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text-align:center; font-weight:bold;"><a href="/wiki/2005_Louisville_Cardinals_football_team" title="2005 Louisville Cardinals football team">Louisville Cardinals</a></td> <td style="width:50%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold;"><a href="/wiki/2005_Virginia_Tech_Hokies_football_team" title="2005 Virginia Tech Hokies football team">Virginia Tech Hokies</a></td> </tr><tr> <td style="width:50%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold;">(9–2)</td> <td style="width:50%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold;">(10–2)</td> </tr><tr> <td style="width:50%; text-align:center;"><i><a href="/wiki/Big_East_Conference_(1979%E2%80%932013)" title="Big East Conference (1979–2013)">Big East</a></i></td> <td style="width:50%; text-align:center;"><i><a href="/wiki/Atlantic_Coast_Conference" title="Atlantic Coast Conference">ACC</a></i></td> </tr><tr> <td style="font-size:300%; line-height:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold;">24</td> <td style="font-size:300%; line-height:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold;">35</td> </tr><tr> <td style="text-align:center;">Head coach: <br /><b><a href="/wiki/Bobby_Petrino" title="Bobby Petrino">Bobby Petrino</a></b></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Head coach: <br /><b><a href="/wiki/Frank_Beamer" title="Frank Beamer">Frank Beamer</a></b></td> </tr><tr> <td><table style="margin:0 auto; font-size:110%; border:1px solid #AAA; background:#EFEFEF;"> <tbody><tr> <td><i><a href="/wiki/AP_Poll" class="mw-redirect" title="AP Poll">AP</a></i></td><td><i><a href="/wiki/Coaches_Poll" title="Coaches Poll">Coaches</a></i></td><td><i><a href="/wiki/2005_NCAA_Division_I-A_football_rankings#BCS_rankings" title="2005 NCAA Division I-A football rankings">BCS</a></i></td> </tr><tr> <td style="text-align:center;"><i>15</i></td><td style="text-align:center;"><i>16</i></td><td style="text-align:center;"><i>19</i></td> </tr></tbody></table></td> <td><table style="margin:0 auto; font-size:110%; border:1px solid #AAA; background:#EFEFEF;"> <tbody><tr> <td><i><a href="/wiki/AP_Poll" class="mw-redirect" title="AP Poll">AP</a></i></td><td><i><a href="/wiki/Coaches_Poll" title="Coaches Poll">Coaches</a></i></td><td><i><a href="/wiki/2005_NCAA_Division_I-A_football_rankings#BCS_rankings" title="2005 NCAA Division I-A football rankings">BCS</a></i></td> </tr><tr> <td style="text-align:center;"><i>12</i></td><td style="text-align:center;"><i>12</i></td><td style="text-align:center;"><i>10</i></td> </tr></tbody></table></td> </tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image"><table align="center" style="font-size: 90%"> <tbody><tr> <th></th> <th style="text-align:center; width: 20px; vertical-align: bottom">1</th><th style="text-align:center; width: 20px; vertical-align: bottom">2</th><th style="text-align:center; width: 20px; vertical-align: bottom">3</th><th style="text-align:center; width: 20px; vertical-align: bottom">4</th> <th style="text-align:center; width: 20px; vertical-align: bottom">Total</th> </tr><tr> <td style="text-align:right; white-space: nowrap"><b>Louisville</b></td> <td style="text-align:center; background:#efefef">14</td><td style="text-align:center; background:#efefef">3</td><td style="text-align:center; background:#efefef">0</td><td style="text-align:center; background:#efefef">7</td> <td style="text-align:center; font-weight: bold">24</td> </tr><tr> <td style="text-align:right; white-space: nowrap"><b>Virginia Tech</b></td> <td style="text-align:center; background:#efefef">3</td><td style="text-align:center; background:#efefef">7</td><td style="text-align:center; background:#efefef">3</td><td style="text-align:center; background:#efefef">22</td> <td style="text-align:center; font-weight: bold">35</td> </tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Date</th><td class="infobox-data">January 2, 2006</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Season</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/2005_NCAA_Division_I-A_football_season" title="2005 NCAA Division I-A football season">2005</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Stadium</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Alltel_Stadium" class="mw-redirect" title="Alltel Stadium">Alltel Stadium</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Location</th><td class="infobox-data location"><a href="/wiki/Jacksonville,_Florida" title="Jacksonville, Florida">Jacksonville, Florida</a>, United States</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">MVP</th><td class="infobox-data">Cedric Humes (Virginia Tech),<br /> Hunter Cantwell (Louisville)</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Spread_betting" title="Spread betting">Favorite</a></th><td class="infobox-data">Virginia Tech by 7.5</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/The_Star-Spangled_Banner" title="The Star-Spangled Banner">National anthem</a></th><td class="infobox-data">Monty Lane Allen</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Official_(American_football)" class="mw-redirect" title="Official (American football)">Referee</a></th><td class="infobox-data">Steve Usechek (<a href="/wiki/Big_12" class="mw-redirect" title="Big 12">Big 12</a>)</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Halftime_show" title="Halftime show">Halftime show</a></th><td class="infobox-data">Various <a href="/wiki/High_school" class="mw-redirect" title="High school">high school</a> marching bands from <a href="/wiki/Kentucky" title="Kentucky">Kentucky</a>, <a href="/wiki/Virginia" title="Virginia">Virginia</a>, <a href="/wiki/West_Virginia" title="West Virginia">West Virginia</a>, New York, <a href="/wiki/Florida" title="Florida">Florida</a> and Michigan</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Attendance</th><td class="infobox-data">63,780</td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background-color:#efefef;">United States TV coverage</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Television_network" class="mw-redirect" title="Television network">Network</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/NBC" title="NBC">NBC</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/List_of_announcers_of_major_college_bowl_games" class="mw-redirect" title="List of announcers of major college bowl games">Announcers</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Tom_Hammond" title="Tom Hammond">Tom Hammond</a>, <a href="/wiki/Pat_Haden" title="Pat Haden">Pat Haden</a>, <br />and <a href="/wiki/Lewis_Johnson_(commentator)" title="Lewis Johnson (commentator)">Lewis Johnson</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Nielsen_ratings" class="mw-redirect" title="Nielsen ratings">Nielsen ratings</a></th><td class="infobox-data">3.93</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-below noprint"><table style="background:#efefef; width:100%; border-collapse:collapse"> <tbody><tr> <th style="text-align:center" colspan="2"><a href="/wiki/Gator_Bowl_(game)" class="mw-redirect" title="Gator Bowl (game)"> Gator Bowl </a></th> </tr><tr> <td style="width:50%; text-align:center; padding-right:1em"><b>  < <a href="/wiki/2005_Gator_Bowl" title="2005 Gator Bowl"> 2005</a></b> </td> <td style="width:50%; text-align:center; padding-left:1em"><b><a href="/wiki/2007_Gator_Bowl" title="2007 Gator Bowl"> 2007</a> >  </b></td> </tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>The <b>2006 Gator Bowl</b> was a <a href="/wiki/College_football" title="College football">college football</a> <a href="/wiki/Bowl_game" title="Bowl game">bowl game</a> between the <a href="/wiki/Louisville_Cardinals_football" title="Louisville Cardinals football">Louisville Cardinals</a> and the <a href="/wiki/2005_Virginia_Tech_Hokies_football_team" title="2005 Virginia Tech Hokies football team">Virginia Tech Hokies</a> at <a href="/wiki/Alltel_Stadium" class="mw-redirect" title="Alltel Stadium">Alltel Stadium</a> in <a href="/wiki/Jacksonville,_Florida" title="Jacksonville, Florida">Jacksonville, Florida</a>, United States, on January 2, 2006. The game was the final contest of the <a href="/wiki/2005_NCAA_Division_I-A_football_season" title="2005 NCAA Division I-A football season">2005 football season</a> for each team and resulted in a 35–24 Virginia Tech victory. Louisville represented the <a href="/wiki/Big_East_Conference_(1979%E2%80%932013)" title="Big East Conference (1979–2013)">Big East Conference</a> (Big East), and Virginia Tech represented the <a href="/wiki/Atlantic_Coast_Conference" title="Atlantic Coast Conference">Atlantic Coast Conference</a> (ACC) in the competition. </p><p>Louisville was selected as a participant in the 2006 Gator Bowl following a 9–2 regular season of their first year in the Big East Conference. Louisville won its last five games before the Gator Bowl and participated in the <a href="/wiki/Liberty_Bowl" title="Liberty Bowl">Liberty Bowl</a> at the end of the previous season. Facing the 15th-ranked Cardinals, were the 12th-ranked Hokies. Virginia Tech finished 10–2 <a href="/wiki/Season_(sports)" title="Season (sports)">regular season</a>, and included wins over 15th-ranked <a href="/wiki/Georgia_Tech_Yellow_Jackets_football" title="Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football">Georgia Tech</a> and traditional rivals <a href="/wiki/Virginia_Cavaliers_football" title="Virginia Cavaliers football">Virginia</a> and <a href="/wiki/West_Virginia_Mountaineers_football" title="West Virginia Mountaineers football">West Virginia</a>. A loss to <a href="/wiki/Florida_State_Seminoles_football" title="Florida State Seminoles football">Florida State</a> in the <a href="/wiki/2005_ACC_Championship_Game" title="2005 ACC Championship Game">inaugural ACC Championship Game</a> gave Tech a position in the Gator Bowl instead of the more prestigious <a href="/wiki/Bowl_Championship_Series" title="Bowl Championship Series">Bowl Championship Series</a>-run <a href="/wiki/2006_Orange_Bowl" title="2006 Orange Bowl">Orange Bowl</a> game. Pre-game media coverage of the game focused on Louisville's loss of star <a href="/wiki/Quarterback" title="Quarterback">quarterback</a> <a href="/wiki/Brian_Brohm" title="Brian Brohm">Brian Brohm</a> to injury, Virginia Tech's fall from being a contender for the national championship, the fact that both teams were playing under new conference affiliations, and the rise of Virginia Tech quarterback <a href="/wiki/Marcus_Vick" title="Marcus Vick">Marcus Vick</a>, younger brother of NFL star <a href="/wiki/Michael_Vick" title="Michael Vick">Michael Vick</a>. </p><p>The 2006 Gator Bowl began on January 2, 2006, at 12:30 p.m. <a href="/wiki/Eastern_Time_Zone" title="Eastern Time Zone">EST</a> in Jacksonville. Louisville led for much of the game, beginning with an 11-yard <a href="/wiki/Touchdown" title="Touchdown">touchdown</a> <a href="/wiki/Forward_pass" title="Forward pass">pass</a> in the first quarter by backup quarterback <a href="/wiki/Hunter_Cantwell" title="Hunter Cantwell">Hunter Cantwell</a>, who filled in for the injured Brohm. Tech's offense replied with a <a href="/wiki/Field_goal" title="Field goal">field goal</a>, but Louisville was able to add another touchdown before the end of the quarter, extending its lead to 14–3. In the second quarter, Virginia Tech fought back and narrowed Louisville's lead to a single touchdown. At halftime, the score was 17–10 in Louisville's favor. In the second half, Virginia Tech's offense began to have success. Tech earned the only points of the third quarter—a 28-yard field goal from kicker Brandon Pace—to narrow Louisville's lead to 17–13. In the fourth quarter, the game fully turned in the Hokies' favor. Though Louisville scored a touchdown early in the quarter, Virginia Tech scored 22 unanswered points in the final 13 minutes of the game to take a 35–24 lead and earn the win. </p><p><a href="/wiki/Halfback_(American_football)" title="Halfback (American football)">Tailback</a> <a href="/wiki/Cedric_Humes" title="Cedric Humes">Cedric Humes</a> was named the <a href="/wiki/Most_valuable_player" title="Most valuable player">most valuable player</a> of the game for Virginia Tech, and quarterback Hunter Cantwell was named the Cardinals' most valuable player. Tech <a href="/wiki/Punter_(American_football)" class="mw-redirect" title="Punter (American football)">punter</a> Nic Schmitt set Gator Bowl records for <a href="/wiki/Punt_(gridiron_football)" title="Punt (gridiron football)">punt</a> yardage and average punt distance, kicking the ball six times for 300 yards, an average of 50 yards per kick. Virginia Tech's win was marred by excessive penalties and unsportsmanlike conduct that resulted in the ejection of one player. Following the game, Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick was released from the team as a result of several incidents of misconduct, including a stomp on Louisville defender <a href="/wiki/Elvis_Dumervil" title="Elvis Dumervil">Elvis Dumervil</a>'s leg during the game. Several players who participated in the game, including Dumervil, later went on to careers in the <a href="/wiki/National_Football_League" title="National Football League">National Football League</a>. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Team_selection">Team selection</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=2006_Gator_Bowl&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Team selection"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In the <a href="/wiki/2005_NCAA_Division_I-A_football_season" title="2005 NCAA Division I-A football season">2005 college football season</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Atlantic_Coast_Conference" title="Atlantic Coast Conference">Atlantic Coast Conference</a> had an <a href="/wiki/Automatic_bids_to_non-BCS_bowls" class="mw-redirect" title="Automatic bids to non-BCS bowls">automatic bid</a> to the Gator Bowl. By contract, the Gator Bowl Association—which produces the game—possessed the first pick of <a href="/wiki/Bowl-eligible" class="mw-redirect" title="Bowl-eligible">bowl-eligible</a> ACC teams after the winner of the <a href="/wiki/ACC_Championship_Game" title="ACC Championship Game">ACC Championship Game</a> was given a spot in a <a href="/wiki/Bowl_Championship_Series" title="Bowl Championship Series">Bowl Championship Series</a> (BCS) game.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This was the final year that the Gator Bowl had first pick of eligible ACC teams, as contract renegotiations later resulted in the Gator Bowl slipping to the third selection, beginning with the <a href="/wiki/2006_NCAA_Division_I-A_football_season" class="mw-redirect" title="2006 NCAA Division I-A football season">2006 college football season</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Virginia Tech, losers of the <a href="/wiki/2005_ACC_Championship_Game" title="2005 ACC Championship Game">2005 ACC Championship Game</a>, were chosen by the Gator Bowl Association to participate as the ACC's representative to the 2006 Gator Bowl. </p><p>The other half of the matchup would consist of either <a href="/wiki/2005_Notre_Dame_Fighting_Irish_football_team" title="2005 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team">Notre Dame</a> or the first selection from the <a href="/wiki/Big_East_Conference_(1979%E2%80%932013)" title="Big East Conference (1979–2013)">Big East Conference</a> after that conference's automatic BCS bid.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Because Notre Dame was selected to play in the <a href="/wiki/2006_Fiesta_Bowl" title="2006 Fiesta Bowl">2006 Fiesta Bowl</a>, a BCS game, the Gator Bowl Association was required to select the Big East's Louisville Cardinals, which, like Virginia Tech, finished second in their conference.<sup id="cite_ref-accept_4-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-accept-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Louisville">Louisville</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=2006_Gator_Bowl&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Louisville"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/2005_Louisville_Cardinals_football_team" title="2005 Louisville Cardinals football team">2005 Louisville Cardinals football team</a></div> <p>The Louisville Cardinals football team came into the 2005 season having gone 11–1 the previous season, including a season-ending 44–40 victory over <a href="/wiki/2004_Boise_State_Broncos_football_team" title="2004 Boise State Broncos football team">Boise State</a> in the <a href="/wiki/Liberty_Bowl" title="Liberty Bowl">2004 Liberty Bowl</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In addition, Louisville was also entering a new conference—the Big East—after departing <a href="/wiki/Conference_USA" title="Conference USA">Conference USA</a> following the end of the 2004 season.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In a poll of media members covering the Big East prior to the 2005 season, Louisville was predicted to win the Big East championship its first year in the conference.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In their first and second games of the season, the Cardinals lived up to that expectation. At in-state rival <a href="/wiki/2005_Kentucky_Wildcats_football_team" title="2005 Kentucky Wildcats football team">Kentucky</a>, Louisville earned a 31–24 victory to win the <a href="/wiki/Kentucky%E2%80%93Louisville_rivalry" title="Kentucky–Louisville rivalry">Governor's Cup</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This was followed the next week by a 63–27 victory over non-conference opponent <a href="/wiki/2005_Oregon_State_Beavers_football_team" title="2005 Oregon State Beavers football team">Oregon State</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Unfortunately for the Cardinals, their first Big East conference game of the season—and of school history—did not go as well. At <a href="/wiki/2005_South_Florida_Bulls_football_team" title="2005 South Florida Bulls football team">South Florida</a>, the ninth-ranked Cardinals were outscored 45–14, the first time in 13 games Louisville's offense was held to less than 30 points.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Following the loss, Louisville recovered, scoring 61 points and 69 points, respectively, in non-conference wins over <a href="/wiki/2005_Florida_Atlantic_Owls_football_team" title="2005 Florida Atlantic Owls football team">Florida Atlantic</a> and <a href="/wiki/2005_North_Carolina_Tar_Heels_football_team" title="2005 North Carolina Tar Heels football team">North Carolina</a>, returning to their previous offensive success.