Other than going to the theme park, the Spartans will be playing in their first bowl game since 2003, when they lost, 17-3, to Nebraska in the Alamo Bowl.

“Our goal, very simply, is to win eight,” Dantonio said. “We will represent in every respect down there.”

They’ll be up against an Eagles team led by Heisman-candidate quarterback Matt Ryan, who ranks third in the nation with 4,258 passing yards.

Senior safety Travis Key, who said he hasn’t stopped smiling since hearing the news, has seen Boston College play on TV a couple times this year.

“They have a great team,” Key said. “Matt Ryan, he’s an awesome quarterback. Obviously he’s in the running for the Heisman Trophy, so he has to be pretty good to be in that list.”

This will be MSU’s second time playing in an Orlando bowl. In 2000, the Spartans beat Florida, 37-34, in the Florida Citrus Bowl – a game that senior linebacker Kaleb Thornhill attended to cheer on his brother, who then played for MSU.

“It’s a great atmosphere to play in,” Thornhill said. “The whole week leading up to it is awesome. Obviously, I can’t wait for it, it’s kind of like a dream. It’s awesome.”

The Spartans were being considered for three different bowl games, the other two being the Insight Bowl in Tempe, Ariz. and the Motor City Bowl in Detroit.

While Caulcrick said he is just happy to be playing a 13th game regardless of where it is, he did concede that he’s excited to be going somewhere warm for Christmas.

Martin said the MSU staff “worked the phones as well as any club in the 27 years that I’ve been doing this,” and one man who can be credited with the strong push is MSU Athletics Director-Designate Mark Hollis.

Hollis said he could not speak enough about how proud he is of the MSU players and coaches.

“This announcement for me, and for this university, I think is a very significant moment in continuation of where the Spartan journey is going to go,” Hollis said.