A sold-out crowd of 73,777 – the 13th in a row for the Chick-fil-A Bowl – watched as the No. 11 Hokies relied on their trademark power running and aggressive defense to defeat Tennessee, 37-14. The victory also snapped a four-game losing skid for ACC teams in the bowl dating back to 2005.

Virginia Tech jumped ahead 14-0 behind a pair of touchdown runs from ACC Freshman of the Year Ryan Williams, who additionally set a conference record with his 22nd score of the season. The Volunteers cut the deficit to 14-7 behind a Montario Hardesty touchdown scamper, and appeared to shift the momentum going into halftime after tying the game on a touchdown toss from Jonathan Crompton to Denarius Moore late in the second quarter.

However, the 18 seconds left on the clock were more than enough for Virginia Tech to answer back. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor’s 63-yard bomb to Jarrett Boykin was upheld following review, and a few seconds were restored to the game clock. Already headed to the locker room, Tennessee returned to the field to watch Hokies kicker Matt Waldron’s go-ahead 21-yard field goal sail through the uprights.

The Hokies would not look back from there, again turning to their defense to close the game.  During the team’s final four regular season games, Virginia Tech surrendered a mere six total second-half points, and Tennessee likewise struggled to solve the attack. Trailing 24-14 in the third quarter, a likely touchdown pass fell out of Volunteers receiver Denarius Moore’s hands symbolizing the team’s struggles.

Touchdown runs from Taylor and running back David Wilson cemented the victory. Ultimately, Virginia Tech held the Volunteers to an all-time bowl low 5 net yards rushing while sacking Crompton six times.

Williams was named the game’s Most Outstanding Player on offense after collecting 117 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while linebacker Cody Grimm earned defensive Most Outstanding Player honors following three tackles for a loss and one sack. With the win, the Hokies finished their sixth-straight season with 10 or more victories.

Both participating teams and football fans alike spread excitement for the upcoming Chick-fil-A Bowl at multiple events preceding the game itself.

Following challenging morning practices, both Virginia Tech and Tennessee players and staff had time to unwind and take in the sights and sounds of Atlanta. The teams enjoyed gatherings at Dave and Buster’s and the Georgia Aquarium, as well as a Chick-fil-A milkshake party. In what some called the most powerful bowl week event, several players and coaches from each team attended a tour of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center led by Georgia Congressman and renowned civil rights activist John Lewis. In keeping with another bowl week tradition, each team also visited Atlanta-area hospitals to bring the spirit of the game to ailing children.

“What an awesome experience it is here,” said Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring. “They do a terrific job not just for us as a program to make our team and coaching staff feel welcome, but our families also. It is just a great experience to be here and be a part of such an outstanding bowl.”

Several of football’s greatest minds offered insight into the sport during bowl week. Former NFL head coach and Super Bowl champion Tony Dungy shared his successes in balancing faith and football during the annual Fellowship of Christian Athletes Breakfast. Head coaches Frank Beamer and Lane Kiffin reflected on the 2009 season and looked ahead to their Chick-fil-A Bowl showdown at the Big Green Egg Scholarship Luncheon and Chalk Talk presented by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

rances from each team’s cheerleaders and mascot. FanFest concluded with the traditional Team Walks, whi

All the way from preseason through team scouting and selection right up to kickoff on New Year’s Eve, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has the Chick-fil-A Bowl covered. Now in its 11th year, the partnership between the Chick-fil-A Bowl and the AJC has been instrumental in providing the latest news on Bowl events for the masses through timely advertising and thorough editorial coverage.

In 2009, the newspaper again served as a presenting sponsor of the Big Green Egg Scholarship Luncheon and Chalk Talk presented by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ESPN commentator Sean McDonough emceed the event, and Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer and Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin shared in-depth insight into their Chick-fil-A Bowl preparations with a host of fans. The event also recognized Georgia’s top high-school scholar athletes and honored their commitments to excellence both on the field and in the classroom.

