Fighting Illini Prep For Heart of Dallas Bowl [VIDEO]

The Fighting Illini football season has been extended by one game, as Illinois qualified for a bowl berth with its 6-6 record. Coach Tim Beckman's squad takes on Louisiana Tech on Friday, December 26. You can catch all the action with coverage starting at 11am on WROK.

Not only is the contest a chance to perform on a national stage, but it should be a profitable trip for Illinois' athletic department. The executive director of the Heart of Dallas Bowl says the University will receive $1.6 million for playing in the game. A Spokesman also tells The Champaign News-Gazette that he estimates attendance for Friday's game will be between 25,000 and 30,000.

According to the Associated Press:

Illinois' allotment for the bowl game is 4,000 tickets. Illini athletic department spokesman Kent Brown says some of those tickets will be distributed free to family members and others. The university sells the rest. Brown says so far about 3,000 tickets have been sold.

Here's a link to all the info you could ever want about the game. And here's Illinois coach Tim Beckman discussing the preparations leading up to the Heart of Dallas Bowl: