Cincinnati makes BCS debut vs. Virginia Tech in Orange Bowl

Dec 8, 2008 - 5:20 AM MIAMI (Ticker) -- Cincinnati already has enjoyed a dream season under Brian Kelly, who has coached the Bearcats to unprecedented heights.

Coming off the first 11-win campaign in school history, Cincinnati will end its season on the national stage against a school that has become accustomed to BCS bowls.

The Big East Conference champion Bearcats will make their BCS debut when they take on Virginia Tech on the Orange Bowl, which will be played at Miami's Dolphin Stadium on New Year's Day.

A downtrodden program throughout most of its 122-year history, Cincinnati (11-2) has emerged as a rising power under Kelly, who has posted a 21-5 record in two seasons with the Bearcats.

Cincinnati won 10 of its last 11 games this season en route to the first Big East title in school history.

Traditionally considered a basketball school, Cincinnati finally has garnered some gridiron attention thanks to Kelly, who announced this past week that he intends to remain with the Bearcats.

"It's an honor to be invited to the Orange Bowl," Kelly said following Sunday's BCS bowl announcements. "We've prepared for this moment since we arrived on campus two years ago. It's a big day for our program.

"That said, we're still going down to Miami prepared to win a football game."

While Cincinnati is relatively new to the postseason, playing in a BCS bowl has become a regular occurrence for Virginia Tech (9-4), which won its second straight ACC title with Saturday's 30-12 victory over Boston College in the conference title game.

The Hokies dropped a 24-21 decision to upstart Kansas in the 2008 Orange Bowl. It marked the fourth time that Virginia Tech appeared in a BCS bowl under coach Frank Beamer, who obviously appreciates his team's effort this season.

"I'm really proud of our players and coaches," Beamer said Saturday. "This particular year especially, because we've overcome so much, I'm really proud of that. We're going to enjoy this for sure."

Despite losing three times in a four-game stretch from October 18-November 13, Virginia Tech won its third ACC title since joining the conference in 2004.