Open arms from the Orange Bowl

Larry Gautier loves Iowa.

Gautier is a member of the Orange Bowl committee, which sent a team of representatives to Iowa City on Monday. The Hawkeyes (10-2) will face Georgia Tech (11-2) in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 5 in Miami.

This is the Hawkeyes' second Orange Bowl. The first was a minor disaster, a 38-17 defeat to USC in the 2003 game.

During that trip, Gautier was in charge of relations with the Iowa traveling party. He has fond memories.

“We had 47,000 to 48,000 Hawkeye fans down in Miami (in 2002-03),” Gautier said in a Monday news conference at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. “We anticipate that same number or maybe more this year. We think Georgia Tech will hit its allotment, 20,000 or 25,000. We think Hawkeye nation will take up the difference.”

Penn State was in contention for the Orange Bowl bid, but the bowl went off Iowa's 21-10 victory at Penn State on Sept. 26.

“They were in the conversation, but basically (Iowa) took care of business up in Happy Valley and were higher ranked,” Gautier said. “Iowa was always on the frontburner with us.”

Some fan features that Gautier pointed out were the $500 million renovation of Land Shark Stadium since Iowa's 2003 appearance and Fan Fest (Jan. 4 in Bayfront Park on Biscayne Bay), which will include the teams' bands and fans.

Gautier estimated that 30,000 to 40,000 Iowans live in Florida, specifically on the west coast from Tampa to Naples. He predicted 10 to 15 percent might make the trip on I-75 corridor to Miami.

“It is a factor,” Gautier said. “It's a different demographic, but it's an important demographic.”

The Orange Bowl also likes the matchup between Iowa's defense and Tech's offense, Gautier said. The Hawkeyes are ranked 11th in the nation in total defense; Georgia Tech is No. 2 in the nation in rush offense, averaging 307.15 yards a game.

“It's going to be mano-y-mano, at the end of the day,” Gautier said. “We think it's going to be a very fun game to watch, we really do.”

With 40,000 or so Iowans gathering in Miami, Gautier was asked if he could recommend a steakhouse. His answer was politically astute.

“We've got multiple steakhouses down there,” Gautier said. “We'll make sure you're taking care of.”