The 2002 San Francisco Bowl was the inaugural edition of the post-season college football bowl game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Air Force Falcons at Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco on December 31, 2002. The game was the final contest of the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season for both teams, and ended in a 20–13 victory for Virginia Tech.
Virginia Tech was selected for the inaugural edition of the San Francisco Bowl after a 9–4 record during the 2002 college football season. Tech defeated several nationally ranked teams, including No. 14 LSU and No. 19 Texas A&M. Tech's opponent, Air Force, received its bid following an 8–4 regular season. Air Force faced several BCS-conference opponents during the regular season, including California and Northwestern.
The 2002 San Francisco Bowl kicked off in clear, weather, but the field was soggy after several days of rain. Greg Beacham, Associated Press. Goairforcefalcons.cstv.com. January 1, 2003. Accessed February 26, 2008. In the first seven minutes of the game, Air Force scored 10 consecutive unanswered points. The Tech defense eventually clamped down on the Falcons' offense, however, and only allowed three points for the remainder of the game. The Virginia Tech offense slowly climbed back from the initial 10-point deficit, scoring a touchdown in the first quarter and a field goal in the second. By halftime, the Hokies had equalized the score at 10–10.
In the second half, defense continued to dominate as Tech gradually built a lead. The Hokies scored the only points of a third quarter as running back Lee Suggs ran into the end zone from one yard out, allowing Tech to take a 17–10 lead into the fourth quarter. The Falcons didn't give up easily, however. Air Force kicker Joey Ashcroft cut into the Tech lead with a 21-yard field goal. Tech matched the score later in the quarter to restore the one-touchdown lead. As time ran down, Air Force had one final chance to tie the game and send it into overtime. Beginning at its own 18-yard line with 4:11 left to play, the Falcons drove deep into Tech territory. With seven seconds remaining, Air Force quarterback Chance Harridge tried to scramble into the end zone, but was stopped before the goal line by Tech cornerback Ronyell Whitaker. The defensive stop preserved the 20–13 Hokie victory, and Tech quarterback Bryan Randall was named the game's most valuable player.
Team selection Air Force
The Air Force Falcons began the 2002 season having gone 6–6 during the previous season, and hoping to put that disappointing showing behind them.Wallace, Bob. "Falcons Ready to Put 2001 Behind" Goairforcefalcons.cstv.com. August 8, 2002. Accessed August 17, 2008. On August 31, 2002, the Falcons did just that, defeating Northwestern in a blowout 52–3 victory.Northwestern Wildcats vs. Air Force Falcons Box Score ESPN.com. Accessed August 17, 2008. Following that win, the Falcons added five more in successive weeks, racing out to a 6–0 undefeated start. On October 19, the Falcons faced No. 19 Notre Dame, and in a close-fought game, suffered their first loss.Grant leads Irish's offensive onslaught at Air Force Associated Press, ESPN.com. October 19, 2002. Accessed August 17, 2008. In the five games that followed the loss to Notre Dame, the Falcons suffered three additional losses, culminating in a close regular-season defeat by the San Diego State Aztecs.San Diego State 38, Air Force 34 Associated Press, ESPN.com. November 23, 2002. Accessed August 17, 2008.
After starting with six straight wins, the Falcons finished with an overall regular-season record of 8–4 and a Mountain West Conference record of 4–3, putting them third in the conference. Air Force athletics department, Goairforcefalcons.cstv.com. Accessed February 26, 2008.Air Force Falcons Schedule - 2002 ESPN.com. Accessed August 17, 2002. Air Force was one of three bowl-eligible teams in the Mountain West during the 2002 season. MWC champion Colorado State earned an automatic bid to the Liberty Bowl, and the Las Vegas Bowl, which had second pick of MWC teams, selected New Mexico. By default, this left Air Force to the San Francisco Bowl.Curtis, Jake. "Air Force chosen for S.F. Bowl", The San Francisco Chronicle. December 3, 2002. Accessed August 17, 2008.
Virginia Tech
The Virginia Tech Hokies football team began the 2002 season having gone 8–4 the previous season and having suffered a season-ending defeat to Florida State in the 2002 Gator Bowl.Past football schedules: 2001-2002 Virginia Tech Athletics Communications Department, Hokiesports.com. Accessed August 16, 2008. The Hokies began the season against the Arkansas State Indians, hoping to rebuild after the loss of 11 starters from the previous season's team. Against the Indians, Tech started the season with a record performance, scoring 56 first-half points en route to a 63–7 rout.New group easily gives Beamer 150th win Associated Press, ESPN.com. August 25, 2002. Accessed August 16, 2008.
That overwhelming start was just the beginning for the Hokies, who won their next seven games, racing to an 8–0 start and a No. 3 ranking in the national polls.Past football schedules: 2002–2003 Virginia Tech Athletics Communications Department, Hokiesports.com. Accessed August 16, 2008. In their ninth game of the season, however, the Hokies suffered their first loss, falling 21–28 to the Pittsburgh Panthers.Hokies fall from unbeaten ranks Associated Press, ESPN.com. November 2, 2002. Accessed August 16, 2008. The next week, Tech suffered an even closer loss, losing to Syracuse in triple overtime despite a record performance from Tech quarterback Bryan Randall, who accumulated 504 passing yards and five touchdown passes.Orangemen finally prevail after Hokies' kicks miss The Associated Press, ESPN.com. November 9, 2002. Accessed August 16, 2008.
