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Bowden returns to city of first bowl game

Dec 27, 2008 - 11:29 AM Florida State (8-4) vs. Wisconsin (7-5), December 27, 4:30 pm EST

ORLANDO, Florida (Ticker) -- It took 31 years, but Florida State coach Bobby Bowden is headed back to the city of his first bowl game.

The Seminoles make their 27th consecutive postseason appearance - the longest current streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision - on Saturday when they face Wisconsin in the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando.

It brings back a lot of memories for Bowden, who coached his 500th game earlier this season.

"In 1977 we went to our first bowl, the old Tangerine Bowl," Bowden said. "That will always be one of my fondest bowls. I don't know if there is a city in the United States or the world that is better for families then Orlando, Florida."

While the Seminoles are 8-2-1 all-time against the Big Ten Conference, this will be their first meeting against Wisconsin.

Florida State's last contest against a Big Ten opponent was a memorable one - a 26-23 triple-overtime loss to Penn State in the 2006 Orange Bowl when Bowden coached against fellow senior citizen Joe Paterno.

"I like the north versus the south contract (in the Champs Sports Bowl)," Bowden said. "That's better than playing somebody from Mississippi or somebody from Louisiana."

Florida State (8-4) shared the Atlantic Coast Conference Coastal Division title with Boston College but lost a tiebreaker to the Eagles. After getting routed by Florida, 45-15, in their regular-season finale, the Seminoles are looking to reach nine wins for the first time since 2004.

Wisconsin (7-5) will be seeking redemption after a season of high expectations fell apart during a four-game losing streak that began with a 27-25 loss at Michigan on September 27.

The Badgers began the season expecting to contend in the Big Ten Conference and were ranked in the top 10 at one point, but needed to win their last three games to secure a bowl trip.

In their final game, they avoided an embarrassing upset, rallying to defeat Cal Poly of the Football Championship Subdivision, 36-35, in overtime.

Badgers running back P.J. Hill surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the third straight year but endured an up-and-down season. He was held under 70 yards in seven games, including a 59-yard effort against Cal Poly.