MSU Represents Big Ten In Florida Citrus Bowl
11/24/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 24, 1999
EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 11 Michigan State (9-2), which finished tied for second in the final Big Ten Conference standings, has accepted an invitation to play in the 54th annual Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando Jan. 1, 2000. The Florida Citrus Bowl will be televised nationally by ABC Sports with kickoff set for 1 p.m. EST.
It marks Michigan State's first New Year's Day bowl appearance since it played Georgia in the 1989 Gator Bowl. The Spartans will face either Alabama, Florida or Tennessee from the Southeastern Conference. The Florida Citrus Bowl's SEC representative will be announced Dec. 5.
"We are absolutely thrilled to have Michigan State come to Orlando and take part in 'The Best Bowl Trip in America,'" Florida Citrus Bowl Executive Director Chuck Rohe said. "(Coach) Nick Saban has one of the most exciting, entertaining teams in all of college football, and we have no doubt that the Spartan fans and alumni will come in force to Orlando and paint the town green."
"I'm excited for the entire Michigan State University community, but especially for our players and coaching staff," Michigan State Athletics Director Clarence Underwood said. "This is a great reward for an outstanding season. A New Year's Day bowl bid was one of the team's goals before the season and the Florida Citrus Bowl is one of the finest postseason games period. I know this will be a popular trip for our alumni and fans as the team pursues its 10th victory of the season."
Michigan State fifth-year head coach Nick Saban, who guided the Spartans to their first nine-win regular-season since 1966, is looking forward to making his team's travel plans. "It's a great bowl," Saban said. "The players felt that a bid to the Florida Citrus Bowl would be a tremendous reward for what the team accomplished this season. This bowl has a great reputation, not only for its hospitality but also for the quality of game played. We're elated to be a part of the Florida Citrus Bowl."
"I'm glad the football team has received the recognition it deserves for a great season," MSU President Peter McPherson said. "We're looking forward to playing a bowl game in a state where Michigan State has such great alumni support, and we anticipate seeing a large Spartan contingent in Orlando."
Michigan State's 1999 roster features 10 players from Florida, including three seniors: cornerback Amp Campbell (Sarasota), placekicker Paul Edinger (Lakeland) and wide receiver Gari Scott (Lake Park).
"A New Year's Day bowl bid was one of our team goals and this is a significant reward for the hard work the players and coaches put forth this season," senior strong safety and co-captain Aric Morris said.
"This will be a homecoming of sorts for 10 players on our roster from Florida. I'm really happy for Amp Campbell, Gari Scott and Paul Edinger because they'll be able to play the final game of their college careers in their home state. What a perfect set up for those guys and I'm sure that they'll play the best games of their lives.
"We're looking forward to playing a team from the Southeastern Conference," Morris said. "SEC teams are rich in tradition and those teams are always ranked high in the polls. This game gives us a chance to see where we stand against one of the best teams from the SEC."
Like Morris, MSU senior quarterback Bill Burke is excited about making the bowl trip to Florida. "From what the players have heard, the Florida Citrus Bowl is one of the best bowls around," he said. "I'm excited about playing my last college game in a New Year's Day bowl. Orlando is a fun city and I'm sure everyone associated with Michigan State will have a great time."
For information about the MSU Alumni Association Official Bowl Tour, Spartan fans should call 877-MSU-TRIP or visit the MSUAA web site at http://msuaa.alumni.msu.edu/bowltour/.
Michigan State receives an allotment of 12,000 tickets for the Florida Citrus Bowl. Tickets are priced at $65 each and the MSU Athletics Ticket Office will begin accepting credit card orders Monday, Nov. 29 at 10 a.m. by phone, 1-800-GO-STATE or 517-355-1610, and fax, 1-800-GO-GREEN.