1998 Music City Bowl

NCAAFootballSingleGameHeader
Name = 1998 Music City Bowl
Year = 1998
Type = bg


Date = December 29, 1998
Stadium = Vanderbilt Stadium
City = City-state|Nashville|Tennessee
Visitor Name Short = Alabama
Visitor Nickname = Crimson Tide
Home Name Short = Virginia Tech
Home Nickname = Hokies
Visitor Record = 7–4
Home Record = 8–3
Visitor Coach = Mike DuBose
Home Coach = Frank Beamer
Visitor1 = 0
Visitor2 = 7
Visitor3 = 0
Visitor4 = 0
Home1 = 7
Home2 = 3
Home3 = 14
Home4 = 14
MVP = Virginia Tech DE Corey Moore
Odds =
Anthem =
Referee =
Halftime = Million Dollar Band and The Marching Virginians
Attendance = 41,600
US Network = ESPN
US Announcers =
Ratings = The 1998 Music City Bowl, in its innagural game, was a postseason college football game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and Alabama Crimson Tide. Virginia Tech represented the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the University of Alabama represented the Southeastern Conference (SEC) for the competition. The game was the final competition for each team in the 1998 college football season. The game ended as a 38–7 victory for Virginia Tech.

Virginia Tech's 8–3 record during the 1998 college football regular season was good enough to earn it a bid to the inaugural Music City Bowl game. [ [http://www.hokiesports.com/football/pastschedules.html?season=1998 Virginia Tech Football Past Schedules: 1998-1999] Virginia Tech Athletics Department, Hokiesports.com. Accessed February 26, 2008.] Facing the Hokies were the Alabama Crimson Tide, who had gone 7–4 during the regular season. [ [http://www.rolltide.com/SportSelect.dbml?&SPSID=37427&SPID=3011&DB_OEM_ID=8000&Q_SEASON=1998 Alabama Football - 1998 Schedule & Results] Alabama Athletics department, Rolltide.com. Accessed February 26, 2008.]

The 1998 Music City Bowl kicked off on December 29, 1998 in Nashville, Tennessee. The weather at kickoff was "horrid," as rain and sleet mixed in freezing temperatures. [ [https://admin.xosn.com/fls/8000/files/football/2007/bowlguide/102-124.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=8000 2007 Alabama Bowl Guide] Alabama Athletics department, Rolltide.com. Page 123. Accessed February 26, 2008.] The game's early going was marked by defense as both teams struggled against the inclement weather. Virginia Tech scored first off a 43-yard touchdown scramble by quarterback Al Clark. Clark's touchdown provided the game's only points until the second quarter, when Alabama evened the score at 7–7 with a five-yard touchdown pass. The Hokies struck back with a field goal before halftime and took a tenuous 10–7 lead into the second half. [http://www.hokiesports.com/football/bowls/1998Music.html 1998 Music City Bowl] Virginia Tech Athletics Department, Hokiesports.com. Accessed February 26, 2008.]

In that half, the Tech offense finally got rolling. The Hokies scored 14 points in both the third and fourth quarters, ending the game on an uncontested 28–0 run. Alabama's offense was stifled throughout by effective pressure from Tech defensive end Corey Moore, and Tech was able to turn several fumbles and interceptions by the Crimson Tide into points on the scoreboard. The final 38–7 Virginia Tech victory was the biggest win in Virginia Tech bowl game history.

See also

* 1998 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

Notes