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Again, however, Louisville faltered against a Big East opponent. The Cardinals' second Big East game, at <a href="/wiki/2005_West_Virginia_Mountaineers_football_team" title="2005 West Virginia Mountaineers football team">West Virginia</a>, was another Louisville loss, 46–44.<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> West Virginia later went on to finish 11–1 for the season, winning the Big East championship and defeating the Georgia Bulldogs in the <a href="/wiki/2006_Sugar_Bowl" title="2006 Sugar Bowl">2006 Sugar Bowl</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Louisville, meanwhile, returned to its winning ways. The Cardinals, following their loss to the Mountaineers, won their first Big East game in school history the next week, over <a href="/wiki/2005_Cincinnati_Bearcats_football_team" title="2005 Cincinnati Bearcats football team">Cincinnati</a>, 46–22.<sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The rout of Cincinnati sparked a five-game winning streak, which concluded on December 3 with a 30–20 victory over <a href="/wiki/2005_Connecticut_Huskies_football_team" title="2005 Connecticut Huskies football team">Connecticut</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Unfortunately for the Cardinals, starting <a href="/wiki/Quarterback" title="Quarterback">quarterback</a> <a href="/wiki/Brian_Brohm" title="Brian Brohm">Brian Brohm</a>, who had the sixth-best season (in terms of passing yards) in Louisville history, suffered a season-ending knee injury.<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> With West Virginia having won the Big East championship and an automatic Bowl Championship Series game bid, Big East second-place Louisville was selected by the Gator Bowl even before the victory over Connecticut.<sup id="cite_ref-accept_4-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-accept-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Virginia_Tech">Virginia Tech</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=2006_Gator_Bowl&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Virginia Tech"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/2005_Virginia_Tech_Hokies_football_team" title="2005 Virginia Tech Hokies football team">2005 Virginia Tech Hokies football team</a></div> <p>The Virginia Tech Hokies football team began the 2005 college football season as reigning Atlantic Coast Conference football champions.<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Hokies also played in the <a href="/wiki/2005_Sugar_Bowl" title="2005 Sugar Bowl">2005 Sugar Bowl</a> against the third-ranked <a href="/wiki/2004_Auburn_Tigers_football_team" title="2004 Auburn Tigers football team">Auburn Tigers</a>, losing 16–13 in a close contest.<sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Expectations were high for the Hokies to repeat their ACC championship performance the next year, and a preseason poll of media covering ACC football resulted in Virginia Tech being picked to face Florida State in the inaugural ACC Championship Game.<sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In its first game of the season, however, eighth-ranked Virginia Tech almost let those expectations fall short. At <a href="/wiki/2005_NC_State_Wolfpack_football_team" title="2005 NC State Wolfpack football team">North Carolina State</a>, the Hokies trailed at halftime and were tied at the beginning of the fourth quarter before eking out a 20–16 win in the final minutes.<sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Hokies bounced back from the close contest in their second game of the season—against the <a href="/wiki/2005_Duke_Blue_Devils_football_team" title="2005 Duke Blue Devils football team">Duke</a>—as Tech raced to a 45–0 victory.<sup id="cite_ref-22" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>22<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Hokies held Duke to just 35 yards of total offense, Tech's best defensive performance in the modern era.<sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-23"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>23<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The win over Duke was followed by several others in succession. Heading into their ninth game of the season, the Hokies were 8–0 record and the third-ranked college football team in the country.<sup id="cite_ref-24" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-24"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>24<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Against the fifth-ranked <a href="/wiki/2005_Miami_Hurricanes_football_team" title="2005 Miami Hurricanes football team">Miami Hurricanes</a>, however, Virginia Tech suffered its first defeat of the season, falling 27–7.<sup id="cite_ref-25" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Tech recovered by winning its next two games, earning a spot in the inaugural Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game, held in <a href="/wiki/Jacksonville,_Florida" title="Jacksonville, Florida">Jacksonville, Florida</a>. There, the Hokies lost, 27–22, to the <a href="/wiki/2005_Florida_State_Seminoles_football_team" title="2005 Florida State Seminoles football team">Florida State</a>. The Seminoles earned an automatic bid to a <a href="/wiki/Bowl_Championship_Series" title="Bowl Championship Series">Bowl Championship Series</a> game by virtue of the victory—had Virginia Tech won the game, it would have been awarded the bid.<sup id="cite_ref-26" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-26"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>26<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The day after Tech lost the ACC Championship Game, the Gator Bowl extended a formal invitation to Virginia Tech, which the Hokies accepted.<sup id="cite_ref-accept_4-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-accept-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Ninth-ranked Miami, the same team that beat the Hokies 27–7 earlier in the season, was considered for selection, but the Gator Bowl Association took into consideration Virginia Tech's history of having a large fan base travel to its bowl games, and selected the Hokies on those grounds.<sup id="cite_ref-27" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-27"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>27<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Pregame_buildup">Pregame buildup</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=2006_Gator_Bowl&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Pregame buildup"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Pregame media and fan interest surrounding the game focused largely on Louisville's top-ranked offense and Virginia Tech's first-ranked scoring defense.<sup id="cite_ref-28" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-28"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>28<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Other major points of media coverage included the two teams' quarterbacks: Louisville's <a href="/wiki/Hunter_Cantwell" title="Hunter Cantwell">Hunter Cantwell</a>, who replaced starter Brian Brohm after Brohm suffered a season-ending knee injury; and Virginia Tech's <a href="/wiki/Marcus_Vick" title="Marcus Vick">Marcus Vick</a>, brother of <a href="/wiki/National_Football_League" title="National Football League">National Football League</a> star <a href="/wiki/Michael_Vick" title="Michael Vick">Michael Vick</a>. Also a concern for Louisville was the health of star <a href="/wiki/Running_back" title="Running back">running back</a> <a href="/wiki/Michael_Bush" title="Michael Bush">Michael Bush</a>, who missed two games in November due to an injury.<sup id="cite_ref-weak_Tech_29-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-weak_Tech-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> On a wider note, there was also interest in the conference-level showdown between a new Big East team (Louisville) and a team that left the Big East for the ACC after the 2003 season (Virginia Tech).<sup id="cite_ref-30" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-30"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>30<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> For Virginia Tech, there was also the hope of overcoming the disappointment of a season that saw the Hokies ranked third in the country and in the hunt for the national championship before failing to even win the Atlantic Coast Conference and missing a bid to a Bowl Championship Series game.<sup id="cite_ref-Win_or_Bust_31-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Win_or_Bust-31"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Hokies_arrive_32-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Hokies_arrive-32"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>32<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-33" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-33"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>33<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>When betting on the game opened, <a href="/wiki/Spread_betting" title="Spread betting">spread bettors</a> favored Virginia Tech by 10 points. Five days after betting opened, the point spread narrowed to 7.5, still in favor of Virginia Tech.<sup id="cite_ref-early_RT_King_notes_34-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-early_RT_King_notes-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>34<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Two weeks later, the point spread remained at 7.5 in favor of Virginia Tech.<sup id="cite_ref-Win_or_Bust_31-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Win_or_Bust-31"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Offensive_matchup">Offensive matchup</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=2006_Gator_Bowl&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Offensive matchup"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Louisville_offense">Louisville offense</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=2006_Gator_Bowl&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Louisville offense"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Heading into the Gator Bowl, Louisville's scoring offense was ranked third in the country—averaging 45.2 points per game—and was held under 30 points just once in their preceding 21 games.<sup id="cite_ref-weak_Tech_29-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-weak_Tech-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The high-powered Cardinals' offense was predicted to pose a challenge for the Virginia Tech defense.<sup id="cite_ref-early_RT_King_notes_34-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-early_RT_King_notes-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>34<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>With star quarterback Brian Brohm having undergone surgery to repair a torn <a href="/wiki/Anterior_cruciate_ligament" title="Anterior cruciate ligament">anterior cruciate ligament</a>, there were some questions as to how backup Hunter Cantwell would perform under pressure.<sup id="cite_ref-early_RT_King_notes_34-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-early_RT_King_notes-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>34<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Cantwell played well in the Cardinals' season-ending contest against Connecticut, but some commentators predicted that Virginia Tech's quicker defense would pose problems for him.<sup id="cite_ref-35" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-35"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>35<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In that contest, Cantwell completed 16 of 25 passes for 271 yards and a touchdown.<sup id="cite_ref-early_RT_King_notes_34-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-early_RT_King_notes-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>34<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In <a href="/wiki/Paducah_Tilghman_High_School" title="Paducah Tilghman High School">high school</a>, Cantwell passed for 7,272 yards and 70 touchdowns. His .606 career completion percentage ranked 11th in <a href="/wiki/Kentucky" title="Kentucky">Kentucky</a> state history.<sup id="cite_ref-fburg_shot_36-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-fburg_shot-36"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>36<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Running back Michael Bush was predicted to return to form after suffering a foot injury that kept him out of two games in November. Bush ran for 121 yards and three touchdowns against Connecticut, his first game back from the injury. Heading into the Gator Bowl, Bush earned a school-record 24 touchdowns and led the country in scoring. He ran for 1,049 yards in nine games.<sup id="cite_ref-weak_Tech_29-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-weak_Tech-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> He was also a capable receiver, catching 20 passes for 245 yards and a touchdown. But with Brohm on the sidelines, it was expected the Cardinals would rely on Bush's legs more than usual, in an effort to minimize the need for the inexperienced Cantwell to pass the ball.<sup id="cite_ref-37" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-37"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>37<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Louisville <a href="/wiki/Wide_receiver" title="Wide receiver">wide receiver</a> <a href="/wiki/Mario_Urrutia" title="Mario Urrutia">Mario Urrutia</a>, who caught 31 passes for 702 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season,<sup id="cite_ref-38" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-38"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>38<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> stirred a bit of controversy in the final days leading up to the Gator Bowl after he declared that Virginia Tech's first-ranked defense was "mostly hype".<sup id="cite_ref-fburg_shot_36-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-fburg_shot-36"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>36<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Virginia_Tech_offense">Virginia Tech offense</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=2006_Gator_Bowl&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Virginia Tech offense"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick was considered the key player for the Virginia Tech offense heading into the Gator Bowl. The younger brother of first-overall <a href="/wiki/NFL_Draft" class="mw-redirect" title="NFL Draft">NFL Draft</a> pick Michael Vick—who also played for Tech—Marcus led the league in passing efficiency (141.6 rating), completed 166 of 268 passes (60.3 percent) for 2,190 yards and 15 touchdowns, with ten interceptions. On the ground, he ran for 370 yards and six touchdowns. Prior to the Gator Bowl, he pledged that he would return for another season at Virginia Tech before entering the NFL draft. "The NFL is tough. It's the real deal. You've got to be ready for it. You just don't want to rush into just throwing yourself out there because of the money or anything like that. You've got to really be prepared for it", he said.<sup id="cite_ref-39" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-39"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>39<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>On the ground, two different Tech players were predicted to share time running the ball.<sup id="cite_ref-Ore_40-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Ore-40"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>40<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Senior running back Cedric Humes was predicted to get the bulk of the carries in the game, but <a href="/wiki/Redshirt_(college_sports)" title="Redshirt (college sports)">redshirt</a> freshman Branden Ore was also predicted to see some plays at times. Humes rushed the ball 140 times for 639 yards and ten touchdowns during the regular season.<sup id="cite_ref-41" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-41"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>41<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Ore, meanwhile, ran the ball for 591 yards and six touchdowns.<sup id="cite_ref-Ore_40-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Ore-40"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>40<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Wide receiver <a href="/wiki/Josh_Morgan" title="Josh Morgan">Josh Morgan</a> was also considered a key component of the Hokie offense. Morgan finished the season with 28 receptions for 471 yards and four touchdowns.<sup id="cite_ref-42" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-42"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>42<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Prior to the game, Morgan predicted that if the Hokies executed their plays well, they would emerge the victors.<sup id="cite_ref-43" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-43"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>43<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Backup <a href="/wiki/Guard_(American_football)" class="mw-redirect" title="Guard (American football)">guard</a> Brandon Gore broke his ankle during the Hokies' loss to Florida State and would not be able to participate.<sup id="cite_ref-early_RT_King_notes_34-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-early_RT_King_notes-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>34<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Senior Tech running back <a href="/wiki/Mike_Imoh" title="Mike Imoh">Mike Imoh</a>, who shared time running the ball during the regular season with Ore and Humes, was also out after undergoing surgery to repair an injured ankle.<sup id="cite_ref-Hokies_arrive_32-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Hokies_arrive-32"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>32<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Adding to the injury situation for Virginia Tech was <a href="/wiki/Offensive_tackle" class="mw-redirect" title="Offensive tackle">offensive tackle</a> Jimmy Martin, who suffered a sprained knee ligament in practice leading up to the game.