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Note from Will:  HokieCentral is proud to present a two-part series by HokieCentral columnist Go VT on the history of Virginia Tech's bowl games.  As many of you know, Go VT has a great appreciation for the history of Tech football and Tech athletics in general.  He has put a tremendous amount of work and research into these two articles, and as Tech prepares to play in the Music City Bowl, we felt it appropriate to remind you of Tech's rich history in football bowl games.

I'll take Bowls for 800, Go VT...

by Go VT with no help at all from 'Network' Hokie.

Bowl season is upon us. This year Tech is in the Inaugural Music City Bowl against Alabama. It will be Tech's sixth consecutive bowl trip and twelfth overall. Let's look back at a time before there was a consecutive bowl streak at Tech.

[Note: I had another version of this column ready to go. I gave it to my wife to proofread. It was 30 handwritten pages and was only up to 1986. She started to read it and commented that it read like an economics textbook and that at times I used too many big words when a more diminutive one might suffice and that I might have been rambling on at times getting too caught up in the details and...oh....started to do it again!]

Virginia Tech Bowls- 1892-1986

1892 through 1945- Two World Wars, one presidential assassination, a depression, and the dawn of the atomic age all happened before Tech went to a bowl. Of course bowls weren't always there. The first bowl was the Rose Bowl in 1902. It didn't become an annual game until 1916. In 1934 a bunch of bowls were founded to draw attention to the city, provide tourism or something like that. The Sun Bowl proclaims that it is the second oldest game. That's where we start our journey.

1946 Sun Bowl, El Paso Texas

The season: Tech didn't have a great year. In fact they had a mediocre year. They were 3-3-3 with no impressive victories and some nasty losses. The most mentioned player from the team that I can find is Tackle John Maskas (6 ft 210 lb Sr.). Tech was selected because of an influential alum who worked for the Power Co. in El Paso and was either on the selection committee or had a lot of pull. Tech took the train to a cold and snow-covered (from the one picture I have seen from the game) El Paso. Tech was paid $8,500.

Stats:

Cincinnati 18 VT 6

Cincinnati	0	0	12	6	18
VT	0	0	0	6	6

Notes on the Game: I have never seen individual stats for this game nor have I seen who scored. I remember reading somewhere that Tech scored near the end of the game on a blocked punt. UC had 463 yards of offense to Tech's 119. I'm surprised the score wasn't more lopsided. Tech probably shouldn't have been there. Time corrects its mistakes with bigger ones later one (see 1983).

The country would go through a 'Police Action', another Presidential assassination, start a buildup in Southeast Asia that some just called an 'Armed Conflict' (they were both wars in my opinion...son of the Marine that I am), and see the Beatles come to America before going bowling again. We also had our first two All-Americans. WR Carroll Dale (retired jersey number 84) was 1st Team Football Writers All-American, 1st Team NEA All-American, 2nd Team AP All-American in 1959. Bob Schweikert was a 2nd team AA in 1964 at QB.

1966 Liberty Bowl, Memphis TN

The Season: Tech was led by two All-Americans. George Foussekis (DE) was a 2nd team AP AA and Tech legend Frank Loria (retired jersey number 10) was 1st Team Football Writers All-American, 1st Team AP All-American, 2nd Team Helms Foundation All-American. Loria and Foussekis led the Tech D to a fine season giving up only 90 points on the year. Only an opening loss to Tulane and a tie to WVU marred a fine season that included a televised win over FSU. Tech finished the regular season and was rewarded with a trip to the Liberty Bowl and a game against Miami.

Stats:

Miami 14 VT 7

Miami	0	0	7	7	14
VT	7	0	0	0	7

VT (7:34 1st)- Francisco 1 run (Utin kick)
UM (4:20 3rd)- Mira 7 pass from Miller (Harris kick)
UM (8:05 4th)- McGee 1 run (Harris kick)

Team Stats	Miami	VT
First Downs	11	7
Rushes-yds	44-55	40-36
Att-comp-yds	10-28-108	6-16-75
Return yds	44	7
Punts- avg.	8-30.1	11-39.3
Fumbles- lost	1	2
Penalty yds	7-80	6-57

Individual Statistics-

Rushing- UM, Miller 11-(-24), Acuff 6-25, McGee 12-36, Mira 11-9, McGuirt 1-1, Cassidy 2-4, Domke 1-4; VT, Stafford 8-(-16), Pilano 4-10, Barcia 3-15, Francisco 21-55, Barker 3-(-16), Beamer 1-(-12).

