The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 26

PRO FOOTBALL Oilers stars from 1998 Page 3C SPORTS Sports A.M. 2C Prep basketball 8C Scoreboard 11C WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1998 f. '4' OC Biddle kV if MIL. rH 1 i -a 7 1 1 tf'n I1 4 I -V DELOHES DELVIN STAFF Members of the Virginia Tech football team celebrate their dominating victory over Alabama last night at Vanderbilt Stadium. Virginia Tech jumps on top early in easy win Coniitirriiuty Bowl game is a success from start The American General Music City Bowl took its first steps last night.

Some were shaky as a newborn colt. By the end of the game, however, it was strong enough to stand alone. There were some transportation problems, as downtown Nashville was logjammed with cars carrying fans from Alabama and Virginia Tech. It's difficult enough to navigate downtown Nashville if you live here. Add some 25,000 college football fans to the mix and you can imagine the outcome.

But once everyone arrived at Vanderbilt Stadium, it was what the doctor ordered. Forget the wind and rain that swept in after halftime. Never mind that the temperature dropped like an Alabama punt, a wind chill of 14 degrees hitting the sellout crowd of 41.600, many of whom stayed until late in the fourth quarter. It was a game played between two college football teams on a mission, and their fans turned out in force to inaugurate the newest bowl on the college landscape. Alabama has been to more bowl games than any team in history.

Virginia Tech has been to six straight bowl games, but is still vying for national attention. What better way to accomplish that than to turn back the Tide, 38-7, on ESPN? SEC Commissioner Roy Kramer watched from the press box. Years ago he oversaw the renovation of Vanderbilt Stadium. Rarely has there been as much excitement in this joint since then. It was unique to have a true sellout, people scalping tickets on the sidewalks outside.

There was noise, fireworks and Lorrie Morgan. Who could ask for more? "I thought we'd have a good situation," Kramer said of the fledgling bowl. "Nashville is a destination city and I thought they could do tickets for the other team. It was a little tighter ticket that I imagined." The media request was more than 300, an indication of the interest, at least in Alabama and Virginia. In the future, if the Music City Bowl doesn't try to be something it can't be, it will continue to be successful.

It must rely on an SEC team that is hungry and wants to use this bowl as a stepping stone, a la Alabama. It must remain regional. Thousands of Virginia Tech fans flooded the downtown watering holes the past few days. They were line dancing at the Wildhorse, spending money in hotels, restaurants and retail shops. They drove up and down Broadway with their car flags proudly on display.

"Geography plays an enormous role," Kramer said. "Our people like to come to Nashville. It's why the Peach Bowl works in Atlanta. "You've got the best of all worlds. It's a great matchup with great fan bases.

It gives the bowl almost instant credibility." Vanderbilt Stadium is long past its prime. Moving to the new stadium on the Cumberland River should only enhance the bowl game. All the ingredients are there. The only thing that can't be controlled is the weather. It is always iffy here in December.

Although it wasn't ideal last night, it could have been far worse. But with sheets of rain soaking those in the stands, no one seemed to mind. For their teams, it was the last game of the season. It gave them something to talk about for the next eight months. Joe Biddle Is a Tennessean sports writer and columnist He can be reached at 259-8255 or e-mail at jbidctetmriessean.com.

(V77 Bv MKE ORGAN "We've talked a lot about trying to get up that ladder and I think we took another step, and maybe two steps tonight, because when you beat a team like Alabama it means something." Many of the Hokies' players strutted off Vanderbilt's Dudley Field in the aftermath smoking cigars and already looking ahead to next year since 15 starters return to a team that was expected to be in a rebuilding mode this season. By most accounts, the Music City Bowl was considered a smashing success. At least for a half, both teams held up their ends of the bargain and staged an exciting game that kept the soldout crowd of 41,600 at Vanderbilt Stadium on the edge of their seats. Crimson Tide fans, however, lost interest in the third quarter and started to file out of SXiUs Vi iiter Virginia Tech finally struck a sweet cord last night in the inaugural American General Music City Bowl. And when the Hokies finally started to play, it was a heavy metal banging that was more than Alabama could handle.

After several missed opportunities in the first half, the Hokies kept it up and finally started to capitalize in the third quarter as they pulled away from Alabama on the way to a 38-7 victory. "To beat a team like Alabama means a heck of a lot," said Virginia Tech Coach Frank Beamer. "I really think Alabama was at its best and a tough team to beat." the stadium since the game was so far out of reach. "The practice part of it, trying to find a place to practice each day in this kind of weather, was a problem, but it is no excuse for what happened tonight," said Alabama Coach Mike DuBose. "Virginia Tech had the same problems we had." The Hokie faithful stayed to the very end ignoring the bitter cold with a wind chill that dipped 14 degrees along with a steady rain.

