2009 Chick-fil-A College Kickoff
Encyclopedia
The 2009 Chick-fil-A College Kickoff
featured the Virginia Tech Hokies
, of the ACC
, and the Alabama Crimson Tide
, of the SEC
, on September 5, 2009. The game took place in Atlanta, Georgia
at the Georgia Dome
. In the 2008 edition
, Alabama
defeated the Clemson Tigers
34–10. It was Virginia Tech's first appearance in the series and Alabama's second consecutive appearance. Alabama went on to win the match-up 34–24, comining from behind with 18 points in the final quarter. It was the 800th victory in the history of Alabama's football program, winning on their third try (their first
two
tries ended in losses).
The two teams had last met in the 1998 Music City Bowl
, which ended in a 38–7 Virginia Tech victory. That win is Tech's sole triumph in the series between the two teams, which had stood at 10–1 in Alabama's favor. The series also includes Virginia Tech's worst football defeat—a 77–6 loss in 1973 to an Alabama team that eventually won the national championship.
In the third quarter Roy Upchurch fumbled the ball away at the Virginia Tech 9 after a long run and another opportunity was missed. Early in the fourth quarter, with Tech still leading by a point, McElroy hit Marquis Maze for a 48-yard completion to the Virginia Tech 6 and Mark Ingram scored a touchdown on the next play. A successful two-point conversion gave Alabama a 24-17 lead. Alabama got the ball back immediately when Virginia Tech fumbled the kickoff and Chris Rogers recovered for the Tide at the Tech 21. The ensuing Alabama drive stalled at the 3 but Leigh Tiffin's fourth field goal made the score 27-17. Strong special teams play by the Hokies and Alabama penalties victimized the Tide again as a long return and a personal foul set up a 32-yard run by Ryan Williams of Tech that cut the lead to 27-24. Alabama quickly struck back, as Ingram rushed for 39 yards, McElroy completed a 19-yard pass to tight end Colin Peek, and then McElroy threw to Ingram for an 18-yard touchdown and a 34-24 lead. Virginia Tech never threatened to score again and Alabama won its opener, 34-24.[22] Virginia Tech went on to go 10-3 and finish tenth in the final AP poll.
Chick-fil-A College Kickoff
The Chick-fil-A College Kickoff is an annual college football game played on the opening weekend of the college football season in Atlanta, Georgia at the Georgia Dome.- History :...
featured the Virginia Tech Hokies
2009 Virginia Tech Hokies football team
The 2009 Virginia Tech Hokies football team represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach was Frank Beamer...
, of the ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
, and the Alabama Crimson Tide
2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
The 2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 77th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference and its 18th within the SEC Western Division...
, of the SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
, on September 5, 2009. The game took place in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
at the Georgia Dome
Georgia Dome
The Georgia Dome is a domed stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, between downtown to the east and Vine City to the west. It is primarily the home stadium for the NFL Atlanta Falcons and the NCAA Division I FCS Georgia State Panthers football team. It is owned and operated by the...
. In the 2008 edition
2008 Chick-fil-A College Kickoff
The 2008 Chick-fil-A College Kickoff took place on August 30, 2008, in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. This was the first game of the Chick-fil-A College Kickoff series. The game featured the No. 9 Clemson Tigers and the No. 24 Alabama Crimson Tide....
, Alabama
2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
The 2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 76th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference and its 17th within the SEC Western Division...
defeated the Clemson Tigers
2008 Clemson Tigers football team
The 2008 Clemson football team represented Clemson University in the 2008 college football season. The Tigers were led by oft-maligned head coach Tommy Bowden, who resigned six games into his tenth season. The interim head coach was assistant coach Dabo Swinney...
34–10. It was Virginia Tech's first appearance in the series and Alabama's second consecutive appearance. Alabama went on to win the match-up 34–24, comining from behind with 18 points in the final quarter. It was the 800th victory in the history of Alabama's football program, winning on their third try (their first
2008 SEC Championship Game
The 2008 Dr Pepper SEC Championship Game was played on December 6, 2008 in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia to determine the 2008 football champion of the Southeastern Conference . The game featured the Florida Gators and the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Gators were classified as the home team...
two
2009 Sugar Bowl
The 2009 Allstate Sugar Bowl was the 75th annual edition of the annual college football bowl game that is part of the 2008–09 bowl season of the Bowl Championship Series 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season...
tries ended in losses).
The two teams had last met in the 1998 Music City Bowl
1998 Music City Bowl
The 1998 Music City Bowl was a postseason college football game between the and Alabama Crimson Tide. It was the inaugural competition of the annual Music City Bowl. Virginia Tech represented the Big East and the University of Alabama represented the Southeastern Conference . The game was the...
, which ended in a 38–7 Virginia Tech victory. That win is Tech's sole triumph in the series between the two teams, which had stood at 10–1 in Alabama's favor. The series also includes Virginia Tech's worst football defeat—a 77–6 loss in 1973 to an Alabama team that eventually won the national championship.
The game
Alabama played in and won the Chick-fil-A College Kickoff for the second consecutive year, defeating the Virginia Tech Hokies 34-24. After Bama opened the game by kicking two field goals, Dyrell Roberts of Tech ran back a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown to give VT a 7-6 lead. After a third Leigh Tiffin field goal Virginia Tech intercepted a Greg McElroy pass and took possession at the Alabama 14, but the Tide defense held up and the Hokies settled for a field goal and a 10-9 lead. Alabama responded by driving 76 yards for a touchdown and a 16-10 lead, the big plays coming on a 14-yard run by Mark Ingram and passes of 16 and 10 yards from McElroy to Julio Jones. However, on the ensuing Virginia Tech possession three personal foul penalties and a pass interference penalty carried the Hokies downfield for a touchdown and a 17-16 lead. The score remained 17-16 after Leigh Tiffin missed a 36-yard field goal at the end of the first half.In the third quarter Roy Upchurch fumbled the ball away at the Virginia Tech 9 after a long run and another opportunity was missed. Early in the fourth quarter, with Tech still leading by a point, McElroy hit Marquis Maze for a 48-yard completion to the Virginia Tech 6 and Mark Ingram scored a touchdown on the next play. A successful two-point conversion gave Alabama a 24-17 lead. Alabama got the ball back immediately when Virginia Tech fumbled the kickoff and Chris Rogers recovered for the Tide at the Tech 21. The ensuing Alabama drive stalled at the 3 but Leigh Tiffin's fourth field goal made the score 27-17. Strong special teams play by the Hokies and Alabama penalties victimized the Tide again as a long return and a personal foul set up a 32-yard run by Ryan Williams of Tech that cut the lead to 27-24. Alabama quickly struck back, as Ingram rushed for 39 yards, McElroy completed a 19-yard pass to tight end Colin Peek, and then McElroy threw to Ingram for an 18-yard touchdown and a 34-24 lead. Virginia Tech never threatened to score again and Alabama won its opener, 34-24.[22] Virginia Tech went on to go 10-3 and finish tenth in the final AP poll.