibilities officials preferred music city bowl proximity virginia bowl officials selected november buildup inaugural bowl marked meeting alabama virginia tech football field defeated prior alabama defeated meetings schools players cited record motivation game game overall marketing strategy intended boost company national profile spread favored win game points exchange appearing game team received minus expenses media coverage weeks leading game focused tough defense alabama recovery ncaa imposed sanctions ticket sales schools sold music city bowl tickets rapidly attending sixth consecutive bowl game sold tickets week sales alabama tickets primarily distributed season ticket holders alabama bowl tickets reserved season ticket holders available open purchase sold day sales december alabama game sold entire tickets tickets remaining sold 10th interview local newspaper official ticket office indicated demand tickets great sold couple thousand inundated days alabama selected play game got lot calls sold fans able obtain tickets game purchases ticket demand tickets alabama fans great alabama ticket office accidentally tickets office neglected limit purchases forms sent season ticket holders office received orders ticket additional tickets given alabama school send alabama athletics director heavily criticized ticket limiting ticket distribution fans contributed large amounts money athletics department group fans ticket distribution process eventually levied class action lawsuit athletic director claiming contract violations offensive alabama offense despite having offense featured star running alabama offensive strategy revolved passing offense running regular season alabama passed yards ran yards crimson tide averaged points game rushing yards game passing yards game large reason alabama success passing ball came emergence freshman quarterback assumed starting duties season completed passes yards touchdowns seven favorite passing targets alexander caught passes yards touchdowns addition rushing yards touchdowns alexander averaged yards game ground wide receiver team leading passing target caught passes yards touchdowns fellow wide receiver favorite passing target caught passes yards touchdowns addition performing kick return duties regular season offense offense regular season worse average ncaa finished teams total offense recording yards game tech averaged points game reason lackluster performance repeated injuries starting quarterback missed regular season games injuries heading music city bowl recovering rib injury suffered tech final regular season game despite missed games clark completed passes passing yards touchdowns season ground running backs combined rushing yards touchdowns averaged yards game ground bright spot offense named team selection kicked extra points successful field goal attempts earning points total defensive alabama defense defensively alabama allowed average rushing yards total yards game total alabama defense intercepted passes regular season sacked opposing times alabama leading linebacker tackles regular season figure included sacks tackles loss smith broke passes recovered forced alabama second leading linebacker fractured shoulder blade second regular season game available music city bowl tackles regular season led team pass defense finished season tackles supported strong safety led alabama sole selection senior averaged school record yards kick regular season second nationally net yards kick inside opponents yard line blocked defense conclusion regular season defense best country scoring defense allowing points game rushing defense allowing yards game total defense yards game regular season second country found success special teams defense total tech blocked kicks regular season field goal attempts point tries tech defense scored points touchdowns safety point intercepted conversion pass defense led defensive end named defensive player year led conference sacks regular season finished named team team tackles returned blocked field goal yards tech game free safety noted pre game coverage ability block kicks regular season tying team field incidents coaching staff drew media attention announced virginia tech head football coach actively recruited assume school vacant head coaching job contacted job regular season mentioned connection search final weeks regular season mentioned possibility south_carolina vacant head coaching job days selected ended speculation publicly turning south_carolina exchange publicly offers rewarded financial additions contract contract extension defensive coordinator targeted teams prior music city bowl rumors circulated interest hiring foster fill defensive coordinator position foster declined comment florida orange bowl game foster proceeded interview process offered job turned favor remaining tech offered contract incentives alabama likewise underwent rumors coaching changes shortly music city bowl matchup announced rumors spread coach tight ends coach considered jobs departure rumor reality defensive line coach resigned position departure left crimson tide defensive line coach alabama head coach filled vacancy