The 1998 Music City Bowl was a postseason college football game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Virginia Tech Hokies.
Virginia Tech's 8–3 record during the 1998 college football regular season was good enough to earn it a bid to the inaugural Music City Bowl game.
[1] Prior to the start of the 1998 college football season, Music City Bowl officials signed an agreement with the SEC to select the conference's sixth bowl-eligible team.
[3] The Music City Bowl's other spot was left for an at-large bid, though officials met several times with Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese in an effort to reach a contract.
[13][14] On October 24, Zow endured his first loss as the team's starting quarterback when Alabama was defeated, 35–18, by eventual SEC (and national) champion Tennessee.
[18] In the final week of the season, Alabama faced traditional in-state rival Auburn in the annual Iron Bowl game.
[23] Virginia Tech began the 1998 season after going 7–5 the previous year, including a 42–3 blowout loss to North Carolina in the 1998 Gator Bowl.
[32] But although the Owls were 35-point underdogs to the Hokies, they managed one of the biggest upsets in college football history when they beat Virginia Tech in Lane Stadium, 28–24.
[51] Media coverage in the weeks leading up to the game focused on Virginia Tech's tough defense and Alabama's recovery from NCAA-imposed sanctions.
[60] A group of fans disgruntled at the ticket distribution process eventually levied a class-action lawsuit against the athletic director, claiming contract violations.
[63] A large reason for Alabama's success passing the ball came from the emergence of freshman quarterback Andrew Zow, who assumed starting duties during the season.
[65] Another bright spot on the Virginia Tech offense was kicker Shayne Graham, who was named a first-team All Big East selection.
[75] Alabama's second-leading tackler, linebacker Travis Carroll, fractured his shoulder blade in the Crimson Tide's second-to-last regular-season game and was not available for the Music City Bowl.
[84] Three days after Virginia Tech was selected for the Music City Bowl, Beamer ended speculation by publicly turning down Clemson and South Carolina.
Jazz musician Larry Carlton performed the traditional pre-game playing of the national anthem, but his rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner did not meet with the crowd's approval, and he was booed.
On the first play of the game, Tech quarterback Al Clark completed a pass to Angelo Harrison, but Alabama committed a five-yard offsides penalty, setting up the Hokies at their 49-yard line.
On Alabama's first play of the game, Crimson Tide quarterback Andrew Zow was sacked by Virginia Tech defender Corey Moore for a loss of seven yards.
Alexander rushed ahead for a one-yard gain, then Zow threw an interception to Tech defender Ryan Smith, who returned the ball to the Alabama 36-yard line.
Alexander advanced to the five-yard line on a running play, and Zow completed a touchdown pass to Vaughn for the Tide's first points of the game.
[103] After a halftime performance featuring Lorrie Morgan, singer Steve Winwood and the marching bands of the competing schools,[74][104] Alabama prepared to receive the ball.
A running play by Alexander was stopped after a loss of a yard, then Zow threw an interception directly to Virginia Tech's Phillip Summers, who returned the ball to the two-yard line.
During the kick, Tech's special teams defense broke through Alabama's line and blocked a punt for the second time in the game.
The loose ball was recovered by Virginia Tech's Cory Bird, and the Hokies' offense returned to the field with 35 seconds remaining in the quarter.
Because the Tide was trailing Tech by four scores, Alabama head coach Mike DuBose ordered his offense to try to convert the fourth down rather than punt.
Alexander was tackled for a two-yard loss, then Zow threw an interception to Anthony Midget, who returned the ball all the way into the end zone for a Virginia Tech defensive touchdown.
[99] His performance was representative by a successful defensive effort by the Virginia Tech Hokies, who blocked two punts, had three interceptions, and limited Alabama to only seven points and 50 rushing yards.
[108] Alabama's sole success on offense came from the hands of quarterback Andrew Zow, who completed 19 of 35 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown but also threw three interceptions and fumbled the ball once.
Most of Virginia Tech's offense came on the ground, as Clark was surpassed in the rushing game by Shyrone Stith, who carried the ball 10 times for 71 yards and a touchdown.
[111][112] Citing a desire to pursue "sporting events with a higher profile," American General decided not to renew its sponsorship of the Music City Bowl.
As the final game of the 1998–1999 regular season, the 1998 Music City Bowl gave Virginia Tech and Alabama players a chance to show their skills prior to the 1999 NFL draft.