bowl bowl post season american college football bowl game chapel hill stadium jacksonville florida january game final contest ncaa division football season teams 53rd edition annual game ended victory north_carolina selected play bowl reward regular season facing ranked north_carolina tar heels heels gone regular season ranked seventh associated_press poll heading game north_carolina narrowly missed large selection higher prestige postseason game playing new head coach time taken head coach december brown announced departing position head coach texas game kicked january jacksonville florida opening north_carolina dominated aspect game quarter tar heels scored unanswered points including defensive touchdown north_carolina added points second quarters tech scored points game yard field goal tar heels rounded game scoring points fourth quarter tar heels set school records largest bowl game margin victory points scored bowl game touchdown passes bowl game eventual loss largest bowl loss school history named valuable players respective teams team saw multiple players selected nfl draft followed game team selection college football season bowl selection committee held contracts exchange pay total million participating teams committee held right second pick bowl eligible teams conference conference champion awarded automatic spot game expected select conference second place team circumstances arose prior final week regular season appeared circumstances throw plan confusion north_carolina second place team risen associated_press college football poll considered candidate large selection north_carolina selected higher tier bowl game door opened notre dame play bowl provided second place team available play end runner north_carolina bypassed officials leaving team available bowl facing tar heels second place finishers bowl officials considered inviting place west_virginia reputation bringing large numbers fans bowl games decided inviting recognition north_carolina west_virginia played bowl north_carolina north_carolina tar heels began college football season having gone year ended win west_virginia bowl hopes high tar heels heading season writers fans picking north_carolina chance compete national championship tar heels bore hopes game season beating big opponent indiana north_carolina rose national college football polls victory indiana followed week win stanford_university season opening wins followed succession tar heels beat maryland september virginia september score prior win virginia north_carolina rose polls remained level win fell october lost north_carolina october week inactivity tar heels rose north_carolina defeated state rival score week half tar heels beat narrowly thursday night game ninth game season tar heels lost florida state loss sole losing effort season came hands eventual champion game tar heels lost starting quarterback broken ankle north_carolina recovered loss win final games duke despite having loss tar heels denied chance participate game instead accepted bid bowl virginia tech began college football season having gone previous season ending loss nebraska orange bowl began new season hopes repeating success saw team reach consecutive games previous seasons loss starting lineup led years left people skeptical tech chance reach game games season answered critics wins season opening win followed win syracuse triumph temple shutout win saw elevated position national college football polls followed loss miami ohio dropped tech rose victory west_virginia lost loss returned tech polls recovery followed victories final games season lost pittsburgh virginia dual losses dropped tech polls time opening week season prepared bowl recording regular season record buildup media coverage contest focused north_carolina rejection new coach questions lightly regarded virginia tech team compete north_carolina squad fact reflected game point spread december shortly matchup announced spread favored north_carolina win points sports commentators including said north_carolina deserved prestigious bowl game high ranking alliance served purpose said interview politics usual game 27th meeting teams continuing matchup started despite early beginning teams hadn played tickets game sold quickly trailed game approached sold tickets days selected week later tech managed increase total effort spur sales school athletic director asked fans buy tickets plan attending game tickets donated charity incentive officials select school agreed sell tickets minimum north_carolina agreed sell resulted tech selling tickets school forced purchase remaining costing north_carolina tickets sales slower having sold school weeks matchup announced bowl ticket office sold approximately tickets directly fans officials predicted crowd people game reduced ticket sales concern officials eyed television contract nbc following game attendance viewership game broadcast low negative effect negotiations future contracts nbc rival cbs brown following conclusion regular season prior north_carolina acceptance invitation play bowl head coach received offer texas school head coach day half texas extended offer brown resigned position north_carolina head coach accepted texas job replaced fired days earlier finishing season record immediately brown resignation question replacement coach team bowl arose brown offered stay