The 1998 Music City Bowl was a postseason college football game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Virginia Tech Hokies. It was the inaugural competition of the annual Music City Bowl. The University of Alabama represented the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and Virginia Tech represented the Big East. 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.
The Alabama Crimson Tide, had gone 7–4 during the regular season. 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.
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 fumbles and interceptions by the Crimson Tide into points on the scoreboard. The 31 point victory margin was the largest victory margin in Virginia Tech bowl game history and that remains true as of the end of the 2024 season. Moore was named the game's most valuable player. The two teams did not meet again until the 2009 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game 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.Staff report. "Six banks backing Music City Bowl", The Commercial Appeal. February 27, 1997. Page D3.Staff report. "NCAA gives Nashville OK to host bowl game", The Knoxville News-Sentinel. April 24, 1997. Page C3. 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.Vingle, Mitch. "Despite report, Big East officials remain confident", The Charleston (W.V.) Gazette. May 31, 1998. Page P1D. 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.Luicci, Tom. "Tranghese starts early in quest for bowl bids", The (Newark, N.J.) Star-Ledger. September 22, 1998. Page 47. An agreement pledging the Big East's No. 4 bowl-eligible team to the game was not reached until 1999.Biddle, Joe. "Big East will fill one spot", The Tennessean. July 20, 1999. Page C1.
Alabama
The Alabama Crimson Tide entered the 1998 college football season after a 1997 season that included a 4–7 record and no bowl game appearance.Alabama Sports Information Department. "1997 Schedule & Results", Rolltide.com. Accessed June 4, 2009. 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.Staff report. "Media place their bets on Gators Auburn picked second in West, Tide fifth", Mobile Register. Page C1.
Alabama's first game of the season was against Brigham Young University and was played at a renovated Bryant–Denny Stadium that boasted more than 80,000 seats and a new Jumbotron.Staff report. "Bama fans like 'new' Bryant–Denny Stadium", Mobile Register. September 6, 1998. Page C4. 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.Staff report. "Shaun again: Alexander rushes for a school-record 5 touchdowns in Crimson Tide victory", Mobile Register. September 6, 1998. Page C1. One week later, Alabama repeated its first-game success with a 42–7 win over Vanderbilt.Pruett, John. "UA repair job is on track after win over Vandy", The Huntsville Times. September 13, 1998. Page E1. 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.Duffey, Gene. "Bama gets Hog-Tide", The Huntsville Times. September 27, 1998. Page E1. One week later, Alabama suffered its first home loss of the season, a 16–10 defeat at the hands of Florida.Duffey, Gene. "Ohhhhhhhhh, so close ...", The Huntsville Times. October 4, 1998. Page E1.
After the Florida loss, Alabama's senior starting quarterback, John David Phillips, was replaced by freshman Andrew Zow.Staff report. "Zow impressive in first start for Crimson Tide", Daily Mountain Eagle. Jasper, AL. October 11, 1998. News section. 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.Segrest, Doug. "Dubose: 'We had them on the ropes'", Birmingham News. October 18, 1998. Page B1. On October 24, Zow endured his first loss as the team's starting quarterback when Alabama was defeated, 35–18, by eventual SEC (and national) champion Tennessee.Browning, Al. "100-yarder helps UT turn the tide for win", Birmingham News. October 25, 1998. Page B14. Alabama rebounded from the loss by reeling off two more wins: 30–20 against Southern Miss and an upset 22–16 win over LSU, in which the Crimson Tide scored 15 points in 144 seconds.Segrest, Doug. "Zow on fire as Alabama holds off pesky USM", Birmingham News. November 1, 1998. Page B1.Segrest, Doug. "A miracle finish in Baton Rouge", Birmingham News. November 8, 1998. Page B1.
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.Segrest, Doug. "Tide can't match up face-to-face with physical Bulldogs", Birmingham News. November 15, 1998. Page B1. 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.Bryan, Jimmy. "Bama irons it out", Birmingham News. November 22, 1998. Page B1.
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.Segrest, Doug. "Tide bound for Atlanta ... or Nashville ...", Birmingham News. November 26, 1998. Page E1. By the time of the championship game, the Sun Bowl had been eliminated as an option.Murphy, Thomas. "Bowl forces Crimson Tide to alter plans", Mobile Register. December 3, 1998. Page C4. After Tennessee won the SEC championship game and a bid to the Fiesta Bowl, other teams were selected by the Peach Bowl and Independence Bowl, leaving Alabama to be selected for the inaugural Music City Bowl.Tutor, Phillip. "Music City may call on Tide", The Anniston Star. December 6, 1998. Sports section. The choice was made official on December 6, and Alabama began preparing for its matchup with Virginia Tech.Martin, Grant. "Tide, Virginia Tech set to clash in Music City Bowl", The Anniston Star. December 7, 1998. Sports section.
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.Virginia Tech Athletics Communications Department. "Virginia Tech past football schedules: 1997–1998", Hokiesports.com. Accessed June 4, 2009. 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.Staff and wire reports. "Briefs: Media pick W.Va. to win Big East", The (Newport News) Daily Press. August 5, 1998. Page B2. 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.Miller, Skip. "What, Va. Tech worry?", The (Newport News) Daily Press. August 31, 1998. Page Football Preview 7.
The Hokies' first two games brought success for Virginia Tech: At home, they defeated East Carolina, 38–3,Lipper, Bob. "Fine opening, but true tests are still ahead", Richmond Times-Dispatch. September 6, 1998. Page D1. and away, they beat Clemson, 37–0.Bogaczyk, Jack. "Hokies earn their stripes on big day", Roanoke Times. September 13, 1998. 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.White, Jeff. "Hall makes winning catch in OT as Virginia Tech rallies for victory", Richmond Times-Dispatch. September 20, 1998. Page D1.
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.King, Randy. "Hokies trash Pitt offense", The Roanoke Times. September 27, 1998. Page C1. 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.White, Jeff. "Hokies' defense reigns in downpour", Richmond Times-Dispatch. October 9, 1998. Page D1.
Following the Boston College victory, the Hokies faced lightly regarded and winless Temple University. 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.King, Randy. "Hokies hope Owls hatch a goose egg", The Roanoke Times. October 17, 1998. Page C1. 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.White, Jeff. "State of shock", Richmond Times-Dispatch. October 18, 1998. Page D1.Wilner, Jon. "Stanford beats USC: The greatest upset in college football history?", College Sports Hotline. October 6, 2007. Accessed June 9, 2009. Archived 2009-06-15.ESPN.com. "Rank 'Em: College Football Upsets", September 1, 2007. Accessed June 9, 2009.