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West Virginia headed to Gator Bowl

Mountaineers' opponent yet to be decided

Sports Editor

Published: Friday, December 4, 2009

Updated: Saturday, December 5, 2009 16:12

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- West Virginia has accepted an invitation to the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl on Jan. 1 in Jacksonville, Fla.

Chairman selection committee member and 1981 WVU graduate Brian Goin announced the selection after the Mountaineers' 24-21 win over Rutgers Saturday.

"The Gator Bowl has a great tradition with West Virginia University," Goin said. "We were waiting on the outcome of (the West Virginia-Rutgers game) and also keeping an eye on the Cincinnati-Pittsburgh game.
 
"But West Virginia is going to give us what we think will be the best matchup for the Gator Bowl."
 
West Virginia's opponent is still unknown and depends on the result of Saturday's ACC Championship game as well as the selection of the Peach Bowl.
 
"It's an honor and privilege to represent the Big East at the Gator Bowl," West Virginia head coach Bill Stewart said.
 
Goin admitted the Gator Bowl wants Florida State to host FSU head coach Bobby Bowden's final game.
 
"Bobby started his (28 consecutive years with a bowl game) started with Florida State and West Virginia in the 1982 Gator Bowl and he hasn't missed a bowl since then," Goin said. "We think that matchup would be special. We just have to see what happens."
 
West Virginia is 1-5 all-time at the Gator Bowl with its only win coming in 2007 as the Mountaineers beat Georgia Tech 38-35.
 
West Virginia is 0-2 all-time against the Seminoles, both times coming in the Gator Bowl.
 
The Mountaineers' first Gator Bowl appearance came against a Bowden-led Florida State squad in 1982 with WVU losing 31-12. West Virginia also faced the Seminoles in the 2005 Gator Bowl, losing 30-18.
 
Florida State is 5-0-1 all-time while Bowden is 4-0 in the bowl. The Seminoles tied Penn State 17-17 in 1967.
 
"If we could put Bobby Bowden and West Virginia together, it'd be a lot of fun," Goin said.
Brian.gawthrop@mail.wvu.edu

 

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10 comments

Dave
Mon Dec 7 2009 08:55
"Yes WVU sits 6th in the Big East, but they're still ranked while Florida State isnt."

WVU finished 2nd in the Big East.

We can't control who we play in the bowl game. Only thing we could control was winning against Rutgers to get there, and we did it.

Let's enjoy the fact that we've had another successful season and will be playing in a New Years Day Bowl game for the 4th time in the 5 years. Let's go out and ruin Bobby Bowden's farewell and remind the nation what Mountaineer Football is all about!

joel
Sun Dec 6 2009 23:37
This is a lose-lose for WVU and a waste of our time. If we win, we were supposed to. If we lose, we and the big east looks horrible.

There are countless other much deserving schools. If he's such a great coach worthy of this recognition he wouldn't have produced such a bad record.

Your name
Sun Dec 6 2009 13:32
WVU mediocre? Dont think so. Lets remember that the past four years WVU is 4-0 in their bowl games, not to mention that the Big East is one of the best conferences in the country. WVU is ranked, while Florida State isnt. WVU lost to #5 Cincinnati. Beat then #5 Pittsburgh. Lost to Auburn, and a good SFU team. What has Florida St. done? They beat Jacksonville State, an over rated BYU team, UNC, NC State, Wake Forest, and Maryland. WVU finished the year at 8-3 with a QB who sat the bench for four years behind Pat White. Florida State has gone down hill since "99. A South Florida team who's only been around for about 10 years has got a better program than them. The only reason the school allowed Bowden to stay for so long is because he had a shot to go out the all time winningest coach until the NCAA violations stripped him of some wins. There was no chance after that happened to catch Joe Pa. For those of you who say that the ACC is better than the Big East. Just remember that Florida St. has been losing conference games to former Big East schools (Miami, Boston College, and Virginia Tech). Yes WVU sits 6th in the Big East, but they're still ranked while Florida State isnt.
Mr. KnowItAll
Sun Dec 6 2009 13:04
When Bobby Bowden came in as the new head coach at WVU, he fired the existing coaching staff claiming--"God told him to do it". I haven't had a shred of respect for him since.

From being labeled Free Sneakers U (FSU) to the latest academic scan, as far as I can discern, Bowden doesn't deserve any special treatment or honor.

As a WVU alum and fan for 40 years, I'd rather see us play someone who earn a bowl birth who EARNED it.

MOUNTIE FAN w/ A LOT OF BOWDEN LOVE
Sat Dec 5 2009 23:03
What about last year when FSU did deserve the Gator and Clemson was chosen over them? Bobby Bowden deserves to play in Florida for his final game, and if it happens to be in a Gator Bowl he may not necessarily have the record for, so be it...Plenty worse has happened in the College Football world...A respectable coach who did not get to finish his career the right way, deserves to end his career playing in a respectable bowl. Those who think Bobby Bowden isn't entitled to this...are high.
Your name
Sat Dec 5 2009 22:37
Not allowing a last wish to a legend like Bobby Bowden would be a crime.
wvu
Sat Dec 5 2009 21:26
What message does it send to players across the country who work as hard as they do all year to play in a respectable bowl game - let alone a new years day bowl game - when a mediocre team who finishes 6th in their conference gets the bid ahead of them? Regardless of Bowden's situation, those who think FSU is entitled to a new years day bowl game is high.
ynb
Sat Dec 5 2009 21:05
It would be a great tribute to the greatest coach in college football history to play his last bowl game against his former team in FL.
njs
Sat Dec 5 2009 21:00
FSU doesn't deserve the gator bowl. The coach shouldn't be the decisive factor in deciding who plays in a bowl game. They're 6-6 and deserve a low-level bowl.
Acd
Sat Dec 5 2009 20:20
If the Gator Bowl chooses FSU it will be a travesty.






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