<sup id="cite_ref-44" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-44"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>44<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Martin started 45 consecutive games prior to the Gator Bowl, a streak that was broken when he was replaced by <a href="/wiki/Brandon_Frye" title="Brandon Frye">Brandon Frye</a> on the day of the game.<sup id="cite_ref-45" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-45"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>45<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Defensive_matchup">Defensive matchup</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=2006_Gator_Bowl&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Defensive matchup"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Louisville_defense">Louisville defense</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=2006_Gator_Bowl&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Louisville defense"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Shortly after Louisville was selected to the 2006 Gator Bowl, Cardinals <a href="/wiki/Defensive_end" title="Defensive end">defensive end</a> <a href="/wiki/Elvis_Dumervil" title="Elvis Dumervil">Elvis Dumervil</a> was awarded the <a href="/wiki/Bronko_Nagurski_Trophy" title="Bronko Nagurski Trophy">Bronko Nagurski Trophy</a>, given annually to the top defensive college football player in the United States.<sup id="cite_ref-46" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-46"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>46<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Dumervil also earned several other honors in the weeks leading up to the game, including being named Big East Defensive Player of the Year, an <a href="/wiki/All-America" title="All-America">Associated Press All-American</a> and earning the <a href="/wiki/Ted_Hendricks_Award" title="Ted Hendricks Award">Ted Hendricks Award</a>, given annually to the best defensive end in the country.<sup id="cite_ref-47" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-47"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>47<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Dumervil led the nation in sacks (20) and forced fumbles (10) during the regular season.<sup id="cite_ref-APAA_48-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-APAA-48"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>48<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Prior to the game, he announced that he was looking forward to the contest, saying, "To me, I wanted to play the best possible team in the Gator Bowl, and I think that's what we've got".<sup id="cite_ref-early_RT_King_notes_34-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-early_RT_King_notes-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>34<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>A week and a half after Dumervil won the Nagurski Trophy, senior <a href="/wiki/Defensive_tackle" title="Defensive tackle">defensive tackle</a> <a href="/wiki/Montavious_Stanley" title="Montavious Stanley">Montavious Stanley</a>, who was a leader on defense for Louisville, underwent surgery to repair a torn <a href="/wiki/Pectoralis_major_muscle" class="mw-redirect" title="Pectoralis major muscle">pectoral muscle</a>. Stanley was the Cardinals' best run-stopper on defense, amassing 48 tackles and 5.5 <a href="/wiki/Quarterback_sack" title="Quarterback sack">sacks</a> during the season.<sup id="cite_ref-49" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-49"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>49<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Virginia_Tech_defense">Virginia Tech defense</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=2006_Gator_Bowl&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Virginia Tech defense"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Coming into the Gator Bowl, the Virginia Tech defense was ranked first in total defense, second in pass defense, fourth in rushing defense, and third in scoring defense, allowing an average of just over 12 points per game.<sup id="cite_ref-fburg_shot_36-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-fburg_shot-36"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>36<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Virginia Tech defense was led by defensive end <a href="/wiki/Darryl_Tapp" title="Darryl Tapp">Darryl Tapp</a>, a first-team All-ACC pick, an <a href="/wiki/American_Football_Coaches_Association" title="American Football Coaches Association">American Football Coaches Association</a> (AFCA) All-American, a finalist for the <a href="/wiki/Lott_Trophy" title="Lott Trophy">Lott Trophy</a>, and a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award. Tapp was considered a natural leader both on and off the field and led the Hokies' defensive workouts during practice.<sup id="cite_ref-50" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-50"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>50<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Tapp finished the regular season with 45 tackles (including 12.5 for a loss) and ten sacks. He was also named a second-team <a href="/wiki/Associated_Press" title="Associated Press">Associated Press</a> All-American,<sup id="cite_ref-APAA_48-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-APAA-48"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>48<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and he won the Dudley Award, given annually to the best college football player in the state of Virginia.<sup id="cite_ref-51" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-51"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>51<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Tech cornerback <a href="/wiki/Jimmy_F._Williams" class="mw-redirect" title="Jimmy F. Williams">Jimmy F. Williams</a>, considered a cornerstone of the Hokie defense, was a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy that season, but lost to Louisville's Elvis Dumervil.<sup id="cite_ref-52" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-52"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>52<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Williams was Tech's sole first-team Associated Press All-American and also was named to the American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association of American and Walter Camp All-America teams. He recorded 44 tackles and an interception for the Hokies in the regular season.<sup id="cite_ref-APAA_48-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-APAA-48"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>48<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Williams had foregone entering the NFL draft after the <a href="/wiki/2004_NCAA_Division_I-A_football_season" title="2004 NCAA Division I-A football season">2004 college football season</a> in order to return to Virginia Tech for his senior season, and he was expected to be a high draft pick upon graduation.<sup id="cite_ref-53" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-53"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>53<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Game_summary">Game summary</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=2006_Gator_Bowl&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Game summary"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Jacksonville_Municipal_Stadium.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Jacksonville_Municipal_Stadium.JPG/220px-Jacksonville_Municipal_Stadium.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Jacksonville_Municipal_Stadium.JPG/330px-Jacksonville_Municipal_Stadium.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Jacksonville_Municipal_Stadium.JPG/440px-Jacksonville_Municipal_Stadium.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2560" data-file-height="1920" /></a><figcaption>Alltel Stadium, now called <a href="/wiki/TIAA_Bank_Field" class="mw-redirect" title="TIAA Bank Field">TIAA Bank Field</a>, was the site of the 2006 Gator Bowl.</figcaption></figure> <p>The 2006 Gator Bowl <a href="/wiki/Kickoff_(American_football)" class="mw-redirect" title="Kickoff (American football)">kicked off</a> at 12:30 p.m. <a href="/wiki/Eastern_Time_Zone" title="Eastern Time Zone">EST</a> on January 2, 2006, in <a href="/wiki/Jacksonville,_Florida" title="Jacksonville, Florida">Jacksonville, Florida</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-54" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-54"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>54<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Official attendance for the game was listed as 63,780, placing it at 34th (out of 62) on the list of Gator Bowls in terms of attendance.<sup id="cite_ref-55" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-55"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>55<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-NCAA_stats_56-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NCAA_stats-56"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>56<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> At kickoff, the weather was mostly cloudy with a temperature of approximately 76 degrees. The wind was from the south-southwest at 11 miles per hour (18 km/h).<sup id="cite_ref-57" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-57"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>57<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Approximately 4.14 million American households watched the game on television, earning the game a <a href="/wiki/Nielsen_rating" class="mw-redirect" title="Nielsen rating">Nielsen rating</a> of 3.93.<sup id="cite_ref-58" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-58"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>58<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The pre-game show featured the <a href="/wiki/Marching_Virginians" class="mw-redirect" title="Marching Virginians">Marching Virginians</a>, the Cardinal Marching Band, and the Wachovia Dance Team, a collection of Jacksonville-area entertainers. Also before kickoff, the stadium was overflown by a flight of <a href="/wiki/U.S._Navy" class="mw-redirect" title="U.S. Navy">U.S. Navy</a> <a href="/wiki/F/A-18_Super_Hornet" class="mw-redirect" title="F/A-18 Super Hornet">F/A-18 Super Hornets</a> from <a href="/wiki/VFA-103" title="VFA-103">VFA-103</a>, based in Virginia. The <a href="/wiki/Star_Spangled_Banner" class="mw-redirect" title="Star Spangled Banner">national anthem</a> was sung by Monty Lane Allen, member of a <a href="/wiki/Gospel_music" title="Gospel music">Gospel</a> singing group.<sup id="cite_ref-pregame/halftime_59-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-pregame/halftime-59"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>59<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="First_quarter">First quarter</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=2006_Gator_Bowl&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: First quarter"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Virginia Tech won the ceremonial pre-game <a href="/wiki/Coin_toss" class="mw-redirect" title="Coin toss">coin toss</a> to select first possession and deferred its option to the second half; Louisville elected to receive the opening kick. The Cardinals began the game's opening drive at their own 18-yard line after the opening kickoff. Running back <a href="/wiki/Michael_Bush" title="Michael Bush">Michael Bush</a> <a href="/wiki/Rush_(American_football)" class="mw-redirect" title="Rush (American football)">rushed</a> for 12 yards on the game's opening play, netting the game's first first down. Subsequent plays, however, saw Louisville struggle to gain another. Facing fourth down and six yards at their own 34-yard line, the Cardinals seemingly prepared to <a href="/wiki/Punt_(gridiron_football)" title="Punt (gridiron football)">punt</a>. Instead, the Cardinals executed a <a href="/wiki/Trick_play" title="Trick play">trick play</a> by <a href="/wiki/Running_back" title="Running back">running back</a> Kolby Smith, who ran with the ball. Smith surprised the Tech defense and broke free for a 30-yard run, converting the first down and continuing the Louisville drive. Eight plays later, Louisville quarterback Hunter Cantwell connected on an 11-yard <a href="/wiki/Forward_pass" title="Forward pass">pass</a> to Mario Urrutia for a <a href="/wiki/Touchdown" title="Touchdown">touchdown</a> and the game's first points. The <a href="/wiki/Extra_point" class="mw-redirect" title="Extra point">extra point</a> kick was good, and with 10:42 remaining in the first quarter, Louisville took a 7–0 lead.<sup id="cite_ref-1st_60-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1st-60"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>60<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Virginia Tech's first possession of the game began at its own 32-yard line after Louisville's post-touchdown kickoff. Tech running back <a href="/wiki/Cedric_Humes" title="Cedric Humes">Cedric Humes</a> gained 12 yards and a first down on the Hokies' first play of the game, and quarterback <a href="/wiki/Marcus_Vick" title="Marcus Vick">Marcus Vick</a> completed a 24-yard pass to wide receiver Josh Hyman three plays later to get another first down and drive the Hokies into Louisville territory. After Vick was stopped for losses on two consecutive rushing plays, he completed another long pass to Hyman for a first down. Subsequent plays saw Tech advance into the Louisville <a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_American_football#R" class="mw-redirect" title="Glossary of American football">red zone</a> but fail to gain another first down. Kicker Brandon Pace entered the game to attempt a 36-yard <a href="/wiki/Field_goal" title="Field goal">field goal</a> kick, which was successful. With six minutes remaining in the first quarter, Tech cut Louisville's lead to 7–3.<sup id="cite_ref-1st_60-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1st-60"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>60<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Louisville's second drive of the game was much quicker than the Cardinals' first. After beginning at their own 20-yard line, it took the Cardinals just seven plays to travel 80 yards and earn a touchdown. Louisville was helped throughout the drive by repeated Virginia Tech <a href="/wiki/Penalty_(American_football)#Personal_Foul" class="mw-redirect" title="Penalty (American football)">personal foul penalties</a>. Tech players committed three separate 15-yard personal fouls during the drive, one of which came after Louisville's successful extra point kick when cornerback Jimmy Williams bumped a game official. Williams was ejected from the game for the contact and was removed from the field after watching the next series from the sidelines.<sup id="cite_ref-61" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-61"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>61<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The touchdown and extra point extended Louisville's first-quarter lead to 14–3.<sup id="cite_ref-1st_60-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1st-60"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>60<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Tech received the ball at its 20-yard line with 2:44 remaining in the first quarter. Three quick rushes picked up 22 yards and two first downs, pushing the ball to the Tech 42-yard line. On the next play, however, wide receiver <a href="/wiki/Justin_Harper_(American_football)" title="Justin Harper (American football)">Justin Harper</a> committed a 15-yard <a href="/wiki/Pass_interference" title="Pass interference">pass interference</a> penalty, which negated much of the previous plays' gains. Marcus Vick rushed for five yards, threw two incomplete passes, and was unable to get another first down after the penalty. With time winding down in the quarter, Tech was forced to <a href="/wiki/Punt_(gridiron_football)" title="Punt (gridiron football)">punt</a> the ball away. The game's first punt traveled 53 yards, and Louisville took over on offense at its 40-yard line following a 25-yard <a href="/wiki/Punt_return" class="mw-redirect" title="Punt return">punt return</a> as time expired in the quarter.<sup id="cite_ref-1st_60-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1st-60"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>60<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> At the end of the first quarter, Louisville led Virginia Tech, 14–3.<sup id="cite_ref-1st_60-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1st-60"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>60<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Second_quarter">Second quarter</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=2006_Gator_Bowl&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: Second quarter"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Louisville began the second quarter in possession of the ball at its 40-yard line. Despite having good <a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_American_football#F" class="mw-redirect" title="Glossary of American football">field position</a>, the Cardinals were unable to gain more than four yards on three plays and were forced into their first punt of the game. Throughout much of the second quarter, both teams traded punts as each went <a href="/wiki/Three_and_out" class="mw-redirect" title="Three and out">three and out</a> on several occasions. By the quarter's halfway point, Virginia Tech punted the ball twice in the period. Louisville punted the ball three times after kicking no punts at all in the first quarter.<sup id="cite_ref-2nd_62-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2nd-62"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>62<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>After the third Louisville punt, Virginia Tech took over at its 46-yard line. Unlike the previous second-quarter possessions, which saw the Tech offense struggle to move the ball effectively, Tech began its drive with a five-yard rush. After losing seven yards on the next play, Marcus Vick completed a 19-yard pass to <a href="/wiki/Tight_end" title="Tight end">tight end</a> <a href="/wiki/Jeff_King_(American_football_player)" class="mw-redirect" title="Jeff King (American football player)">Jeff King</a>, driving the Hokies into Louisville territory for the first time in the quarter. Two plays later, Vick connected with wide receiver Justin Harper on a 33-yard pass that resulted in the Hokies' first touchdown of the game. With 4:56 remaining in the first half of the game, Tech trimmed Louisville's lead to 14–10.