They weren't about to cut short the celebration of their team's, fourth bowl victory in school history and sixth consecutive trip into postseason play. It was a night of firsts and unusual happenings. It was the first time Nashville has hosted a col- I Turn to PAGE 4C, Column 2 Virginia Tech 33, Alabama 7 The Hokies showed the 'marquee team" a thing or two last night at vanderbilt On 4C. After fighting to get back into a bowl game, there was little fight from Alabama last night On 4C. American General Music City bowl stats.

On 4C. Notebook. On 4C. ft Fiesta Bowl may be just a matter of feet Both kickers have proven dependable in clutch Bruins' Bourque makes first visit Bv JOHN GLENNON U'7fer The Boston Bruins are celebrating their 75th anniversary this season, and there are times you have to remind yourself that defenseman Ray Bourque hasn't been around for each of those years. Bourque makes his first stop in k.

Nashville tonight when the Bruins take on the Predators, but this is hardly the first new site he's seen in a career that's in the midst of its 20th season. In fact, the list of venues that have acquired NHL franchises since Bourque began his career which also includes Anaheim, Calgary, Carolina, Colorado, Dallas, Florida, New Jersey, Ottawa, Phoenix, San Jose and Tampa Bay should give you a pretty good indication of how long he's been around. "He's right up there with some of the Bv DAVID CLIMER Senior Writer TEMPE, Ariz. How important is the swing of a chosen leg by a chosen player to a chosen team's pursuit of a national championship? It can be summed up in two words: Wide Right. "Oh my gosh.

I wish you hadn't brought that up," says Bobby Bowden. "We've lived through a few of those nightmares." Yes, Bowden remembers the big ones that got away. A field goal attempt that sailed wide right against Miami in 1991 may everything on the line, but it just might," Bowden said. And if the outcome of the Fiesta Bowl is determined by one kick, it's hard to determine which team has the edge on the instep. Tennessee's Jeff Hall is exceptional.

Florida State's Sebastian Janikowski is extraordinary. Both have range. Both are accurate. Both are proven. "If it comes down to one kick, so be it," says Hall.

"I try to treat every kick the same, whether it's an extra point when we're ahead by 20 or a field goal with the Predators vs. Bruins When: 7 p.m. today FM Notebook On9C Fiesta Bowl Who: No. 1 UT vs. No.

2 FSU When: 7 p.m. Monday ON6C WRCopeland wouldn't trade a thing for a ring. Hal a linebacker in a kicker's body. FSU, UT notes. 1- best that have ever played the position," Predators Coach Barry Trotz said.

"Everybody talks about his offensive numbers, but he's almost always matched up against the other team's top line. "Sometimes he doesn't get enough defensive credit. He's almost the perfect combination of stamina, offensive and defensive skills. He's been like a machine for 20 years." If have cost Florida State a shot at the national championship. Wide right against Miami in '92 was the only blemish on an otherwise perfect record.

"You hope a big game like this one doesn't come down to a field goal with score tied. "You get into trouble when you start treating one kick different than another kick just because of the circumstances." Turn to PAGE 6C, Column 2 FILE PHOTO UT kicker Jeff Hall celebrates his game-winning field goal in over time to beat Florida earlier. I Turn to PAGE 9C, Column 3 i i i II r.Tii Wi QXTJ To report sports news: 259-8010 Sports Editor: John Gibson, 259-8022 Clinic Bowl options coming into focus All-white coaching list has some seeing red in the NFL Assistant Sports Editors: SPort8 259-8826 Laurie E. Holloway, 259-8299 E-mai tips: Michael H. Jones, 259-8013 tnsportstennessean.com Kevin Procter, 259-8014 Huggins closes in on milestone 400th win Cincinnati Bearcats coach Bob Huggins can join the 400-victory club with a win on tonight vs.

North Carolina-Wilmington. Huggins would be one of the youngest coaches ever to record 400 On 10C. By week's end the site of future Clinic Bowl games could be known. The i Commodores get back into action at Memorial After two long breaks, the Vandy men take their 8-3 record into tonight's game vs. Alabama (4-5) at Memorial Gym.

Getting back into a regular routine is high atop the wish list for Jan van Breda Kolff's team. On 10C. With a plethora of head coaching jobs opening up in the NFL, there is a long list of potential candidates. However, the lack of black candidates on Senior Writer: David Climer, 259-8020 Visit our web site at: www.tennessean.com TSSAA will soon be studying new proposals for a new site for the state title games. Gp 8C.

that list has some including Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy 'baffled' On 3C..