Gator Bowl Player Profile, History & More

2007 Toyota Gator Bowl Player Profile, History & More

West Virginia (10-2) vs. Georgia Tech (9-4)

Jan. 1st, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS

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Gator Bowl History
2006	Virginia Tech 35, Louisville 24
2005	Florida St 30, West Virginia 18
2004	Maryland 41, West Virginia 7
2003	NC State 28, Notre Dame 6
2002	Florida St 30, Virginia Tech 17
2001	Virginia Tech 41, Clemson 20
2000	Miami 28, Georgia Tech 13
1999	Georgia Tech 35, Notre Dame 28
1998	North Carolina 42, Virginia Tech 3
1997	North Carolina 20, West Virginia 13
1996	Syracuse 41, Clemson 0
1994	Tennessee 45, Virginia Tech 23
1993	Alabama 24, North Carolina 10
1992	Florida 27, NC State 10
1991 (Dec.)	Oklahoma 48, Virginia 14
1991 (Jan.)	Michigan 35, Mississippi 3
1989 (Dec.)	Clemson 27, West Virginia 7
1989 (Jan.)	Georgia 34, Michigan State 27
1987	LSU 30, South Carolina 13
1986	Clemson 27, Stanford 21
1985	Florida State 34, Oklahoma State 23
1984	Oklahoma State 21, South Carolina 14
1983	Florida 14, Iowa 6
1982	Florida State 31, West Virginia 12
1981	North Carolina 31, Arkansas 27
1980	Pitt 37, South Carolina 9
1979	North Carolina 17, Michigan 15
1978	Clemson 17, Ohio State 15
1977	Pitt 34, Clemson 3
1976	Notre Dame 20, Penn State 9
1975	Maryland 13, Florida 0
1974	Auburn 27, Texas 3
1973	Texas Tech 28, Tennessee 19
1972	Auburn 24, Colorado 3
1971 (Dec.)	Georgia 7, North Carolina 3
1970 (Jan.)	Auburn 35, Mississippi 28
1969	Florida 14, Tennessee 13
1968	Missouri 35, Alabama 10
1967	Florida State 17, Penn State 17
1966	Tennessee 18, Syracuse 12
1965 (Dec.)	Georgia Tech 31, Texas Tech 21
1965 (Jan.)	Florida State 36, Oklahoma 19
1963	North Carolina 35, Air Force 0
1962	Florida 17, Penn State 7
1961	Penn State 30, Georgia Tech 15
1960 (Dec.)	Florida 13, Baylor 12
1960 (Jan.)	Arkansas 14, Georgia Tech 7
1958	Mississippi 7, Florida 3
1957	Tennessee 3, Texas A&M 0
1956	Georgia Tech 21, Pitt 14
1955	Vanderbilt 25, Auburn 13
1954 (Dec.)	Auburn 33, Baylor 13
1954 (Jan.)	Texas Tech 35, Auburn 13
1953	Florida 14, Tulsa 13
1952	Miami 14, Clemson 0
1951	Wyoming 20, Washington & Lee 0
1950	Maryland 20, Missouri 7
1949	Clemson 24, Missouri 23
1948	Georgia 20, Maryland 20
1947	Oklahoma 34, NC State 13
1946	Wake Forest 26, South Carolina 14

By Richard Cirminiello

Gator Bowl Player Profile
RB Tashard Choice, Georgia Tech – The emergence of true freshman Adrian Peterson two years ago sent shockwaves throughout the nation and throughout the Oklahoma roster.  Peterson was so good and so young that a couple of his backups decided to seek playing time on other campuses.  To these gifted, yet underutilized, reserves, shifting residencies and changing colors were far better alternatives than spending the rest of their college careers in the prodigy’s shadow.  To them, AD meant another destination.  Courtney Tennial left Norman for Tulsa, where he scored 16 touchdowns and led the Hurricane in rushing in 2006.  Choice returned home to Georgia, where he could be closer to his family and play for the Yellow Jackets.  After transferring in 2004 and getting 117 carries as P.J. Daniels understudy in 2005, he has emerged in 2006 as one of the premier backs in the ACC, running for a league-leading 1,304 yards and 10 touchdowns.  Choice is a straight-ahead runner with good speed and an impressive run of eight 100-yard days in Tech’s last nine games.  A backup no longer, he’s gradually developed into a very consistent complement to a skittish passing game that’s been more miss than hit this season.  With senior Reggie Ball ineligible for the Gator Bowl and out of eligibility, Choice’s role within the offense figures to increase in Jacksonville and next season, his final one in Atlanta.  After being overshadowed for the better part of his college career, a New Year’s Day bowl game could be an ideal venue for the former Sooner to finally launch himself into the national spotlight.          

