1998 Music City Bowl The 1998 Music City Bowl was a postseason college football game between the Virginia Tech Hokies 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 ( SEC ) . The game was the final competition for each team in the 1998 college football season . The game ended as a 38 – 7 victory for Virginia Tech . 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 . Facing the Hokies were the Alabama Crimson Tide , who had gone 7 – 4 during the regular season . The 1998 Music City Bowl kicked off on December 29 , 1998 in Nashville , Tennessee . The weather at kickoff was " horrid , " as rain and sleet mixed in freezing temperatures . The game ' s early going was marked by defense as both teams struggled against the inclement weather . Virginia Tech scored first off a 43 - yard touchdown scramble by quarterback Al Clark . Clark ' s touchdown provided the game ' s only points until the second quarter , when Alabama evened the score at 7 – 7 with a five - yard touchdown pass . The Hokies struck back with a field goal before halftime and took a tenuous 10 – 7 lead into the second half . In that half , the Tech offense finally got rolling . The Hokies scored 14 points in both the third and fourth quarters , ending the game on an uncontested 28 – 0 run . Alabama ' s offense was stifled throughout by effective pressure from Tech defensive end Corey Moore , and Tech was able to turn several fumble s and interceptions by the Crimson Tide into points on the scoreboard . The final 38 – 7 Virginia Tech victory was the biggest win in Virginia Tech bowl game history , and Moore was named the game ' s most valuable player . The two teams did not meet again until the 2009 Chick - fil - A College Kickoff on September 5 , 2009 . Team selection . The first music city bowl was scheduled for 1998 , but the bowl ' s beginnings dated from 1996 , when city officials and local companies came up with the idea for the game . Their plan developed through 1997 , when financing was obtained and the NCAA approved the bowl game . Initial plans anticipated matching a Southeastern Conference team against one from the Mid - American Conference . 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 . 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 . An agreement pledging the Big East ' s No . 4 bowl - eligible team to the game was not reached until 1999 . Alabama . The Alabama Crimson Tide entered the 1998 college football season after a 1997 season that included a 4 – 7 and no bowl game . Heading into the season , the Tide were unranked nationally and were picked to finish fifth in the SEC West in the annual poll of media members who cover SEC football . Most voters expected Alabama to show little improvement over its performance in the previous year . Alabama ' s first game of the season was against and was played at a renovated Bryant - Denny Stadium that boasted more than 80 , 000 seats and a new Jumbotron . In that game , Alabama running back Shaun Alexander scored a school - record five rushing touchdowns and Alabama won , 38 – 34 , breaking a four - game losing streak that ended the 1997 season . One week later , Alabama repeated its first - game success with a 42 – 7 win over . After a bye week , Alabama traveled to Arkansas to play the Arkansas Razorbacks . Alabama had risen to No . 22 in the country by virtue of its two wins , but the Crimson Tide ' s first road game of the season resulted in its first defeat , as Alabama lost , 42 – 6 . One week later , Alabama suffered its first home loss of the season , a 16 – 10 defeat at the hands of Florida . After the Florida loss , Alabama ' s senior starting quarterback , John David Phillips , was replaced by freshman Andrew Zow . With Zow as the new starter , Alabama proceeded to win its next two games : 20 – 17 against Ole Miss and 23 – 22 against East Carolina . On October 24 , Zow endured his first loss as the team ' s starting quarterback when Alabama was defeated , 35 – 18 , by eventual SEC champion Tennessee . Alabama rebounded from the loss by reeling off two more wins : 30 – 20 against and an upset 22 – 16 win over LSU , in which the Crimson Tide scored 15 points in 144 seconds . After those two wins , Alabama had a 6 – 3 record heading into the final two weeks of the regular season . In the second - to - last week , the Crimson Tide were defeated , 26 – 14 , by Mississippi State . In the final week of the season , Alabama faced traditional in - state rival Auburn in the annual Iron Bowl game . Reversing the outcome of the previous year ' s game , Alabama eked out an upset 31 – 17 victory to end the regular season . Following