<sup id="cite_ref-2nd_62-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2nd-62"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>62<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Following the Tech touchdown, Louisville attempted to answer with points of its own before halftime. After starting on his own 20-yard line, Hunter Cantwell completed two quick passes that resulted in 26 yards. Two plays later, Michael Bush broke free for a 34-yard run, driving Louisville deep into the Virginia Tech side of the field. Despite having a first down at the Virginia Tech 18-yard line, Louisville was unable to gain any yards on three consecutive plays. Bush was stopped for no gain on a rushing attempt, and two Cantwell passes fell incomplete. Kicker Arthur Carmody came in to complete a 35-yard field goal, and with 2:16 remaining in the first half, Louisville led by a score of 17–10.<sup id="cite_ref-2nd_62-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2nd-62"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>62<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>After receiving Louisville's kickoff, Virginia Tech elected to <a href="/wiki/Run_out_the_clock" class="mw-redirect" title="Run out the clock">run out the clock</a> and bring the first half to an end. During the process, Marcus Vick ran the ball on a designed play and was tackled by Cardinals defensive end Elvis Dumervil after Vick gained nine yards. Following the play, Vick paused, then <a href="/wiki/Stomp_(strike)" title="Stomp (strike)">stomped</a> on Dumervil's leg. Though referees failed to observe the stomp, television commentators replayed the action, and Tech coaches considered pulling Vick from the game as punishment.<sup id="cite_ref-Vick_stomp_63-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Vick_stomp-63"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>63<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> At the end of the first half of play, Louisville held a 17–10 lead.<sup id="cite_ref-2nd_62-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2nd-62"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>62<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Third_quarter">Third quarter</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=2006_Gator_Bowl&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: Third quarter"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The second half of play began with Virginia Tech receiving the ball, going three and out, and punting the ball back to Louisville. The Cardinals reciprocated by also going three and out and punting the ball back to Virginia Tech. The Hokies began their second drive of the quarter at their one-yard line. Despite beginning deep in their own end of the field, Virginia Tech mounted a successful drive. Tailback Branden Ore and quarterback Marcus Vick alternated rushes, picking up 18 yards and a first down. After Vick was <a href="/wiki/Quarterback_sack" title="Quarterback sack">sacked</a> by the Louisville defense, he recovered by throwing a 29-yard pass for another first down. Following the pass, Vick and Ore rushed for six consecutive plays, alternating carries at various intervals. Inside the Louisville red zone, however, the Cardinals' defense stiffened and the Tech offense began to falter. After Tech successfully gained a first down on fourth and one, the Hokies were unable to gain another. Tech kicker Brandon Pace was forced to make his second field goal of the game, this one a 28-yarder, to make the game 17–13 with 2:52 remaining in the quarter. The Tech drive began with 11:17 remaining in the quarter and took eight minutes and 25 seconds off the clock.<sup id="cite_ref-3rd_64-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3rd-64"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>64<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Louisville received the post-field goal kickoff, but again went three and out, punting the ball back to Virginia Tech. Louisville did not pick up a first down in the third quarter, and Tech began yet another drive as time ran out in the quarter. With one quarter remaining in the game, Tech narrowed the Louisville lead to 17–13.<sup id="cite_ref-3rd_64-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3rd-64"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>64<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Fourth_quarter">Fourth quarter</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=2006_Gator_Bowl&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: Fourth quarter"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Shortly after the fourth quarter began, the Virginia Tech drive that began in the waning moments of the third quarter came to an end. The Hokies were forced to punt, and Louisville began its first drive of the fourth quarter. The Cardinals' Harry Douglas ran for 29 yards on their first play of the drive. On the second, Hunter Cantwell completed a 29-yard touchdown pass to Gary Barnidge. It took Louisville just 33 seconds and two plays to travel 58 yards and earn a touchdown. The score gave Louisville a 24–13 lead with 13:32 remaining to play. But just as it took Louisville just two plays to score, so too did it take Virginia Tech two plays to answer the Louisville touchdown. After taking over at his team's 22-yard line, Marcus Vick completed a 54-yard pass to wide receiver <a href="/wiki/David_Clowney" title="David Clowney">David Clowney</a>. Virginia Tech and Louisville committed offsetting 15-yard personal foul penalties before the play, to no effect on the Hokie offense. On the next play after the long pass, Cedric Humes rushed for 24 yards and the answering Hokie touchdown. It took just 28 seconds for Virginia Tech to answer the Louisville touchdown. Having done that, Tech went Louisville one better, successfully scoring a <a href="/wiki/Two-point_conversion" title="Two-point conversion">two-point conversion</a> on a pass from Vick to Morgan. The touchdown and two-point conversion cut the Louisville lead to 24–21.<sup id="cite_ref-4th_65-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4th-65"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>65<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The Cardinals began their second drive of the quarter at their own 25-yard line. In fits and starts, the Louisville offense advanced down the field. Kolby Smith ran for a yard, Michael Bush for two, then six yards, and Cantwell completed two passes of seven yards each. The Cardinals were also helped by a defensive pass interference penalty against Virginia Tech, which gave Louisville a first down by penalty. As Louisville began to enter Tech territory in earnest, however, the Cardinals suffered their first turnover of the game. Facing third down and three yards from the Virginia Tech 40-yard line, Cantwell was sacked and <a href="/wiki/Fumble" title="Fumble">fumbled</a> the ball. Tech defender <a href="/wiki/Xavier_Adibi" title="Xavier Adibi">Xavier Adibi</a> scooped up the loose ball, and Tech gained the initiative.<sup id="cite_ref-4th_65-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4th-65"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>65<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Following the fumble, the Hokies began a drive at their 47-yard line. On the first play, Tech was aided by a pass interference penalty on Louisville. The penalty was followed by a three-yard Cedric Humes rush and yet another pass interference penalty against Louisville. Humes rushed twice more for five yards, and Vick completed a 16-yard pass to David Clowney before Vick completed a five-yard touchdown pass to Jeff King. The score and subsequent extra point gave Virginia Tech a 28–24 lead—its first of the game—with 6:03 remaining.<sup id="cite_ref-4th_65-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4th-65"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>65<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Louisville took over on offense needing to get a touchdown to regain a lead before the waning clock finally ran out of time. After the Tech kickoff and a <a href="/wiki/Touchback" title="Touchback">touchback</a>, the Cardinals took over at their 20-yard line. Michael Bush ran for 10 yards and a first down, and Hunter Cantwell <a href="/wiki/Quarterback_scramble" title="Quarterback scramble">scrambled</a> for six more on a rushing play. Facing third down and needing four yards, Cantwell dropped back to pass for the first down. As the pass soared through the air, Tech defender <a href="/wiki/James_Anderson_(American_football)" title="James Anderson (American football)">James Anderson</a> jumped and caught the ball, <a href="/wiki/Intercepting" class="mw-redirect" title="Intercepting">intercepting</a> it. Still on his feet, Anderson quickly rushed the other way and, unimpeded, ran 39 yards into the end zone for a Virginia Tech touchdown. The score and extra point energized Virginia Tech's offense and defense and gave the Hokies an 11-point lead—35–24—with 4:45 remaining in the game.<sup id="cite_ref-4th_65-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4th-65"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>65<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Louisville returned on offense, needing to score quickly, make a stop on defense, then score a second time to take the lead. The energized Tech defense was disinclined to allow any such thing. Though Cantwell completed two short passes for 16 yards and a first down, he was sacked on first down and the Tech defense prevented him from completing another pass. Two passes were knocked down by Hokie defenders, while another fell short. After Louisville failed to convert a fourth down, Virginia Tech took over on offense. The Hokies proceeded to <a href="/wiki/Run_out_the_clock" class="mw-redirect" title="Run out the clock">run out the clock</a>, executing two short rushes and an incomplete pass. Louisville had one final chance on offense after a Tech punt, but three consecutive desperation <a href="/wiki/Hail_Mary_pass" title="Hail Mary pass">Hail Mary passes</a> were unsuccessful. Two fell incomplete, and the third was intercepted by Tech <a href="/wiki/Cornerback" title="Cornerback">cornerback</a> <a href="/wiki/Brandon_Flowers_(American_football)" title="Brandon Flowers (American football)">Brandon Flowers</a>. With time almost gone, Tech finished running out the clock and secured the victory.<sup id="cite_ref-4th_65-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4th-65"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>65<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> As time expired, Virginia Tech held a 35–24 lead and won the 2006 Gator Bowl.<sup id="cite_ref-4th_65-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4th-65"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>65<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Final_statistics">Final statistics</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=2006_Gator_Bowl&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: Final statistics"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div style="margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; float: right;"> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><b>Statistical comparison</b><sup id="cite_ref-team_stats_66-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-team_stats-66"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>66<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </caption> <tbody><tr> <th></th> <th>UL</th> <th>VT </th></tr> <tr> <td><b>1st Downs</b></td> <td>20</td> <td>21 </td></tr> <tr> <td><b>Total Yards</b></td> <td>343</td> <td>390 </td></tr> <tr> <td><b>Passing Yards</b></td> <td>216</td> <td>203 </td></tr> <tr> <td><b>Rushing Yards</b></td> <td>127</td> <td>187 </td></tr> <tr> <td><b>Penalties</b></td> <td>5–49</td> <td>7–93 </td></tr> <tr> <td><b>3rd Down Conversions</b></td> <td>5–15</td> <td>5–14 </td></tr> <tr> <td><b>4th Down Conversions</b></td> <td>1–2</td> <td>1–1 </td></tr> <tr> <td><b>Turnovers</b></td> <td>4</td> <td>0 </td></tr> <tr> <td><b>Time of Possession</b></td> <td>23:39</td> <td>36:21 </td></tr></tbody></table> </div> <p><a href="/wiki/Running_back" title="Running back">Running back</a> <a href="/wiki/Cedric_Humes" title="Cedric Humes">Cedric Humes</a> was named the game's most valuable player for Virginia Tech,<sup id="cite_ref-67" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-67"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>67<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and <a href="/wiki/Quarterback" title="Quarterback">quarterback</a> Hunter Cantwell was named the Cardinals' most valuable player.<sup id="cite_ref-68" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-68"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>68<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Tech punter Nic Schmitt set Gator Bowl record for punt yardage and average punt distance, kicking the ball six times for 300 yards, an average of 50 yards per kick.<sup id="cite_ref-69" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-69"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>69<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Despite being more highly promoted in pregame media coverage, Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick was outperformed statistically by Louisville's Hunter Cantwell. Vick completed 11 of 21 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 10 yards on 13 carries. Cantwell, meanwhile, completed 15 of his 37 passes for 216 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions.<sup id="cite_ref-NCAA_stats_56-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NCAA_stats-56"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>56<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-team_stats_66-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-team_stats-66"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>66<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>On the ground, Tech running back Cedric Humes led all <a href="/wiki/Rush_(American_football)" class="mw-redirect" title="Rush (American football)">rushers</a> with 22 carries for 113 yards and one touchdown. Louisville's leading rusher, Michael Bush, had 16 carries for 94 yards and one <a href="/wiki/Fumble" title="Fumble">fumble</a>. The third-leading rusher in the game was Tech's Branden Ore, who carried the ball 11 times for 56 yards. Louisville's <a href="/wiki/Kolby_Smith" title="Kolby Smith">Kolby Smith</a> carried the ball three times for 32 yards, including a 30-yard run that was the game's second-longest rushing play.<sup id="cite_ref-NCAA_stats_56-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NCAA_stats-56"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>56<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-team_stats_66-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-team_stats-66"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>66<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Defensively, Virginia Tech dominated, intercepting the ball three times, forcing a fumble once, and earning one defensive touchdown. Two Louisville defenders had the best individual performances during the game, however. <a href="/wiki/Brandon_Johnson_(linebacker)" title="Brandon Johnson (linebacker)">Brandon Johnson</a> and Abe Brown had six tackles apiece, and Brown sacked Marcus Vick once for a loss of ten yards. The sack was one of three earned by the Louisville offense during the game. Virginia Tech's defense earned two sacks during the game, and the Hokies' leading tackler was Vince Hall, who recorded four and two assists on sacks of Louisville's Hunter Cantwell.<sup id="cite_ref-NCAA_stats_56-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NCAA_stats-56"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>56<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Postgame_effects">Postgame effects</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=2006_Gator_Bowl&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: Postgame effects"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Virginia Tech's victory in the 2006 Gator Bowl had far-reaching effects for both the Hokies and the Louisville Cardinals. The win pushed Tech to 11–2 on the season,<sup id="cite_ref-70" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-70"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>70<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> while the Cardinals' loss ensured they ended the 2005 season with a 9–3 overall record. The game itself provided more than $14 million in economic benefit to the Jacksonville area as Louisville and Virginia Tech fans flocked to the region, spending money on food, hotel rooms, transportation, and entertainment.<sup id="cite_ref-71" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-71"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>71<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-72" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-72"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>72<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Virginia Tech quarterbacks coach <a href="/wiki/Kevin_Rogers_(American_football)" title="Kevin Rogers (American football)">Kevin Rogers</a> announced after the game that he would be leaving the team in order to become an assistant coach with the NFL's <a href="/wiki/Minnesota_Vikings" title="Minnesota Vikings">Minnesota Vikings</a>. Rogers was replaced by new hire Mike O'Cain.<sup id="cite_ref-73" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-73"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>73<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Tech offensive coordinator <a href="/wiki/Bryan_Stinespring" title="Bryan Stinespring">Bryan Stinespring</a>'s second job as offensive line coach was filled by <a href="/wiki/James_Madison_University" title="James Madison University">James Madison University</a> assistant coach Curt Newsome.<sup id="cite_ref-74" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-74"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>74<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Marcus_Vick">Marcus Vick</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=2006_Gator_Bowl&action=edit&section=18" title="Edit section: Marcus Vick"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Following the 2005 ACC Championship Game, Virginia Tech quarterback <a href="/wiki/Marcus_Vick" title="Marcus Vick">Marcus Vick</a> stormed off the field, refusing to talk to reporters following the loss.