music city bowl days prior game teams cope harsh winter weather nashville area virginia tech forced practices indoors ice storm arrived day christmas storm caused travel delays fans players alike alabama practices nashville held team available players delayed harsh weather continued day game tech forced cancel final outdoor practice game alabama drove minutes practice field covered ice game summary bowl kicked est december stadium nashville tennessee weather degree temperatures mph wind percent humidity rain mix game progressed wind temperatures dropped low later accounts described weather ceo performed ceremonial pre game coin toss determine possession jazz musician performed traditional pre game playing national anthem rendition meet crowd approval approximately people attended game person competition broadcast television espn approximately million households tuned broadcast featured quarter received ball begin game returned opening end zone tech yard line play game tech quarterback completed pass alabama committed yard penalty setting yard line penalty running ran straight ahead gain yards picked short gain play clark completed pass harrison yard line clark broke free alabama defense improvised run yards touchdown game points kicked extra point took lead alabama remaining quarter post touchdown returned alabama yard line alabama play game quarterback sacked defender loss seven yards running regained lost yards play sacked tech defense alabama went begin game prepared game punt kick virginia tech defender broke offensive line alabama blocked punt thanks blocked punt offense started alabama yard line play drive ran ball straight ahead gain yard clark attempted pass end zone ball intercepted alabama defender thanks interception end zone alabama offense returned field yard line regulation starting point ball downed end zone deep pass fell incomplete alexander ran yard gain completed pass wide receiver alabama yard line completed pass time alabama yard line alexander rushed ahead yard gain threw interception tech defender returned ball alabama yard line interception committed yard personal foul penalty pushed yard line play interception gained yard rushing play right clark completed pass alabama yard line play alabama called yard penalty grabbing tackle penalty gained yards reverse run tackled loss yards clark threw incomplete pass tech head coach sent graham attempt yard field goal kick sailed right goal remaining quarter tech led alabama thanks missed field goal alabama began drive yard line line field goal drive play completed seven yard pass wide receiver hall alexander ran left yard gain alexander gained yards moore sacked yard loss yard line sack hit defense ball alabama player resulted gain yards completed pass alexander yard line alabama twice yards false starts consecutive plays penalties ran final seconds quarter ended leading second quarter second quarter began alabama possession ball facing yards yard line completed seven yard pass hall alexander lost yards running play setting alabama gained needed yard pass alexander tech yard line alexander tackled yard loss regained lost yards completion alexander tech yard line yard rush alabama faced fourth yard tech yard line alexander ran tech yard line gained yard rush completed pass gain setting tech yard line alexander advanced yard line running play completed touchdown pass tide points game extra point kick successful remaining half game tied alabama post touchdown sailed end zone tech offense started yard line ran ahead yard gain broke free second yard run alabama yard line clark threw incomplete pass ran yard gain clark yard gain facing fourth sent graham attempt yard field goal kick good remaining half regained lead tech post score returned alabama yard line began new drive drive play tech committed yard penalty following penalty alexander stopped yard loss completed yard pass tech yard line long completion threw yard pass time tech yard line rushing play stopped gain threw incomplete pass end zone committed intentional grounding penalty attempt avoid sacked penalty pushed alabama field goal range alabama tech yard line ball rolled bounds yard line tech half distance goal line holding penalty kick ran yard gain stopped loss yard second clark completed pass harrison yard line tech running play stopped loss yards clark yard line yards short gained run yard line time tech concentrated running clock executing multiple running plays stop game clock unlike passing plays clark sacked alabama defender griffin loss seven yards clark regained lost yards yard pass picked pass clark completed pass hall alabama yard line point tech switched running clock attempting passes hopes scoring halftime seconds remaining half clark threw incomplete pass clark sacked alabama defense setting tech yard line ran short gain tech set long pass fourth pass fell incomplete tech turned ball downs seconds remaining attempt score final play half tide offense took knee ended half leading quarter halftime performance featuring singer marching bands competing schools alabama prepared receive ball received ball begin game alabama offense