the Iron Bowl , Alabama ' s bowl destination was unclear due to the SEC championship game , which determined the conference champion on December 5 . Until then , speculation centered on Alabama potentially attending any of four games : the Peach Bowl , Independence Bowl , Sun Bowl , or Music City Bowl . By the time of the championship game , the Sun Bowl had been eliminated as an option . After Tennessee won the SEC championship game and a bid to the Orange Bowl , other teams were selected by the Peach Bowl and Independence Bowl , leaving Alabama to be selected for the inaugural Music City Bowl . The choice was made official on December 6 , and Alabama began preparing for its matchup with Virginia Tech . Virginia Tech . 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 . Prior to the 1998 season , the annual preseason poll of Big East football media picked Virginia Tech to finish fourth in the Big East , and West Virginia was favored to win the conference . Most pre - season attention was focused on whether Tech would perform well enough to attend a sixth consecutive bowl game at the season ' s end . The Hokies ' first two games brought success for Virginia Tech : At home , they defeated East Carolina , 38 – 3 , and away , they beat Clemson , 37 – 0 . After the blowout win in Death Valley , Virginia Tech traveled to the Orange Bowl , home of the Miami Hurricanes . By virtue of their two season - opening wins , the Hokies were ranked No . 21 in the coaches ' poll , and they improved that ranking with a win in the first overtime football game in Virginia Tech history , 27 – 20 . During the overtime win , Virginia Tech starting quarterback Al Clark was injured . The injury left him unable to play in Tech ' s next game , a contest against the Pittsburgh Panthers . Clark ' s absence didn ' t distract the Hokies , who won , 27 – 7 . After the win against Pittsburgh , Virginia Tech traveled to Boston to play Boston College . The Hokies shut out the Boston College Eagles , 17 – 0 , boosting their national ranking to No . 10 in the coaches ' poll on the basis of Tech ' s first 5 – 0 start since 1967 . Following the Boston College victory , the Hokies faced lightly regarded and winless . The Temple Owls had lost eight consecutive games , were 0 – 26 in Big East road games , and had lost 10 players to injury since the season began . 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 . Virginia Tech rebounded from the upset loss to Temple by shutting out the University of Alabama Birmingham , 41 – 0 , then beating No . 21 West Virginia , 27 – 13 . After the two wins , the Hokies had a 7 – 1 record , were ranked No . 16 in the AP Poll , and traveled to the Carrier Dome to play Syracuse University . In New York , Syracuse gave the Hokies their second loss of the season , 28 – 26 . The loss came despite the presence of Al Clark , who had returned from injury prior to the West Virginia game . Tech again rebounded from a losing effort , this time by defeating , 47 – 7 . But in their final regular - season game , the Hokies lost to Virginia in the annual competition for the Commonwealth Cup , 36 – 32 . Tech led by 22 points at halftime , but Virginia quarterback Aaron Brooks led a comeback that won the game for Virginia with two minutes remaining in the game . The loss to Virginia brought Virginia Tech to an 8 – 3 regular - season record , something Tech coach Frank Beamer said was better than he expected at the season ' s start . Despite that sentiment , most fans and supporters pointed to the fact that in all of Virginia Tech ' s losses , the deciding points came late in the fourth quarter and near the end of the game . Only three plays separated Tech from an undefeated 11 – 0 record . Tech ' s bowl destination was unclear immediately after the Virginia loss . The Music City Bowl seemed likely , but the Micron PC Bowl , Insight . com Bowl , and Sun Bowl also were possibilities . Virginia Tech officials preferred the Music City Bowl because of its proximity to Virginia , and bowl officials selected the Hokies on November 30 . Pregame buildup . The inaugural Music City bowl marked the first meeting of Alabama and Virginia Tech on the football field since 1979 , when the No . 1 Crimson Tide defeated Virginia Tech , 31 – 7 . Prior to the Music City Bowl , Alabama had defeated Virginia Tech in all 10 meetings of the two schools , and some Virginia Tech players cited that record as motivation in the game . For American General , sponsoring the game was part of an overall marketing strategy intended to boost the company ' s national profile . Spread bettors favored Virginia Tech to win the game by five points . In exchange for appearing in the game , each team received $ 750 , 000 , minus expenses . 