<sup id="cite_ref-Vick_dismissed_75-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Vick_dismissed-75"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Vick, who picked up a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty late in that game, also earned several unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in the 2006 Gator Bowl, where post-game replays revealed he purposefully stomped on the leg of Louisville Cardinals' <a href="/wiki/Defensive_end" title="Defensive end">defensive end</a> <a href="/wiki/Elvis_Dumervil" title="Elvis Dumervil">Elvis Dumervil</a>. Vick claimed he apologized to Dumervil after the game, but Dumervil stated that no apology was made. In the wake of the incident, Virginia Tech officials announced that they would be conducting a review of Vick's conduct on and off the field.<sup id="cite_ref-Vick_stomp_63-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Vick_stomp-63"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>63<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>On January 6, 2006, just a few days after the Gator Bowl, Virginia Tech officials dismissed Vick from the Virginia Tech football team, citing a December 17 <a href="/wiki/Traffic_stop" title="Traffic stop">traffic stop</a> in which Vick was cited for speeding and driving with a revoked or suspended license. Vick hid the information from the team and the infraction was not discovered until January. The traffic stop, an earlier suspension from the team, and his unsportsmanlike conduct during the 2005 ACC Championship Game and 2006 Gator Bowl were used as grounds for his dismissal.<sup id="cite_ref-Vick_dismissed_75-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Vick_dismissed-75"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In response to being dismissed from the team, Vick was quoted as saying, "It's not a big deal. I'll just move on to the next level, baby".<sup id="cite_ref-76" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>76<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Vick appeared in one regular-season NFL game for the <a href="/wiki/Miami_Dolphins" title="Miami Dolphins">Miami Dolphins</a> in 2006. The Dolphins did not renew his contract, and he has been out of football ever since. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="2006_NFL_Draft">2006 NFL Draft</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=2006_Gator_Bowl&action=edit&section=19" title="Edit section: 2006 NFL Draft"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/2006_NFL_draft" title="2006 NFL draft">2006 NFL draft</a></div> <p>On April 29 and 30, the National Football League held its annual player draft. Over a dozen players who participated in the 2006 Gator Bowl were selected in the draft. Virginia Tech had a record nine players selected in the draft, with Darryl Tapp (31st overall) selected first from the Hokies. Jimmy Williams (37th overall), <a href="/wiki/James_Anderson_(American_football)" title="James Anderson (American football)">James Anderson</a> (88th), <a href="/wiki/Jeff_King_(American_football)" title="Jeff King (American football)">Jeff King</a> (155th), <a href="/wiki/Jonathan_Lewis_(American_football)" title="Jonathan Lewis (American football)">Jonathan Lewis</a> (177th), <a href="/wiki/Justin_Hamilton_(safety)" title="Justin Hamilton (safety)">Justin Hamilton</a> (222nd), Jimmy Martin (227th), <a href="/wiki/Will_Montgomery" title="Will Montgomery">Will Montgomery</a> (234th), and Cedric Humes (240th) were the other Tech players selected.<sup id="cite_ref-77" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-77"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>77<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Louisville had four players selected in the draft. Offensive guard <a href="/wiki/Jason_Spitz" title="Jason Spitz">Jason Spitz</a> was selected 75th overall and was the first Cardinals' offensive lineman to be drafted since 1996.<sup id="cite_ref-78" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-78"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>78<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Elvis Dumervil was selected with the 126th selection, <a href="/wiki/Linebacker" title="Linebacker">linebacker</a> <a href="/wiki/Brandon_Johnson_(linebacker)" title="Brandon Johnson (linebacker)">Brandon Johnson</a> was selected 142nd, and defensive tackle Montavious Stanley was selected 182nd.<sup id="cite_ref-79" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-79"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>79<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=2006_Gator_Bowl&action=edit&section=20" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_American_football" class="mw-redirect" title="Glossary of American football">Glossary of American football</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2006_NCAA_Division_I_FBS_football_rankings" title="2006 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings">2006 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=2006_Gator_Bowl&action=edit&section=21" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist reflist-columns references-column-width" style="column-width: 30em;"> <ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"> Coleman, Chris. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://subscr.techsideline.com/news_archive/showArticle-1430.php">"ACC Adds Two Bowls to Lineup for 2006–2009"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110716202006/http://subscr.techsideline.com/news_archive/showArticle-1430.php">Archived</a> July 16, 2011, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, Techsideline.com. July 26, 2005. Accessed May 17, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"> The Atlantic Coast Conference. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.theacc.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/111306aaa.html">"Bowl Selection Process for Atlantic Coast Conference Teams"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20071021063641/http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/111306aaa.html">Archived</a> October 21, 2007, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, TheACC.com. November 30, 2006. Accessed May 17, 1957.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"> Smits, Gary. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/071205/col_19218026.shtml">"Big 12 could share Gator Bowl tie-in"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20071204043948/http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/071205/col_19218026.shtml">Archived</a> December 4, 2007, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, <i>Jacksonville Times-Union</i>. July 12, 2005. Accessed May 17, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-accept-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-accept_4-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-accept_4-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-accept_4-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060520211800/http://www.gatorbowl.com/pressroom/12042005.asp">"University of Louisville to play in 2006 Gator Bowl"</a>. <i>The Gator Bowl Association</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.gatorbowl.com/pressroom/12042005.asp">the original</a> on May 20, 2006<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">April 10,</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=The+Gator+Bowl+Association&rft.atitle=University+of+Louisville+to+play+in+2006+Gator+Bowl&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gatorbowl.com%2Fpressroom%2F12042005.asp&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3A2006+Gator+Bowl" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"> Walker, Theresa M. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://uoflsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/123104aaa.html">"Louisville Edges Boise State In Liberty Bowl Shootout, 44–40"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080513131538/http://uoflsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/123104aaa.html">Archived</a> May 13, 2008, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, The Associated Press, uoflsports.cstv.com. December 31, 2004. Accessed May 18, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The Associated Press. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=243660097">"Cardinals leave C-USA in style"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070223193754/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=243660097">Archived</a> February 23, 2007, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, ESPN.com. December 31, 2004. Accessed May 18, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Louisville Athletics Department. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20120715044518/http://uoflsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/072005aaa.html">Cards' Picked to Win BIG EAST Crown</a> UofLsports.cstv.com. July 20, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The Associated Press. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=252470096">"Late fumble recovery saves win for Cardinals"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240424055904/https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=252470096">Archived</a> April 24, 2024, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, ESPN.com. September 4, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The Associated Press. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=252600097">"Beavers lose seventh straight road game vs. ranked team"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240424055650/https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=252600097">Archived</a> April 24, 2024, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, ESPN.com. September 17, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The Associated Press. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=252670058">"USF snaps Louisville's nine-game win streak"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060114035308/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=252670058">Archived</a> January 14, 2006, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, ESPN.com. September 24, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The Associated Press. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=252740097">"Bush makes Owls' heads spin in Louisville victory"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140322013436/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=252740097">Archived</a> March 22, 2014, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, ESPN.com. October 1, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The Associated Press. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=252810097">"Brohm throws for 304 yards, four TDs in rout"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140322001338/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=252810097">Archived</a> March 22, 2014, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, ESPN.com. October 8, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The Associated Press. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=252880277">"Freshman QB Slaton scores 6 TDs for Mountaineers"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060627185308/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=252880277">Archived</a> June 27, 2006, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, ESPN.com. October 15, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-14">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The Associated Press. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=260020061">"Slaton's record night stuns pro-Georgia crowd at Sugar Bowl"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20061209040055/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=260020061">Archived</a> December 9, 2006, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, ESPN.com. January 2, 2006. Accessed May 18, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-15">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The Associated Press. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=252952132">Brian's song: Brohm sparks Louisville rout of Cincinnati</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240424055645/https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=252952132">Archived</a> April 24, 2024, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, ESPN.com. October 22, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-16">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The Associated Press <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=253370041">"Louisville gets three TDs from Bush, beats UConn"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240424055645/https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=253370041">Archived</a> April 24, 2024, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, ESPN.com. December 3, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-17">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Louisville Cardinals Athletic Department. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20120721130523/http://uoflsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112805aai.html">"Brohm Out for the Season"</a>, uoflsports.cstv.com. November 28, 2005. Accessed May 19, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-18">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Robertson, Jimmy. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.hokiesports.com/football/recaps/1242004aaa.html">"Tech topples 'Canes to win ACC championship"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070807010955/http://www.hokiesports.com/football/recaps/1242004aaa.html">Archived</a> August 7, 2007, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, <i>Hokiesports.com the Newspaper</i>. Hokiesports.com. December 4, 2004. Accessed May 18, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-19">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The Associated Press. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=250030259">"Sweet enough? Auburn finishes season 13–0"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160104130847/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=250030259">Archived</a> January 4, 2016, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, ESPN.com. January 3, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-20">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Droschak, David. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20120919163119/http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/072505aal.html">"Media Predict Virginia Tech, Florida State Will Finish Atop Respective Divisions"</a>, TheACC.com. July 25, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-21"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-21">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The Associated Press. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=252470152">"Wolfpack's woes against Top-10 teams continue"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121111024353/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=252470152">Archived</a> November 11, 2012, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, ESPN.com. September 4, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-22"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-22">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The Associated Press. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=252530150">Vick leads Hokies' offensive charge</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070220192933/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=252530150">Archived</a> February 20, 2007, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, ESPN.com. September 10, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-23"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-23">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Robertson, Jimmy. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.hokiesports.com/football/recaps/20050910aaa.html">"Tech 'D' stymies Duke as Hokies open season 2–0"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070805215437/http://www.hokiesports.com/football/recaps/20050910aaa.html">Archived</a> August 5, 2007, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, Hokiesports.com the Newspaper. Hokiesports.com. September 10, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2005.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-24"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-24">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">ESPN. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/rankings?seasonYear=2005&weekNumber=10&seasonType=2">2005 NCAA Football Rankings – Week 9 (Oct. 30)</a> ESPN.com. October 30, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-25"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-25">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The Associated Press. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=253090259">"Miami brings rude end to Virginia Tech's title dreams"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240424055646/https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=253090259">Archived</a> April 24, 2024, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, ESPN.com. November 5, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-26"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-26">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The Associated Press. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=253370259">"Florida State pulls off VaTech upset, clinches BCS berth"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090722075142/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=253370259">Archived</a> July 22, 2009, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, ESPN.com. December 3, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-27"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-27">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Prisbell, Eric. