University of Tennessee Athletics
2002 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
December 05, 2002 | Football
Dec. 5, 2002
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UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
Comments of Gary Stokan, president of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl:
"It's an honor to be here at the University of Tennessee. We are the fourth highest attended bowl game over the last five years, including the BCS bowls. We are the most competitive bowl game in the country. Our average margin over the last 15 years is 4.8 points. This is our 35th anniversary. We expect to pay at least $2 million per team. It should also be recognized that we, arguably, gave more money to charity than any bowl game in the country last year, $247,000, beyond our team payouts. We're a big believer in giving back to the community. It certainly has created an atmosphere that has made us successful. We think giving back is awfully important. Maybe most importantly, for recruiting purposes and also for exposure, we are unopposed on New Year's Eve in primetime at 7:30 p.m., on ESPN. Last year, our ratings on television were second only to the Holiday Bowl, out of the 18 ESPN bowl games. We have a viewing audience that we hope to get a 5 rating this year. We think we will with the matchup we have. Bowl games can't happen without title sponsors. We're blessed in Atlanta not only having a great company, but a homegrown company. They're great people who have made us a better bowl game."
Comments of Steve Robinson, Senior Vice-president, Chief Marketing Officer, Chick-fil-A: "It is truly a privilege on behalf of Chick-fil-A to be in our sixth year with the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and be a part of hosting the University of Tennessee. We also serve as a corporate partner with the SEC, so we have had many opportunities to be involved in championship events that have involved the University of Tennessee. We certainly count it a privilege to help host an event that has our name on it. We have 49 restaurants in this state and a location on this campus. We have a history of scholarships. We award scholarships to team members in our stores. For the past 30 years, we have awarded more than $17 million in college and university scholarships. Nearly $850,000 has gone into institutions in the state of Tennessee.
"During Chick-fil-A week, we'll be giving $25,000 donation to the General Scholarship Funds of the University of Tennessee and the University of Maryland in addition to the team payout. We're thrilled to host the University of Tennessee and the University of Maryland in Atlanta. We're committed to making the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl being one of the best bowl experiences for fans as well as the institution. We think that's what you'll experience. We just signed a longtime deal with Gary Stokan and his staff. We're excited about the Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl continuing to grow in stature. There's no question the matchup between the University of Tennessee and the University of Maryland continuing that momentum. We look forward to having all of you in Atlanta."
Announcement of the Invitation by Gary Stokan: "Let's talk a little bit about the University of Tennessee and our selection process. We had a decision between Auburn and Tennessee. We met for about two hours. I want to give you a Top 10 reasons we selected Tennessee. We take people though 30 criteria in our selection process and match up the teams. As much as people might think it's back room politics, it really isn't, at least with our bowl. We take the best team that's out there for the best matchup. You should know that Tennessee is 25th in BCS rankings, out of 40. Our committee thinks the BCS ranking is more important. The BCS takes those two polls and the computer rankings. Maryland is ranked 16th. We privileged to have two ranked teams. We look at schedules.
"Tennessee beat the West champ and lost to the East champ without their quarterback. They also lost to the No. 1 team in the country. It was a very difficult schedule, knowing what they did with the injury problems. Tennessee won four of its last five. You can there's a trend there, Tennessee getting healthier and coming together as a team at the end of the year. They won their last three games. There's not many bowl teams going into the end of the year that won their last three games. They shut out their last two opponents. That was impressive. They have a chance to end the season of start the new season by defeating a team that won 10 games and is ranked 16th in the BCS. That's a great challenge for Tennessee and we think they're up to it.
"Tennessee has wonderful fans. They travel and love to come to Atlanta. It won't be too far out for us to announce our sixth straight sellout of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. In Phillip Fulmer and Doug Dickey, you're talking about tow first class people who run first class organizations. When you partner with the ACC and SEC and a company like Chick-fil-A, it's important to do business with No. 1s. When you have the University of Tennessee and the University of Maryland and Chick-fil-A, it takes our bowl to another level. We talked with Doug. Obviously, there are high expectations at Tennessee every year. There should be. Phil's done a wonderful job here. With health and injuries, the season may not have worked out to those high expectations early, but you see the trend starting to develop where Tennessee is becoming Tennessee.