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 . Ticket sales . Both schools sold their allotments of Music City Bowl tickets rapidly . Virginia Tech , which was attending its sixth consecutive bowl game , sold more than 9 , 000 tickets in the first week of sales . Alabama ' s tickets were primarily distributed to season - ticket holders . Of Alabama ' s 12 , 000 bowl tickets , 10 , 000 were reserved for season - ticket holders and only 2 , 000 were available for open purchase . These were sold on the first day of sales . By December 9 , both Alabama and the game itself had sold their entire allotment of tickets . Virginia Tech had just 200 tickets remaining , and they were sold by the 10th . In an interview with a local newspaper , an official at the Virginia Tech ticket office indicated that demand for tickets was so great that " We could have sold at least a couple thousand more . . . . We were inundated for 3 - 4 days , and then , once Alabama was selected to play in the game , we got a lot more calls , and we were sold out . " Some fans were able to obtain tickets at the game via purchases from ticket scalpers . Demand for tickets by Alabama fans was so great that the Alabama ticket office accidentally oversold its allotment of tickets . The office neglected to limit purchases on the forms sent to season - ticket holders , and the office received more than 25 , 000 orders for its 12 , 500 - ticket allotment . An additional 2 , 000 tickets were given to Alabama , but the school still had to send out more than 10 , 000 refunds . Alabama ' s athletics director was heavily criticized for overselling the ticket allotment and for limiting ticket distribution to fans who had contributed large amounts of money to the athletics department . A group of fans disgruntled at the ticket distribution process eventually levied a class - action lawsuit against the athletic director , claiming contract violations . Offensive matchups . Alabama offense . Despite having an offense that featured star running back Shaun Alexander , Alabama ' s offensive strategy revolved around a passing offense more than a running one . During the regular season , Alabama passed for 2 , 435 yards but only ran for 1 , 272 yards . The Crimson Tide averaged 22 . 9 points per game , 116 rushing yards per game , and 221 . 4 passing yards per game . 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 . Zow completed 143 of 256 passes for 1 , 969 yards , 11 touchdowns , and seven interceptions . One of his favorite passing targets was Alexander , who caught 26 passes for 385 yards and four touchdowns in addition to his 1 , 178 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns . Alexander averaged 116 yards per game on the ground . Wide receiver Quincy Jackson was the team ' s leading passing target . He caught 48 passes for 621 yards four touchdowns . Fellow wide receiver Michael Vaughn also was a favorite passing target . He caught 34 passes for 403 yards and four touchdowns in addition to performing kick - return duties during the regular season . Virginia Tech offense . Virginia Tech ' s offense during the regular season was worse than the average in the NCAA during 1998 . The Hokies finished 88th among 112 Division I - A teams in total offense , recording 316 . 7 yards per game . Tech averaged 31 . 2 points per game . Part of the reason for their lackluster performance was repeated injuries to starting quarterback Al Clark , who missed three regular - season games due to injuries . Heading into the Music City Bowl , he was recovering from a rib injury suffered in Tech ' s final regular - season game . Despite the missed games , Clark completed 72 of 148 passes for 1 , 050 passing yards , nine touchdowns , and five interceptions for the 1998 season . On the ground , Virginia Tech running backs Lamont Pegues and Shyrone Stith combined for 1 , 444 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns . Together , they averaged 178 yards per game on the ground . Another bright spot on the Virginia Tech offense was kicker Shayne Graham , who was named a first - team All Big East selection . He kicked 37 extra points and was successful on 22 field goal attempts , earning the Hokies 103 points in total . Defensive matchups . Alabama defense . Defensively , Alabama allowed an average of 147 . 7 rushing yards and 369 total yards per game . In total , Alabama ' s defense intercepted 12 passes during the regular season and sacked opposing quarterbacks 25 times . Alabama ' s leading tackler was linebacker Trevis Smith , who had 80 tackles during the regular season . This figure included 2 . 