Kansas State vs. Rutgers in the Texas Bowl

I have my tickets... do you have yours?

Athletics director Tim Weiser announced Sunday that the Wildcats (7-5) have accepted an invitation to play Rutgers (10-2) in the inaugural Texas Bowl on Dec. 28 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. The game will kick off at 7 p.m. (CST) and will be televised nationally by NFL Network.
The Texas Bowl marks K-State’s 12th bowl berth in the last 14 years – a feat shared by just nine other programs in the country – and the Wildcats’ fourth trip to the state of Texas for a bowl game. The Wildcats, who are making their first trip to Houston for the postseason, have previously played in the 1997 Cotton Bowl, the 1998 Alamo Bowl and the 2001 Cotton Bowl.
"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase our football program in the inaugural Texas Bowl and I am pleased to accept the invitation on behalf of Kansas State University," Weiser said. "The state of Texas has always been an outstanding bowl destination for our football program and our fans. The hospitality extended to our program and our supports has always been outstanding and we are honored to be part of an exceptional matchup between two of the nation’s top conferences.”
Kansas State won three of its final four games of the season to finish tied for second in the Big 12’s North Division under first-year head coach Ron Prince to earn its first postseason bowl berth since the 2004 Fiesta Bowl.
“We are excited to be selected as the Big 12’s representative in the Texas Bowl and we are looking forward to playing one of the nation’s best teams in Rutgers on Dec. 28 in Reliant Stadium,” Prince said. “I could not be more proud of what our team has accomplished this season and I am pleased that all their hard work is being rewarded with an opportunity to play in a first-class event like the Texas Bowl.”
Under the direction of Home Depot Coach of the Year Greg Schiano, Rutgers has been one of the most notable turnaround stories in college football during the past two seasons.
Schiano guided the Scarlet Knights to just their second 10-win season in school history in 2006, including a thrilling, come-from-behind 28-25 victory over then third-ranked Louisville on Nov. 9. The win propelled the Scarlet Knights to their first top-10 ranking in school history. Overall this season, Rutgers has been ranked for 11 consecutive weeks, the longest stretch ever for the Scarlet Knights.
The 2006 Texas Bowl will be the first meeting between K-State and Rutgers on the gridiron and the second time the Wildcats have squared off with a current member of the Big East Conference this season. K-State fell to then-No.8 Louisville on Sept. 23 and is 4-7 all time vs. current members of the league.
The Wildcats have faced Big East teams in three bowls, splitting games with Syracuse in the 1997 Fiesta Bowl (W, 35-18) and 2001 Insight.com Bowl (L, 26-3) and falling to Boston College – now a member of the ACC – in the 1994 Aloha Bowl (L, 12-7).
Kansas State will begin accepting ticket orders for the Texas Bowl beginning at 9 a.m., Monday after the Wildcats accepted an invitation Sunday to play in the December 28 game in Houston against Rutgers of the Big East Conference.
K-State has been allocated approximately 10,500 tickets for the game, which will be played in Reliant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Houston Texans. Tickets are available through K-State in the stadium’s lower level at $35, $50 and $75, and in the Club level for $50 or $75.
The easiest method to order tickets is online at www.k-statesports.com, clicking on the bowl information tab and selecting “Buy Bowl Tickets.” Donors to the Ahearn Scholarship Fund and season ticket holders placing online orders should click on the “Donor/Season Ticket Holder” button for tickets. Fans may also order in person at the K-State Athletic Ticket Office in Bramlage Coliseum or by calling 1-800-221-CATS.
Ahearn Fund members and season ticket holders will receive seating preference for bowl orders placed by 5 p.m., Wednesday, December 6. Donors at the $3,000 level and above will be given seating priority up to 10 tickets. Donors below the $3,000 level and all other fans placing orders will receive seating priority up to six tickets. Assignment of all seating allocated to K-State will be based on the K-State Priority Points system. All orders will include a $15 handling fee and tickets will be distributed through a priority delivery service.
Fans interested in travel packages are encouraged to call the K-State Alumni Association’s bowl hotline at 866-373-7379. Travel options include air transportation and hotel, as well as land-only packages. For additional information on the travel packages, Alumni Association pre-game party and the all-University pep rally visit the Association’s web site at www.k-state.com.