Gator Bowl picks Clemson over FSU

[thelakelander]

Despite FSU having a better record in the ACC and beating Clemson head-to-head, Clemson has been chosen to play against Nebraska in the Gator Bowl.

Clemson to be invited to Gator Bowl

Posted: Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008 at 6:22 pm
By GARRY SMITS
The Times-Union

The Konica Minolta Gator Bowl will invite Clemson Wednesday to play in the Jan. 1 game at the Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, according to multiple sources within the volunteer leadership of the Gator Bowl Association.

The sources said president Rick Catlett and selection committee chairperson Kelly Madden left for Greenville, S.C., tonight.

“You can make the logical assumption that means we’re going to invite Clemson,” one source told the Times-Union.

The invitation to Nebraska will be delayed until Sunday, because Big 12 commissioner Don Beebe will not release teams for consideration by non-BCS bowls until after the Big 12 championship game Saturday between Oklahoma and Missouri.

http://news.jacksonville.com/justin/2008/12/02/clemson-to-be-invited-to-gator-bowl/

[Charles Hunter]

Clemson brings more out of town people.  The name of the game is putting out of towners into hotel rooms.  FSU fans - the ones that don't already live here - can drive over the day of the game, and drive back.

[MattnJax]

I think it's a great pick. Clemson has the most passionate fans of any ACC team. This is great news for Jacksonville's economy. Now if we can just get another team whose fans travel well.

[thelakelander]

Nebraska?

[vicupstate]

Clemson played in the Gator Bowl all-time attendance record game (1989).  Average attendance in Clemson Gator Bowls is 74,000, versus 70,000 for FSU.  FSU just played in Jax and the attendance was a paltry 45,000.    

Clemson fans are totally psyched up over their new coach.  In 1981, Clemson beat Nebraska to win the National Championship.  I don't THINK they have played each other since.  

Clemson is probably the Gator Bowl's committee's favorite team, and with good reason.  Picking Clemson is a no-brainer.
   

[MattnJax]

Nebraska?

Yeah that would be a great pick. I'm sure any Cornhusker fan would love to leave the cold of Nebraska for Florida (just not for a night like tonight, lol).

[urbanlibertarian]

Considering the attendance at the FSU/CO game I'd say Clemson is a better choice than FSU.  I believe Nebraska has a history of travelling well for bowl games.

[MattnJax]

Clemson played in the Gator Bowl all-time attendance record game (1989).  Average attendance in Clemson Gator Bowls is 74,000, versus 70,000 for FSU.  FSU just played in Jax and the attendance was a paltry 45,000.    

Clemson fans are totally psyched up over their new coach.  In 1981, Clemson beat Nebraska to win the National Championship.  I don't THINK they have played each other since.  

Clemson is probably the Gator Bowl's committee's favorite team, and with good reason.  Picking Clemson is a no-brainer.
   

Yeah get ready to see a lot of red and orange all over town that week. I wish the Gator Bowl would go back to ACC vs. SEC though.

[thelakelander]

On another note, it will be interesting to see what the attendance number will be for this week's ACC championship game in Tampa.  They're getting the same matchup that Jax had last year (BC vs. VT).

[ProjectMaximus]

Yeah, I find this match-up quite intriguing. I'm sure it was a tough choice between FSU or Clemson, but the committee made the right decision.

[MattnJax]

On another note, it will be interesting to see what the attendance number will be for this week's ACC championship game in Tampa.  They're getting the same matchup that Jax had last year (BC vs. VT).

Yeah it will be interesting to see. Especially with a worse-off economy than last year. I did find this little nugget on the internet:

"While organizers are noncommittal about the prospects of a sellout in 65,000-seat Raymond James Stadium, they are certain of halting the downward spiral experienced in Jacksonville. The inaugural game, which included Florida State, drew a respectable 72,749 in Jacksonville’s Municipal Stadium, which holds 77,497. Subsequent games without the Seminoles or Hurricanes slipped at a rate of 10,000 fans a year, bottoming out last year with attendance of 53,212.

Not only does Raymond James Stadium have fewer seats, but those seats will also come at a cheaper price. Tickets for the ACC’s game begin at $25, well below the lowest-priced ticket last year of $65. About 14,000 of the seats at Raymond James Stadium are priced at $25."

Source: http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/60735


If Jacksonville had 14,000 $25 seats we'd probably have hit 60,000 to 65,000 last year. It just all depends on the match-up though, bottom line.

[Charles Hunter]

How can they sell tickets for so much less?  How much is Tampa subsidizing the game?  We are in the middle of a controversy about the City "bailing out" last year's ACC game.

[copperfiend]

I still doubt we see a sellout in Tampa but I think there will be a lot of Hokies.

[JeffreyS]

This year for Jax Clemson is a better choice.  This would be FSU's third trip to Jax in just over a year.  CBS pressured the Gator bowl to take FSU they are a better national draw but the comity really wanted to do it's part for the local ecconomy.

[GatorShane]

Clemson brings more out of town people.  The name of the game is putting out of towners into hotel rooms.  FSU fans - the ones that don't already live here - can drive over the day of the game, and drive back.

I think Clemson or FSU would have been a good pick as far as attendance goes, but like you stated the bottom line is getting out of town people to come and spend money and book hotel rooms. As far as the ACC championship game, I was dissapointed to see it leave, but maybe now the Gator Bowl can put more emphasis on getting us into the BCS rotation in the future.