5 sacks and 14 . 5 other tackles for loss . Smith also broke up three passes , recovered two fumbles , and forced one . 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 . Carroll had 76 tackles during the regular season . Cornerback Fernando Bryant led the team ' s pass defense . He finished the season with 51 tackles and two interceptions . He was supported by strong safety Marcus Spencer , who led the Crimson Tide in interceptions with four . Alabama ' s sole All - Southeastern Conference selection was punter Daniel Pope , a senior who averaged a school - record 44 yards per kick during the regular season and was second nationally in net punting at 40 . 8 yards per kick . Of his 60 punts , 20 were inside the opponents ' 20 - yard line . None were blocked . Virginia Tech defense . At the conclusion of the regular season , the Virginia Tech defense was one of the best in the country . It was No . 4 in scoring defense ( allowing 12 . 9 points per game ) , No . 11 in rushing defense ( allowing 102 . 2 yards per game ) , and No . 7 in total defense ( 284 . 9 yards per game ) . The Hokies had 23 interceptions during the regular season , second - most in the country and behind only USC ' s 24 interceptions . The Hokies also found success on special teams defense . In total , Tech blocked ten kicks during the regular season : six punts , two field - goal attempts and two point - after tries . Tech ' s defense also scored 52 points : eight touchdowns , a safety and a two - point runback of an intercepted conversion pass . The Hokie defense was led by defensive end Corey Moore , who was named the Big East defensive player of the year for 1998 . He led the conference in sacks during the regular season , and finished with 14 . Cornerback Loren Johnson was named to the first - team All Big East team with Pierson Prioleau , who had 61 tackles and returned a blocked field goal 52 yards in Tech ' s game against East Carolina . Free safety Keion Carpenter was noted in pre - game coverage for his ability to block kicks . He had five during the regular season , tying him with Ike Charlton for the most on the team . Off - field incidents . Virginia Tech ' s coaching staff drew media attention when it was announced that Virginia Tech head football coach Frank Beamer was being actively recruited by Clemson to assume that school ' s vacant head coaching job . Beamer was first contacted about the job during the regular season , and he was mentioned in connection with Clemson ' s search throughout the final two weeks of the regular season . He also was mentioned as a possibility for South Carolina ' s vacant head - coaching job . Three days after Virginia Tech was selected for the Music City Bowl , Beamer ended speculation by publicly turning down Clemson and South Carolina . In exchange for publicly rebuffing the offers , Virginia Tech rewarded Beamer with financial additions to his contract and a contract extension through 2005 . Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster also was targeted by other teams prior to the Music City Bowl . Rumors circulated about the University of Florida ' s interest in hiring Foster to fill its defensive coordinator position , but Foster declined to comment until after Florida ' s Jan . 2 Orange Bowl game . Foster proceeded through the interview process and was offered the job , but he turned it down in favor of remaining at Tech , which offered him contract incentives . Alabama likewise underwent rumors of coaching changes . Shortly after the Music City Bowl matchup was announced , rumors spread that quarterbacks coach Charlie Stubbs or tight ends coach Ronnie Cottrell were being considered for other jobs . One departure rumor became reality when defensive line coach Jackie Shipp resigned to take the same position at the University of Oklahoma . Shipp ' s departure left the Crimson Tide without a defensive line coach , and Alabama head coach Mike DuBose filled the vacancy for the Music City Bowl . In the days prior to the game , both teams had to cope with harsh winter weather in the Nashville area . Virginia Tech was forced to move practices indoors when an ice storm arrived on the day before Christmas . The storm caused travel delays for fans and players alike . Alabama ' s first practices in Nashville were held without the full team available because many players had been delayed . The harsh weather continued through the day of the game , and Tech was forced to cancel its final outdoor practice before the game . Alabama , meanwhile , drove 45 minutes to Murfreesboro to a practice field that was not covered by ice . Game summary . The 1998 Music City bowl kicked off at 5 p . m . EST on December 29 , 1998 at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville , Tennessee . At kickoff , the weather was chilly , with 43 - degree ( 6 C ) temperatures , 10 – 15 mph ( 16 – 24 km / h ) wind , 70 percent humidity , and a sleet / rain mix . As the game progressed , wind - chill temperatures dropped as low as . Later accounts described the weather as " horrid " . American General CEO Joe Kelley performed the ceremonial pre - game coin toss to determine first possession . 