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Virginia Accepts Bid to 2011 Chick-fil-A Bowl
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Charlottesville, VA – The Virginia football team has accepted an invitation to play Auburn from the Southeastern Conference in the 2011 Chick-fil-A Bowl at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Dec. 31. The game is scheduled to kickoff at 7:30 p.m. EST and will be televised nationally by ESPN.
The game will mark Virginia’s fourth appearance in the Chick-fil-A Bowl (formerly the Peach Bowl). The Cavaliers played their first-ever bowl game in Atlanta on. Dec. 31 in 1984, defeating Purdue 27-24 to claim the Peach Bowl crown. Virginia defeated Georgia 34-27 in the 1995 Peach Bowl and lost to the Bulldogs 35-33 in the 1998 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
“This is outstanding for our football program and our players will be elated to meet the reigning national champions from Auburn in Atlanta at the Chick-fil-A Bowl,” said Virginia coach Mike London. “No one on our roster has played in a bowl game, so what a fantastic opportunity and setting for them to do so for the first time. I want to congratulate coach Gene Chizik and the Auburn team on another successful season in the very competitive SEC. We are looking forward to our game with the Tigers.”
The Cavaliers are 8-4 overall and 5-3 in the ACC’s Coastal Division. This is UVa’s 18th overall bowl appearance and the first under second-year coach Mike London. Auburn is 7-5 and finished 4-4 in the SEC’s Western Division. This will be the third meeting between the two programs. The Tigers defeated the Cavaliers 28-17 in 1997 in Charlottesville. The following season Virginia handed Auburn a 19-0 defeat at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
“On behalf of the entire University of Virginia community, we are proud to represent not only UVa but also the Atlantic Coast Conference in the 2011 Chick-fil-A Bowl. We are excited to be coming to Atlanta” said Virginia athletics director Craig Littlepage. “We have great memories from our previous bowl trips to Atlanta, including an exciting, last-minute victory against the University of Georgia in 1995.
“The Chick-fil-A Bowl will be a great opportunity for our fans to show their support for our football team and Coach London, the ACC’s 2011 Coach of the Year, as he continues to build the Cavalier program. We’re seeing tangible results on the field having completed the regular season with victories against ranked opponents Georgia Tech and Florida State and a Thursday night win at Miami on ESPN. Congratulations to Coach London, his staff and our student-athletes for all of their hard work and dedication.”
Tickets are on sale now online at VirginiaSports.com. Tickets may be purchased by phone by calling 1-800-542-UVA1 or in-person at the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office beginning Monday, Dec. 5 at 9 a.m. The priority ordering deadline is Friday, Dec. 9 at 5 p.m.
Tickets are available for $80 for in all locations in Virginia’s seating block. Seating priority will be given first to Virginia Athletics Foundation donors based on priority points, second to season ticket holders on a date received basis and then to the general public on a date received basis.
All fans are encouraged to order tickets to the Chick-fil-A Bowl from the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office. Virginia must purchase 18,000 tickets to the game and only tickets purchased through the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office will count towards UVa’s allotment. In addition, purchasing tickets through the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office ensures Cavalier fans are seated together at the game.
Virginia’s Bowl Central web page online at VirginiaSports.com includes information about tickets, seating at the Georgia Dome, hotel accommodations, Chick-fil-A Bowl events and Atlanta-area attractions.