CLEMSON — Pinstripe Bowl executive Mark Holtzman confirmed it was a battle to get Clemson to come to New York City for the Dec. 27 bowl game because every ACC bowl affiliate was battling for the Tigers to play in their game.

Besides the Pinstripe Bowl, the Duke’s Mayo and Sun Bowls were fighting with the ACC to have the Tigers come to their games. However, in the end, Dabo Swinney helped seal the deal when the Clemson coach started to sing Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” to indicate where the Tigers wanted to play over the Holiday season.

“This is a bowl I always kept my eye on,” Swinney said during Tuesday’s official Pinstripe Bowl announcement conference call. “What a unique opportunity to be able to play a football game in Yankee Stadium. This is an opportunity that we have not had in my tenure as the head coach.

“I am just really excited about taking the team. I know we have a lot of kids on the team that have never been to New York. So, for them to have an opportunity to not only go to an iconic city, but to play in an historic stadium, and with so much tradition, and to also bring Tiger Football up there where we have a huge alumni base.”

Clemson will play Penn State of the Big Ten Conference in the Pinstripe Bowl, which will kick off at noon on ABC on Dec. 27. The Tigers and Nittany Lions have met just once before, with Clemson coming away with a 35-10 victory in the 1988 Citrus Bowl.

“I am just really excited about it and then the fact you get to play a national power like Penn State. It’s just a really special opportunity,” Swinney said.

Swinney said the Tigers plan to arrive in New York on Dec. 22. Clemson will practice at Columbia University as it participates in bowl week.

Holtzman said the Pinstripe Bowl is going to do all it can to make sure the teams, fans and alumni from both schools have a great bowl experience. As for the teams, they will visit the 911 Memorial, will get the opportunity to visit the New York Stock Exchange and ring the bell, visit Radio City Music Hall—and see the famous Rockettes—and make an appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America where they will get to meet the hosts of the famous morning show.

Both teams will also take place in community service projects, as Clemson will visit a local children’s hospital, while Penn State will visit a home for displaced women and children.

Clemson (7-5) qualified for the Pinstripe Bowl thanks to a four-game win-streak to close out the regular season, while the Nittany Lions closed out the regular season with a three-game win streak.

Penn State (6-6) started the season ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press Preseason Poll, while the Tigers were No. 4 in the same poll. Both teams suffered difficult losses early in the season, which resulted in some frustrating moments.

The Nittany Lions lost six straight games at one point, while during such stretch James Frankin was let go as head coach. Penn State will be coached by interim Terry Smith in the Pinstripe Bowl.

Clemson opened the year 1-3 and then was 3-5 after mid-season losses to SMU and Duke at Memorial Stadium.