Passing- UM, Miller 9-26-0, Olivo 1-2-0; VT, Stafford 4-13-1, Barker 2-3-0.

Receiving- UM, Smith 1-2, Russo 2-15, Cox 5-77, Mira 2-14; VT, Barefoot 4-34, Cupp 1-35, Pilano 1-6.

 

Notes on the Game: It was cold. It rained, sleeted, and snowed. The conditions made for a subpar game. Tech took advantage of a blocked punt to score first but Miami took advantage of the conditions and its opportunities to win 14-7. Frank Beamer started at Right Defensive Halfback for Tech in this game. Ted Hendricks (the Mad Stork) played for Miami at Right Defensive End. He is in the NFL Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame . He was a Consensus AA in 1968. Tech did finish number 20 in the UPI poll at the end of the season.

It wouldn't take 20 years for Tech to get back to a Bowl. It would take two. The country would still be at war, my father and many other fathers would fight in it, many would oppose it, I would be born, and Frank Loria would become Tech's first consensus All-American (1st Team AP, 1st Team UPI, 1st Team NEA, 1st Team Football Coaches Association, 1st Team Football Writers, 1st Team Camp Foundation).

1968 Liberty Bowl, Memphis TN

The season: Tech started the season slowly. They were 2-3 after five games and still had some tough games ahead. They beat FSU in Tallahassee 40-22 (FSU was ranked number 18 at the time). They were led by 1st Team AP and 1st Team Football Writers AA LB Mike Widger and Senior DB Frank Beamer.

Tech would be rewarded by another trip to Memphis. They would face a young Archie Manning and the Ole Miss Rebels.

Stats:

Mississippi 34 VT 17

VT	17	0	0	0	17
Mississippi	0	14	7	13	34

VT (14:23 1st)- Edwards 58 run (Simcsak kick)
VT (12:43 1st)- Smoot 7 run (Simcsak kick)
VT (1:49 1st)- FG Simcsak 29 yds
Miss (14:20 2nd)- Shows 21 pass from Manning (Brown kick)
Miss (4:28 2nd)- Gelts 23 pass from Manning (Brown kick)
Miss (14:41 3rd)- Hindman 79 run (Brown kick)
Miss (11:58 4th)- Bailey 70 interception return (Brown kick)
Miss (9:09 4th)- FG Brown 46 yds
Miss (0:00 4th)- FG Brown 26 yds

Team Stats	Mississippi	VT
First Downs	15	16
Rushes-yds	46-185	60-330
Att-comp-ints-yds	12-28-0-141	1-7-0-2
Return yds	109	2
Punts- avg.	5-37.4	7-40.8
Fumbles- lost	3-2	5-3
Penalty yds	4-30	12-120

Individual Statistics-

Rushing- VT, Edwards 12-119, Smoot 21-91, Kincaid 15-55, Constantinedes 4-45, Humphries 5-8, Longerbeam 1-7, Tiberio 2-5; Miss, Hindman 15-121, Bowen 19-65, Felts 1-0, Manning 11- (-1).

Passing- VT, Humpries 1-3-0-2, Kincaid 0-4-0-0; Miss, Manning 12-28-0-141

Receiving-VT Crigger 1-2; Miss, Shows 6-70, Hindman 3-32, Felts 1-23, Bowen 1-8, Franks 1-8.

Notes on the game: Tech rushed out to a 17-0 lead. Ole Miss came back and a 79 yard TD on the first play from scrimmage in the 2nd half doomed Tech. Tech rolled on the ground but had no air attack at all. Five Tech turnovers and 12 penalties also spelled doom. Ole Miss was led by Archie Manning (College Football Hall of Fame). He was a sophomore at the time and his legend was just starting out.

