Wolverines Gator Bowl Bound

As expected in recent days, Michigan will be making its 40th bowl appearance in the Gator Bowl on January 1st.  Not as expected is the opponent, #21 Mississippi State, as many had Florida slotted in opposite the Wolverines.

From the Michigan athletic website:

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The University of Michigan football program will participate in the 40th bowl game in program history, facing No. 21 Mississippi State University in the 2011 Gator Bowl at EverBank Field on New Year's Day 2011. The game will kick off at 1:30 p.m. EST and will be nationally televised by ESPN2.

"We are excited about representing the Big Ten Conference in the Gator Bowl," said director of athletics Dave Brandon. "Our players, coaches and football support staff have worked hard all season and this is a great reward for them. We have great alumni and fan support in the Sunshine State, and I anticipate a large Michigan contingent in Jacksonville."

This will be the third time that Michigan has played in the Gator Bowl. The Wolverines' initial appearance came on Dec. 28, 1976, a 17-15 loss to North Carolina. Michigan evened its Gator Bowl mark with a dominating 35-3 victory over Mississippi on Jan. 1, 1991.

The Wolverines (7-5, 3-5 Big Ten) will face the Bulldogs (8-4, 4-4 SEC) for the first time in a school. This will be the 30th time that Michigan faces an SEC school (23-5-1 record all-time), with the Wolverines compiling a 7-3 mark against the conference in bowl games. U-M has compiled a 19-20 record in bowl games and will be looking to even its mark with a victory in the Gator Bowl.
This is the first year of a four-year agreement between the Big Ten, SEC and the Gator Bowl. Visit www.gatorbowl.com for more information on the 2011 Gator Bowl.

Ticket Information: The U-M Athletic Ticket Office will begin selling tickets to the 2011 Gator Bowl on Monday, Dec. 6, at 8:30 a.m. EST. Tickets range from $65 to $130, and will be assigned based on the Victors Club priority point program. Fans can purchase tickets online at MGoBlue.com/tickets or by calling the ticket office at 866-296-MTIX or 734-764-0247.

Alumni Tour: The Alumni Association is taking reservations for the official University of Michigan Bowl tour at 877-513-2320 or www.michigansportstours.com. Please note that this tour will include game tickets. You can also find information about the U-M bowl pep rally featuring the team, marching band and cheerleaders and a pregame tailgate at www.umalumni.com or by calling 800-847-4764.