"Tennessee's marketing plan is the best I've seen in my five years as president of the bowl by any school. That's a compliment to Doug and his staff. Lastly, there's the competitive matchup. We've been very blessed to have great teams travel to us. Not very many bowl games have had five straight sellouts. Tennessee's defense is eighth in the country. They're third in the SEC, second in red zone defense, second in pass defense, fourth in rush defense and third in scoring defense. That's a heck of a defense. They have a great defense and their offense is getting a lot healthier. Maryland's offense is averaging 32 points per game. If you're going to match them up against somebody, you want a great defense. Maryland is second in rush offense. By the time our game gets here, their running game will be really healthy and one of the best in the country. They are first in punt returns and red zone offense in the ACC. Their defense is second in pass defense and scoring. They were first in punting and second in red zone defense. We're awfully proud to have Maryland, whom we think is the best team in the ACC at 10-3, and Tennessee. I'm looking forward to announcing our invitation to Tennessee to come play in the 35th anniversary Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl."
Comments of University of Tennessee Athletics Director Doug Dickey
"On behalf of president John W. Shumaker and Chancellor Loren Crabtree, it is my pleasure to accept the invitation for the University of Tennessee to appear in Atlanta in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. I have known our local Chick-fil-A people for a long time. We have had a long relationship with the local Chick-fil-A operation and we appreciate that. We appreciate all the corporate sponsors do to keep the bowl world alive. It's been a tremendous experience over the years. In the last few years, the corporate sponsorship side has become very important, as it has in all of intercollegiate sports. We've had a good marriage, all of us, whether it's our marketing here locally or the bowl's marketing. It's been a huge thing. We appreciate very much what your company does to step up and help with that. Atlanta's a great city and our people know how to get there. We have 8,000 alumni in the Greater Atlanta Area and 13,000 in the state of Georgia. We will have a great turnout. You will expect a lot of Orange on New Year's Eve. We have accepted 22,000 tickets, so come one, come all. Don't hesitate. We're looking forward to having a great crowd and some great enthusiasm. We have a long history in the bowls. We've been all across the country to all kinds of them."
Comments of University of Tennessee Head Football Coach Phillip Fulmer
"Thanks to the Chick-fil-A folks for being here and extending the invitation. Chick-fil-A has done a wonderful job. I've heard it's a fantastic trip for everyone and we look forward to being a part of that. Speaking for our seniors, our football team, our staff and the Tennessee family, we are excited about coming to Atlanta. It's a great city to enjoy yourself as a team and certainly for the fans. We're playing an outstanding Maryland team. We've had a chance to see them some on television.
"Coach Friedgen has done a tremendous job there and we certainly expect a great challenge and a great game. Atlanta presents a great family opportunity for a lot of folks. We are very pleased with the progress we have made in the recent games and look forward to a fun time down there. We're looking forward to getting started with our preparations after our guys finish their finals. There's a lot of reason to go and play well, to top off a really good effort by our team here at the end of the season. Four weeks ago, we were talking about giving the team a chance to win nine football games. With all the adversities and some of the disappointments we've had, it would be a great accomplishment for our team.
"From a personal standpoint, it being Coach Dickey's last game as Athletics Director makes it very special to me. We certainly understand the challenge. I'm proud of these seniors, particularly the captains, and the leadership they've given. This team has never said die and has stayed the course and fought hard."
Comments of Will Ofenheusle, Offensive Tackle and One of Three Vol captains
"We appreciate Chick-fil-A and the Peach Bowl letting us come to Atlanta and work on building on our season. We were sitting at 5-4 and wanted to get to 9-4 for the year. This is the last step on our journey toward that goal and, hopefully, we can come out on top. We're excited about going to Atlanta and getting a little mini-vacation by doing something we love to do, playing football."
