VT 2015 bowl brochure

ng i t i c ! x s e n e o s ti e a h t n i st of e e d n To otseason Orlando, Fla. pos

Atlanta, Ga. rg, S t . Pe t e r s b u

ANNAPOLIS, MD. • BIRMINGHAM, ALA. • BRONX, N.Y. CHARLOTTE, N.C. • DETROIT, MICH. • EL PASO, TEXAS GLENDALE, ARIZ. • JACKSONVILLE, FLA. • NASHVILLE, TENN. SHREVEPORT, LA.

MILITARY BOWL

TAKING OUR

BOWL

PMS 5435 PMS 5415

SEC

ACC

Fla.

PMS 116

PMS 152

PMS 3268

PMS 201

PMS 287

ON THE ROAD

ST. PETERSBURG BOWL DEC. 26 • TROPICANA FIELD • ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. ESPN • 11 AM ET

Welcome to the natural and cultural gem of Florida’s west coast – St. Petersburg and Clearwater! Home to some of the best beaches in the state, this area is the perfect place for a relaxing and fun-filled vacation for the whole family. Experience some of the great things that this area has to offer when you attend the St. Petersburg Bowl.

If you are looking to experience the culture and art, visit one of the many historic sites, cultural events, art galleries, or museums. Spend a night on the town at one of the area’s award-winning restaurants and nightclubs. From resort-style amenities to campgrounds, you are sure to find the perfect place to call home during your stay. Your time in St. Petersburg and Clearwater is sure to be a memory that will last a lifetime!

Bowl selections announced Sunday, Dec. 6

HYUNDAI SUN BOWL DEC. 26 • SUN BOWL STADIUM • EL PASO, TEXAS CBS • 2 PM ET

When teams from the ACC and Pac-12 meet on the field on December 26, 2015, it will mark the 82nd edition of one of the oldest traditions in college football history, the Hyundai Sun Bowl.

Since the first Sun Bowl played on January 1, 1935 the game has grown into El Paso’s number one national attraction. The Sun Bowl features the color and pageantry that is college football.

The Hokies have traveled to the Sun Bowl twice, in 1947 (Cincinnati 18, VT 6) and again in 2013 (UCLA 42, VT 12).

To preorder your bowl tickets visit

NEW ERA PINSTRIPE BOWL DEC. 26 • YANKEE STADIUM • BRONX, N.Y. • ABC • 3:30 PM ET

Yankee Stadium, the venerable “House that Ruth Built” that stood for 85 years before being re-opened in 2010, has been the host to some of the most memorable collegiate and professional football games in gridiron history.

THE GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED The NFL Championship Game on Dec. 28, 1958, between the New York Giants and Baltimore Colts was the first NFL game to go into sudden death overtime.

The Colts won, 23-17, in what is widely-regarded as “The Greatest Game Ever Played.” A national television audience saw Colts receiver Raymond Berry catch 12 passes (a championship game record) for 178 yards and a score in a game that signaled the beginning of the NFL’s surge in popularity.

WINNING ONE FOR THE GIPPER George “The Gipper” Gipp was a first-team AllAmerican at Notre Dame before dying at the age of 25 of streptococcal throat infection just days after leading Notre Dame to a win over Northwestern. While on his hospital bed he received a visit from coach Knute Rockne before a Nov. 10, 1928, showdown against Army. At halftime of a scoreless game, Rockne urged his squad to win it for Gipp, inspiring the Irish to a 12-6 win at Yankee Stadium.

LOMBARDI’S LOW POINT One member of the famed Seven Blocks of Granite was future Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi, who later in the 1936 season endured what he called “the most devastating loss of my life.” Needing one win for a Rose Bowl berth, the Rams fell to NYU, 7-6, on a muddy Yankee Stadium field on Thanksgiving Day, dropping from No. 3 to No. 15 in the final AP rankings.

THE FINAL GAME The final Whitney M. Young Urban League classic on September 12, 1987 was also the last football game ever played at the old Yankee Stadium.

Central State University of Ohio defeated Grambling, 37-21. Afterwards, Grambling coach Eddie Robinson said, “They just came to play. We didn’t.”

Bowl selections announced Sunday, Dec. 6

CAMPING WORLD INDEPENDENCE BOWL DEC. 26 • INDEPENDENCE STADIUM • SHREVEPORT, LA. • ESPN • 5:45 PM ET

The northwestern part of Louisiana, in and around Shreveport-Bossier City, is a little different than the rest of the state. It’s a mixture of spicy Cajun tradition and wide-open Texas spirit, “where cowboy meets Creole.”

Here, spicy Louisiana crawfish meet cowboy-cut ribeye steaks. The music that drifts through the air could be Dixieland jazz or Texas roadhouse blues, depending on which side of the street you’re on.

From the glittering excitement of the casinos to the wonderful array of festivals, the mouthwatering local cuisine, fantastic shopping and numerous outdoor activities, museums and attractions – Shreveport-Bossier has all of the necessary ingredients for a memorable getaway.

