Virginia Tech to the Gator Bowl is a (Supposedly) Done Deal

by cgb on Tue, Dec 1, 2009 at 8:00 am

I received a tip that the Hokies have a handshake deal in place to play in the 2010 Gator Bowl against either Cincinnati or West Virginia. If Cincinnati beats Pittsburgh (Saturday 10/5 at noon) we’ll play the Mountaineers otherwise it’s the Bearcats. The source is extremely confident and in the know. But, like all non-published agreements there’s always the possibility it can fall through.

In my opinion our chances of making a BCS game were slim and none. The Peach and Gator Bowl have been the logical choices all along. So unless there’s all out chaos (namely Boise State losing and Clemson winning) expect to ring in the New Year in Jacksonville.

Update (10:25am) via Jacksonville.com: Florida State could be selected for Gator Bowl for Bobby Bowden’s final game.

The Times-Union has learned that given certain conditions, Florida State and West Virginia will be invited to play in the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl Jan. 1 at the Jacksonville Municipal Stadium — a matchup that would be FSU coach Bobby Bowden’s final college game, against the team he coached prior to taking over the Seminoles in 1976.

According to sources familiar with the Gator Bowl Association selection process, it was decided Monday night at a meeting of the selection committee to match the teams under two conditions: that Bowden actually retire as the FSU coach today, as has been widely reported, and that the Seminoles are eligible to be invited to the game, given the outcome of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game Saturday and the ACC bowl selection guidelines.

Update (12/2 1:50am) via GoVolsXtra: In another “dream” matchup, Hokies versus Volunteers in the Peach Bowl.

The Chick-fil-A had identified UT as its top target if it slipped past the Outback, and the Vols and Hokies (9-3, 6-2 ACC) now look set to play in Atlanta on Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m.

Read more: ACC, Big East, Bowls, Cincinnati Bearcats, Eff WVU, SEC, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, bowl season

Rep:

�)

11 Responses to “Virginia Tech to the Gator Bowl is a (Supposedly) Done Deal”

Track Responses to This Entry With the RSS Feed Send a Trackback Write a Response

1Magglio Merkin on Dec 1, 2009 at 8:44 am:

What the fuck is a “bowl”??

/cries
2Simon on Dec 1, 2009 at 9:08 am:

You mean Cincy vs. Pitt loser? Or do you mean Cincy if they lose, and WVU if Cincy wins?
3Magglio Merkin on Dec 1, 2009 at 10:37 am:

Bowden deserves more respect than this. I sincerely hope the FSU program has some sort of curse for the way they have dragged the coach through the mud. This FSU team is not too far from being really good. I can’t honestly believe a sane football fan can’t see that. Thier defense is not up to par. Thier offense is actually quite good. I say this as someone who really doesn’t even like FSU because they beat my boy Vick in that NC game with that old balls QB.
4GatorTrey on Dec 1, 2009 at 12:17 pm:

Hey y’all.

I’ve researched this and unless the ACC makes some special Bowden exception it will be tough for the Gator Bowl to get Noles.

Konica Minolta Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla. (Jan. 1 at 1:00 p.m. on CBS)
After the Chick-fi l-A Bowl has chosen, then the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl has the next selection. If the Gator Bowl does not choose the ACC team available with the best conference record, then it must choose a team within one win in the conference record. If that team, though, is the runner-up in the ACC Football Championship Game (FCG), then the Gator Bowl may pass to make another selection within one victory

Source – ACC

FSU has 4 wins, Three teams have 6 or more. Georgia Tech, Clemson, and Va Tech…

Go figure.

Maybe there
5cgb on Dec 1, 2009 at 1:42 pm:

@GatorTrey – Interesting stuff and good research. According to TomahawkNation the ACC will have to make a special exception for FSU, which no doubt they will do.

Note: Gator Bowl President Rick Catlett on 1010XL radio in Jacksonville this morning: If Bobby agrees to coach the bowl game, FSU will be playing WVU on January 1st. We have learned that this is a highly unusual move, but as long as the ACC allows it, it will go through. FSU’s 4-4 conference record is only a game off those with 5-3 conference records.
6Bird on Dec 1, 2009 at 3:55 pm:

That Louisville game is more remembered for the infamous Dumervil Stomp than the Beating of Cantwell.

I understand the FSU fans are pissed because he’s kinda treating the Noles as a retirement home. However, fans can’t live in the now. They’ve gotta live in the Karma filled world of college football in which the Noles will reap an Alabama-like dropoff after forcing Bowden out. My prediction: 7 coaches in the next 25 years for the Noles as they seek to regain their 1990’s Bowden Era.
7Box on Dec 1, 2009 at 7:22 pm:

Bowl games vs. the Big East are fucking clown shoes. Goddamn UNC, why couldn’t we have just won that game?
8Cleet on Dec 2, 2009 at 9:26 am:

Hrmmm. I have seen a bunch of projections showing Miami in the Gator. It should be interesting since the ACC always has a bunch of teams packed together. I would like to see if I can catch the canes wherever they are but we will see especially if Bowden and the Noles are given an exception.
9cgb on Dec 2, 2009 at 1:06 pm:

@Cleet Florida State to the Gator and VT to the Peach are done deals, Miami got fucked and could get fucked more depending on the outcome of the ACCCG.
102009 Bowl Games on Dec 2, 2009 at 10:35 pm:

Sounds like a great Gator bowl. But I do know a LOT of people are cheering for Cinci to go down…
11cleet on Dec 3, 2009 at 12:39 pm:

Frankly, we deserved to get fucked. Losing those games to Clemson and UNC were inexcusable. Would have gotten a BCS at-large if not for those turnover fests. Latest I see is Champ Sports in Orlando which vs. the Big Ten which is fine. Orlando will draw a decent number from Miami (which we all know travels poorly – although it was nice to see a lot of Cane fans @ the USF game) but unfortunately due to starting a new job I will not be able to take off mid-week to fly down and see it. If Clemson beats GT however, it could get ugly: Music City or EagleBank, but I would take a Menieke Car Care since I used to live in Charlotte and its on a weekend.