Gruden, Tirico to Call Outback Bowl 25th Anniversary Telecast for ABC

Tampa, FL -- Monday Night Football announcers Jon Gruden and Mike Tirico will be in the broadcast booth for the 25th Anniversary Outback Bowl game this New Year’s Day in Tampa. The bowl will match Big Ten and SEC teams and be telecast on ABC this year at 1:00 P.M. ET. It will be the first time the pair has teamed up for the Outback Bowl which is played in Raymond James Stadium where Gruden coached the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and led them to the 2002 Super Bowl season.

"Mike Tirico and I love it, New Year's Day, the Big Ten taking on the SEC at the Outback Bowl's 25th anniversary game. One of the best bowl trips in the country and the Big Ten and SEC will get after each other,” commented Gruden. “Mike and I can't wait to be a part of everything.”

“We’re absolutely thrilled that Jon Gruden and Mike Tirico, two of today’s elite sports broadcasters will be in the booth at Raymond James Stadium for the 25th Anniversary Outback Bowl game,” said Bowl President/CEO Jim McVay. “It’s a testament to everyone who has been a part of the growth and development of the Outback Bowl that our broadcast partners would assign a team the caliber of Jon and Mike to our special 25th anniversary game.”

Fans are encouraged to buy their tickets early as the game often sells out in advance. Tickets to the game are $70 each (plus Ticketmaster service charge). Phone orders can be placed with a credit card by calling Ticketmaster at (813) 287-8844 or 1-800-745-3000 and can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Tickets can also be purchased at any Ticketmaster outlet in the state of Florida. For information on priority seating through a bowl membership package call the Outback Bowl office directly at (813) 874-BOWL or go to the bowl web site at www.outbackbowl.com for details.