Vols, Hokies tabbed for New Year’s Eve date in Chick-fil-A Bowl

By Bud L. Ellis

The reports last week were true, and two of the South’s most storied football programs will conclude their season in the Georgia Dome on New Year’s Eve.

The Chick-fil-A Bowl will feature Tennessee from the Southeastern Conference and Virginia Tech of the Atlantic Coast Conference in Atlanta on Dec. 31, a matchup of two teams that look to head into 2010 on an upswing in the final hours of 2009.

Virginia Tech definitely won’t have to ask for directions to Atlanta. The game marks the third time this season the Hokies will play in Georgia’s capital city. Virginia Tech opened the season with a 34-24 loss to eventual BCS national championship game qualifier Alabama in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic at the Georgia Dome Sept. 5. Six weeks later, the Hokies were back in Atlanta as the fourth-ranked team in the nation, losing an ACC Coastal Division showdown to then No. 19 ranked and eventual ACC champ Georgia Tech in heartbreaking fashion. 28-23.

But after losing to unranked North Carolina 20-17 on Oct. 29, the Hokies have found their stride. Virginia Tech comes into the Chick-fil-A Bowl riding a four-game winning streak. In those four wins over East Carolina, Maryland, N.C. State and Virginia, the Hokies have outscored the opposition 132-35.

Tennessee’s season didn’t start as strong as the Hokies, but the Vols have mirrored Virginia Tech’s strong closing kick.

Under first-year head coach Lane Kiffin, the Vols dropped three of their first five games, losing by 10 to then-No. 1 ranked Florida on Sept. 19 in Gainesville, and a bitter 26-22 loss at home to Auburn on Oct. 3. But after blowing out Georgia 45-19 on Oct. 10 for Kiffin’s first SEC victory, it’s been mostly smooth sailing for the Vols.

Tennessee narrowly missed upsetting Alabama on Oct. 24, losing 12-10 on a blocked field goal attempt at the finish. But the Vols regrouped and closed the season with four victories in their final five contests, topping 30 points in all four victories to finish second in the ultra-tough SEC East.

The Chick-fil-A Bowl matchup is just the second time since 1937. The Vols downed the Hokies 45-23 in the 1994 Gator Bowl in Jacksonville. All told, the teams have faced each other seven times, the first six meetings coming between 1896 and 1937 (UT leads the series 5-2).

—30—

Monday, December 7, 2009 at 9:34 pm by bud

Tags: ACC, Alabama, Auburn, Chick-fil-A Bowl, East Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Dome, Georgia Tech, Maryland, N.C. State, North Carolina, SEC, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech

Report: Vols, Hokies to meet in Chick-fil-A Bowl

By Bud L. Ellis

The official announcements won’t come for another few days, but according to a published report Tuesday, the Chick-fil-A Bowl matchup is set.

Tennessee will take on Virginia Tech in the Dec. 31 game at the Georgia Dome, according to an unnamed source, reported The Knoxville News Sentinel.

How did Tennessee, which plays in the SEC East, slip past the Outback Bowl in Tampa, where it appeared the Vols were heading? The Outback apparently is going to take Auburn, instead of snagging the SEC East’s runner-up.

Tennessee finished 7-5 on the season, 4-4 in the SEC.

If the Vols face Virginia Tech, it will mark the Hokies’ third trip to Georgia’s capital city this season. Virginia Tech hopes the third time will be the charm, having lost to Alabama in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic and falling at Georgia Tech in an ACC contest in October.

Virginia Tech finished the season 9-3, 6-2 in ACC action.

Virginia Tech last played in the Chick-fil-A Bowl in 2006, losing to Georgia 31-24. Tennessee last appeared in the game in January 2004, falling to Clemson 27-14.

—30—

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at 9:09 pm by bud

Tags: Alabama, Auburn, Chick-fil-A Bowl, Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Dome, Outback Bowl, Tennessee, Virginia Tech