Jan. 5, 2000 SportsLine wire reports

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Last year, Florida State fans had their fiesta end early. Tuesday night was sweeter in Tallahassee, as the Seminoles beat No. 2 Virginia Tech 46-29 in the Sugar Bowl to win the national championship and finish an undefeated season.

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"There's going to be some hard partying tonight," said Sandra Walters, a Florida State senior. "I expect to see the sun rise."

The sound of horns honking filled the air near campus shortly after the game ended. Police were out in force along the strip near the school hoping to keep the crowd from getting too rowdy.

Florida State students were scheduled to return to class Wednesday after winter break.

Many were likely to miss the first day of the semester.

"I have a 9 a.m. music class tomorrow, but this doesn't happen very often," sophomore Paul Lesko said. "We have a keg waiting in our apartment."

While it doesn't happen that often -- Florida State won its other national championship in 1993 -- fans here are still used to celebrating big victories.

Just last year, the scene was more subdued after the national championship game. Florida State fans gathered at sports bars near campus but went home disappointed as the Seminoles lost to Tennessee in the Fiesta Bowl.

That just seemed to prime them for a bigger party this year.

"Last year they should have beaten Tennessee, so winning this year will make up for it," said Leslie Sedgewick, watching the game at a sports bar near the campus.

For others, it was a chance for Florida State to return to past glory. Florida State grad Al Watson was a senior in 1993, the last time the Seminoles won the national title.

He didn't get to New Orleans but did the next best thing to cheer on his alma mater. He traveled to Tallahassee from his home in Tampa.

"I had to see if they could do it again," Watson said.