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 . Approximately 41 , 600 people attended the game in person , and the competition was broadcast on television via ESPN . Approximately 1 . 8 million U . S . households tuned into the broadcast , which featured Rod Gilmore , Rich Waltz , and Holly Rowe . First quarter . Virginia Tech received the ball to begin the game , and Shyrone Stith returned the opening kickoff from the end zone to the Tech 44 - yard line . 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 . After the penalty , running back Lamont Pegues ran straight ahead for a gain of four yards then picked up a first down with a short gain on the next play . Clark completed a pass to Harrison at the 43 - yard line , then Clark broke free of the Alabama defense on an improvised run , scrambling 43 yards for a touchdown and the game ' s first points . Kicker Shayne Graham kicked the extra point , and Virginia Tech took a 7 – 0 lead over Alabama with 12 : 25 remaining in the first quarter . Virginia Tech ' s post - touchdown kickoff was returned to the Alabama 27 - 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 . Running back Shaun Alexander regained five of those lost yards on the next play , then Zow was again sacked by the Tech defense . Alabama thus went three and out to begin the game and prepared for the game ' s first punt . During the kick , Virginia Tech defender Keion Carpenter broke through the offensive line of Alabama and blocked the punt . Thanks to the blocked punt , the Virginia Tech offense started at the Alabama 14 - yard line . On the first play of the drive , Stith ran the ball straight ahead for a gain of one yard . Clark then attempted a pass into the end zone , but the ball was intercepted by Alabama defender Fernando Bryant . Thanks to the interception in the end zone , Alabama ' s offense returned to the field at its 20 - yard line , the regulation starting point after a ball is downed in the end zone . A deep pass by Zow fell incomplete , then Alexander ran for a one - yard gain . On third down , Zow completed a first - down pass to wide receiver Michael Vaughn at the Alabama 32 - yard line . Zow then completed another first - down pass , this time to Freddy Milons at Alabama 45 - yard line . 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 . After the interception , Virginia Tech committed a 15 - yard personal foul penalty , which pushed the Hokies back to their 49 - yard line . On the first play after the interception , Pegues gained one yard on a rushing play to the right . Clark then completed a pass to Jarrett Ferguson at the Alabama 36 - yard line for a first down . During the play , Alabama was called for a five - yard penalty for grabbing Ferguson ' s facemask during the tackle . After the penalty , Angelo Harrison gained nine yards on a reverse run . Ferguson then was tackled for a loss of two yards , and Clark threw an incomplete pass on third down . Tech head coach Frank Beamer sent in Graham to attempt a 42 - yard field goal . The kick sailed right of the goal , however . With 4 : 10 remaining in the first quarter , Tech led Alabama 7 – 0 . Thanks to the missed field goal , Alabama began its drive at its 25 - yard line — the line of scrimmage for the field goal . In the drive ' s first play , Zow completed a seven - yard pass to wide receiver Calvin Hall . Alexander then ran to the left side for a two - yard gain . On third down , Alexander gained three yards and a first down . After that , Moore sacked Zow for a two - yard loss , to the 35 - yard line . After the sack , Zow was hit again by the Virginia Tech defense and fumble d the ball . The fumble was scooped up by an Alabama player , however , and resulted in a gain of four yards . Zow then completed a pass to Alexander at the 50 - yard line for a first down . Once there , Alabama was twice penalized five yards for false starts on consecutive plays . The penalties ran out the final seconds of the