2001 Gator Bowl

NCAAFootballSingleGameHeader
Name=2001 Gator Bowl
Year=2000
Type=bg


Date=January 1, 2001
Stadium=Alltel Stadium
City=Jacksonville, Florida
Visitor Name Short=Clemson
Visitor Nickname=Tigers
Home Name Short=Virginia Tech
Home Nickname=Hokies
Visitor Record=9–2
Home Record=10–1
Visitor Coach=Tommy Bowden
Home Coach=Frank Beamer
Visitor1=0
Visitor2=10
Visitor3=3
Visitor4=7
Home1=14
Home2=7
Home3=13
Home4=7
Visitor

Visitor Coaches=13
Visitor BCS=15
Home

Home Coaches=5
Home BCS=5
MVP=Michael Vick, Virginia Tech
Odds=
Anthem=
Referee=
Halftime=
Attendance=68,741
US Network=NBC
US Announcers=
Ratings=
Intl Network=
Intl Announcers=

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. [ [http://www.hokiesports.com/football/pastschedules.html?season=2000 Virginia Tech Football Past Schedules: 2000-2001] Virginia Tech Athletics department, Hokiesports.com. Accessed February 26, 2008.] Facing the Hokies were the Clemson Tigers, who had finished 9–2 during the regular season. [ [http://clemsontigers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/clem-m-footbl-2000-res.html Clemson Tigers football: 2000-01 Results] Clemson Athletics department, Clemsontigers.cstv.com. Accessed February 26, 2008.]

The 2001 Gator Bowl kicked off on January 1, 2001 at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. [ [http://clemsontigers.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/clem/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/bowl_guide_065-128 2007 Chick-fil-A Media Guide] Clemson Athletics department, Clemsontigers.cstv.com. Page 99. Accessed February 26, 2008.] 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. [http://www.hokiesports.com/football/bowls/2001Gator.html 2001 Gator Bowl] Virginia Tech Athletics department, Hokiesports.com. Accessed February 26, 2008.]

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. [ [http://www.hokiesports.com/football/opponents.html?opponent=Clemson Virginia Tech Football Opponent History: Clemson] Virginia Tech Athletics department, Hokiesports.com. Accessed February 26, 2008.] 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.

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