Gator Bowl, Bowden's finale, sells out in 2 hours

[madinmaryland]

(For the attendance natsi's)..

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/07/AR2009120703294.html

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Bobby Bowden's final game will take place in a packed house.

The Gator Bowl said Monday that it sold every ticket for the New Year's Day game in record time, less than two hours. The bowl said all 77,474 tickets have been sold, with an allotment going to each school.

Gator Bowl chairman Dan Murphy says "the interest in this game has been overwhelming and has surpassed all expectations."

Florida State (6-6) will play Bowden's former team, No. 18 West Virginia (9-3), in hopes of avoiding the program's first losing season since 1976.

Bowden announced last week that the bowl game would be his last. The Gator Bowl passed up Clemson, Miami and Boston College to select the Seminoles and give Bowden an alluring matchup in his finale.

..snip

My only question is why are the Florida State Seminoles even in a Bowl Game, other than because of Bobby Bowden's name?

[joeybee12]

1. Wow, do that many people want to see Bowden lose? n/t

[JonLP24]

2. They are bowl eligible BCS team

That gets you in. Plus the Gator Bowl features the Big East runner up vs ACC/Big12/Notre Dame and since they had Big 12 teams two years in a row it was either them or Notre Dame.

[madinmaryland]

3. So you are saying the Notre Dame got passed over by Florida State??

Too funny!

Better yet, how about a Florida State - Notre Dame bowl to see who plays in the MAC next year!

[trumad]

4. The slot was supposed to go to the 9-3 Hurricanes...

But they gave it to the 6-6 Seminoles because it's BB's last game.

As a Hurricane fan I'm ok with that.

[JonLP24]

5. That's what I found odd

If not Notre Dame it was listed for the #3 ACC team. Either way I assume (I glanced over the bowl picture) Miami is in a pretty good bowl.

[trumad]

6. Not really---the Champs Bowl aint all that great---

but the one nice caveat.... it's in Orlando and I live in Orlando... so I'll be there.