Tech would go back to Blacksburg and wait 12 seasons to be invited to another bowl. In that time Jerry Claiborne would go to Maryland to coach, Don Strock would rewrite the passing records at Tech and be named 3rd Team AP AA, Rick Razzano would tackle everyone in sight, and Frank Loria, former Tech LB Rick Tolley, and the most of the Marshall football team were tragically killed in a plane crash, Tech would win the 1973 NIT, Nixon would end the War in Vietnam and then be impeached for his role in Watergate, Hostages would be taken in Iran and held for over 400 days, Ronald Reagan would become president and Bill Dooley would bring winning ways back to Blacksburg.

1980 Peach Bowl, Atlanta GA

The Season: Tech finished 8-3 with only one standout win (against WVU). Tech was led by a defense that had allowed only 4 opponents more than 7 points. The D was led by Padro Phillips (LT) , Robert Brown (DE), and Ashley Lee (LB). The Offense was typical of other Dooley teams...run oriented. They were led by QB Steve Casey and Tech record setter Cyrus Lawrence. Sidney Snell provided an option through the air. Tech was rewarded with a familiar Bowl opponent but at a different venue. Miami would be Tech's opponent in Atlanta at the Peach Bowl.

Stats:

Miami 20 VT 10

Miami	7	7	3	3	20
VT	0	3	7	0	10

Miami (12:37 1st)- Brodsky 15 pass from Kelly (Miller kick)
Miami (13:47 2nd)- Hobbs 12 run (Miller kick)
VT (0:29 2nd)- 42 Laury FG
VT (8:52 3rd)- Lawrence 1 run(Laury kick)
Miami (4:28 2nd)- 31 Miller FG
Miami (14:41 3rd)- 37 Miller FG

Team Stats	Miami	VT
First Downs	19	19
Rushes-yds	42-163	50-180
Passing yds	179	119
Return yds	13	2
Passing	11-22-1	9-24-2
Punts- avg.	5-37	6-38.1
Fumbles- lost	4-1	3-0
Penalty yds	6-66	7-72
Time of Possession	29:14	30:25

Individual Statistics-

Rushing- UM- Roan 16-86, Hobbs 10-66, Neal 5-12, Rush 2-5, Joiner2-1, Griffin 2-5, Kelly 5-(-21); VT Lawrence 27-134, Dovel 9-41, Casey 13-8, Paige 1-(-3)

Passing- UM- Kelly 11-22-1; VT Casey 9-23-1, Lawrence 0-1-1

Receiving-UM Brodsky 4-80, Baratta 2-34, Belk 1-27, Walker 2-26, Rodriguez 1-7, Hobbs 1-5; VT Purdham 2-56, Giacalone 2-30, Hite 2-5, McKee 1-8, Snell 1-8, Donel 1-2

 

Notes on the game: Miami was coached by Howard Schnellenberger and led by QB Jim Kelly and MG Jim Burt (1st Team NEA AA and Peach Bowl Defensive MVP). Miami finished the year 9-3 and ranked 18th in the final AP Poll. Miami was on its way up to the top for a pretty long run. Tech brought more than 14,000 fans to the game. Tech fell behind but then started to pull close but field position and mistakes caught up to Tech as they couldn't get closer than 14-10. Ashley Lee had a big game for Tech with 15 tackles. Cyrus Lawrence led the Tech attack with 134 yds rushing.

It would be a few seasons before Tech ventured back to a bowl with the help of Bruce. Tech would have an AA in Robert Brown in 1981 (2nd Team NEA).

Tech deserved a bowl in 1983 but was denied a bid when UNC lost out on a bigger bowl by losing to UVA. UNC fell to the Peach but told the Bowl Committee that they would accept only if they didn't have to play Tech. Tech sat home. The Hokies got some revenge by winning the '83 Squeaker' in Charlottesville against the Cavs. The final was 48-0. The Tech fans paraded the UVA goal posts around Charlottesville.