first quarter , which ended with Virginia Tech leading , 7 – 0 . Second quarter . The second quarter began with Alabama in possession of the ball and facing first down and 21 yards at their 40 - yard line . Zow completed a seven - yard pass to Hall , then Alexander lost three yards on a running play , setting up third down and 17 . Alabama gained the needed yardage and more on a 24 - yard pass from Zow to Alexander at the Tech 32 - yard line . On first down , Alexander was tackled for a four - yard loss . Zow regained the lost yards with a completion to Alexander at the Tech 25 - yard line . After a one - yard rush , Alabama faced fourth down and one yard at the Tech 23 - yard line . Alexander ran to the Tech 20 - yard line and gained the first down . After a four - yard rush , Zow completed a pass to Quincy Jackson for no gain , setting up third down . Zow scrambled for a first down at the Tech nine - 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 . The extra point kick was successful , and with 9 : 13 remaining in the first half , the game was tied , 7 – 7 . Alabama ' s post - touchdown kickoff sailed through the end zone for a touchback , and Tech ' s offense started at its 20 - yard line . Stith ran ahead for a five - yard gain on first down , then broke free on second down for a 38 - yard run to the Alabama 36 - yard line . Once there , Clark threw an incomplete pass and Ferguson ran for a two - yard gain . On third down , Clark scrambled for a six - yard gain . Facing fourth down , Beamer sent in Graham to attempt a 44 - yard field goal . The kick was good , and with 6 : 41 remaining in the first half , Virginia Tech regained the lead , 10 – 7 . Tech ' s post - score kickoff was returned to the Alabama 15 - yard line , and the Crimson Tide began a new drive . On the drive ' s first play , Tech committed a five - yard offsides penalty . Following the penalty , Alexander was stopped for a two - yard loss . Zow then completed a 40 - yard pass for a first down at the Tech 43 - yard line . After that long completion , he threw an 11 - yard pass for another first down , this time at the Tech 32 - yard line . A rushing play was stopped for no gain , Zow threw an incomplete pass into the end zone , then Zow committed an intentional grounding penalty in an attempt to avoid being sacked . The penalty pushed Alabama out of field goal range , and Alabama punted from the Tech 45 - yard line . The ball rolled out of bounds at the one - yard line , and Tech was penalized half the distance to the goal line due to a holding penalty during the kick . Pegues ran for a two - yard gain , then was stopped for a loss of one yard on second down . On third down , Clark completed a pass to Harrison for a first down at the 11 - yard line . After the first down , a Tech running play was stopped for a loss of three yards , then Clark scrambled to the 16 - yard line , five yards short of the first down . Stith then gained the first down with a run to the 25 - yard line . During this time , Tech concentrated on running out the clock by executing multiple running plays , which do not stop the game clock , unlike passing plays . After the first down , Clark was sacked by Alabama defender Cornelius Griffin for a loss of seven yards . Clark regained the lost yards with a nine - yard pass , then picked up a first down with a shovel pass . On first down , Clark completed a pass to Ricky Hall with a first down at the Alabama 45 - yard line . At this point , Tech switched from running down the clock to attempting passes downfield in hopes of scoring before halftime . With 32 seconds remaining in the first half , Clark threw an incomplete pass . Clark then was sacked by the Alabama defense , setting up third down at the Tech 46 - yard line . Stith ran for a short gain , then Tech set up for a long pass downfield on fourth down . The pass fell incomplete , and Tech turned the ball over on downs with four seconds remaining . Rather than attempt to score on the final play of the half , the Tide offense took a knee and ended the half with Virginia Tech leading , 10 – 7 . Third quarter . After a halftime performance featuring Lorrie Morgan , singer Steve Winwood and the marching bands of the competing schools , Alabama prepared to receive the ball . Because Virginia Tech received the ball to begin the game , Alabama was on offense to begin the second half . Virginia Tech ' s kickoff was returned to the Alabama 21 - yard line . The first play of the half was a pass from Zow to Alexander , who gained eight yards . On second down , Alexander picked up the first down with a run to the 34 - yard line . Zow completed a pass to Milons at the 38 - yard line , then had a pass knocked down at the line of scrimmage by the Virginia Tech defense . Zow ' s third - down pass was knocked down , and the Tide punted . The kick was returned to the Tech 24 - yard line , and the Hokies began their first drive of the second half . Tech ' s first play of the half was a four - yard run by Pegues . Clark then scrambled for a 25 - yard gain and a first down at the Alabama 47 - yard line . On first down , Pegues advanced to the 43 - yard line on a running play , then Clark was sacked by Alabama ' s Travis Carroll . The sack resulted in an eight - yard loss , and Clark ' s third - down pass was incomplete . Tech punted , and the kick was downed at the Alabama 22 - yard line . On the first Tide play of the drive , Alabama was penalized 15 yards for holding on to the facemask of a Virginia Tech player . 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 . After the interception , it took Tech two plays for Pegues to push the football across the goal line for Tech ' s second touchdown of the game . The extra point was good , and Tech extended its lead to 17 – 7 with 8 : 15 remaining in the quarter . Tech ' s post - touchdown kickoff was returned to the Alabama 16 - yard line , and the Tide attempted to respond to the Tech score . The first play of the drive was an incomplete pass by Zow , who then completed a 14 - yard pass to Wes Long at the Alabama 30 - yard line for a first down . Running back Chad Beasley lost one yard on a running play , then Zow completed a three - yard pass to Alexander . On third down , Alexander dropped a long pass from Zow , and the Tide prepared to punt . 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 ball was recovered by the Hokies at the Alabama 30 - yard line , and Tech ' s offense started their drive inside Alabama territory . The first play of the Tech drive was a seven - yard run by Stith . This was followed by an incomplete pass from Clark , but Alabama was called for pass interference during the play . After the penalty , Virginia Tech had a first down at the Alabama four - yard line . On the first play after the penalty , Stith broke through the Alabama defense for Tech ' s second touchdown of the quarter . The extra point was good , and with 5 : 09 remaining in the quarter , Tech extended its lead to 24 – 7 . Virginia Tech ' s kickoff was returned to the 21 - yard line , and Alabama again attempted to answer the Hokie score . After an incomplete pass , Zow completed a 21 - yard pass to Jackson for a first down at the 42 - yard line . Alexander was stopped for a one - yard loss on a running play , then caught a pass for no gain . On third down , Zow threw an incomplete pass , forcing another punt . The kick rolled out of bounds at the Tech 17 - yard line , and the Hokies ' offense began another drive . On the first play of the drive , Clark was sacked by Kenny Smith for a six - yard loss . Pegues ran for one yard , then ran for 12 yards on third down . The Hokies punted after going three and out , but the ball bounced off Alabama kick returner Alvin Richard . 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 . From the Alabama 19 - yard line , Clark scrambled for a one - yard gain . The play was the last one of the third quarter , which ended with Virginia Tech leading , 24 – 7 . Fourth quarter . The fourth quarter began with Virginia Tech in possession of the ball at the Alabama 18 - yard line and facing second down and nine . After a running play was stopped for no gain , Clark completed a pass to Pegues , who ran for a first down at the Alabama nine - yard line . After the first down , Alabama committed an offsides penalty . After the penalty , Tech had a first down inside the Alabama five - yard line . Three plays later , Pegues crossed the goal line for a touchdown . The extra point was good , and Tech took a 31 – 7 lead with 13 : 31 remaining in the game . Alabama received Tech ' s post - touchdown kickoff , which sailed through the end zone for a touchback . Because of the touchback , Alabama ' s first drive of the quarter started at its 20 - yard line . The first play of that drive resulted in a five - yard penalty against Virginia Tech . Alexander then was tackled for a one - yard loss . On second down , Zow threw an incomplete pass , but on third down he completed a 34 - yard throw to Alexander , who earned a first down at the Tech 42 - yard line . On the first play in Alabama territory , Tech committed a five - yard offsides penalty . Zow then threw two incomplete passes , and on third down he was sacked by the Tech defense at the Hokie 41 - yard line . 