Dec

4

Big 12 Commish Dan Beebe on Gator Bowl: “consider it a done deal”

Filed Under 2008 Opponents, Clemson, Gator Bowl, Huskers Football | Leave a Comment

BREAKING…BREAKING…BREAKING…

On Thursday night, Big XII Commissioner told Nebraska fans they don’t need to wait for Sunday to lock down their plans. It’s a done deal right now.

More from Jacksonville.com:

After an uncertain week when an invitation to play in the Konica Minolta was thought to come as early as Monday, then delayed until Sunday, Nebraska finally got the blessing from Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe Thursday evening to consider it a done deal.

Although Nebraska hasn’t officially received or accepted a invitation, Beebe said in a statement that its fans should consider it “all but certain that Nebraska will be playing in the Konica Minolta .”

“Formal Big 12 procedures prevent the conference from making an official announcement until Sunday afternoon,” he went on to say in the statement. “We are aware that fans from all of our schools, including Nebraska, want to begin making plans to attend these contests.”

Beebe indicated earlier in the week that did not want to allow teams headed for non-BCS bowls to accept invitations until after the Big 12 championship game Saturday between Oklahoma and Missouri. However, officials of the Cotton and Holiday Bowls, which select Big 12 teams ahead of the , provided assurances that they wanted to pick other teams, leaving Nebraska to the Gator.

president Rick Catlett, who was given authorization by the selection committee Monday night to invite Nebraska when Beebe gave clearance, said the Cornhuskers were one of the teams he had in mind when formulating a tie-in with the Big 12 three years ago.

“There are a lot of great programs in the Big 12, but the teams we hoped to get here one day when we entered this agreement were Nebraska, Texas and Oklahoma,” he said. “The Big Red can start making their plans for sure now.“

officials expect a sellout because of the combination of two fan bases that historically travel well to support their teams in bowl games.

“I can tell you that it’s been very hectic this week with and Nebraska fans calling, e-mailing and faxing,” Catlett said. “They’re very excited about coming to Jacksonville and playing each other. To get the Big Red fired up, and fans on top of that, will give us a very good bowl week for this area’s economy.”

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