Hokies at the Independence Bowl Dec. 15, 1984 • Air Force 23, Virginia Tech 7 Dec. 31, 1993 • Virginia Tech 45, Indiana 20

To preorder your bowl tickets visit

MILITARY BOWL DEC. 28 • NMCM STADIUM • ANNAPOLIS, MD. • ESPN • 2:30 PM ET

MILITARY BOWL

The Military Bowl serves as a premier event benefiting the USO and other organizations supporting members of the Armed Forces and their families. Since its inception in 2008, the Bowl has donated more than $500,000 to the USO and provided more than 25,000 complimentary tickets for troops and their families.

The Military Bowl® is committed to giving back to the community through its partnership with the USO, USO of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore and other programs aimed at youth development through sports, particularly football. To advance those goals, the Military Bowl provides visibility to the USO and its programs and partners with groups who host youth football events throughout the year.

On Dec. 27, 2014, Virginia Tech defeated Cincinnati 33-17 at the Military Bowl.

J.C. Coleman set a new Virginia Tech bowl record for rushing yards and received the award for Most Valuable Player.

Bowl selections announced Sunday, Dec. 6

QUICK LANE BOWL DEC. 28 • FORD FIELD • DETROIT, MICH. • ESPN2 • 5 PM ET BOWL

The Quick Lane Bowl will feature teams from the Big Ten and ACC. At the end of the college football season, officials from both conferences will meet with bowl officials to determine the best possible matchup and choose their team representatives.

DETROIT ATTRACTIONS Detroit Opera House: Newsies–The Musical: December 27, 1 p.m.

Ice Skating: Campus Martius Park Detroit Zoo: Wild Lights, December 26-31 5:30-9 p.m.

Belle Isle Aquarium Museums

The Henry Ford Ford Rouge Factory Tour Motown Museum Detroit Historical Museum Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History Museum of Contemporary Art Michigan Science Center

Shopping Centers

The Somerset Collection Mall at Partridge Creek Village of Rochester Hills Great Lakes Crossing Lakeside Mall

To preorder your bowl tickets visit

RUSSELL ATHLETIC BOWL DEC. 29 • ORLANDO CITRUS BOWL STADIUM • ORLANDO, FLA. ESPN • 5:30 PM ET

This year’s game will be the second to be held in the reconstructed Orlando Citrus Bowl and the first since the facility reached 100% completion PMS 5435 PMS 5415 PMS 116 PMS 152 PMS 3268 PMS 201 PMS 287 in early 2015. Game attendees will enjoy all of the amenities of the new stadium which include wider aisles, new concessions areas, and chairback seats with more legroom in an all-new lower bowl. Club spaces, loge boxes and a 15,000-square-foot deck highlight a new plaza level that circles the entire stadium.

The 2015 Russell Athletic Bowl features the top post-BCS selection from the ACC (including the possibility of Notre Dame) and the second postCFP pick in the Big 12.

On Dec. 28, 2012, Virginia Tech defeated Rutgers 13-10 in overtime at the Russell Athletic Bowl.

Bowl selections announced Sunday, Dec. 6

BIRMINGHAM BOWL DEC. 30 • LEGION FIELD • BIRMINGHAM, ALA. • ESPN • NOON ET

Southern Hospitality.

SERIOUS FOOTBALL. This is your family’s chance to be a part of all the events and local flavor leading up to the Birmingham Bowl and to experience serious football done Southern style. Enjoy all the pageantry and southern fanfare of great college football in Birmingham — a place we rightly call the Magic City.

The Birmingham Bowl is a conditional bowl for the ACC, If available, the ACC will be the first conditional choice for Birmingham Bowl should either of that bowl’s primary partners not have an eligible team.

To preorder your bowl tickets visit

BELK BOWL DEC. 30 • BANK OF AMERICA STADIUM • CHARLOTTE, N.C. ESPN • 3:30 PM ET

SEC

ACC

Welcome to Charlotte! Get ready to gear up for an unforgettable experience as you cheer your team on to victory in the Queen City.

As the North Carolina hub for professional and amateur teams including the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, NASCAR and more, Charlotte is a winning city with a deep passion for sports and outdoor recreation.

The Belk Bowl is thrilled to announce that superstar and seven-time GRAMMY® winner Carrie Underwood will be the headline act at the 2015 Belk Bowl this December.

“Carrie Underwood is a tremendous addition to this year’s Belk Bowl,” says Jon Pollack, Belk’s executive vice president of sales promotion,

marketing and eCommerce.

“We look forward to a dynamic and high energy performance that will be the perfect launch to our game day.”

This year’s FanFest event is free to the public and will begin at 10:00 a.m. with Underwood’s performance scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.

