On-field controversy and on-field mediocrity have slowed ticket sales for the 2012 Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl between the Ohio St. Buckeyes and Florida Gators, Garry Smits of the Florida Times-Union reports.

With less than three weeks before the January 2 game at EverBank Field in Jacksonville,Florida, the Gators have sold half of their 15,000 ticket guarantee, while the Buckeyes have sold just 6,500 of their 12,750 allotment.

"We're about halfway there," ticket manager Mark Gajda said. "It's about what we expected and 6-6 [the record for both teams] is sort of new ground for these two teams. But there's still a lot of history for the two programs, and we think we'll pick up some momentum as it gets closer to the game."

The two programs have combined to win three and the last 10 BCS National Championships, but both finished 6-6 under first-year head coaches Will Muschamp (Florida) and Luke Fickell (Ohio State). Former Florida head coach Urban Meyer, who led the school to a 65-15 record and two national titles, will take over the Buckeyes program next season.

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