You are here: Home
| NEW DATE - NEW CHANNEL |
|
|
|
| Written by Sam Joffray | |
| Thursday, 01 May 2008 | |
 BOWL MOVES TO ESPN ON SUNDAY After being played on Fridays the past two years, the game is being moved to Sunday, Dec. 21 in 2008 at the request of ESPN, which airs the game. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. "It's going to work out better for us," bowl executive director Billy Ferrante said Wednesday from Hollywood, Fla., where the game received recertification from the NCAA. "This way, fans will be able to come in on Friday and Saturday, enjoy their weekend in New Orleans and still get back home in plenty of time for Christmas." Ferrante acknowledged that the Sunday date conflicts with the NFL, but pointed out that the Saints are at Detroit that day, a game that is considered unlikely to be switched to NBC's prime-time TV slot that night. Ferrante said he also is working to renew the title sponsorship contact with R&L Carriers, which expires after this season, along with ties to the Sun Belt Conference and Conference USA, which provide the participating teams. The deal with the Sun Belt, which helped found the bowl in 2001, expires after this year's game, and the Conference USA arrangement runs through 2009. "We'd like to get our title sponsor locked in first," Ferrante said. "But we're certainly (eager) to get into talks with our conference partners." The New Orleans Bowl was one of 34 receiving certification Wednesday, including two news ones, the Congressional Bowl in Washington, D.C., and the St. Petersburg, Fla., Bowl. Another bowl game scheduled to be played in Salt Lake City was not certified. Still, that means 68 teams will be playing in bowls this year. Last year, 71 teams were bowl eligible, and the average for the past five years has been 69. Ferrante said he isn't worried about the Sun Belt, whose champion plays in the game, and C-USA being able to meet their obligations. "The ones that might have problems have the eighth or ninth teams out of some conferences in their games," he said. "We don't have that situation." |
|
| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 10 December 2008 ) |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
Links
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
