2010 ACC Championship Game
The 2010 game began slowly, as Florida State scored only a field goal on its opening possession and Virginia Tech was held scoreless on its first try.
In the early 2000s, the league underwent an expansion to add three former Big East members: Miami[1] and Virginia Tech in 2004,[2] and Boston College in 2005.
[3] With the addition of a twelfth team, the ACC was allowed to hold a conference championship game under National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules.
[18] The Virginia Tech Hokies entered the 2010 season after a 2009 campaign that saw the team finish 10–3, including a season-ending win in the 2009 Chick-fil-A Bowl against the Tennessee Volunteers.
3 Boise State at FedExField near Washington, D.C. Because the game was the first of the season to feature two top-10 teams, it received large amounts of media coverage.
[24] The close loss discouraged the Virginia Tech players, who then had only five days to prepare for their next opponent, lightly regarded James Madison University.
Bobby Bowden, who retired after 57 years as a head coach, 34 at Florida State and 33 consecutive winning seasons, was replaced by Jimbo Fisher.
[40] Immediately before the 2010 season began, Bowden claimed he had been pushed out as head coach, causing a stir before Florida State's first game.
[57][58] The matchup was a repeat of the inaugural ACC Championship game, and according to observers, the Seminoles' presence appeared to mark a resurgence for Florida State, which performed below expectations in the final years of Bowden's tenure.
"[57] Despite this endorsement, Ponder's participation in the ACC Championship was in doubt because of injured elbow fascia sustained in the Seminoles' game against Boston College.
[66] The issue remained in doubt until the day of the ACC Championship,[67] when coach Fisher announced that sophomore quarterback E. J. Manuel, who had led the Seminoles against Clemson was given the start.
[70] Thompson was predicted to start the ACC Championship game because of his performance in the regular season and because fellow running backs Ty Jones and Jermaine Thomas were injured.
[73] Alongside Taylor, the Hokies boasted three strong running backs: David Wilson, Ryan Williams and Darren Evans.
[72] Virginia Tech's offensive line was particularly concerned with containing Florida State sophomore defensive end Brandon Jenkins, who was tied for third in the nation in sacks (12) and 15th in tackles for loss (18.5).
Sophomore cornerback Jayron Hosley, a first-team All-ACC selection,[77] led the nation in interceptions with eight, while Davon Morgan and Rashad Carmichael each had four.
[79] The 2010 ACC Championship Game kicked off on December 4, 2010, at 7:52 pm EST at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
[80] The number of tickets sold was 72,379,[80] slightly less than capacity, and despite the chilly temperatures, early turnstile figures reported more than 60,000 people in attendance.
[80] Virginia Tech won the ceremonial pregame coin toss to determine first possession and decided to kick off to Florida State.
Kickoff returner Lonnie Pryor mishandled the football, but quickly recovered the loose ball and carried it to the Florida State 33-yard line, where the Seminoles began their first offensive drive.
On the first play of the game, quarterback E. J. Manuel completed a 29-yard pass to wide receiver Taiwan Easterling, driving the Seminoles into Virginia Tech's defensive half.
Short rushes pushed Florida State's offense inside the Virginia Tech red zone, but the Seminoles were unable to gain another first down.
On the first play of the quarter, Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor completed a 28-yard pass to wide receiver Danny Coale for a first down at the 50-yard line.
Tech continued to advance down the field, and eight plays later, Taylor completed a 19-yard pass to Jarret Boykin for the Hokies' third touchdown of the game.
[87] Following the touchdown, Virginia Tech kicked the ball off to Florida State, and after a short return, the Seminoles' offense took the field at their 22-yard line.
Running back David Wilson returned the opening kickoff to the Tech 21-yard line, and the Hokies' offense began the first drive of the second half.
The culminating play of the drive was a 45-yard pass from Taylor to Coale for the touchdown, which extended Tech's lead to 11 points, 28–17, at the 11:24 mark of the quarter.
The Hokies began their second possession of the quarter at their 39-yard line and started the drive with five consecutive running plays, advancing 28 yards in the process.
[88] Florida State's offense returned to the field with 4:35 remaining and needing to score rapidly in order to make up the 18-point deficit, the game's largest.
Bradham scooped up the loose ball and returned it the length of the field to the opposite end zone for an unusual defensive two-point conversion.
Florida State's offense entered the game one final time and conducted a 12-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 20-yard pass from Manuel to running back Chris Thompson for a touchdown.
