2002 Gator Bowl

NCAAFootballSingleGameHeader
Name=2002 Gator Bowl
Year=2001
Type=bg


Date=January 1, 2002
Stadium=Alltel Stadium
City=Jacksonville, Florida
Visitor Name Short=Florida State
Visitor Nickname=Seminoles
Home Name Short=Virginia Tech
Home Nickname=Hokies
Visitor Record=7-4
Home Record=8–3
Visitor Coach=Bobby Bowden
Home Coach=Frank Beamer
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Visitor2=10
Visitor3=3
Visitor4=17
Home1=3
Home2=0
Home3=14
Home4=0
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US Network=NBC
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The 2002 Gator Bowl was a post-season American college football bowl game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Florida State Seminoles at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida on January 1, 2001. The game was the final contest of the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season for both teams, and ended in a 30-17 victory for Florida State.

Virginia Tech was selected to play in the 2002 Gator Bowl with an 8–3 regular-season record despite having just played in Jacksonville at the end of the previous year. [ [http://www.hokiesports.com/football/pastschedules.html?season=2001 Virginia Tech Football Past Schedules: 2001-2002] Virginia Tech Athletics department, Hokiesports.com. Accessed February 27, 2008.] The selection of Virginia Tech over the Syracuse Orangemen (now just the "Orange") despite losing head-to-head and Syracuse having better conference and overall records was controversial. [cite web|url=http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/112806/spo_6495905.shtml|title=ACC rule affects bowl pick|date=2006-11-28|last=Smits|first=Gary|accessdate=2008-02-17|publisher=The Florida Times-Union] Florida State, who had failed to win at least a share of the Atlantic Coast Conference title for the first time since joining the league in 1992, and who had played in all three BCS National Championship games held to that point, was selected as the opponent.

The 2002 Gator Bowl kicked off on January 1, 2002 at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, exactly one year since the Hokies had last played in the game. The game's early going seemed promising for the defense-minded Hokies. In the first quarter, Tech held Florida State scoreless despite only managing a single field goal on offense. In the third quarter, however, Florida State began to find gaps in the Hokie defense and scored 10 points. At halftime, Florida State held a 10–3 lead. [http://www.hokiesports.com/football/bowls/2002Gator.html 2002 Gator Bowl] Virginia Tech Athletics department, Hokiesports.com. Accessed February 27, 2008.]

In the third quarter, Tech struck back. The Hokies scored 14 points in the quarter, while Florida State managed just a field goal. The Hokies' All-American tailback Lee Suggs had suffered a season-ending injury in the first game of the season, but freshman Kevin Jones had carried the offense for the season, and continued to perform well in the post-season Gator Bowl game. With a 5-yard run from Jones and a 55-yard pass from Grant Noel to André Davis, Tech took a 17–13 lead going into the fourth quarter. But the lead quickly evaporated on a 77-yard catch and run from Chris Rix to Javon Walker.

Florida State added ten more points after the long touchdown pass, and the Seminoles went on to win the game, 30–17. [ [http://www.hokiesports.com/football/opponents.html?opponent=Florida%20State Virginia Tech Football Opponent History: Florida State] Virginia Tech Athletics department, Hokiesports.com. Accessed February 27, 2008.]

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