Tuscaloosa, AL (U-WIRE) -- Attention Crimson Tide fans: It is time to break out your old pair of cowboy boots and hat and start practicing your line dancing, because Alabama is going bowling in the country music capital of the world.

Alabama (6-5, 3-5 SEC) accepted a bid Saturday to play in the Music City Bowl at the Coliseum in Nashville, Tenn. against the Minnesota Golden Gophers (6-5, 3-5 Big Ten) on Friday, Dec. 31 at 11 a.m.

This is the first time the Tide has been bowling in three years. Alabama last participated in the college football post-season in 2001 when it beat Iowa State 14-13 in the Independence Bowl.

Alabama was ineligible to take part in a bowl game the past two years because of NCAA sanctions stemming from multiple violations under former head coach Mike Dubose.

This will be Alabama's second trip to the Music City Bowl in the bowl's seven years of existence. The Tide helped christen the inaugural Music City Bowl in 1998. Alabama would like to see better results than those of their first trip to Nashville. The Tide lost that game to Virginia Tech 38-7.

Students will have the opportunity to purchase tickets through the University Monday and Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the ticket office in Coleman Coliseum. Students will have to present an ACTion Card to request tickets.

If student demand surpasses the number of tickets the University has available, a lottery based on the number of hours completed through summer 2004 will be held and the winners, whose names will be posted on the door of Coleman Coliseum Tuesday, will have a chance to purchase tickets Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(C) 2004 The Crimson White via U-WIRE