In the three games following the loss to Syracuse, Tech lost two, taking it to a final regular-season record of 9–4 overall and a Big East conference record of 3–4, meaning Tech was the fourth ranked team in the Big East that season. Prior to the season, the Big East had signed an agreement with the new San Francisco Bowl, giving that bowl the fifth pick of bowl-eligible teams in the Big East. But with the Gator Bowl (second pick of Big East teams) selecting Notre Dame instead of a Big East team, all the Big East's selections were pushed back one slot. Second-place West Virginia University was pushed to the Continental Tire Bowl (third pick) and third-place Pittsburgh was selected by the Insight Bowl (fourth pick), leaving Virginia Tech to be selected by the San Francisco Bowl with the fifth pick.Watts, Angela and Reedy, Jim. "Hokies to San Francisco Bowl – Cavs to Continental Tire", The Washington Post. December 9, 2002. Page D4.
Pregame buildup On the day prior to the game, spread bettors favored Virginia Tech to win by 11.5 points.King, Randy. "Crazy night could be in store – San Francisco Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Air Force, 10:30 p.m.; ESPN2", The Roanoke Times. December 31, 2002. Page D1. Despite that advantage, Tech head coach Frank Beamer warned his team and the public about the threat underdog Air Force posed to the Hokies' chances of winning.King, Randy. "Beamer leery of bowl underdogs", The Roanoke Times. December 29, 2002. Page C7. Both Beamer and Air Force head coach Fisher DeBerry were among the longest-tenured coaches in college football at the time. DeBerry had been a college coach for 19 years, while Beamer had coached for 16 years.The Associated Press. "Familiar Ring to Hokies' Bowl – Virginia Tech's Beamer, Air Force's DeBerry Share Coaching Past", The Washington Post. December 31, 2002. Page D6. The game would be an opportunity for DeBerry to gain his 150th career win and defeat a ranked team for the first time since 1999.Moss, Irv. "San Francisco Bowl: Air Force vs. Virginia Tech Falcons can add feather Hokies 'one of the elite'", The Denver Post. December 31, 2002. Page D6. Ticket sales prior to the game were sluggish, as both teams failed to sell out their assigned allotments for the New Year's Eve clash, and local sales registered fewer than 8,000 tickets sold. In addition, local media coverage of the game was very sparse.Mimmick, Tim. "San Francisco does not seem to care about San Francisco Bowl", The Gazette. Colorado Springs, Colorado. December 31, 2002. Page Sports 7.
Offensive matchups Air Force Prior to the San Francisco Bowl, Air Force's offense was the No. 1-ranked rushing offense in the country, accumulating 314.5 rushing yards on average per game. Air Force quarterback Chance Harridge had 1,159 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns, setting what was then an NCAA record for most rushing touchdowns in a single season by a quarterback.King, Randy. "A game of Chance – Air Force QB the wild card against Tech", The Roanoke Times. December 30, 2002. Page B1. Through the air, he completed 60 of 125 passes during the regular season for 971 passing yards and 10 touchdowns. Heading into the San Francisco Bowl, he needed just 29 passing yards to become the 16th player in NCAA Division I-A history to run for 1,000 yards and pass for 1,000 yards in a single season.
Air Force running back Leotis Palmer was having the best season of his career heading into the San Francisco Bowl. During the regular season, he accumulated 537 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns and 113 passing yards for two touchdowns.Moss, Irv. "San Francisco Bowl notes AFA, Tech on same sideline at Pac Bell Park", The Denver Post. December 31, 2002. Page D6. Palmer and the Falcons had already clinched the season's rushing title, cementing their status as the No. 1 rushing team in the country after West Virginia—the second-place team—failed to gain sufficient yardage in its final game to pass the Falcons.Moss, Irv. "Air Force notes Falcons won't lose grip on NCAA rushing title", The Denver Post. December 30, 2002. Page C8. Despite finishing with the top-ranked rushing offense, none of Air Force's offensive linemen received postseason honors. "It should give our players a lot of incentive for next year. Hopefully, if we repeat next year, maybe we'll get two or three on there. You certainly don't accumulate the number of yards we do unless you have people up front doing their job", DeBerry said at the time.
Prior to the game, offensive tackle Blane Neufeld was pronounced unable to play due to a broken foot suffered two weeks prior to the San Francisco Bowl.
Virginia Tech The Virginia Tech offense averaged 31.5 points per game during the regular season.Mimmick, Tim. "Air Force is upset minded – Falcons want to win No. 150 for coach DeBerry", The Gazette. Colorado Springs, Colorado. December 31, 2002. Page Sports 1. In the weeks before the San Francisco Bowl, Virginia Tech running back Lee Suggs was cast as the key for that offense in the game. Suggs, for whom the game would be his last as a collegiate player, rushed for 1,255 yards and 20 touchdowns during the regular season. He needed just 149 more rushing yards to set the team's record for single-season rushing yards, which stood at 1,403. Even without the record, Suggs was predicted to be a high pick in that year's NFL draft.King, Randy. "Suggs special for Hokies – Tailback down to last game", The Roanoke Times. December 29, 2002. Page C1. Suggs was supported by Virginia Tech center Jake Grove, who anchored a strong Tech offensive line. Though criticized as being too "nasty", Grove led the team in knockdown blocks and was graded as the team's most efficient lineman. About Grove, Suggs said, "He gets the blocking scheme straight. ... He gets us ready to go."Adams, Bruce. "Two sides to Hokies' big man – Virginia Tech center Grove can be nasty on field, pleasant off", San Francisco Chronicle. December 30, 2002. Page C3.