The Atlanta-Journal Constitution has offered complete coverage of the Southeast for more than 140 years. More than two million readers get their news each week from the AJC in print or online. To subscribe or for more information, visit ajc.com.

As one of the Chick-fil-A Bowl’s host hotels, the Atlanta Marriott Marquis ensured a comfortable experience for team personnel, fans, bowl staff members and traveling media alike. Virginia Tech players, coaches and fans filled the hotel with Hokie spirit leading up to the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Additionally, the team relaxed after practice in the hotel’s spacious players’ suite.

Conveniently located with walking distance of the Georgia Dome, the Atlanta Marriott Marquis also served as the setting for several of the Chick-fil-A Bowl’s most notable pre-game events, including the Coaches Luncheon presented by Russell Athletic, Georgia Power Football Feud, Fellowship of Christian Athletes Breakfast and Big Green Egg Scholarship Luncheon and Chalk Talk presented by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Atlanta’s premier destination hotel, the Atlanta Marriott Marquis features a breathtaking atrium, amazing skyline views, iconic color-changing sail, five restaurants and lounges, The Spa and a fitness center. For reservations, call 1-888-855-5701 or visit www.atlantamarquis.com.

Russell Athletic furthered its long-term support for the Chick-fil-A Bowl in 2009. In its eighth year as the bowl’s official uniform provider, Russell Athletic dressed more than 400 bowl staff members and volunteers. Following their victory, Virginia Tech players and coaches celebrated on the field in Russell Athletic-produced champions t-shirts.

As kickoff drew closer, Russell Athletic was instrumental in building energy among the two combatants and their fans. For the first time, Russell  Athletic served as the presenting sponsor of the annual Coaches Luncheon. The bowl season’s first event featured head coaches Frank Beamer and Lane Kiffin answering fan questions and discussing their initial expectations for the Chick-fil-A Bowl experience. Russell Athletic additionally served as the presenting sponsor of the bowl’s ESPN preview program for the third consecutive season. Hosted by Dave Neal and Bonnie Bernstein, the show offered an in-depth look at the upcoming gridiron matchup, and Russell Athletic received extensive national exposure as a result of the broadcast.

Virginia Tech and Tennessee players and coaches endured hours of grueling but fun competition, pushing themselves to the limit to overcome their foes and enjoy the glory of victory – and that was just in the days leading up to the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

The two teams participated in the annual “Games Within the Game” event series during Bowl Week. Competitions in the triathlon included a video game showdown, the Georgia Power Football Feud game show and a Chick-fil-A milkshake-drinking contest. In an outcome eventually mirroring the Chick-fil-A Bowl itself, the Volunteers rallied to tie the Hokies before falling to the ACC legion, 2-1.

“This is what the bowl week experience is truly about – providing the players with opportunites to have some fun off the field,” said Gary Stokan, president and CEO of the Chick-fil-A Bowl. “Our teams next year may have to work in some Guitar Hero practice and study for the Football Feud during pre-bowl preparations.”

The Hokies took the lead by sweeping a triad of video game competitions, including Mocap Boxing, Nothin’ But Net Basketball and Guitar Hero, at the Dave and Buster’s team welcome parties. Virginia Tech players Prince Parker (boxing), Kam Chancellor (basketball) and Brent Bowden (Guitar Hero) defeated Tennessee’s Herman Lathers, Gerald Jones and Austin Johnson respectively.

Trailing late in the annual Georgia Power Football Feud, Tennessee rallied on its last strike to clinch a 214-207 victory and even the series. The Volunteers unit correctly guessed that injuries are a common reason for timeouts in football to earn the decisive points after the Hokies took three strikes on the same topic.

Former University of Virginia and New York Giants star tailback Tiki Barber, Chick-fil-A founder and Chairman S. Truett Cathy and legendary West Virginia University coach Don Nehlen were inducted into the Chick-fil-A Bowl Hall of Fame in a pre-game ceremony before the 2009 contest.