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 . Zow ' s pass flew incomplete , and Alabama turned the ball over on downs . Virginia Tech began its first full drive of the fourth quarter at its 41 - yard line with 10 : 21 remaining in the game . Tech transitioned into a running strategy , maximizing the amount of time used off the game clock between each play . On the drive ' s first play , Stith was tackled for a one - yard loss . On its second play , Stith regained the lost yard . The third - down play was an incomplete pass by Clark , and the Hokies punted after going three and out . The kick rolled into the end zone for a touchback , and Alabama ' s offense began at its 20 - yard line . 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 . The extra point was good , and Tech extended its lead to 38 – 7 with 7 : 33 remaining in the game . Tech ' s post - touchdown kickoff was returned to the Alabama 16 - yard line by Milons . The first play of the drive was a 12 - yard run by Alexander , who also gained a first down . On the next play , Alabama committed a five - yard false start penalty . Alexander was stopped for no gain on a running play after the penalty , then he picked up nine yards on a running play to the right . On third down , Alexander gained a first down with a run to the 40 - yard line . He then was tackled for a two - yard loss . On the next play , Zow was tackled by Jason Buckland for a seven - yard loss . On third down , Alexander ran ahead to the 44 - yard line but still was short of the first down marker . Alabama punted , and the kick was downed at the Tech 20 - yard line . Tech continued to run down the clock by running the ball straight ahead for a four - yard gain . Tech backup quarterback Nick Sorensen then entered the game , and running back Andre Kendrick gained a first down with a run to the 33 - yard line . Kendrick then gained a first down at the Alabama 39 - yard line . Kendrick continued to advance the ball with short runs , draining the clock to secure the Tech lead . Tech ' s third backup quarterback , Dave Meyer , also entered the game as the final seconds ticked off the clock and Virginia Tech secured its 38 – 7 win . Statistical summary . In recognition of his performance during the game , Virginia Tech defensive end Corey Moore was named the game ' s most valuable player . Moore had a sack , a tackle for a loss , a blocked punt and a forced fumble . 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 . Tech ' s 31 - point margin of victory was the biggest bowl - game win in school history , and Alabama ' s loss was their biggest in a bowl game since a loss in the 1972 Orange Bowl . 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 . Zow ' s favorite receiver was running back Shaun Alexander , who caught eight passes for 87 yards . Alexander also was Alabama ' s leading rusher . He finished the game with 21 carries for 55 yards . Zow rushed the ball eight times , but finished with - 8 rushing yards . Alexander ' s eight receptions tied him for third place in receptions during an Alabama bowl game . The record was nine . On the opposite side of the ball , Virginia Tech quarterback Al Clark completed seven of his 14 passes for 71 yards and an interception . Clark ' s greatest success came on the ground , however , as he rushed nine times for 55 yards and a touchdown . 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 . Fellow Tech running back Lamont Pegues scored two touchdowns and carried the ball 15 times for 41 yards . Postgame effects . Virginia Tech ' s win lifted it to a final record of 9 – 3 , while Alabama ' s loss dropped it to 7 – 5 . In the final college football polls of the season , Virginia Tech was ranked 19th in the coaches ' poll and 23rd in the AP Poll , while Alabama remained unranked . The 38 – 7 win remains Virginia Tech ' s biggest bowl - game win . Citing a desire to pursue " sporting events with a higher profile , " American General decided not to renew its sponsorship of the Music City Bowl . In 1999 , it was replaced by Homepoint . com , a now - defunct website . The site of the game also changed . It moved from Vanderbilt Stadium to LP Field , then known as Adelphia Coliseum . 1999 NFL Draft . 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 . Alabama had one player selected in the draft . Cornerback Fernando Bryant was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round with the 26th overall selection . Virginia Tech had two players taken in the draft : defensive back Pierson Prioleau ( 110th overall ) and guard Derek G . Smith ( 165th overall ) .