2001 Gator Bowl
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| 2001 Gator Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Game | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date | January 1, 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stadium | Alltel Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Jacksonville, Florida | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MVP | Michael Vick, Virginia Tech | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 68,741 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States TV coverage | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Network | NBC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 2001 Gator Bowl was a post-season American college football bowl game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Clemson Tigers at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida on January 1, 2001. The game was the final contest of the 2000 NCAA Division I-A football season for both teams, and ended in a 41-20 victory for Virginia Tech.
After the Hokies' participation in the 2000 BCS National Championship Game, the Virginia Tech entered the 2000-2001 college football season with high expectations. Until late in the season, those hopes were borne out, and it appeared as if the Hokies would return to the national championship game. After a late-season loss to No. 3-ranked Miami, however, Tech was knocked out of contention for the national title. Following the conclusion of its 10–1 season, Tech was selected to participate in the Gator Bowl.[1] Facing the Hokies were the Clemson Tigers, who had finished 9–2 during the regular season.[2]
The 2001 Gator Bowl kicked off on January 1, 2001 at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. [3] Early on, Virginia Tech took advantage of Clemson mistakes to build a first-quarter lead. On the game's first possession, the Tech defense forced a Clemson punt. Clemson mishandled the kick, and Tech was able to recover the ball at the Clemson 23-yard line. One play later, Tech was on the board with a touchdown pass from quarterback Michael Vick. By the end of the first quarter, Tech had taken a 14–0 lead. Clemson was able to close the gap to 14–10 in the second quarter, but Tech added another touchdown before halftime to take a 21–10 lead into the second half.[4]
In that half, Tech pulled steadily away from the Tigers. Virginia Tech scored 13 points in the third quarter and seven in the fourth quarter, and Clemson never seriously challenged the Hokies, who went on to record a 41–20 victory.[5] The game was the final collegiate contest for Tech quarterback Michael Vick, who would go on to be selected as the first overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft.[4]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Virginia Tech Football Past Schedules: 2000-2001 Virginia Tech Athletics department, Hokiesports.com. Accessed February 26, 2008.
- ^ Clemson Tigers football: 2000-01 Results Clemson Athletics department, Clemsontigers.cstv.com. Accessed February 26, 2008.
- ^ 2007 Chick-fil-A Media Guide Clemson Athletics department, Clemsontigers.cstv.com. Page 99. Accessed February 26, 2008.
- ^ a b 2001 Gator Bowl Virginia Tech Athletics department, Hokiesports.com. Accessed February 26, 2008.
- ^ Virginia Tech Football Opponent History: Clemson Virginia Tech Athletics department, Hokiesports.com. Accessed February 26, 2008.
| Preceded by 2000 Gator Bowl |
Gator Bowl 2001 |
Succeeded by 2002 Gator Bowl |
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