Cathy was instrumental in developing the Bowl’s alliance with Chick-fil-A, its first and only title partner, and continues working to further the relationship today. Since Chick-fil-A began sponsoring the game in 1996, the bowl has enjoyed an extended period of growth and success including 13 consecutive sellouts and a total team payout increase to more than $6 million. More recently, Chick-fil-A has extended its relationship beyond the Bowl itself with the creation of the annual Chick-fil-A Bowl Challenge golf event and Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. Cathy continues to lead Chick-fil-A’s unprecedented growth as well, as the restaurant chain has experienced 41 consecutive years of increased sales.

The first Mountaineer inducted into the Chick-fil-A Bowl Hall of Fame, Nehlen is one of only 20 coaches in FBA history to amass 200 or more victories. One of those wins came in the 1981 Chick-fil-A Bowl, as he guided West Virginia to a 26-6 victory against Florida. Nehlen’s defense limited the Gators to an all-time bowl low 105 total yards of offense, and West Virginia became the first team to win three Peach Bowls as a result. A national Coach of the Year honoree in 1988, Nehlen retired in 2001 and briefly served as president of the American Football Coaches Association.

 In its first year as the Chick-fil-A Bowl’s official automotive partner, KIA Motors sponsored the bowl's official game ball delivery. Georgia Congressman John Lewis rode into the Georgia Dome in a 2011 KIA Sorento alongside Percy Vaughn of KIA Motors and handed the all-important pigskin to the officials. Additionally, Chick-fil-A founder and Chick-fil-A Bowl Hall of Fame member S. Truett Cathy purchased the first retail 2011 KIA Sorento in the United States and received the keys to his car during a pre-game ceremony.

KIA Motors Corporation, a maker of quality vehicles for the young-at-heart, was founded in 1944 and is Korea’s oldest manufacturer of motor vehicles. As part of the Hyundai-KIA Automotive Group, KIA Motors aims to become one of the world’s premier automotive brands. Nearly 1.5 million vehicles are produced each year in 13 manufacturing and assembly operations in eight countries, which are then sold and serviced through a network of distributors and dealers covering 172 countries. KIA Motors today has over 40,000 employees worldwide and annual revenues of over $14.5 billion.

This season, the Chick-fil-A Bowl turned to social media to keep ACC, SEC and general football fanatics in the loop.

Beginning in late October, fans could gain additional insight on their favorite team’s chances to reach the Chick-fil-A Bowl by visiting selection committee chair Leeman Bennett’s blog at Chick-fil-ABowl.com. Each week, Bennett shared perspective on the teams discussed in the most recent selection committee meeting and how the bowl viewed each team. In turn, fans could post comments and give reasons why their team should be looked at more closely.

In the weeks preceding the annual New Year’s Eve clash, the Chick-fil-A Bowl became the first bowl game to interact with followers during team selection scouting trips via Twitter. Tweets from scouts covered topics ranging from game-day campus environment and crowd reaction to comments from coaches, school officials and players. Twitter followers additionally received instant updates regarding breaking bowl news, special promotions and offers and links to photo and video galleries.

Fans of the Bowl on Facebook received easily accessible information on bowl events, access to special photo albums and video archives and exclusive opportunities to participate in contests, trivia challenges and discussion forums.

Follow the Chick-fil-A Bowl on Twitter (www.twitter.com/chickfilabowl) and become a fan on Facebook (www.facebook.com/chickfilabowl) today

Daryl Evans, vice president Advertising and Marketing Communications for AT&T Mobility, became the new chairman of the Chick-fil-A Bowl following the 2009 bowl season.

Evans takes over for Scott McCune, vice president Integrated Marketing with The Coca-Cola Company, who had served as the bowl’s chairman since mid-2008. Upon McCune’s appointment, the Chick-fil-A Bowl named Evans as his successor beginning in 2010.

