Both teams had bowl win droughts of over 15 years, with Duke not having a bowl game in 28 years and Texas Tech not winning one in 16 years.Duke was (co) champion of theAtlantic Coast Conference with Virginia (the only team to beat Duke in ACC play that year) for the first time since 1962, which was also the last time they had gone to abowl game. As for Texas Tech, they were 4th place in theSouthwest Conference, in their first bowl game since1986.
Spurrier left for his alma mater ofFlorida after the game. The Blue Devils did not reach a bowl game again until1995. Texas Tech was not invited to a bowl again until1993.