In 1983, Bruce Smith would garner the following awards to become the most bestowed Tech player so far and he was only a junior:  Player of the Year in Virginia, 1st Team Kodak All-America, 1st Team NEA All-America, 2nd Team AP All-America, 1st Team All-South Independent, 1st Team UPI All-State, 1st Team All-Metro. He also set a Tech record with 22 sacks in a season. The '83 D had seven players who would sign pro contracts (Bruce, Jesse Penn, Mike Johnson are three). Also, Disco would fade, and breakdancing and MJ still stood for Michael Jackson, and someone would try to assassinate a president.

1984 Independence Bowl, Shreveport LA

The Season: This team was dominated by Defense. Bruce Smith (1984 honors: Outland Trophy, Washington DC Touchdown Lineman of the Year, Player of the Year in Virginia, 1st Team AP All-America, 1st Team Kodak All-America, 1st Team Walter Camp All-America, 1st Team Football Writers All-America, 2nd Team UPI All-America, 1st Team All-South Independent, 1st Team All-State, 1st Team All-Metro) led a D that was second nationally in scoring Defense, second in rush D, and third in total D. Tech was 8-3 and headed to the Independence Bowl and Air Force when things started to come undone.

The Offense was led by the 'Stallions,' Eddie Hunter and Maurice Williams, who were sophomores at the time.

The NCAA had ruled Bruce and some other players ineligible for postseason 1-1/2 years before the I-Bowl. The NCAA said an Assistant Coach had had illegal contact with Bruce and that an alum had sent Bruce's sick father a truckload or firewood. After appeals, all players were cleared except Bruce. He would fight it in court. The NCAA threatened the I-Bowl, but a Shreveport judge ruled in Bruce's favor, and the Louisiana Appellate Court would not reverse the decision. Bruce would play.

Stats:

Air Force 23 VT 7

VT	7	0	0	0	7
AFA	3	7	0	13	23

AF (5:43 1st)- Mateos FG 35
VT (4:23 1st)- Williams 3yd run (Wade kick)
AF (8:50 2nd)- Simmons 3yd run (Mateos kick)
AF (6:00 4th)- Brown 1 run(Mateos kick)
AF (2:08 4th)- Weiss 13yd run (Mateos kick)

Team Stats	VT	AFA
First Downs	15	17
Rushes-yds	42-207	55-221
Passing yds	102	49
Return yds	31	17
Passing	11-26-2	6-7-0
Punts- avg.	4-40	6-42.5
Fumbles- lost	2-2	2-0
Penalty yds	11-112	4-30
Time of Possession	25:52	34:08

Individual Statistics-

Rushing- VT- Hunter 12-75, Williams 12-60, Cox 10-33, Bowe 4-23, Becton 3-18, Greenwood 1 (-2); AFA Weiss 29-93, Evans 15-58, Simmons 5-27, Pittman 1-24, Brown 3-8, Knorr 1-6

Passing- VT- Cox 6-17-1 50, Greenwood 5-8-0 52, Hunter 0-1-1 ; AFA Weiss 6-7-0 49

Receiving-VT Rider 4-45, Nelson 3-24, Jones 2-21, Howell 1-7, Bowe 1-5; AFA Coleman 1-16, Fleming 1-14, Brennan 1-9, Simmons 2-7, Brown 1-3

Notes on the game: The best part of the game was that Tech received $425,000 for appearing. Tech played horribly. Four turnovers and eleven penalties and the pre-game distractions stopped Tech in a game that should have been very close.

It would be two more years before a bowl. Bruce became the number one pick in the NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills, I would graduate High School and leave for Tech as a freshman, and no one else would try and assassinate a president, at least not that we know of.

1986 New Peach Bowl, Atlanta GA

The Season: There were no high expectations. A new QB, a whole new O line and controversy that drove everyone together and united the team for the season. A bend but don't break defense, a reliable Dooley offense that was led by the Senior Stallions of Williams and Hunter, and a young kicker with ice water in his veins.

Tech started off the season with a loss to Cinci but then took the Tiger by the tail and upset Clemson in Death Valley. They shook off the crowd and got the Tigers out of sorts by taking them head on and not blinking.

