2008 Gator Bowl

The 2008 Gator Bowl was played on January 1, 2008, as part of the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It featured the Red Raiders of Texas Tech University, who finished third in the Big 12 Conference's South Division, and the Cavaliers of the University of Virginia, who finished second in the Atlantic Coast Conference's Coastal Division. Texas Tech won the game on a last-second field goal, securing a 31–28 victory.

2008 Konica Minolta Gator Bowl
63rd Gator Bowl
Texas Tech Red Raiders Virginia Cavaliers
(8–4) (9–3)
Big 12 ACC
31 28
Head coach: 
Mike Leach		 Head coach: 
Al Groh
APCoachesBCS
212020
1234 Total
Texas Tech 70717 31
Virginia 91207 28
DateJanuary 1, 2008
Season2007
StadiumJacksonville Municipal Stadium
LocationJacksonville, Florida
MVPGraham Harrell (QB, Texas Tech) & Mikell Simpson (RB, Virginia)[n 1][1][2]
FavoriteTexas Tech by 5½[3]
Attendance60,243[4]
PayoutUS$2.5 million per team[5]
United States TV coverage
NetworkCBS
AnnouncersVerne Lundquist and Gary Danielson[3]

It was one of 32 games in the 2007–08 bowl season. The Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game that is played at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. It is one of the oldest college bowls, held continuously since 1946. This edition's full name was the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl after its sponsor, Konica Minolta.[6]

Overview

The Gator Bowl has tie-ins from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Big 12 Conference, and Big East Conferences, as well as independent Notre Dame. They have the right to the third pick of a team from the ACC, and have the option to offer the other spot to the second pick from the Big East, the fourth pick from the Big 12, or Notre Dame. The 2008 game featured the ACC's Virginia Cavaliers, who finished the 2007 season with an overall record of 9–3 (6–2 in the ACC) playing the Big 12's Texas Tech Red Raiders, who finished the 2007 season with an overall record of 8–4 (4–4 in the Big 12). The game was the eighth straight post season appearance for the Red Raiders. Virginia returned to a bowl game after failing to qualify for one following the 2006 season.

Recap

After Texas Tech jumped out to an early 7–0 lead, scoring on their second drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Graham Harrell to Detron Lewis, Virginia reeled off 21 straight points, including two safeties where Harrell was called for intentional grounding in the endzone. Virginia tailback Mikell Simpson scored on a 96-yard run, an NCAA bowl record for a running back.[7]

Virginia carried a 21–7 lead into the locker room at halftime and seemed to be in control after Simpson hauled in an 11-yard pass from quarterback Peter Lalich with 11:26 left in the game to make the score 28–14.

With 7:54 left in the game, Texas Tech turned the ball over on downs just outside Virginia's goal line. The Cavaliers were unable to pick up a first down and, following a punt, the Red Raiders took over at midfield trailing by 14 with 5:32 left. Harrell engineered an efficient drive completing five of his eight passes on the drive, including a 20-yard fade to Michael Crabtree for a touchdown to make it 28–21 with 3:31 left on the clock.

On Virginia's ensuing drive, Lalich was sacked and fumbled the football, setting up a one-play drive for Texas Tech – a four-yard touchdown run for Aaron Crawford.

Virginia was again unable to pick up a first down and Texas Tech drove to the UVA 24 yard line and Alex Trlica kicked the winning 41-yard field goal with two seconds left. The final score was Texas Tech 31, Virginia 28.

Notes
  1. The bowl's official website lists DE Chris Long as Virginia's MVP.

References
  • "Gator Bowl Preview". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on January 4, 2008. Retrieved December 12, 2007.
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved December 31, 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6883219/
  3. Fox, David (December 13, 2007). "Rivals.com Bowl Viewer's Guide". Rivals.com. Archived from the original on December 15, 2007. Retrieved December 17, 2007.
  4. Doughty, Doug (January 3, 2008). "Stadium barely half full at Gator Bowl". The Roanoke Times. Archived from the original on September 18, 2012. Retrieved January 18, 2008.
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 3, 2007. Retrieved September 19, 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. Gator Bowl lands new deal for title sponsor
  7. "ESPN Gator Bowl Game Recap". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 1, 2008. Archived from the original on January 4, 2008. Retrieved January 3, 2008.
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