2008 ORANGE BOWL GUIDE - HokieSports

2000 Sugar Bowl
Florida State 46, Virginia Tech 29
NEW ORLEANS, La. — Playing on the
biggest stage in school history — the national
championship game — Virginia Tech proved it
belonged among the nation’s elite,
but fell short in its drive to capture
the coveted national crown. In the
end, the Hokies simply could not
overcome their own mistakes and
the big plays of the Florida State
Seminoles during a 46-29 loss in
the Nokia Sugar Bowl.
In one of the best championship
games in recent history, Tech rallied
from a 21-point first-half deficit to
take the lead from the top-ranked
Seminoles going into the fourth quarter. The
Hokies had the momentum of 22-straight
points heading into the final period, but that
momentum turned in FSU’s favor on a crucial
fourth-and-one play with just over 14 minutes
remaining in the game.
Michael Vick (above) wowed the nation with his performance in
the national championship game against Florida State. Great
plays such as Anthony Midget’s interception (right) had the
Hokies leading going into the fourth quarter.
The Seminoles picked up the first
down and went on to take the lead with a
touchdown at the 12:59 mark. A Tech fumble
led to an FSU field goal less than
three minutes later, and the
Seminoles iced the game with
another TD with 7:42 remaining.
Tech showed no fear against
its highly touted opponent,
driving 76 yards to the FSU 4 on
its first possession of the game
only to fumble. It was the first of
several costly mistakes. Florida
State scored on a blocked punt
and a punt return on the way to
building a 28-7 lead.
Sensational redshirt-freshman quarterback
Michael Vick directed an 80-yard scoring drive
just before the half to get the Hokies closer at
28-14. Tech added 15 more points in the third
quarter to go ahead, 29-28.
Vick accounted for 323
yards of total offense. He
constantly avoided FSU’s rush
with a dazzling display of
footwork that led to 97 yards
rushing and a touchdown.
Vick added 225-yards passing
and another TD.
Tech out-gained the
Seminoles, 503 yards to
359, but 170 of FSU’s total
yards came on three long
touchdown passes.
BOWL HISTORY
NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP
GAME
January 4, 2000 • New Orleans, La.
Louisiana Superdome • Att: 79,280
Virginia Tech 7 7 15 0 — 29
Florida State 14 14 0 18 — 46
FSU (3:22 re 1st) — Warrick 64 pass from Weinke
(Janikowski kick)
FSU (2:14 re 1st) — Chaney 6 blocked punt return
(Janikowski kick)
VT (0:30 re 1st) — Davis 49 pass from Vick
(Graham kick)
FSU (13:45 re 2nd) — Dugans 63 pass from Weinke
(Janikowski kick)
FSU (11:40 re 2nd) — Warrick 59 punt return
(Janikowski kick)
VT (0:37 re 2nd) — Vick 3 run (Graham kick)
VT (7:54 re 3rd) — FG Graham 23
VT (5:57 re 3rd) — Kendrick 29 run (pass failed)
VT (2:13 re 3rd) — Kendrick 6 run (pass failed)
FSU (12:59 re 4th) — Dugans 14 pass from Weinke
(Warrick pass from Weinke)
FSU (10:26 re 4th) — FG Janikowski 32
FSU (7:42 re 4th) — Warrick 43 pass from Weinke
(Janikowski kick)
Team Statistics VT FSU
First downs 24 15
Rushes-yds. 52-278 23-30
Passing yds. 225 329
Return yds. 88 80
Passes 15-29-0 20-34-1
Punts-avg. 6-29 7-44
Fumbles-lost 3-3 2-0
Penalties-yds. 6-65 7-59
Time of poss. 36:25 23:35
Sacks by 4-31 7-37
Individual Leaders
Rushing — VT, Vick 23-97, Kendrick 12-69, Stith 11-68,
Davis 1-16, Johnson 1-12, Sorensen 1-7, Ferguson 1-5,
Hawkins 1-4, Graham 1-0; FSU, Chaney 4-43, Minor 9-39,
Team 3-(-7), Weinke 7-(-41).
Passing — VT, Vick 15-29-0-225; FSU, Weinke
20-34-1-329.
Receiving — VT, Davis 7-108, Hawkins 2-49, Kendrick
2-27, Johnson 1-23, Wynn 1-7, Ferguson 1-6, Carter 1-5;
FSU, Warrick 6-163, Dugans 5-99, Minnis 2-25, Minor 2-23,
Morgan 2-10, Chaney 2-5, Boldin 1-4.
2007 VIRGINIA TECH FOOTBALL 87
2008 ORANGE BOWL GUIDE