A member of the Chick-fil-A Bowl Executive Committee for six years, Evans’s new role includes assuming leadership in both the bowl’s Executive Committee and Strategic Planning Committee. Together, these two factions plan and execute the Chick-fil-A Bowl’s strategic direction as it relates to developing the overall brand.

“The Chick-fil-A Bowl continues to grow as a significant national college football brand, and we owe a great deal of our emergence in the last two years to the hard work and guidance of Scott McCune,” said Gary Stokan, president and CEO of the Chick-fil-A Bowl. “We are confident that Daryl can continue to further the Chick-fil-A Bowl brand. As an Executive Committee member, Daryl has proven himself to be the respected leader and innovative business mind needed to direct the organization at this time.”

Officials of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award Foundation, Inc. announced during halftime at the Chick-fil-A Bowl that Texas Christian University head football coach Gary Patterson was unanimously selected as the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year for 2009.

Since taking over at TCU in 2000, Coach Patterson has led the team to nine bowl games. His 85-27 record is the highest mark of the four coaches in school history to coach a minimum of 100 games. In 2009, the Horned Frogs played in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and earned the first BCS bowl berth in school history.

“Everyone associated with the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation is thrilled at the selection of Coach Patterson for this prestigious honor,” said Jim Terry, chairman of the Foundation. “Coach Patterson has an outstanding reputation, and we respect his leadership on the field as well as the many accomplishments of the team in the classroom and in life. He definitely fulfills the stringent requirements set for the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award. Congratulations, Coach Patterson, and congratulations to the entire TCU football team, staff, administration, students and fans.”

The newly-renovated Hilton Atlanta extended its relationship with the Chick-fil-A Bowl in 2009 and served as the official host hotel for the University of Tennessee. Both team members and fans enjoyed the happenings of bowl week from the Hilton’s convenient downtown location, turning the building into a sea of orange in the process. The expansive players’ suite provided the Volunteers an outlet to have fun with their teammates.

The Hilton Atlanta offers 1,242 newly-renovated rooms and 55 individual meeting rooms totaling 119,000 square feet of flexible function space. Featuring a variety of outlets, including award-winning restaurants Nikolai’s Roof and Trader Vic’s, guests can also take advantage of a complete recreational menu including a fitness center with saunas, outdoor swimming pool, outdoor running track and tennis and basketball courts. For reservations call 404-659-2000 or visit www.hilton.com .

As the exclusive airline of the Chick-fil-A Bowl, Delta makes travel enjoyable for Bowl representatives. Whether it’s scouting ACC and SEC games or conducting meetings across the country, Delta is the efficient solution for all of the Bowl’s air travel needs.

The bowl’s first corporate sponsor and a partner for 23 years, Delta carried the tradition forward as the official airline of the Chick-fil-A Bowl in 2009. Delta is the world's No. 1 airline, serving more than 170 million passengers each year. With its unsurpassed global network, Delta, its Northwest subsidiary and Delta Connection carriers offer service to 356 destinations in 65 countries on six continents.

The Home Depot took an innovative approach to its sponsorship of the 2009 Chick-fil-A Bowl by introducing The Home Depot New Lower Price Challenge at chick-fil-abowl.com. The contest ran through December and tested fans’ knowledge of home improvement products while also introducing special price discounts. Fans who aced the initial challenges received access to a second challenge on Chick-fil-A Bowl facts. Ultimately, Bobby Ragan was crowned champion of The Home Depot New Lower Price Challenge and earned Chick-fil-A Bowl tickets, a Chick-fil-A Bowl prize package and a Home Depot gift card.

The Home Depot is the world's largest home improvement specialty retailer, with 2,245 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces, Mexico and China. In fiscal 2008, The Home Depot had sales of $71.3 billion and earnings from continuing operations of $2.3 billion. The company employs more than 300,000 associates. The Home Depot's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HD) and is included in the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor's 500 index.