begin second half returned alabama yard line play half pass alexander gained yards second alexander picked run yard line completed pass yard line pass knocked line defense pass knocked tide kick returned tech yard line began drive second half tech play half yard run clark yard gain alabama yard line advanced yard line running play clark sacked alabama sack resulted yard loss clark pass incomplete tech kick downed alabama yard line tide play drive alabama yards holding player running play alexander stopped loss yard threw interception directly returned ball yard line interception took tech plays push football goal line tech second touchdown game extra point good tech extended lead remaining quarter tech post touchdown returned alabama yard line tide attempted respond tech score play drive incomplete pass completed yard pass alabama yard line running lost yard running play completed yard pass alexander alexander dropped long pass tide prepared punt kick tech special teams defense broke alabama line blocked punt second time game ball recovered alabama yard line tech offense started drive inside alabama territory play tech drive seven yard run followed incomplete pass clark alabama called pass interference play penalty alabama yard line play penalty broke alabama defense tech second touchdown quarter extra point good remaining quarter tech extended lead returned yard line alabama attempted answer score incomplete pass completed yard pass jackson yard line alexander stopped yard loss running play caught pass gain threw incomplete pass forcing punt kick rolled bounds tech yard line offense began drive play drive clark sacked yard loss ran yard ran yards going ball bounced alabama kick loose ball recovered offense returned field seconds remaining quarter alabama yard line clark yard gain play quarter ended leading fourth quarter fourth quarter began virginia tech possession ball alabama yard line facing second running play stopped gain clark completed pass ran alabama yard line alabama committed penalty penalty tech inside alabama yard line plays later crossed goal line touchdown extra point good tech took lead remaining game alabama received tech post touchdown sailed end zone alabama drive quarter started yard line play drive resulted yard penalty alexander tackled yard loss second threw incomplete pass completed yard throw alexander earned tech yard line play alabama territory tech committed yard penalty threw incomplete passes sacked tech defense yard line tide trailing tech scores alabama head coach ordered offense try convert fourth punt pass flew incomplete alabama turned ball downs began drive fourth quarter yard line remaining game tech transitioned running strategy time game clock play drive play tackled yard loss second play regained lost yard play incomplete pass clark going kick rolled end zone alabama offense began yard line alexander tackled yard loss threw interception returned ball way end zone defensive touchdown extra point good tech extended lead remaining game tech post touchdown returned alabama yard line play drive yard run alexander gained play alabama committed yard false start penalty alexander stopped gain running play penalty picked yards running play right alexander gained run yard line tackled yard loss play tackled seven yard loss alexander ran ahead yard line short marker alabama kick downed tech yard line tech continued run clock running ball straight ahead yard gain tech backup quarterback entered game running gained run yard line gained alabama yard line continued advance ball short runs draining clock secure tech lead tech backup quarterback entered game final seconds clock secured win statistical summary recognition performance game defensive end named game valuable player moore sack tackle loss blocked punt forced performance representative successful defensive effort blocked limited alabama seven points rushing yards tech point margin victory biggest bowl game win school history alabama loss biggest bowl game loss orange bowl alabama sole success offense came hands quarterback completed passes yards touchdown threw ball favorite receiver running caught passes yards alexander alabama leading finished game carries yards rushed ball times finished rushing yards alexander tied place alabama bowl game record opposite ball virginia tech quarterback completed seven passes yards interception clark greatest success came ground rushed times yards touchdown offense came ground clark surpassed rushing game carried ball times yards touchdown running scored touchdowns carried ball times yards effects win lifted final record alabama loss dropped final college football polls season ranked 19th coaches poll 23rd poll alabama remained win remains biggest bowl game win citing desire pursue sporting events higher profile decided renew sponsorship music city bowl replaced defunct website site game changed moved known nfl draft final game regular season music city bowl gave alabama players chance skills prior nfl draft alabama player selected draft selected round 26th overall selection players taken draft defensive overall guard overall
1998 Music City Bowl