Then the bomb dropped. Coach Dooley was being forced out. He sued the school. The players played. They played hard. Two days after the story broke they had to face the 'Cuse in the Dome. They won. Besides a subpar performance against Temple in Norfolk at the Oyster Bowl, Tech would win the rest, many in very dramatic fashion.

Chris Kinzer was voted to the 2nd team AP and UPI teams as the placekicker. He was responsible for the difference in six wins and one tie (Clemson, Syracuse, South Carolina-tie, Kentucky, WVU, Vanderbilt, and one more game to follow).

Tech would have sat at home if Kinzer had not kicked a 49-yarder with 1 second remaining to lift the Hokies to a 17-15 win over Kentucky. Two more victories would follow that would clinch it, but that kick really made the difference.

It was off to Atlanta and a New Year's eve date with the Wolfpack of NC State.

Stats:

VT 25 NCSU 24

VT	10	0	6	9	25
NCSU	7	14	0	3	24

VT (11:04 1st)- Hunter 1yd run (Kinzer kick)
NCSU (6:41 1st)- Bullock recovered blocked punt in the end zone (Cofer kick)
VT (1:06 1st)- 46 Kinzer FG
NCSU (8:55 2nd)- Worthen 25 yd pass from Kramer (Cofer kick)
NCSU (4:31 2nd)- Britt 5yd pass from Kramer (Cofer kick)
VT (:33 3rd)- Williams 1 yd run (pass failed)
VT (9:36 4th) Johnson 6yd pass from Chapman (run failed)
NCSU (7:12 4th) Cofer 33 FG
VT (0:00 4th) Kinzer 40 FG

Team Stats	VT	NCSU
First Downs	29	16
Rushes-yds	60-287	37-132
Passing yds	200	155
Return yds	14	15
Passing	20-30-2	12-19-0
Punts- avg.	2-34	5-42.8
Fumbles- lost	1-1	2-2
Penalty yds	5-51	3-25
Time of Possession	36:06	23:54

Individual Statistics-

Rushing- VT- Williams 16-129, Hunter 22-113, Jones 7-32, Donnelly 3-10, Everett 1-6, Chapman 11 (-3); NCSU Crite 14-101, Crumpler 9-21, Hollodick 1-5, Kramer 10-4, Harris 4-1

Passing- VT- Chapman 20-30-2 200; NCSU Kramer 12-19-0 155

Receiving-VT Johnson 6-54, Williams 4-39, Snell 4-37, Hunter 2-34, Donnelly 2-19, Everett 1-12, Richardson 1-5; NCSU Worthen 5-70, Jeffries 3-44, Crumpler 2-27, Harris 1-9, Britt 1-5

 

Notes on the game: Back and forth and back and forth. That's how it was. This team probably caused more heart attacks than any I can think of. Maurice Williams started the game off right with a 70 yd plus run on one of Tech's first plays. He and Hunter would have great days.

Tech dominated the stats but made some mistakes early in the game to give NCSU the early opportunities. Tech would collect in the second half by forcing MVP Erik Kramer (the MVP voting was done and turned in with a few minutes left in the game) into two fumbles.

Tech then made the clutch plays as time winded down. Steve Johnson and Eric Chapman combined to convert a 4th and 3 as time was running out to give Kinzer a better shot at the game winner. Kinzer would convert with what was is now known as 'The Kick'. As time ran out and Kinzer ran down the sideline, over 16,000+ Tech fans at Atlanta-Fulton County stadium went absolutely nuts.

A new year was rung in, and the great run of 1986 was rung out. A new coach and NCAA sanctions would come to town, and winning would leave for a while. I would graduate, metal was in, and new wave was out, Bimbo Coles would become a favored son, and Tech would not be invited to a bowl for 7 years.

Seven long years.........

To be continued.

Go VT

Errors will gladly be corrected.  Please email Go VT

Reference materials and thanks to- Arizona Hokie for copies of the Bowl Programs that I don't own, Hokies n Hoos by Doug Doughty and Roland Lazenby, a bunch of old Hokie Huddlers, and the 'Hokies Handbook' by Chris Colston. Don't leave home without 'em.

Copyright HokieCentral.com members only and Go VT, 1998.