Geaux Tigers! Outback Bowl Champs LSU Score Free* Bloomin' Onion Appetizer For America

TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Two-four-six-eight, who do Bloomin' Onion lovers appreciate? The LSU Tigers! Outback Steakhouse® is celebrating the LSU Tigers 2014 Outback Bowl win by serving up free* Bloomin' Onion appetizers nationwide. Join the celebration by simply saying "Outback Bowl" to your server. The offer is valid with any purchase on January 2^nd.

"Thanks to the Tigers, fans everywhere have something to celebrate," said Outback Steakhouse President, Jeff Smith. "Whether your team tasted victory or defeat this bowl season, everyone scores big with a free Bloomin' Onion from Outback!" 

The 19^th annual Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa was as exciting and competitive as ever, but ultimately the Tigers took home the 2014 Outback Bowl trophy. The LSU Tigers executed a masterful game plan for thwarting the Hawkeyes' hopes of an Outback Bowl victory. The Tigers, in their first-ever Outback Bowl appearance, helped continue the South East Conference's dominance in this storied bowl game's history, beating the Big Ten Conference's Hawkeyes 21-14. Despite Iowa's valiant effort to come back from their scoreless first half, including a fourth quarter 96 yard kickoff return marking the longest in Outback Bowl history, the Hawkeyes couldn't stop the roaring Tigers and their star tailback Jeremy Hill who rushed for over 200 yards in their win. 

Leading up to the big game, Outback kicked off bowl season by hosting both football teams for luncheons in their hometowns of Iowa City and Baton Rouge, as well as a welcome dinner in Tampa. The LSU and Iowa teams combined ate nearly 5,000 pounds of food at the welcome dinner, including 750 pounds of steak, 750 pounds of chicken and 900 pounds of ribs. There were also 1,600 Coconut Shrimp and 160 Bloomin' Onions served to the teams.

In addition, fans nationwide joined the bowl season celebration by sharing photos and videos of their excessive celebration touchdown dance using the hashtag #TeamBloominOnion or #TeamCoconutShrimp to be entered into the 'No Rules, Just Celebrate' sweepstakes. One hundred of these lucky fans will win a $25 Outback gift card.

This is Outback's second-annual nationwide appetizer giveaway based on the outcome of the Outback Bowl. Last January, the South Carolina Gamecocks won the big game for Team Bloomin' Onion and Outback restaurants across the country gave away more than 70,000 Bloomin' Onions to guests – that's the equivalent of 7,780 football fields! The giveaway was so popular that one restaurant in South Carolina had so many people show up that the line of people waiting to celebrate the offer literally stretched into North Carolina.

To find a location near you or for more information about Outback Steakhouse, please visit www.Outback.com, www.facebook.com/outback or follow us on Twitter @Outback.

*Valid with any purchase on 1-2-2014 only. While supplies last. Prices, product participation and restaurant hours may vary by location. Not valid with other discount, coupon or offer.

About Outback Steakhouse
Outback Steakhouse was voted #1 Best Steak in the 2012 Zagat Survey® of National Full-Service Restaurant Chains for the fourth consecutive year. Outback Steakhouse starts fresh every day to create the flavors that our mates crave. Best known for grilled steaks, chicken and seafood, Outback also offers a wide variety of crisp salads and freshly made soups and sides. New creations and grilled classics are made from scratch daily using only the highest quality ingredients sourced from around the world. For more information, please visit www.outback.com or http://www.facebook.com/outback.

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SOURCE Outback Steakhouse