Texas Tech Accepts Invitation To Tangerine Bowl
December 08, 2002 | Football
Dec. 8, 2002
LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech Athletics Department accepted an invitation today to play the Clemson Tigers of the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) in the Tangerine Bowl in Orlando, Florida on Monday, Dec. 23.
Texas Tech and Clemson will square off at 5:30 p.m. (ET) at Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium in a game that will be televised nationally by ESPN.
"We are excited about being invited to the Tangerine Bowl," said Texas Tech Athletics Director Gerald Myers. "Orlando is a great destination for our fans and for our players. Clemson is a quality opponent and they come from a great conference so it should be an exciting match-up."
Texas Tech will be making its second trip to the Tangerine Bowl as the Red Raiders played Florida State in the 1977 match-up. Florida State defeated the Red Raiders 40-17 in front of a then record crowd of 44,502. Texas Tech has not played a game in the State of Florida since taking on the Florida State Seminoles back in 1987 in Tallahassee, Fla.
"We are very excited to go to warm weather," said Texas Tech Head Coach Mike Leach. "It has been pretty tough around here for the last couple of weeks. I have been to Orlando a bunch of times and it is a great city and they have a great bowl game. The whole program is excited."
The Red Raiders will be representing the Big 12 Conference in the first year of the league's four-year partnership with the Bowl. The Mazda Tangerine Bowl is also the conference's first tie-in with a bowl game in the state of Florida.
"Texas Tech had a great season with a huge win over Texas late in the year," Selection Committee Chairman Bill Dymond said. "The Red Raiders have a high-powered offense that will be exciting to watch in the Mazda Tangerine Bowl."
Information concerning Texas Tech's allotment for tickets for the 2002 Tangerine Bowl will be announced in the coming hours. For more information on Texas Tech trip to the Tangerine Bowl log on to www.texastech.com or www.fcsports.com.