Saturday, December 11
Bowden not surprised to play Tech
Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS -- Way back in October, Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said that just one team had stepped forward and looked like a No. 1 -- Virginia Tech. Now he's hoping he can prove himself wrong in the Sugar Bowl.

	Bobby Bowden will try for his second national title when he meets Frank Beamer's Hokies.

No. 1 Florida State (11-0) and No. 2 Virginia Tech (11-0) square off Jan. 4 to determine the national championship and Bowden said he saw the matchup coming a long time ago.

In mid-October, Florida State had won ugly and somebody asked Bowden if the Seminoles were playing like the top team in the nation.

"And I said, 'Well, we're not playing like it, but neither is Penn State, neither is Nebraska, neither is so-and-so, or so-and-so," Bowden said. "And I made the statement that the only team that I'd seen so far that looks like they're playing like No. 1 is Virginia Tech. And it was."

If Bowden isn't surprised to see Virginia Tech in the national title game, there are people who are. Even their claim on the BCS rankings were shaky until Nebraska lost.

Even Virginia Tech boosters are having a hard time believing they have a chance to truly proclaim they're No. 1.

"I don't know that very many people that supported Virginia Tech in the greatest fashion would have ever told you that they thought we'd have a chance to play for the national championship," coach Frank Beamer said. "We're well aware of the challenge that is ahead of us in Florida State, but I would think this has gotta be one of the great, great days in Tech history."

When Beamer was introduced as the new Tech coach two days before Christmas 1986, there were snickers when he predicted he'd lead the Hokies to a national title.

"I might have been telling a story back in '86," he said.

Maybe, but Beamer and Bowden both believe either team could walk away with the championship.

"There's no question in this ball game, they're ranked No. 1 and we're ranked No. 2," Beamer said. "They've been there many times and we haven't. But I don't think it makes all that much difference. I think it's two teams that have played well, played hard all year long."

Virginia Tech is in line for the title for the first time ever and even though people are calling them a Cinderella team, Beamer said he believes they are moving away from their upstart status.

"We've been underdogs around here for so long that was kind of our rallying cry," Beamer said. "Then more times than not this year we became the favorite and to be quite honest with you, I like that role."

Florida State, which won the national championship in 1993, is playing for it for the second consecutive season and the third time in four years.

But Bowden is still hoping for a first. If he beats Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl it will let him join sons Terry and Tommy with an undefeated season.

"I've been very jealous of them, naturally," Bowden said. "When Terry goes undefeated at Auburn and then Tommy goes undefeated at Tulane and I've been coaching 46 years and have never had a perfect season. So we've got a lot riding on this thing too, you know."

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