Oh boy, another bowl game
TV commentator says Mobile, Ala., game set for '99
Posted: Saturday March 06, 1999 08:44 AM
MOBILE, Ala. (AP) -- Mobile's new football bowl game doesn't have
a name yet, but the money is in place and a date is set to start it
up this year, said college football television commentator Mike
Gottfried.
Gottfried, who has been spearheading the effort to land a bowl
game for the city, told the Mobile Register on Wednesday the money
has been raised, including the $2 million letter of credit required
by the NCAA. Much of that came from the Mobile City Council, which
approved a $950,000 corporate sponsorship for the game last month.
The money is to be used to help defray expenses for everything
from advertising to payouts for each team. NCAA regulations require
bowl teams to receive a minimum of $750,000.
The NCAA has tentatively approved the new bowl and is expected
to give final approval on April 28 at its meeting in Dallas, said
Gottfried, who lives in Mobile.
"We are set to go this year," he said.
Gottfried said bowl officials are negotiating with several cable networks for television rights.
The game would be played on Dec. 22 at 40,000-seat Ladd-Peebles
Stadium and is expected to be the first bowl game of 1999.
Gottfried said an office has been opened and a Mobile
Quarterback Club is being formed to help support the event.
In addition, a parade will be held the day before the game, and
other sporting and social events are expected to be held in
conjunction with the bowl.
Gottfried said that Conference USA, the Western Athletic
Conference, the Atlantic Coast Conference and others have expressed
interest in the game.
"The reaction from the NCAA has been positive and the response
from the people in the community has just been overwhelming," he
said. "Also, we have had offers of support from outside the
city."
Gottfried said an executive director of the game would be hired
soon.
And the name of the game? Suggestions include the Mardi Gras
Bowl, The Mobile Alabama Bowl or the Mobile Bowl.
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