The Gators run onto the field at Raymond James Stadium for the Gasparilla Bowl. (Photo: Isabella Marley/UAA Communications)
Carter's Corner: Gasparilla Bowl Big TV Draw, Stricklin Extended, More Gators Tidbits
Tuesday, December 28, 2021 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Gasparilla Bowl matchup between the Gators and UCF was a hit at the box office.
We already knew that from the announced sold-out crowd. According to numbers released Monday, the game was a hit on TV, too.
As you can see, despite going head-to-head with Thursday Night Football, UCF's 29-17 win drew significant interest from TV viewers around the country.
The schools meet again in 2024 at "The Swamp," the first of three scheduled games in a recent agreement.
Expect another sellout and large TV audience for that one.
QUICK READS
-- Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin's new contract extension runs through 2027 and includes a hefty raise writes Thomas Goldkamp of 247Sports.
-- One of Florida's top receivers decides to return for 2022 season writes Tyler Nettuno of Gators Wire via Gainesville Sun.
-- Observations from the Gasparilla Bowl from G. Allan Taylor of The Athletic.
-- Gators linebacker Ventrell Miller, who missed most of the 2021 season, plans to return next season writes Demetrius Harvey of All Gators on SI.com.
TOPICAL TWEETS
A trio of Gators staffers under Dan Mullen say goodbye ...
We already knew that from the announced sold-out crowd. According to numbers released Monday, the game was a hit on TV, too.
CORRECTION: The big #GasparillaBowl game, with @UCF_Football win over @GatorsFB drew 3.201 million viewers to ESPN - trailing only NFL Thursday Night football (7.898m). Both had more viewers than anything on network TV that night. https://t.co/iiZ2sOw6js pic.twitter.com/gzXG5EBnym
— Roger Simmons (@RogerSimmons) December 27, 2021
As you can see, despite going head-to-head with Thursday Night Football, UCF's 29-17 win drew significant interest from TV viewers around the country.
The schools meet again in 2024 at "The Swamp," the first of three scheduled games in a recent agreement.
Expect another sellout and large TV audience for that one.
QUICK READS
-- Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin's new contract extension runs through 2027 and includes a hefty raise writes Thomas Goldkamp of 247Sports.
-- One of Florida's top receivers decides to return for 2022 season writes Tyler Nettuno of Gators Wire via Gainesville Sun.
-- Observations from the Gasparilla Bowl from G. Allan Taylor of The Athletic.
-- Gators linebacker Ventrell Miller, who missed most of the 2021 season, plans to return next season writes Demetrius Harvey of All Gators on SI.com.
TOPICAL TWEETS
A trio of Gators staffers under Dan Mullen say goodbye ...
Thank you Gators 🐊 pic.twitter.com/yQWBZLt9ME
— Shayne graham (@Shaynegraham17) December 28, 2021
Thank you, Gator Nation! pic.twitter.com/cMYgRQQnGk
— Lee Davis (@leewdavis17) December 27, 2021
#HuntAsOne 🐊 pic.twitter.com/eE5wEYZAi3
— Christian Robinson (@crob45) December 25, 2021
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