EAST LANSING – Michigan State has accepted an invitation to play Texas Tech in the 17th annual Valero Alamo Bowl on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010, in San Antonio, Texas.

The Valero Alamo Bowl will be televised nationally by ESPN with kickoff set for 9 p.m.
“The Valero Alamo Bowl has a well-deserved reputation for high scoring, competitive games that go down to the wire and deliver top ESPN ratings,” Valero Alamo Bowl Chairman Gene Dawson said. “This year’s game should be no different as Texas Tech and Michigan State each average 30-plus points and over 400 yards of offense per game.”
“We’re looking forward to welcoming Texas Tech (8-4, 5-3 Big 12) and Michigan State to San Antonio and the Valero Alamo Bowl,” Valero Alamo Bowl President and CEO Derrick Fox said. “We can’t wait to see the River Walk full of red and green as the loyal Red Raider and Spartan fans come to town to support their teams.”

Michigan State (6-6, 4-4 Big Ten) is making its third-straight postseason bowl appearance for the first time since 1995-97, matching the second-longest bowl streak in school history. The Spartans made a school-record four straight postseason bowl appearances under George Perles in the late 1980s.

Michigan State is making its 20th postseason bowl appearance overall, including its second trip to the Alamo Bowl (lost to No. 22 Nebraska, 17-3, in 2003). The Spartans have lost their last three postseason games, with MSU’s last bowl victory coming against Fresno State, 44-35, in the 2001 Silicon Valley Football Classic.

“The Spartans rebounded from a 1-3 start to earn the program’s third-straight bowl bid,” MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon said. “We are excited about making a return trip to San Antonio, one of the nation’s top bowl destinations. Team MSU will be well represented in San Antonio, and it will be great to usher in the New Year with so many Spartans, dressed in Green and White, on the River Walk.”

“Our student-athletes, coaches, alumni and fans are looking forward to making the trip to the Valero Alamo Bowl,” MSU Athletics Director Mark Hollis said. “Our team and fans had a great experience in San Antonio six years ago – the hospitality there is second to none. We’re also looking forward to reconnecting with many of our alums that live in Texas and the Southwest.

“Head coach Mark Dantonio is building a solid foundation for the Michigan State program, and a third-consecutive bowl appearance provides another important block in the process. The team is looking forward to the challenge of playing a quality Big 12 opponent, in Texas Tech.”

“An invitation to the Valero Alamo Bowl is a great reward for our young football team,” MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said. “Our players displayed a lot of resilience this season, bouncing back from a 1-3 start while playing one of the nation’s toughest schedules.”

We played our best football during the second half of the season.

“We’re looking forward to representing the Big Ten and Michigan State in San Antonio against a talented and explosive Texas Tech team that ranks among the nation’s Top 10 in passing offense, total offense and scoring offense. Coach Mike Leach has done a remarkable job at Texas Tech, leading the Red Raiders to 10 straight bowl games.

“We have a lot to play for, so we’re excited about this opportunity.”
For information about the MSU Alumni Association Official Bowl Tour, Spartan fans should call 888-471-3027 or visit the MSUAA web site at www.msualum.com.
Michigan State receives an allotment of 10,833 tickets for the Valero Alamo Bowl.

Tickets are priced at $55, $70 and $90 each. Fans may order Valero Alamo Bowl tickets online at msuspartans.com (click “tickets” and proceed to the Spartan Online Ticket Office) or by calling the Spartan Ticket Office (open weekdays from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.), locally at 355-1610 or outside the Lansing area at 1-800-GO-STATE.