For only the second time in its history, the Gator Bowl Association’s next game isn’t the Gator Bowl.
The Atlantic Coast Conference championship game will be played Dec. 3 at Alltel Stadium, underwritten by the City and the association, and ACC officials were pleased with what they expect to see.
The association already showed how it can handle increased seating at last January’s game and this year showed off the Gator Bowl Fan Fest area with party tents and interactive games. The Fan Fest was in the former Jaguar practice fields in the South end zone.
The association placed the annual sports and entertainment board-sponsored Hall of Fame induction ceremony in a large tent and almost 1,000 fitted comfortably to hear the ceremony.
Before Saturday’s game, won by Florida State 30-16 over West Virginia before an announced crowd of 70,112, there were two big parties with the Times-Union taking the large tent and the association the smaller for pregame brunches.
All were key to the ACC’s need for corporate hospitality opportunities.
In the past, the induction has been at a permanent venue such as the Adam’s Mark or the Osborn Center.
The ACC game will be here for at least two years and FSU Coach Bobby Bowden renewed his approval, saying, “This is the place it should always be played.”
The Gator Bowl Association’s only other non-bowl game was in 2000 with FSU playing Brigham Young in a season-opening charity game called the Kickoff Classic.
The next Gator Bowl will be Jan. 1, 2006.
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FSU and West Virginia may have been the teams but a lot of attention went to the new University of South Carolina coach. Steve Spurrier, the ex-Florida Gator coach, who was one of four inducted in the Hall of Fame.
He skipped Saturday’s game but he was recognized on the public address system.
When the other inductees were brought on the field after the first quarter and their names were announced, there were mild cheers. When Spurrier’s name was announced, the FSU faithful let out a big boo.
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More boos followed the Gator Bowl mascot around the stadium. It’s an alligator costume similar to those used by the University of Florida, and apparently FSU fans thought Albert had been brought to the game.
Nope, it was Sydney.
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A near-gaffe by the FSU band was averted when the television network, NBC, went to a studio show at halftime.
The band played the oldie “ABC” and spelled out the letters on the field.
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West Virginia Coach Rich Rodriguez says playing in the Gator Bowl has a lasting benefit.
“We’re from a small state and we have to go elsewhere to get our players,” he said. “Florida is a prime place with all the great players. Being here gives us the media attention we need.”