August 17, 2009

Contract shuffles could swap Big East, Big 10 in Champs, Gator bowls

Word out of Orlando has the Champs Sports Bowl in negotiations with the Big East regarding a four-year contract to bring the conference's #2 team to the late December game.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, Florida Citrus Sports is negotiating a contract with the Big East that would drop the Big 10 from the Champs Bowl, pairing the first selection of Big East schools (after the BCS selection) with an ACC opponent. The bowl would also have the option to take Notre Dame twice during the four year span.

"I think that it's still right in the final innings, if you will, of the relationships on in our game matchups and something will probably shake out in the next four or five days, a week, I think for everybody," Hogan said. "I think still the result of who we would partner with – the Big Ten, the Big East or anyone else for that matter – is still a little bit in doubt."

The Big East has made it clear that it wants an exclusive arrangement with the Gator Bowl, rather than renew a deal that split appearances in Jacksonville with the Big 12 conference.

Not surprisingly, the Big 10 conference is involved in negotiations to place its number 4 or 5 pick in the Gator Bowl against the number three pick from the ACC. According to SI, the arrangement between the Gator & Big 10 would be exclusive, leaving the Big 12 out of the Gator mix.

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Contract shuffles could swap Big East, Big 10 in Champs, Gator bowls
Word out of Orlando has the Champs Sports Bowl in negotiations with the Big East regarding a four-year contract to bring the conference's #2 team to the late December game. According to the Orlando Sentinel, Florida Citrus Sports is negotiating a contract with the Big East that would drop the Big 10 from the Champs Bowl, pairing the first selection of Big East schools (after the BCS selection) with an ACC opponent. The bowl would also have the option to take Notre Dame twice during the four year span.
"I think that it's still right in the final innings, if you will, of the relationships on in our game matchups and something will probably shake out in the next four or five days, a week, I think for everybody," Hogan said. "I think still the result of who we would partner with – the Big Ten, the Big East or anyone else for that matter – is still a little bit in doubt."
The Big East has made it clear that it wants an exclusive arrangement with the Gator Bowl, rather than renew a deal that split appearances in Jacksonville with the Big 12 conference. Not surprisingly, the Big 10 conference is involved in negotiations to place its number 4 or 5 pick in the Gator Bowl against the number three pick from the ACC. According to SI, the arrangement between the Gator & Big 10 would be exclusive, leaving the Big 12 out of the Gator mix.