Bowl selections announced Sunday, Dec. 6

FRANKLIN AMERICAN MORTGAGE MUSIC CITY BOWL DEC. 30 • NISSAN STADIUM • NASHVILLE, TENN. • ESPN • 7 PM ET Nashville is one of the best cities in the country for hospitality and entertainment. Known as Music City, Nashville has lots to offer the college football fan.

The Inaugural Music City Bowl was held on December 29, 1998 at Vanderbilt Stadium. Virginia Tech ended a 10-game losing streak to Alabama in the game. The Hokies won 38-7.

In 1999, the stadium for the Tennessee Titans was completed and the game moved to its current home at Nissam Stadium.

The Bowl has had some major accomplishments adding to its

You don’t have to pay a penny to listen to Nashville’s live music scene. Take a stroll and open the ears to all the music playing around every corner in Music City. Make sure to check out all the big music events and festivals that are completely free.

To preorder your bowl tickets visit

success and has solidified its position as one of Nashville’s most important events.

Moreover, the Bowl has one of the most successful youth initiatives in the country with its Youth Football Program. The Bowl’s Youth Football Program reaches families in eighty communities in Middle Tennessee, southern Kentucky, and northern Alabama. More than 20,000 participants are part of a unique program that involves players, cheerleaders, and coaches with Nashville’s Holiday Tradition.

Nashville’s Bowl game continues to evolve as a cornerstone event for Music City and the Middle Tennessee region.

CHICK-FIL-A PEACH BOWL DEC. 31 • GEORGIA DOME • ATLANTA GA. ESPN • NOON ET

The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl is the nintholdest bowl game in the country and is one of New Year’s Six Bowls selected to host the College Football Playoff. The Bowl has sold out 18 of the last 20 years and has earned a reputation as one of the most competitive bowls in the country, with 55% of its games being decided by a touchdown or less. The Bowl also leads all other bowl games in charitable and scholarship contributions, giving more than $17.5 million to organizations in need since 2002.

Local attractions include: • College Football Hall of Fame • Georgia Aquarium • Atlanta Movie Tours • Legoland • Atlanta History Center • Zoo Atlanta Hokies at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Jan. 2, 1981 • Miami (Fla.) 20, Virginia Tech 10 Dec. 31, 1986 • Virginia Tech 25, N.C. State 24 Dec. 30, 2006 • Georgia 31, Virginia Tech 24 Dec. 31, 2009 • Virginia Tech 37, Tennessee 14

Bowl selections announced Sunday, Dec. 6

FIESTA BOWL JAN. 1 • UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX STADIUM GLENDALE, ARIZ. • ESPN • TBA

The Fiesta Bowl has become such an integral part of the college bowl season that it’s easy to forget it’s a relatively young bowl game. In the spirit of the Old West, it took some wheeling and dealing and a little bit of grit from some upstart Arizonans to break into the ranks of the established bowl system.

In 1971, community leaders in Arizona founded the Fiesta Bowl as a non-profit organization. Today the Fiesta Bowl is a premier bowl game having hosted seven collegiate national championships. Their success comes from a dedicated and diverse team of individuals from all walks of life, many volunteering their time and skills. Together they are committed to the organization’s ongoing excellence and to strengthening their community by encouraging volunteerism, athletic achievement and higher education.

Phoenix Zoo

Fiesta Bowl Events: • Fiesta Bowl Fan Fest Pregame Party Fri., Jan. 1st University of Phoenix Stadium 7:30 - 10:30 a.m. MST • NBAZ Fiesta Bowl Parade Sat., Jan. 2nd Downtown Phoenix. Ariz.

Parade starts at 11:00 a.m. MST

Phoenix, Ariz.

To preorder your bowl tickets visit

TAXSLAYER GATOR BOWL JAN. 2 • EVERBACK FIELD • JACKSONVILLE, FLA. ESPN • NOON ET Gator Bowl Sports has a storied and memorable 69-year tradition.

The game has showcased many of college football’s biggest names including Heisman Trophy winners George Rogers, Pat Sullivan, Earl Campbell, and John David Crow. Outstanding players such as Dan Marino, Thurman Thomas, Archie Manning, Larry Csonka and Peyton Manning are also part of the Gator Bowl mystique.

Virginia Tech has appeared in the Gator Bowl five times, including the 1994 game that was held in Gainesville, Fla. The 1994 Hokie team photo at Jacksonville Landing

Hokies at the Gator Bowl Dec. 30, 1994 • Tennessee 45, Virginia Tech 23 Jan. 1, 1998 • UNC 42 , Virginia Tech 3 Jan. 1, 2001 • Virginia Tech 41 , Clemson 20 Jan. 1, 2002 • FSU 30, Virginia Tech 17 Jan. 2, 2006 • Virginia Tech 35, Louisville 24

Darryl Tapp and his Gator Bowl MVP trophy

Bowl selections announced Sunday, Dec. 6

CLICK HERE to pre-order ACC Championship tickets

The ACC Atlantic and Coastal Division leaders will meet in the ACC Championship game on Dec. 5.