2004 ACC Championship

2004 ACC Championship. The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) held its inaugural championship game in 2004, featuring the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Miami Hurricanes. This game was a culmination of the 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season, with Frank Beamer's Hokies seeking to claim the conference title. The ACC Championship Game was played at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, with ESPN providing television coverage, and Mike Tirico, Tim Hasselbeck, and Suzy Kolber on the commentary team, including Chris Fowler and Lee Corso.

● Game Summary

The Virginia Tech Hokies dominated the Miami Hurricanes in the 2004 ACC Championship, winning 16-10, with Bryan Randall leading the team, and Eric Green and Jimmy Williams making key plays. The Hokies' defense, coached by Bud Foster, held the Hurricanes to just 10 points, with Dan Morgan and Jonathan Vilma of the Miami Hurricanes struggling to contain Virginia Tech's offense. The game was attended by Florida Governor Jeb Bush, NCAA President Myles Brand, and ACC Commissioner John Swofford, and was watched by a television audience that included Notre Dame coach Tyrone Willingham and USC coach Pete Carroll.

● Teams

The Virginia Tech Hokies and the Miami Hurricanes were the two teams that competed in the 2004 ACC Championship. The Hokies were led by coach Frank Beamer, who had previously coached at Murray State University and The Citadel, and had guided the team to several Bowl games, including the Sugar Bowl and the Gator Bowl. The Hurricanes were led by coach Larry Coker, who had previously coached at University of Oklahoma and University of Ohio, and had won several National Championships, including the 2001 national championship. Other notable teams in the ACC that year included the Florida State Seminoles, led by coach Bobby Bowden, and the Clemson Tigers, led by coach Tommy Bowden.

● Venue

The 2004 ACC Championship was held at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. The stadium, which was also home to the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League, had a seating capacity of over 67,000, and had previously hosted several high-profile events, including the Super Bowl and the Gator Bowl. The stadium was located near the St. Johns River, and offered stunning views of the surrounding cityscape, including the Riverside Arts Market and the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens. Other notable venues in the ACC include Doak Campbell Stadium at Florida State University, Carter–Finley Stadium at North Carolina State University, and Byrd Stadium at University of Maryland.

● Game Details

The 2004 ACC Championship was played on December 4, 2004, with a kickoff time of 1:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. The game was televised nationally on ESPN, with Mike Tirico and Tim Hasselbeck providing commentary, and Suzy Kolber reporting from the sidelines. The Hokies won the game 16-10, with Bryan Randall throwing for 148 yards and Cedric Humes rushing for 49 yards. The Hurricanes were led by quarterback Brock Berlin, who threw for 168 yards, but was intercepted twice by the Hokies' defense. Other notable players in the game included Willis McGahee of the Miami Hurricanes, and DeAngelo Hall of the Virginia Tech Hokies.

● Aftermath

The 2004 ACC Championship marked a significant milestone for the Virginia Tech Hokies, who won their first ACC Championship title. The team went on to play in the 2005 Sugar Bowl against the Auburn Tigers, where they lost 16-13. The Miami Hurricanes finished the season with a 9-3 record, and played in the 2005 Peach Bowl against the Florida Gators. The game had significant implications for the BCS National Championship Game, with the USC Trojans and the Oklahoma Sooners ultimately competing for the national title. Other notable teams that competed in Bowl games that year included the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the Ohio State Buckeyes, and the Georgia Bulldogs.