coach team bowl game proposal met hostility north_carolina players felt betrayed coach resignation school administrators choice replace brown georgia head coach previously characterized north_carolina head coaching position dream job rejected administrators offer saying commitment current players following rejection north_carolina offer players approached north_carolina athletics director demanding hire brown defensive coordinator team new head coach offensive coordinator considered remaining candidates davis indicated intention follow brown texas administrators players demand named north_carolina new head football coach players brawl day brown announced acceptance texas head coaching position seven north_carolina football players allegedly assaulted north_carolina student severely injuring seven charged offenses ranging assault simple assault players charged defensive leader american linebacker starters north_carolina defense time policy dictated immediate suspension player charged punishment lesser charges decided case case basis investigating incident north_carolina school officials cleared seven accused players participate judicial charges pending seventh accused player backup defensive tackle suspended indefinitely team legal action proceeded north_carolina coaching staff administration criticized allowing accused players participate game critic saying school order better chances win game following game players found guilty simple assault found guilty charges dismissed seventh player pleaded contest charge north_carolina offense field north_carolina offense led quarterback plagued injuries college career managed set north_carolina single game passing record threw yards replaced original starting quarterback broke ankle midway regular season finished season having completed passes yards touchdowns splitting command regular season north_carolina averaged points yards game favorite passing target wide receiver set school record catching passes regular season overall north_carolina offense averaged passing yards game season ground north_carolina rushing game led running finished season yards touchdowns 24th player north_carolina history rush yards season tar heel school history rush yards yards receiving game practice game strained right knee putting presence game doubt backup played games year rushes team 2nd leading north_carolina rushed times yards regular season expected play bowl fractured suffered 10th game season offense regular season averaged points game scored points consecutive games streak dating season offense led field quarterback passed yards touchdowns ran yards regular season beginning december clark underwent surgery left knee order repair damaged joint long recovery time involved surgery questioned play bowl able play strength days prior game clark presence game doubt caught flu developed degree fever clark backup freshman quarterback completed pass attempts season yards touchdowns injured virginia tech wide receiver scales didn play weeks regular season surgery injured despite playing games season finished regular season receiver catching passes yards scales injury caused ranked worst receiving averaging yards game air game moved closer scales recovered injury appeared near strength rushing offense led running led rushing yards averaging yards game entered bowl virginia tech history point accumulated rushing yards final season supported ran yards touchdowns regular season parker found success passing game tech leading receiver season catching passes yards runner lead team backing running transfer student accumulated carries yards touchdowns players assisted offensive line led named team predicted face tough task stopping north_carolina ranked defense north_carolina defense north_carolina defense best country regular season finishing year ranked second total defense yards game fifth scoring defense points game tar heels ranked second country terms rushing yards allowing average rushing yards game regular season statistics performance consensus team america defenders defensive end linebacker tackles season loss lead team categories defender linebacker team american particular felt confident guarantee prior game win held virginia tech points team scored total season north_carolina defensive players performed season defensive tackle named team selection earning tackles loss fellow defensive tackle finished total tackles tar heels faced setback defense team defensive involved car accident injured face neck shoulder despite requiring williams recovered injuries play game defense defense appeared strong games season later games allowing points final games entire season allowed points stars defense defensive tackle team best tackles loss amid total tackles linebacker team leader tackles recording walk defensive tackle fifth team tackles tied sacks quarterback starting linebacker predicted miss game knee injury special teams squad highly regarded defense overall 14th nationally net 37th returns player country position averaging yards kick regular season success blocking kicks blocked seven season north_carolina special effort prepare kick special teams set single season records field goals points scored kicking season extra points field goals caught flu prior game summary 53rd edition annual game kicked january estimated fans attendance game held jacksonville