Best Mountaineer Bowl Moment – The postseason has been a horror show for West Virginia…until last year’s Sugar Bowl.  The same program that had lost 11 of its previous 12 bowl games jumped all over heavily-favored Georgia in the Georgia Dome before holding on for a 38-35 win that ranks among the most important in school history.  Steve Slaton’s 204 yards rushing against a quality Dawg D was surpassed only by Texas’ Vince Young for the best individual effort of the 2006 bowl season.

Best Yellow Jacket Bowl Moment – Tech boasts a sensational 22-12 bowl record, including 8-4 since 1985.  The Jackets did most of their big-game damage in the 1940s and 1950s, however, it was the 1991 Florida Citrus Bowl which means the most to today’s generation of Tech fans.  Led by the passing of Shawn Jones and the running of William Bell, Bobby Ross’ team pummeled Nebraska 45-21, en route to an unbeaten season and the UPI’s share of the national championship.

West Virginia's best win ... West Virginia 41 ... Rutgers 39 3OT
West Virginia scored on a perfectly lobbed 22-yard pass from Jarrett Brown to Brandon Myles for a score in the third overtime, and then Brown threw a strike for the two point conversion. Rutgers answered with a one-yard touchdown run from Ray Rice, but he couldn't hang on to the two-point conversion attempt getting it knocked away to end the Scarlet Knights' BCS dreams. Brown played in place of Pat White, who was out with an injured ankle, and played well highlighted by a 40-yard touchdown run in the third quarter for a 20-10 lead. Rutgers roared back with 13 straight points starting off with a 72-yard Tim Brown touchdown catch, but the Mountaineers were able to force overtime with a 30-yard Pat McAfee field goal in the final minute. The two teams traded field goals in the first overtime, and one-yard touchdown runs in the second with Brian Leonard scoring for Rutgers and Steve Slaton pounding in his second score of the game.

West Virginia's worst performance ... South Florida 24 ... West Virginia 19
South Florida's defense stunned West Virginia by forcing four turnovers and holding the Mountaineer rushing offense to 132 rushing yards. The Bulls overcame an early 6-0 deficit with a fumble recovery for a score and a ten-yard Matt Grothe run, and went up for good with a 21-yard Ean Randolph scoring grab. West Virginia came back with Pat White's second touchdown pass of the game to Brandon Myles with a 44-yard play with just over five minutes to play, but its final drive was stopped early on an interception from Trae Williams off a tipped pass.

Georgia Tech's best win ... Georgia Tech 38 ... Virginia Tech 27
Georgia Tech shocked Virginia Tech with a 21-0 first quarter lead helped by two Calvin Johnson touchdowns including a 53 yarder. The Hokies answered with 13 straight points, but the Yellow Jackets went back on a scoring run sparked by a 22-yard Travis Bell field goal with three seconds to play in the half, and then the D took over with a 38-yard Gary Guyton fumble return for a score early in the third. Tashard Choice fell on a fumble in the end zone, and Georgia Tech had a 38-13. Sean Glennon threw for 339 yards for the Hokies and threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Eddie Royal to get to within 11, but couldn't get back on the board

Georgia Tech's worst performance ... Clemson 31 ... Georgia Tech 7
Clemson pulled off a shocker running for 321 yards on the normally stout Georgia Tech defense and getting beaten for three second half home runs. C.J. Spiller ripped off a 50-yard touchdown at the end of the third quarter to go up 17-0, and then the Yellow Jackets came up with their best drive of the night capped off with a brilliant 35-yard touchdown catch from James Johnson. Spiller answered with a brilliant 50-yard score  taking a short pass and making two defenders grasp for air on the way to the end zone. James Davis capped off a big day with a five-yard scoring run. Georgia Tech star receiver Calvin Johnson was held without a catch.

