Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 22, 1992 TAG: 9201220052
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL BRILL SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: DURHAM, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
BOWL ALLIANCE APPEARS TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE
ACC athletic directors and faculty representatives will be polled today regarding the league's status with a proposed bowl alliance.One bowl official, whose game is not part of the four-bowl consortium, said, "It looks like the alliance is going to survive."
At issue is whether the ACC and Big East will agree to be part of a four-bowl agreement with the Orange, Sugar, Cotton and Fiesta, or whether they will accept a $4.3 million offer for their champions to play annually in the Blockbuster Bowl.
According to ACC and bowl sources, Florida State isn't anxious for a potential rematch in the Blockbuster, especially in years the regular-season game with the Hurricanes is played in Miami.
But the real key may be Miami. If the two leagues agree to meet in the Blockbuster at Joe Robbie Stadium, it would be a serious blow to the Orange Bowl, which would have a limited choice of opponents to play the Big Eight winner. Several Miami officials are on the board of the Orange Bowl.
As far as the alliance goes, the sticking point involves the Southeastern Conference runner-up. ACC spokesman Tom Mickle said Tuesday the SEC should know within 24 hours if its No. 2 team will play in the alliance, or commit to meet the Big Ten runner-up annually in the Citrus Bowl.
A bowl source said the Fiesta was attempting to line up the Pacific 10 runner-up as its host team, unless it could match the Nos. 1-2 teams in a national championship game.
That agreement likely would please the ACC, which would then have more opportunities for its second-place team.
The eight teams in the alliance would be the champs of the five leagues, including the Big Eight, SEC and Southwest, plus Notre Dame and two second-place squads.
If the SEC agreed to place its No. 2 team in the alliance, that would leave four second-place teams, including the Pac-10, to play in a second tier of bowls, likely the Hall of Fame, Gator and John Hancock.
ACC and Big East officials met with the bowl representatives on Sunday and Monday in Charlotte.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL