The 2006 Gator Bowl was a college football bowl game between the Louisville Cardinals and the Virginia Tech Hokies at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, United States, on January 2, 2006. The game was the final contest of the 2005 football season for each team and resulted in a 35–24 Virginia Tech victory. Louisville represented the Big East Conference (Big East), and Virginia Tech represented the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in the competition.
Louisville was selected as a participant in the 2006 Gator Bowl following a 9–2 regular season of their first year in the Big East Conference. Louisville won its last five games before the Gator Bowl and participated in the Liberty Bowl at the end of the previous season. Facing the 15th-ranked Cardinals, were the 12th-ranked Hokies. Virginia Tech finished 10–2 regular season, and included wins over 15th-ranked Georgia Tech and traditional rivals Virginia and West Virginia. A loss to Florida State in the inaugural ACC Championship Game gave Tech a position in the Gator Bowl instead of the more prestigious Bowl Championship Series-run Orange Bowl game. Pre-game media coverage of the game focused on Louisville's loss of star quarterback Brian Brohm to injury, Virginia Tech's fall from being a contender for the national championship, the fact that both teams were playing under new conference affiliations, and the rise of Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick, younger brother of NFL star Michael Vick.
The 2006 Gator Bowl began on January 2, 2006, at 12:30 p.m. EST in Jacksonville. Louisville led for much of the game, beginning with an 11-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter by backup quarterback Hunter Cantwell, who filled in for the injured Brohm. Tech's offense replied with a field goal, but Louisville was able to add another touchdown before the end of the quarter, extending its lead to 14–3. In the second quarter, Virginia Tech fought back and narrowed Louisville's lead to a single touchdown. At halftime, the score was 17–10 in Louisville's favor. In the second half, Virginia Tech's offense began to have success. Tech earned the only points of the third quarter—a 28-yard field goal from kicker Brandon Pace—to narrow Louisville's lead to 17–13. In the fourth quarter, the game fully turned in the Hokies' favor. Though Louisville scored a touchdown early in the quarter, Virginia Tech scored 22 unanswered points in the final 13 minutes of the game to take a 35–24 lead and earn the win.
Tailback Cedric Humes was named the most valuable player of the game for Virginia Tech, and quarterback Hunter Cantwell was named the Cardinals' most valuable player. Tech punter Nic Schmitt set Gator Bowl records for punt yardage and average punt distance, kicking the ball six times for 300 yards, an average of 50 yards per kick. Virginia Tech's win was marred by excessive penalties and unsportsmanlike conduct that resulted in the ejection of one player. Following the game, Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick was released from the team as a result of several incidents of misconduct, including a stomp on Louisville defender Elvis Dumervil's leg during the game. Several players who participated in the game, including Dumervil, later went on to careers in the National Football League.
Team selection
In the 2005 college football season, the Atlantic Coast Conference had an automatic bid to the Gator Bowl. By contract, the Gator Bowl Association—which produces the game—possessed the first pick of bowl-eligible ACC teams after the winner of the ACC Championship Game was given a spot in a Bowl Championship Series (BCS) game.Coleman, Chris. "ACC Adds Two Bowls to Lineup for 2006–2009" , Techsideline.com. July 26, 2005. Accessed May 17, 2008. This was the final year that the Gator Bowl had first pick of eligible ACC teams, as contract renegotiations later resulted in the Gator Bowl slipping to the third selection, beginning with the 2006 college football season.The Atlantic Coast Conference. "Bowl Selection Process for Atlantic Coast Conference Teams" , TheACC.com. November 30, 2006. Accessed May 17, 1957. Virginia Tech, losers of the 2005 ACC Championship Game, were chosen by the Gator Bowl Association to participate as the ACC's representative to the 2006 Gator Bowl.
The other half of the matchup would consist of either Notre Dame or the first selection from the Big East Conference after that conference's automatic BCS bid.Smits, Gary. "Big 12 could share Gator Bowl tie-in" , Jacksonville Times-Union. July 12, 2005. Accessed May 17, 2008. Because Notre Dame was selected to play in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl, a BCS game, the Gator Bowl Association was required to select the Big East's Louisville Cardinals, which, like Virginia Tech, finished second in their conference.
Louisville
The Louisville Cardinals football team came into the 2005 season having gone 11–1 the previous season, including a season-ending 44–40 victory over Boise State in the 2004 Liberty Bowl.Walker, Theresa M. "Louisville Edges Boise State In Liberty Bowl Shootout, 44–40" , The Associated Press, uoflsports.cstv.com. December 31, 2004. Accessed May 18, 2008. In addition, Louisville was also entering a new conference—the Big East—after departing Conference USA following the end of the 2004 season.The Associated Press. "Cardinals leave C-USA in style" , ESPN.com. December 31, 2004. Accessed May 18, 2008. In a poll of media members covering the Big East prior to the 2005 season, Louisville was predicted to win the Big East championship its first year in the conference.Louisville Athletics Department. UofLsports.cstv.com. July 20, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2008.