stadium renamed game televised nbc estimated million americans watched broadcast giving game television rating 12th highest bowl games season broadcast week prior game weather cold rainy temperatures inches rain weather clear temperatures near degrees north_carolina won ceremonial pre game coin toss determine possession elected play defense begin game quarter game opening returned yard line ran play game pass quarterback play went yards needed runs running pick remaining yard tech yard line earned yard plays clark completed seven yard pass wide receiver short forced punt ball rolled bounds north_carolina yard line remaining quarter north_carolina prepared possession game play game running ran middle yard gain gain quarterback completed yard pass tight end virginia tech yard line inside territory ran yard gain followed pass gained yards play following catch north_carolina virginia tech yard line left field slightly backup running replaced ran yards middle stopped gain play pass fell incomplete north_carolina entered game attempt yard field goal good remaining quarter north_carolina took lead north_carolina post score returned yard line prepared second possession game parker stopped gain run attempt attempt play stopped loss yard facing clark attempted scramble stopped gain yards having gone kick downed yard line north_carolina offense returned second possession game play drive gained yards run middle field play completed yard pass broken free defense barnes end zone touchdown extra point kick north_carolina led remaining quarter following north_carolina short return took yard line tech play clark completed seven yard pass williams running stopped yard loss clark pass attempt fell incomplete going tech kick returned north_carolina yard line tar heels began possession game play drive pass gained yards yard line gained yard short run threw yard pass wide receiver brown play gave tar heels tech yard line gained yards running play incomplete passes later north_carolina time game ball rolled end zone offense started yard line left quarter yard rush followed pass running lost yards following negative play north_carolina committed yard penalty gave seven despite extra provided penalty clark pass attempt incomplete prepared punt kick north_carolina defender broke offensive line blocked punt tar heels defender picked loose ball ran end zone north_carolina second touchdown game following play north_carolina yards excessive celebration resulting yard extra point kick good despite missed kick north_carolina extended lead remaining quarter kick slipped subsequent offense started yard line gained yards play drive clark sacked yard loss sack final play quarter north_carolina lead quarters played second quarter second quarter began virginia tech possession ball facing long quarterback sack final play quarter play quarter tech quarterback sacked time ball loose ball picked end zone defender touchdown game north_carolina missed extra point kick following previous touchdown tar heels head coach ordered team attempt point conversion order gain missed extra point previous play pass attempt fell incomplete seven seconds second quarter north_carolina led tar heels returned yard line clark yard completed yard pass facing clark tech yard line following parker gained yards running play clark completed yard pass parker aided yard personal foul penalty north_carolina play following pass penalty tech entered north_carolina territory time tar heels yard line play inside territory clark completed yard pass parker apparent touchdown play yard penalty yard line ran yards clark threw incomplete passes forcing punt kick downed yard line offense took remaining halftime ran yards picked yard gain second completed yard pass barnes ran seven yards yard line gained run yard line attempted deep pass ball fell incomplete second completed yard pass sacked defense sack forced punt second time game ball rolled bounds yard line point rushed yards play drive giving yard line rushes gained seven yards north_carolina committed yard penalty giving yard line clark threw incomplete pass tackled gain running play tech committed yard delay game penalty clark sacked loss tech kick partially blocked allowing north_carolina return ball yard line virginia tech tar heels began drive inside virginia tech territory remaining half play drive yard run followed incomplete pass missed pass play caught short pass ran straight ahead yard gain run followed incomplete passes punt tar heels attempted try convert fourth fourth pass fell incomplete turned ball downs tech yard line clark completed yard pass parker threw incomplete pass minute remaining clock clark completed yard pass pass attempt batted north_carolina defense second clark completed pass tar heels yard line deep pass went incomplete clark sacked ball second time half loose ball picked seconds remaining offense returned field north_carolina tried deep pass attempt scoring position end half sacked tar heels football end half lead quarter virginia tech began half possession football north_carolina received ball begin second half returned yard line committed yard personal foul penalty north_carolina began possession second half virginia tech yard line play half short run incomplete passes tar heels prepared punt kick north_carolina faked punt pass ball linebacker normally played