Gator Bowl
Virginia Tech 35 ... Louisville 24
Virginia Tech overcame a 24-13 fourth quarter deficit with a 24-yard Cedric Humes touchdown run and a five-yard touchdown catch from Jeff King before the defense finally put it away on a 39-yard interception return for a score from James Anderson with just over five minutes to play. The Cardinals appeared to have things in hand early with three touchdown passes from Hunter Cantwell and with Virginia Tech's top defender, CB Jimmy Williams, kicked out for bumping an official, but Marcus Vick kept the offense in the game and the defense held down the Cardinals in the fourth quarter. The Hokies held on to the ball for 36:21.
Player of the game: Virginia Tech RB Cedric Humes ran 22 times for 113 yards and a touchdown.
Stat Leaders: Virginia Tech - Passing: Marcus Vick, 11-21, 203 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Cedric Humes, 22-113, 1 TD. Receiving: Jeff King, 3-27, 1 TD
Louisville - Passing: Hunter Cantwell, 15-37, 216 yds, 3 TD, 3 INT
Rushing: Michael Bush, 16-94. Receiving: Mario Urrutia, 6-95, 1 TD

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West Virginia Bowl History (11-16)

2005	Sugar	West Virginia 38, Georgia 35
2004	Gator	Florida State 30, West Virginia 18
2003	Gator	Maryland 41, West Virginia 7
2002	Continental Tire	Virginia 48, West Virginia 22
2000	Music City	West Virginia 49, Mississippi 38
1998	Insight.com	Missouri 34, West Virginia 31
1997	Carquest	Georgia Tech 35, West Virginia 30
1996	Gator	North Carolina 20, West Virginia 13
1994	Carquest	South Carolina 24, West Virginia 21
1993	Sugar	Florida 41, West Virginia 7
1989	Gator	Clemson 27, West Virginia 7
1988	Fiesta	Notre Dame 34, West Virginia 21
1987	Sun	Oklahoma State 35, West Virginia 33
1984	Bluebonnet	West Virginia 31, TCU 14
1983	Hall of Fame	West Virginia 20, Kentucky 16
1982	Gator	Florida State 31, West Virginia 12
1981	Peach	West Virginia 26, Florida 6
1975	Peach	West Virginia 13, North Carolina State 10
1972	Peach	North Carolina State 49, West Virginia 13
1969	Peach	West Virginia 14, South Carolina 3
1964	Liberty	Utah 32, West Virginia 6
1953	Sugar	Georgia Tech 42, West Virginia 19
1948	Sun	West Virginia 21, Texas Western 12
1937	Sun	West Virginia 7, Texas Tech 6
1922	East-West	West Virginia 21, Gonzaga 13

 

Georgia Tech Bowl History (22-12)

2005	Emerald	Utah 38, Georgia Tech 10
2004	Champs Sports	Georgia Tech 51, Syracuse 14
2003	Humanitarian	Georgia Tech 52, Tulsa 10
2002	Silicon Valley	Fresno State 30, Georgia Tech 21
2001	Seattle	Georgia Tech 24, Stanford 14
2000	Peach	LSU 28, Georgia Tech 14
1999	Gator	Miami 28, Georgia Tech 13
1998	Gator	Georgia Tech 35, Notre Dame 28
1997	Carquest	Georgia Tech 35, West Virginia 30
1991	Aloha	Georgia Tech 18, Stanford 17
1990	Citrus	Georgia Tech 45, Nebraska 21
1985	All-American	Georgia Tech 17, Michigan State 14
1978	Peach	Purdue 41, Georgia Tech 21
1972	Liberty	Georgia Tech 31, Iowa State 30
1971	Peach	Mississippi 41, Georgia Tech 18
1970	Sun	Georgia Tech 17, Texas Tech 9
1966	Orange	Florida 27, Georgia Tech 12
1965	Gator	Georgia Tech 31, Texas Tech 21
1962	Bluebonnet	Missouri 14, Georgia Tech 10
1961	Gator	Penn State 30, Georgia Tech 15
1959	Gator	Arkansas 14, Georgia Tech 7
1956	Gator	Georgia Tech 21, Pittsburgh 14
1955	Sugar	Georgia Tech 7, Pittsburgh 0
1954	Cotton	Georgia Tech 14, Arkansas 6
1953	Sugar	Georgia Tech 42, West Virginia 19
1952	Sugar	Georgia Tech 24, Mississippi 7
1951	Orange	Georgia Tech 17, Baylor 14
1947	Orange	Georgia Tech 20, Kansas 14
1946	Oil	Georgia Tech 41, St. Mary's 19
1944	Orange	Tulsa 26, Georgia Tech 12
1943	Sugar	Georgia Tech 20, Tulsa 18
1942	Cotton	Texas 14, Georgia Tech 7
1939	Orange	Georgia Tech 21, Missouri 7
1928	Rose	Georgia Tech 8, California 7