Clemson headed to Gator Bowl
Posted 03:55 p.m., December 2, 2008
The Gator Bowl is “all in” with Clemson and new head coach Dabo Swinney, an athletic department source confirmed.
Gator Bowl and Clemson officials are expected to make an official announcement during a press conference Wednesday. The Tigers likely opponent will be Nebraska. The two teams have not met since the Tigers won the Orange Bowl game that clinched the 1981 national title.
Clemson’s last appearance in the Gator Bowl was in 2000 when the Tigers lost 41-20 to a Michael Vick-led Virginia Tech team.
The Florida Times Union ran a story today quoting Gator Bowl president Rick Catlett as saying the top two ACC contenders were Clemson and Florida State.
According to the Time-Union story, Catlettt said the Gator Bowl board had a “spirited debate” on the decision to pick Clemson over Florida State.
"It was an interesting meeting," Catlett told the Times-Union. "The end result is that we have great options, no matter which way we move. A Nebraska-Clemson game or a Nebraska-FSU game is still very attractive in terms of terms of tickets sales on the campuses and in Jacksonville, and for TV. Clemson fans weren't sure they were going anywhere at one point. Now, they're excited.”
The Seminoles would draw a larger television audience, while the Tigers would bring more fans and therefore have a great impact on the Jacksonville economy. According to the Times-Union story, “the Tigers' last six appearances in Jacksonville, the attendance has averaged almost exactly 74,000. FSU has averaged just over 70,000 in six appearances, but fewer than 40,000 people attended this year's FSU-Colorado game in Jacksonville.”
"It's an interesting debate," Catlett said. "In this economy, our primary job will be to do anything to help the hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and other tourist-related businesses. On the other hand, strong TV ratings also are very good for the game.”
—Andrew Miller
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