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/04/AR2005120401218_pf.html">"Virginia Tech Accepts Gator Bowl Invitation"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190102143050/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/04/AR2005120401218_pf.html">Archived</a> January 2, 2019, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, <i>The Washington Post</i>. December 5, 2005. Accessed May 19, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-28"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-28">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Lopresti, Mike. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/lopresti/2005-12-15-lopresti-bowls_x.htm">"Bowl season brings 28 games and a few hundred commercials"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090227063139/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/lopresti/2005-12-15-lopresti-bowls_x.htm">Archived</a> February 27, 2009, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, <i>USA Today</i>. December 15, 2005. Accessed May 20, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-weak_Tech-29"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-weak_Tech_29-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-weak_Tech_29-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-weak_Tech_29-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">King, Randy. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20130201144233/http://www.roanoke.com/sports/vtfootball/wb/44743">"Cards not believing the 'weak' Tech talk"</a>, <i>Roanoke Times</i>. December 16, 2005. Accessed May 20, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-30"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-30">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Russo, Ralph D. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051222/GATORS01/51222035/-1/sports">"Conference pride swells in postseason"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924020709/http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051222/GATORS01/51222035/-1/sports">Archived</a> September 24, 2015, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, The Associated Press, Gainesville.com. December 22, 2005. Accessed May 19, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Win_or_Bust-31"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Win_or_Bust_31-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Win_or_Bust_31-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">King, Randy. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20130201132052/http://www.roanoke.com/sports/vtfootball/wb/45969">"It's 'W' or bust for the Hokies"</a>, <i>Roanoke Times</i>. December 26, 2005. Accessed May 20, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Hokies_arrive-32"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Hokies_arrive_32-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Hokies_arrive_32-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"> The Associated Press. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=47939">"Hokies arrive in Jacksonville for Gator Bowl"</a><sup class="noprint Inline-Template"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot" title="Wikipedia:Link rot"><span title=" Dead link tagged March 2019">permanent dead link</span></a></i><span style="visibility:hidden; color:transparent; padding-left:2px">‍</span>]</span></sup>, <i>Sporting News</i>, SportingNews.com. December 27, 2005. Accessed May 20, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-33"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-33">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">King, Randy. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20120908215445/http://www.roanoke.com/sports/vtfootball/wb/wb/xp-46446">"Beamer touts bowl's urgency"</a>, <i>Roanoke Times</i>. December 30, 2005. Accessed May 20, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-early_RT_King_notes-34"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-early_RT_King_notes_34-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-early_RT_King_notes_34-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-early_RT_King_notes_34-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-early_RT_King_notes_34-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-early_RT_King_notes_34-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-early_RT_King_notes_34-5"><sup><i><b>f</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">King, Randy. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20130201110706/http://www.roanoke.com/sports/vtfootball/wb/wb/xp-43891">"Cards excited for Tech game"</a>, <i>Roanoke Times</i>. December 9, 2005. Accessed May 20, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-35"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-35">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"> Hayes, Matt. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=46009">"Inside Dish: Life after Bush, White"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070804163559/http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=46009">Archived</a> August 4, 2007, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, <i>The Sporting News</i>. Sportingnews.com. December 19, 2005. Accessed May 19, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-fburg_shot-36"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-fburg_shot_36-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-fburg_shot_36-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-fburg_shot_36-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">McConnell, Jim. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20130123180532/http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2005/122005/12312005/156833">"Hokies will get a shot at young quarterback"</a>, <i>Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star</i>, Fredericksburg.com. December 31, 2005. Accessed May 20, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-37"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-37">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">King, Randy. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20120910112112/http://www.roanoke.com/sports/vtfootball/wb/wb/xp-46334">"Hokies hope Bush won't make 'em 'look bad'"</a>, <i>Roanoke Times</i>. December 29, 2005. Accessed May 20, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-38"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-38">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Louisville Athletics Department. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20120715235356/http://uoflsports.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/lou/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/06gatorbowlguide"><i>2006 Gator Bowl Media Guide</i></a> (PDF), Louisville, Kentucky. Page 3. Accessed May 21, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-39"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-39">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">King, Randy. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20120907224629/http://www.roanoke.com/sports/vtfootball/wb/46458">"Vick 'definitely sure' he'll return"</a>, <i>Roanoke Times</i>. December 30, 2005. Accessed May 20, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Ore-40"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Ore_40-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Ore_40-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">King, Randy. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20130202044002/http://www.roanoke.com/sports/vtfootball/wb/wb/xp-46568">"Humes: Ore will soar"</a>, <i>Roanoke Times</i>. December 31, 2005. Accessed May 20, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-41"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-41">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Virginia Tech Athletics Communications Department. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.hokiesports.com/football/2006gator.pdf"><i>2006 Virginia Tech football Gator Bowl Media Guide</i></a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090225124539/http://www.hokiesports.com/football/2006gator.pdf">Archived</a> February 25, 2009, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> (PDF), Hokiesports.com. Blacksburg, Virginia. Pages 18–19. Accessed May 21, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-42"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-42">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Virginia Tech Athletics Communications Department. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.hokiesports.com/football/2006gator.pdf"><i>2006 Virginia Tech football Gator Bowl Media Guide</i></a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090225124539/http://www.hokiesports.com/football/2006gator.pdf">Archived</a> February 25, 2009, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> (PDF), Hokiesports.com. Blacksburg, Virginia. Pages 23–24. Accessed May 21, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-43"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-43">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Amato, Sonny. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/29/AR2005122901136.html">"Gator Bowl Bound"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160305020341/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/29/AR2005122901136.html">Archived</a> March 5, 2016, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, <i>The Washington Post</i>. January 1, 2006. Accessed May 19, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-44"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-44">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">King, Randy. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20120909154806/http://www.roanoke.com/sports/vtfootball/wb/46566">"Tech's Martin may miss Gator Bowl"</a>, <i>Roanoke Times</i>. December 31, 2005. Accessed May 20, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-45"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-45">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The Associated Press. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/bowls05/news/story?id=2278012">Hokies' "Martin misses Gator Bowl with sprained knee"</a>, ESPN.com. January 2, 2008. Accessed May 20, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-46"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-46">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Wire Reports. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20120911023527/http://www.roanoke.com/sports/vtfootball/wb/43482">"Dumervil wins Nagurski"</a>, <i>Roanoke Times</i>. December 6, 2005. Accessed May 19, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-47"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-47">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The Associated Press. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.sportingnews.com/cfootball/articles/20051226/690262-p.html">"Louisville's Dumervil wants piece of Vick"</a><sup class="noprint Inline-Template"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot" title="Wikipedia:Link rot"><span title=" Dead link tagged April 2019">permanent dead link</span></a></i><span style="visibility:hidden; color:transparent; padding-left:2px">‍</span>]</span></sup>, <i>Sporting News</i>, SportingNews.com. December 26, 2005. Accessed May 20, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-APAA-48"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-APAA_48-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-APAA_48-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-APAA_48-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Staff Report. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20130201095250/http://www.roanoke.com/sports/college/wb/44475">"Williams, Ferguson tops at positions"</a> <i>Roanoke Times</i>. December 14, 2005. Accessed May 20, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-49"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-49">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"> Willinger, Matt. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://louisville.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=490354">"It's Official: Stanley will miss Gator Bowl"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110715190318/http://louisville.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=490354">Archived</a> July 15, 2011, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, Cardinalsports.com. December 12, 2005. Accessed May 20, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-50"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-50">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Zillgitt, Jeff. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/acc/2005-12-29-zillgitt-tapp_x.htm">"Tapp carries lunch pail to work for Virginia Tech"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091113140403/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/acc/2005-12-29-zillgitt-tapp_x.htm">Archived</a> November 13, 2009, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, <i>USA Today</i>. December 29, 2005. Accessed May 20, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-51"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-51">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://hokiesports.com/news/2009/12/8/20091208aaa_2227.aspx">"Grimm wins Dudley Award"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230326171810/https://hokiesports.com/news/2009/12/8/20091208aaa_2227.aspx">Archived</a> March 26, 2023, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, Hokiesports.com. December 8, 2009. Accessed March 26, 2023.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-52"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-52">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The Associated Press. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=2249289">"Louisville senior DE Dumervil wins Nagurski Trophy"</a>, ESPN.com. December 5, 2005. Accessed May 20, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-53"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-53">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">McConnell, Jim. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20120714234404/http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2005/122005/12302005/156594">"Williams glad he returned"</a>, <i>The Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star</i>. December 30, 2005. Accessed May 20, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-54"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-54">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The Associated Press. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=260020259">"Vick powers second-half rally as Hokies win Gator Bowl"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121022015116/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=260020259">Archived</a> October 22, 2012, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, ESPN.com, January 2, 2006. Accessed February 20, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-55"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-55">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20071117113545/http://www.gatorbowl.com/tgb/history/ar.asp">"Attendance Recap"</a>. <i>The Gator Bowl Association</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.gatorbowl.com/tgb/history/ar.asp">the original</a> on November 17, 2007<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">April 10,</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=The+Gator+Bowl+Association&rft.atitle=Attendance+Recap&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gatorbowl.com%2Ftgb%2Fhistory%2Far.asp&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3A2006+Gator+Bowl" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-NCAA_stats-56"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-NCAA_stats_56-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-NCAA_stats_56-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-NCAA_stats_56-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-NCAA_stats_56-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">The National Collegiate Athletic Association. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://web1.ncaa.org/d1mfb/worksheet.jsp?year=2005&game=200500000074220060102.xml">"Game Summary – Virginia Tech vs. Louisville"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220706114238/http://web1.ncaa.org/d1mfb/worksheet.jsp?year=2005&game=200500000074220060102.xml">Archived</a> July 6, 2022, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, NCAA.org. March 29, 2006. Accessed May 16, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-57"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-57">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Weather Underground. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KNIP/2006/1/2/DailyHistory.html?req_city=NA&req_state=NA&req_statename=NA">History for Jacksonville NAS, FL</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140322013925/http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KNIP/2006/1/2/DailyHistory.html?req_city=NA&req_state=NA&req_statename=NA">Archived</a> March 22, 2014, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, Wunderground.com. January 2, 2006. Accessed May 16, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-58"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-58">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"> Fox Sports. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.bcsfootball.org/bcsfb/tvratings">"2005–06 Bowl Game TV Ratings"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090131214104/http://www.bcsfootball.org/bcsfb/tvratings">Archived</a> January 31, 2009, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, BCSfootball.org. Accessed May 18, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-pregame/halftime-59"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-pregame/halftime_59-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The Gator Bowl Association. <i>2006 Toyota Gator Bowl Gameday Program</i>. Host Communications. December 2006. Page 12.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-1st-60"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-1st_60-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-1st_60-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-1st_60-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-1st_60-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-1st_60-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">ESPN. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/playbyplay?gameId=260020259&period=1">"2006 Gator Bowl:1st Qtr Play-by-Play"</a> ESPN.com, January 2, 2006. Accessed February 20, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-61"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-61">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/bowls05/news/story?id=2278089">Hokies' Williams ejected during Gator Bowl</a> The Associated Press, ESPN.com. January 2, 2006. Accessed May 21, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2nd-62"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-2nd_62-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-2nd_62-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-2nd_62-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-2nd_62-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">ESPN. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/playbyplay?gameId=260020259&period=2">"2006 Gator Bowl: 2nd Qtr Play-by-Play"</a> ESPN.com, January 2, 2006. Accessed February 20, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Vick_stomp-63"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Vick_stomp_63-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Vick_stomp_63-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">The Associated Press. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/bowls05/news/story?id=2279427">"Virginia Tech to review, address Vick's behavior"</a>, ESPN.com, January 3, 2006. Accessed December 30, 2007.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3rd-64"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-3rd_64-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-3rd_64-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">ESPN. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/playbyplay?gameId=260020259&period=3">"2006 Gator Bowl: 3rd Qtr Play-by-Play"</a> ESPN.com, January 2, 2006. Accessed February 20, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4th-65"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-4th_65-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-4th_65-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-4th_65-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-4th_65-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-4th_65-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-4th_65-5"><sup><i><b>f</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">ESPN. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/playbyplay?gameId=260020259&period=4">"2006 Gator Bowl: 4th Qtr Play-by-Play"</a> ESPN.com, January 2, 2006. Accessed February 20, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-team_stats-66"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-team_stats_66-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-team_stats_66-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-team_stats_66-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">ESPN. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=260020259">"Box Score"</a> ESPN.com. January 2, 2006. Accessed May 21, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-67"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-67">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20071031112409/http://www.gatorbowl.com/tgb/history/mvpwt.asp">"Most Valuable Players – Winning Team"</a>. <i>The Gator Bowl Association</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.gatorbowl.com/tgb/history/mvpwt.asp">the original</a> on October 31, 2007<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">April 10,</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=The+Gator+Bowl+Association&rft.atitle=Most+Valuable+Players+%E2%80%93+Winning+Team&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gatorbowl.com%2Ftgb%2Fhistory%2Fmvpwt.asp&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3A2006+Gator+Bowl" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-68"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-68">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20071031112404/http://www.gatorbowl.com/tgb/history/mvplt.asp">"Most Valuable Players – Losing Team"</a>. <i>The Gator Bowl Association</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.gatorbowl.com/tgb/history/mvplt.asp">the original</a> on October 31, 2007<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">April 10,</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=The+Gator+Bowl+Association&rft.atitle=Most+Valuable+Players+%E2%80%93+Losing+Team&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gatorbowl.com%2Ftgb%2Fhistory%2Fmvplt.asp&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3A2006+Gator+Bowl" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-69"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-69">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20071031112414/http://www.gatorbowl.com/tgb/history/rb.asp">"Individual Records"</a>. <i>The Gator Bowl Association</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.gatorbowl.com/tgb/history/rb.asp#ir">the original</a> on October 31, 2007<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">December 13,</span> 2008</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=The+Gator+Bowl+Association&rft.atitle=Individual+Records&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gatorbowl.com%2Ftgb%2Fhistory%2Frb.asp%23ir&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3A2006+Gator+Bowl" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-70"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-70">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Virginia Tech Athletics Communications Department. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.hokiesports.com/football/pastschedules.html?season=2005">"Virginia Tech Football Past Schedules: 2005–2006"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081003090257/http://www.hokiesports.com/football/pastschedules.html?season=2005">Archived</a> October 3, 2008, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, Blacksburg, Virginia. Accessed February 20, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-71"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-71">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Marbut, Max. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=49458">"JEDC has game plan to increase sports tourism"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110713091624/http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=49458">Archived</a> July 13, 2011, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, <i>Jacksonville Financial News & Daily Record</i>. February 15, 2008. Accessed May 19, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-72"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-72">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Hutkin, Erinn. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20130201150555/http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/wb/xp-43421">"Hokies likely to snap up Gator seats"</a>, <i>Roanoke Times</i>. December 5, 2005. Accessed May 20, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-73"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-73">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Virginia Tech Athletics Communications Department. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.hokiesports.com/football/recaps/20060224aaa.html">"Virginia Tech Announces Three Additions to Football Staff"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070807213606/http://www.hokiesports.com/football/recaps/20060224aaa.html">Archived</a> August 7, 2007, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, Hokiesports.com. February 24, 2006. Accessed December 14, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-74"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-74">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">King, Randy. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20130202131855/http://www.roanoke.com/sports/vtfootball/wb/48242">"Rogers: Not out for outing Vick"</a>, <i>Roanoke Times</i>. January 13, 2006. Accessed May 19, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Vick_dismissed-75"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Vick_dismissed_75-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Vick_dismissed_75-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">The Associated Press. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=ncf&id=2283020">"Virginia Tech kicks Marcus Vick off football team"</a>, ESPN.com, January 6, 2006. Accessed December 30, 2007.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-76"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-76">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The Associated Press. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/bowls05/news/story?id=2282642">"Vick, dismissed by Hokies, says he will turn pro"</a>, ESPN.com. January 7, 2006. Accessed May 19, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-77"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-77">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Robertson, Jimmy. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.hokiesports.com/football/recaps/20060501aaa.html">"Nine Tech players go in weekend's NFL Draft"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090109151122/http://www.hokiesports.com/football/recaps/20060501aaa.html">Archived</a> January 9, 2009, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, <i>Hokiesports.com The Newspaper</i>, Hokiesports.com. May 1, 2006. Accessed May 21, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-78"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-78">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Louisville Athletics Department. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20120718082103/http://uoflsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/042906aaa.html">"Spitz taken by Green Bay in the third round"</a>, uoflsports.cstv.com. April 29, 2006. Accessed May 21, 2008.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-79"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-79">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Louisville Athletics Department. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20120721031704/http://uoflsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/043006aaa.html">"Three Cardinals drafted on second day of the NFL Draft"</a>, uoflsports.cstv.com. April 30, 2006. Accessed May 21, 2008.</span> </li> </ol></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Further_reading">Further reading</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=2006_Gator_Bowl&action=edit&section=22" title="Edit section: Further reading"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li>Lazenby, Roland. Legends: A Pictorial History of Virginia Tech Football. Taylor, Full Court Press (1986) <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-913767-11-5" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-913767-11-5">978-0-913767-11-5</a></li> <li>Tandler, Rich. Hokie Games: Virginia Tech Football Game by Game 1945–2006. Game by Game Sports Media (September 15, 2007) <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-9723845-2-0" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-9723845-2-0">978-0-9723845-2-0</a></li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul 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class="navbox" aria-labelledby="2005–06_NCAA_football_bowl_game_season" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background-color:#009CDE;color:#000000;box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239400231">.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:inline;font-size:88%;font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .navbar-collapse{float:left;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .navbar-boxtext{word-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .navbar ul{display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;line-height:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::before{margin-right:-0.125em;content:"[ "}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::after{margin-left:-0.125em;content:" ]"}.mw-parser-output .navbar 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game navbox"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style="color:#000000">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:2005_bowl_game_navbox" title="Special:EditPage/Template:2005 bowl game navbox"><abbr title="Edit this template" style="color:#000000">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="2005–06_NCAA_football_bowl_game_season" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/2005%E2%80%9306_NCAA_football_bowl_games" title="2005–06 NCAA football bowl games"><span class="tmp-color" style="color:white">2005–06 NCAA football bowl game season</span></a></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2005_New_Orleans_Bowl" title="2005 New Orleans Bowl">New Orleans</a> (Dec. 20)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2005_GMAC_Bowl" title="2005 GMAC Bowl">GMAC</a> (Dec. 21)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2005_Las_Vegas_Bowl" title="2005 Las Vegas Bowl">Las Vegas</a> (Dec. 22)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2005_Poinsettia_Bowl" title="2005 Poinsettia Bowl">Poinsettia</a> (Dec. 22)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2005_Fort_Worth_Bowl" title="2005 Fort Worth Bowl">Fort Worth</a> (Dec. 23)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2005_Hawaii_Bowl" title="2005 Hawaii Bowl">Hawaii</a> (Dec. 24)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2005_Motor_City_Bowl" title="2005 Motor City Bowl">Motor City</a> (Dec. 26)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2005_Champs_Sports_Bowl" title="2005 Champs Sports Bowl">Champs Sports</a> (Dec. 27)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2005_Insight_Bowl" title="2005 Insight Bowl">Insight</a> (Dec. 27)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2005_MPC_Computers_Bowl" title="2005 MPC Computers Bowl">MPC Computers</a> (Dec. 28)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2005_Alamo_Bowl" title="2005 Alamo Bowl">Alamo</a> (Dec. 28)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2005_Emerald_Bowl" title="2005 Emerald Bowl">Emerald</a> (Dec. 29)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2005_Holiday_Bowl" title="2005 Holiday Bowl">Holiday</a> (Dec. 29)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2005_Music_City_Bowl" title="2005 Music City Bowl">Music City</a> (Dec. 30)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2005_Sun_Bowl" title="2005 Sun Bowl">Sun</a> (Dec. 30)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2005_Independence_Bowl" title="2005 Independence Bowl">Independence</a> (Dec. 30)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2005_Peach_Bowl" title="2005 Peach Bowl">Peach</a> (Dec. 30)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2005_Meineke_Car_Care_Bowl" title="2005 Meineke Car Care Bowl">Meineke Car Care</a> (Dec. 31)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2005_Liberty_Bowl" title="2005 Liberty Bowl">Liberty</a> (Dec. 31)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2005_Houston_Bowl" title="2005 Houston Bowl">Houston</a> (Dec. 31)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2006_Cotton_Bowl_Classic" title="2006 Cotton Bowl Classic">Cotton</a> (Jan. 2)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2006_Outback_Bowl" title="2006 Outback Bowl">Outback</a> (Jan. 2)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Gator</a> (Jan. 2)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2006_Capital_One_Bowl" title="2006 Capital One Bowl">Capital One</a> (Jan. 2)</span></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><span class="nowrap"><b><a href="/wiki/Bowl_Championship_Series" title="Bowl Championship Series">Bowl Championship Series</a> games:</b> <a href="/wiki/2006_Sugar_Bowl" title="2006 Sugar Bowl">Sugar</a> (Jan. 2)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2006_Fiesta_Bowl" title="2006 Fiesta Bowl">Fiesta</a> (Jan. 2)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2006_Orange_Bowl" title="2006 Orange Bowl">Orange</a> (Jan. 3)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2006_Rose_Bowl" title="2006 Rose Bowl">Rose</a> (National Championship Game) (Jan. 4)</span></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2" style="background-color:#009CDE;color:#000000;box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;"><div> <ul><li><span class="nowrap"><b>All-Star Games:</b> <a href="/wiki/Magnolia_Gridiron_All-Star_Classic" title="Magnolia Gridiron All-Star Classic"><span class="tmp-color" style="color:white">Magnolia Gridiron All-Star Classic</span></a> (Dec. 24)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Las_Vegas_All-American_Classic" title="Las Vegas All-American Classic"><span class="tmp-color" style="color:white">Las Vegas All-American Classic</span></a> (Jan. 14)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2006_East%E2%80%93West_Shrine_Game" title="2006 East–West Shrine Game"><span class="tmp-color" style="color:white">East–West Shrine Game</span></a> (Jan. 20)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Hula_Bowl" title="Hula Bowl"><span class="tmp-color" style="color:white">Hula Bowl</span></a> (Jan. 21)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Senior_Bowl" title="Senior Bowl"><span class="tmp-color" style="color:white">Senior Bowl</span></a> (Jan. 28)</span></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239334494"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Gator_Bowl" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background:#2a3439; color:#FFFFFF; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #E2223B, inset -2px -2px 0 #E2223B;"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Gator_Bowl_navbox" title="Template:Gator Bowl navbox"><abbr title="View this template" style="color:#FFFFFF">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Gator_Bowl_navbox" title="Template talk:Gator Bowl navbox"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style="color:#FFFFFF">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Gator_Bowl_navbox" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Gator Bowl navbox"><abbr title="Edit this template" style="color:#FFFFFF">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Gator_Bowl" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Gator_Bowl" title="Gator Bowl"><span class="tmp-color" style="color:#FFFFFF">Gator Bowl</span></a></div></th></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2" style="background:#2a3439; color:#FFFFFF; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #E2223B, inset -2px -2px 0 #E2223B;"><div>Known as the TaxSlayer Bowl from 2014–2017</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#2a3439; color:#FFFFFF; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #E2223B, inset -2px -2px 0 #E2223B;;width:1%">History & conference tie-ins</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/TaxSlayer_Bowl#History" class="mw-redirect" title="TaxSlayer Bowl">History</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gator_Bowl_Stadium" title="Gator Bowl Stadium">Gator Bowl Stadium</a> (1946–1993)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ben_Hill_Griffin_Stadium" title="Ben Hill Griffin Stadium">Ben Hill Griffin Stadium</a> (1994)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/EverBank_Stadium" title="EverBank Stadium">EverBank Stadium</a> (1995–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Big_Ten_Conference" title="Big Ten Conference">Big Ten Conference</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Southeastern_Conference" title="Southeastern Conference">Southeastern Conference</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#2a3439; color:#FFFFFF; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #E2223B, inset -2px -2px 0 #E2223B;;width:1%">Games</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/1946_Gator_Bowl" title="1946 Gator Bowl">1946</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1947_Gator_Bowl" title="1947 Gator Bowl">1947</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1948_Gator_Bowl" title="1948 Gator Bowl">1948</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1949_Gator_Bowl" title="1949 Gator Bowl">1949</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1950_Gator_Bowl" title="1950 Gator Bowl">1950</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1951_Gator_Bowl" title="1951 Gator Bowl">1951</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1952_Gator_Bowl" title="1952 Gator Bowl">1952</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1953_Gator_Bowl" title="1953 Gator Bowl">1953</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1954_Gator_Bowl_(January)" title="1954 Gator Bowl (January)">1954 (Jan)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1954_Gator_Bowl_(December)" title="1954 Gator Bowl (December)">1954 (Dec)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1955_Gator_Bowl" title="1955 Gator Bowl">1955</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1956_Gator_Bowl" title="1956 Gator Bowl">1956</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1957_Gator_Bowl" title="1957 Gator Bowl">1957</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1958_Gator_Bowl" title="1958 Gator Bowl">1958</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1960_Gator_Bowl_(January)" title="1960 Gator Bowl (January)">1960 (Jan)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1960_Gator_Bowl_(December)" title="1960 Gator Bowl (December)">1960 (Dec)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1961_Gator_Bowl" title="1961 Gator Bowl">1961</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1962_Gator_Bowl" title="1962 Gator Bowl">1962</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1963_Gator_Bowl" title="1963 Gator Bowl">1963</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1965_Gator_Bowl_(January)" title="1965 Gator Bowl (January)">1965 (Jan)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1965_Gator_Bowl_(December)" title="1965 Gator Bowl (December)">1965 (Dec)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1966_Gator_Bowl" title="1966 Gator Bowl">1966</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1967_Gator_Bowl" title="1967 Gator Bowl">1967</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1968_Gator_Bowl" title="1968 Gator Bowl">1968</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1969_Gator_Bowl" title="1969 Gator Bowl">1969</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1971_Gator_Bowl_(January)" title="1971 Gator Bowl (January)">1971 (Jan)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1971_Gator_Bowl_(December)" title="1971 Gator Bowl (December)">1971 (Dec)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1972_Gator_Bowl" title="1972 Gator Bowl">1972</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1973_Gator_Bowl" title="1973 Gator Bowl">1973</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1974_Gator_Bowl" title="1974 Gator Bowl">1974</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1975_Gator_Bowl" title="1975 Gator Bowl">1975</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1976_Gator_Bowl" title="1976 Gator Bowl">1976</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1977_Gator_Bowl" title="1977 Gator Bowl">1977</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1978_Gator_Bowl" title="1978 Gator Bowl">1978</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1979_Gator_Bowl" title="1979 Gator Bowl">1979</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1980_Gator_Bowl" title="1980 Gator Bowl">1980</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1981_Gator_Bowl" title="1981 Gator Bowl">1981</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1982_Gator_Bowl" title="1982 Gator Bowl">1982</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1983_Gator_Bowl" title="1983 Gator Bowl">1983</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1984_Gator_Bowl" title="1984 Gator Bowl">1984</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1985_Gator_Bowl" title="1985 Gator Bowl">1985</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1986_Gator_Bowl" title="1986 Gator Bowl">1986</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1987_Gator_Bowl" title="1987 Gator Bowl">1987</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1989_Gator_Bowl_(January)" title="1989 Gator Bowl (January)">1989 (Jan)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1989_Gator_Bowl_(December)" title="1989 Gator Bowl (December)">1989 (Dec)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1991_Gator_Bowl_(January)" title="1991 Gator Bowl (January)">1991 (Jan)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1991_Gator_Bowl_(December)" title="1991 Gator Bowl (December)">1991 (Dec)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1992_Gator_Bowl" title="1992 Gator Bowl">1992</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1993_Gator_Bowl" title="1993 Gator Bowl">1993</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1994_Gator_Bowl" title="1994 Gator Bowl">1994</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1996_Gator_Bowl" title="1996 Gator Bowl">1996</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1997_Gator_Bowl" title="1997 Gator Bowl">1997</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1998_Gator_Bowl" title="1998 Gator Bowl">1998</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1999_Gator_Bowl" title="1999 Gator Bowl">1999</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2000_Gator_Bowl" title="2000 Gator Bowl">2000</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2001_Gator_Bowl" title="2001 Gator Bowl">2001</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2002_Gator_Bowl" title="2002 Gator Bowl">2002</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2003_Gator_Bowl" title="2003 Gator Bowl">2003</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2004_Gator_Bowl" title="2004 Gator Bowl">2004</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2005_Gator_Bowl" title="2005 Gator Bowl">2005</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">2006</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2007_Gator_Bowl" title="2007 Gator Bowl">2007</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2008_Gator_Bowl" title="2008 Gator Bowl">2008</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2009_Gator_Bowl" title="2009 Gator Bowl">2009</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2010_Gator_Bowl" title="2010 Gator Bowl">2010</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2011_Gator_Bowl" title="2011 Gator Bowl">2011</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2012_Gator_Bowl" title="2012 Gator Bowl">2012</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2013_Gator_Bowl" title="2013 Gator Bowl">2013</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2014_Gator_Bowl" title="2014 Gator Bowl">2014</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2015_TaxSlayer_Bowl" title="2015 TaxSlayer Bowl">2015</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2016_TaxSlayer_Bowl_(January)" title="2016 TaxSlayer Bowl (January)">2016 (Jan)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2016_TaxSlayer_Bowl_(December)" title="2016 TaxSlayer Bowl (December)">2016 (Dec)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2017_TaxSlayer_Bowl" title="2017 TaxSlayer Bowl">2017</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2018_Gator_Bowl" title="2018 Gator Bowl">2018</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2020_Gator_Bowl" title="2020 Gator Bowl">2020</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2021_Gator_Bowl_(January)" title="2021 Gator Bowl (January)">2021 (Jan)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2021_Gator_Bowl_(December)" title="2021 Gator Bowl (December)">2021 (Dec)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2022_Gator_Bowl" title="2022 Gator Bowl">2022</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2023_Gator_Bowl" title="2023 Gator Bowl">2023</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2025_Gator_Bowl" title="2025 Gator Bowl">2025 (Jan)</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#2a3439; color:#FFFFFF; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #E2223B, inset -2px -2px 0 #E2223B;;width:1%">Notes</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>There was a Gator Bowl in January and December in 1954, 1960, 1965, 1971, 1989, 1991, 2016, and 2021.</li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Louisville_Cardinals_bowl_games" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background-color:#C9001F;color:#FFFFFF;box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Louisville_Cardinals_bowl_game_navbox" title="Template:Louisville Cardinals bowl game navbox"><abbr title="View this template" style="color:#FFFFFF">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Louisville_Cardinals_bowl_game_navbox" title="Template talk:Louisville Cardinals bowl game navbox"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style="color:#FFFFFF">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Louisville_Cardinals_bowl_game_navbox" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Louisville Cardinals bowl game navbox"><abbr title="Edit this template" style="color:#FFFFFF">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Louisville_Cardinals_bowl_games" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Louisville_Cardinals_football" title="Louisville Cardinals football"><span style="color:#FFFFFF;">Louisville Cardinals bowl games</span></a></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/1958_Sun_Bowl_(January)" title="1958 Sun Bowl (January)">1958 Sun Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pasadena_Bowl" title="Pasadena Bowl">1970 Pasadena Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1977_Independence_Bowl" title="1977 Independence Bowl">1977 Independence Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1991_Fiesta_Bowl" title="1991 Fiesta Bowl">1991 Fiesta Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1993_Liberty_Bowl" title="1993 Liberty Bowl">1993 Liberty Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1998_Motor_City_Bowl" title="1998 Motor City Bowl">1998 Motor City Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1999_Humanitarian_Bowl" title="1999 Humanitarian Bowl">1999 Humanitarian Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2000_Liberty_Bowl" title="2000 Liberty Bowl">2000 Liberty Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2001_Liberty_Bowl" title="2001 Liberty Bowl">2001 Liberty Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2002_GMAC_Bowl" title="2002 GMAC Bowl">2002 GMAC Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2003_GMAC_Bowl" title="2003 GMAC Bowl">2003 GMAC Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2004_Liberty_Bowl" title="2004 Liberty Bowl">2004 Liberty Bowl</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">2006 Gator Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2007_Orange_Bowl" title="2007 Orange Bowl">2007 Orange Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2010_Beef_%27O%27_Brady%27s_Bowl" title="2010 Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl">2010 Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2011_Belk_Bowl" title="2011 Belk Bowl">2011 Belk Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2013_Sugar_Bowl" title="2013 Sugar Bowl">2013 Sugar Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2013_Russell_Athletic_Bowl" title="2013 Russell Athletic Bowl">2013 Russell Athletic Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2014_Belk_Bowl" title="2014 Belk Bowl">2014 Belk Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2015_Music_City_Bowl" title="2015 Music City Bowl">2015 Music City Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2016_Citrus_Bowl_(December)" title="2016 Citrus Bowl (December)">2016 Citrus Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2017_TaxSlayer_Bowl" title="2017 TaxSlayer Bowl">2017 TaxSlayer Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2019_Music_City_Bowl" title="2019 Music City Bowl">2019 Music City Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2021_First_Responder_Bowl" title="2021 First Responder Bowl">2021 First Responder Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2022_Fenway_Bowl" title="2022 Fenway Bowl">2022 Fenway Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2023_Holiday_Bowl" title="2023 Holiday Bowl">2023 Holiday Bowl</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239334494"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Virginia_Tech_Hokies_bowl_games" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background-color:#861F41;color:#FFFFFF;box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #E87722, inset -2px -2px 0 #E87722;"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Virginia_Tech_Hokies_bowl_game_navbox" title="Template:Virginia Tech Hokies bowl game navbox"><abbr title="View this template" style="color:#FFFFFF">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Virginia_Tech_Hokies_bowl_game_navbox" title="Template talk:Virginia Tech Hokies bowl game navbox"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style="color:#FFFFFF">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Virginia_Tech_Hokies_bowl_game_navbox" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Virginia Tech Hokies bowl game navbox"><abbr title="Edit this template" style="color:#FFFFFF">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Virginia_Tech_Hokies_bowl_games" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/List_of_Virginia_Tech_Hokies_bowl_games" title="List of Virginia Tech Hokies bowl games"><span class="tmp-color" style="color:#FFFFFF">Virginia Tech Hokies bowl games</span></a></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/1947_Sun_Bowl" title="1947 Sun Bowl">1947 Sun Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1966_Liberty_Bowl" title="1966 Liberty Bowl">1966 Liberty Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1968_Liberty_Bowl" title="1968 Liberty Bowl">1968 Liberty Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1981_Peach_Bowl_(January)" title="1981 Peach Bowl (January)">1981 Peach Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1984_Independence_Bowl" title="1984 Independence Bowl">1984 Independence Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1986_Peach_Bowl" title="1986 Peach Bowl">1986 Peach Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1993_Independence_Bowl" title="1993 Independence Bowl">1993 Independence Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1994_Gator_Bowl" title="1994 Gator Bowl">1994 Gator Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1995_Sugar_Bowl_(December)" title="1995 Sugar Bowl (December)">1995 Sugar Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1996_Orange_Bowl_(December)" title="1996 Orange Bowl (December)">1996 Orange Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1998_Gator_Bowl" title="1998 Gator Bowl">1998 Gator Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1998_Music_City_Bowl" title="1998 Music City Bowl">1998 Music City Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2000_Sugar_Bowl" title="2000 Sugar Bowl">2000 Sugar Bowl</a> <b>#</b></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2001_Gator_Bowl" title="2001 Gator Bowl">2001 Gator Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2002_Gator_Bowl" title="2002 Gator Bowl">2002 Gator Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2002_San_Francisco_Bowl" title="2002 San Francisco Bowl">2002 San Francisco Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2003_Insight_Bowl" title="2003 Insight Bowl">2003 Insight Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2005_Sugar_Bowl" title="2005 Sugar Bowl">2005 Sugar Bowl</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">2006 Gator Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2006_Chick-fil-A_Bowl" title="2006 Chick-fil-A Bowl">2006 Chick-fil-A Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2008_Orange_Bowl" title="2008 Orange Bowl">2008 Orange Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2009_Orange_Bowl" title="2009 Orange Bowl">2009 Orange Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2009_Chick-fil-A_Bowl" title="2009 Chick-fil-A Bowl">2009 Chick-fil-A Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2011_Orange_Bowl" title="2011 Orange Bowl">2011 Orange Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2012_Sugar_Bowl" title="2012 Sugar Bowl">2012 Sugar Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2012_Russell_Athletic_Bowl" title="2012 Russell Athletic Bowl">2012 Russell Athletic Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2013_Sun_Bowl" title="2013 Sun Bowl">2013 Sun Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2014_Military_Bowl" title="2014 Military Bowl">2014 Military Bowl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2015_Independence_Bowl" title="2015 Independence Bowl">2015 Independence Bowl</a></li> <li><a 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