In their first and second games of the season, the Cardinals lived up to that expectation. At in-state rival Kentucky, Louisville earned a 31–24 victory to win the Governor's Cup.The Associated Press. "Late fumble recovery saves win for Cardinals" , ESPN.com. September 4, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2008. This was followed the next week by a 63–27 victory over non-conference opponent Oregon State.The Associated Press. "Beavers lose seventh straight road game vs. ranked team" , ESPN.com. September 17, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2008. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, their first Big East conference game of the season—and of school history—did not go as well. At South Florida, the ninth-ranked Cardinals were outscored 45–14, the first time in 13 games Louisville's offense was held to less than 30 points.The Associated Press. "USF snaps Louisville's nine-game win streak" , ESPN.com. September 24, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2008.
Following the loss, Louisville recovered, scoring 61 points and 69 points, respectively, in non-conference wins over Florida Atlantic and North Carolina, returning to their previous offensive success.The Associated Press. "Bush makes Owls' heads spin in Louisville victory" , ESPN.com. October 1, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2008.The Associated Press. "Brohm throws for 304 yards, four TDs in rout" , ESPN.com. October 8, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2008. Again, however, Louisville faltered against a Big East opponent. The Cardinals' second Big East game, at West Virginia, was another Louisville loss, 46–44.The Associated Press. "Freshman QB Slaton scores 6 TDs for Mountaineers" , ESPN.com. October 15, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2008. West Virginia later went on to finish 11–1 for the season, winning the Big East championship and defeating the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2006 Sugar Bowl.The Associated Press. "Slaton's record night stuns pro-Georgia crowd at Sugar Bowl" , ESPN.com. January 2, 2006. Accessed May 18, 2008.
Louisville, meanwhile, returned to its winning ways. The Cardinals, following their loss to the Mountaineers, won their first Big East game in school history the next week, over Cincinnati, 46–22.The Associated Press. Brian's song: Brohm sparks Louisville rout of Cincinnati , ESPN.com. October 22, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2008. The rout of Cincinnati sparked a five-game winning streak, which concluded on December 3 with a 30–20 victory over Connecticut.The Associated Press "Louisville gets three TDs from Bush, beats UConn" , ESPN.com. December 3, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2008. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, starting quarterback Brian Brohm, who had the sixth-best season (in terms of passing yards) in Louisville history, suffered a season-ending knee injury.Louisville Cardinals Athletic Department. , uoflsports.cstv.com. November 28, 2005. Accessed May 19, 2008. With West Virginia having won the Big East championship and an automatic Bowl Championship Series game bid, Big East second-place Louisville was selected by the Gator Bowl even before the victory over Connecticut.
Virginia Tech
The Virginia Tech Hokies football team began the 2005 college football season as reigning Atlantic Coast Conference football champions.Robertson, Jimmy. "Tech topples 'Canes to win ACC championship" , Hokiesports.com the Newspaper. Hokiesports.com. December 4, 2004. Accessed May 18, 2008. The Hokies also played in the 2005 Sugar Bowl against the third-ranked Auburn Tigers, losing 16–13 in a close contest.The Associated Press. "Sweet enough? Auburn finishes season 13–0" , ESPN.com. January 3, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2008. Expectations were high for the Hokies to repeat their ACC championship performance the next year, and a preseason poll of media covering ACC football resulted in Virginia Tech being picked to face Florida State in the inaugural ACC Championship Game.Droschak, David. , TheACC.com. July 25, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2008.
In its first game of the season, however, eighth-ranked Virginia Tech almost let those expectations fall short. At North Carolina State, the Hokies trailed at halftime and were tied at the beginning of the fourth quarter before eking out a 20–16 win in the final minutes.The Associated Press. "Wolfpack's woes against Top-10 teams continue" , ESPN.com. September 4, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2008. The Hokies bounced back from the close contest in their second game of the season—against the Duke—as Tech raced to a 45–0 victory.The Associated Press. Vick leads Hokies' offensive charge , ESPN.com. September 10, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2008. The Hokies held Duke to just 35 yards of total offense, Tech's best defensive performance in the modern era.Robertson, Jimmy. "Tech 'D' stymies Duke as Hokies open season 2–0" , Hokiesports.com the Newspaper. Hokiesports.com. September 10, 2005. Accessed May 18, 2005.