Fan attendance at Dec. 4 game may help determine bowl destination

Bowl officials look at more than play on the field when deciding which teams to invite.

The FIU football team has proven itself on the field this season and is guaranteed its first bowl appearance. Now it’s time for Panther fans to show what they’re made of.

The only thing still up in the air in this historic season (beyond the outcome of Saturday’s game) is which bowl will extend an invitation to FIU. The likely suspects: the New Orleans Bowl (Dec. 18) in New Orleans, La.; the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl (Dec. 26) in Detroit, Mich.; or the GoDaddy.com Bowl (Jan. 6, 2011) in Mobile, Ala.

Representatives from the New Orleans Bowl will be in attendance at Saturday’s game, Dec. 4, at 6 p.m., at FIU Stadium, when FIU faces off against conference rival Middle Tennessee. Bowl reps are coming to see for themselves whether or not we support our team. Why? Economics. Bowl officials like teams that can fill the stands. Fans who will travel to root on their team and spend money in the bowl city. It’s one of the harsh realities of big-time Division I football.

So let’s show the New Orleans Bowl reps that we know how to support our Panthers. Let’s fill our stadium to capacity. Let’s be the 12th man for our team.

FIU students can attend the game for free by presenting a valid FIU I.D. at the gate. All others can purchase tickets here.

FIU is bowl bound. You in?