defense gained yards play allowed continue drive yard line north_carolina committed yard delay game penalty play lost gaining yards advancing ball tech yard line running play followed pass yard gain needing yard gain north_carolina stopped attempted convert fourth kick field goal ran ball straight ahead gained needed gaining yard line plays later ran goal line end zone touchdown second half extra point kick partially blocked defense good tar heels extended lead remaining quarter returned north_carolina yard line began drive second half backup quarterback replaced starter drive play running broke free north_carolina defense yard gain north_carolina yard line yard gain completed pass wide receiver yard line run gained yard tackled yard loss threw incomplete pass facing fourth needing yards tech coach attempted convert fourth punt yard line stopped loss yards sacked seven yard loss completed short pass parker elected attempt convert fourth instead sent game attempt yard field goal kick good remaining quarter tech cut north_carolina lead rolled end zone north_carolina started second drive half yard line play drive yard run followed yard pass needing single yard tar heels rushed straight ahead gained yards yard line north_carolina continued ball efficiently gained yards rushing play threw short pass gained yards broke free defense play resulted virginia tech yard line sacked yard loss sack completed yard pass yard line attempted scramble gain stopped gain play final quarter ended north_carolina possession firm lead fourth quarter fourth quarter began north_carolina possession ball facing second tech yard line play quarter completed yard pass barnes touchdown extra point good tar heels extended lead remaining game north_carolina returned tech yard line offense began drive fourth quarter tech play drive trick reverse scales gained yards trick play incomplete pass yard line rushed yards stopped gain tech attempted convert fourth pass fell incomplete turned ball downs remaining following turnover yard line stopped gain rushing play passed gain completed yard pass brown failing gain tar heels ball returned yard line gained yards rush right ran yard left field football loose ball picked tech drive continued rush gain running play resulted tech second drive unlike previous recovered north_carolina tar heels offense position scoring attempt turnover north_carolina tech yard line threw yard pass north_carolina stopped yard loss running play tar heels earned yard run threw incomplete pass second resulted yard gain run left field tech yard line ran straight ahead yard gain stopped yard loss play north_carolina recovered loss yard pass touchdown extra point kick blocked penalty allowed chance extra point second attempt successful kick gave lead remaining game returned north_carolina tech yard line began final possession game completed yard pass ran yards north_carolina yard line pass gained yards lost yards play sacked yard loss fourth pass batted defense offense returned field remaining game backup quarterback came field tar heels handed ball ran ball twice yard broke free defense gained yards tech yard line rushes gained yards ran remaining time game clock time expired north_carolina won bowl statistical summary recognition performances game north_carolina quarterback named valuable player winning team backup quarterback named valuable player losing team finished game having completed pass attempts yards opposite ball completed passes yards carried ball times ground total yards quarterback replaced finished game having completed pass attempts yards north_carolina receivers benefited passing proficiency barnes caught passes yards touchdowns caught passes yards leading receiver parker caught passes yards ground north_carolina carried ball times yards touchdown game second leading receiver terms catching passes yards second team rushing accumulating yards seven carries running led yards carries barnes yard touchdown reception sixth longest scoring play bowl history time game effects loss dropped final record north_carolina win raised final record tar heels rose final college football polls season finishing fourth place coaches poll sixth associated_press media poll defeat worst loss shutout jacksonville businesses hotels benefited influx town guests fans arrived outside jacksonville area estimated million extra city economy fans praised stadium facilities attractions available visitors nbc television coverage game given high marks commentator called broadcast sloppy routine concerned low attendance game officials able sponsorship agreement game previous contract expired following game coaching changes north_carolina head coach confirmed position prior assistant coaching positions filled school game january hired texas running backs coach fill new position special teams coach fill job offensive coordinator hired offensive coordinator filled position nfl draft weeks following game players team announced intentions enter nfl draft north_carolina defender handful eligible players national_football_league requires player years high school declined enter draft instead choosing return school year north_carolina seven players taken draft selected round taken eighth pick 17th pick 19th pick remaining selections overall players taken round draft players taken later rounds overall
1998 Gator Bowl