JACKSONVILLE, FL?The Virginia Tech Hokies were crowned the 2006 Toyota Gator Bowl Champions on Monday at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium after a come from behind victory over the Louisville Cardinals 35-24 before a crowd of 63,780.

The Louisville Cardinals entered the game with a 9-2, 5-2 record and an AP ranking of No.15.  This was their first visit to Jacksonville and their first year as a Big East representative.

Virginia Tech, the Coastal Division Champions of the ACC, entered the game with a 10-2 record and a No. 12 national ranking after a 27-22 loss to Florida State in the inaugural ACC Championship game in Jacksonville on December 3.  This marked the Hokies 5^th trip to the Gator Bowl with a current record of 2-3.

The Most Valuable Players of the game were Cedric Humes, TB  for Virginia Tech and Hunter Cantwell, QB for the Louisville Cardinals.

Mission Statement: The Gator Bowl Association is a 501(c)3 charitable organization, specifically designed to bring economic impact to Northeast Florida.