On behalf of its Selection Committee, Florida Citrus Sports’ Chairman Ford Kiene and Executive Director Steve Hogan announce that Florida State University and the University of Wisconsin have been chosen to play in the 2008 Champs Sports Bowl. The game, played on December 27 at 4:30 p.m. in Orlando’s Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium, is televised nationally on ESPN.
“This will be one of the more exciting games of the season featuring two powerhouse football brands in Florida State and Wisconsin,” said Hogan. “This will be the first time these two programs have played each other in football and hosting coach Bowden in Orlando for the first time in over a decade will be a treat for all of us.”
Florida State used a strong midseason run and a key dominating performance in its ACC finale against Maryland to propel it to an 8-4 (5-3 ACC) record. The Seminoles’ key stretch saw it run off consecutive wins over Colorado, Miami (Fla.), NC State and Virginia Tech. Bobby Bowden’s squad finished the regular season with the nation’s 13th-ranked defense, holding opponents to just 291.8 yards per game while it features one of the nation’s premier pass rushers in Everette Brown (third nationally in sacks; 4th in TFLs).
Whereas mid-season propelled the Seminoles, Wisconsin struggled to four-straight losses over the same time period. The Badgers, however, won three straight and four-of-five at season’s end to close out their campaign, 7-5 (3-5 Big Ten). A combined four points was the difference in two of UW’s losses this year (20-17 to Ohio State and 25-24 at Michigan State). To combat FSU’s stout defense, Wisconsin – which has played in Florida now four consecutive postseasons – will roll out a smash-mouth rushing attack that finished the regular season 14th nationally with 212 yards per game.
This year’s Champs Sports Bowl will be the first-ever meeting between these two traditional powerhouses.
For ticket information, please log on to www.ticketmaster.com. Groups of 20 or more or those interested in membership can call the Florida Citrus Sports offices at 407.423.2476.
Courtesy: FCSports
