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News Nuggets, 02.04.05
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Talks underway about revamped BCS bowl deals

NEW ORLEANS — The Sugar Bowl, along with the Orange and Fiesta Bowls began negotiating new contracts with the BCS on Wednesday.

Sugar Bowl executive director Paul Hoolahan is sure the new agreement will be worked out. He's also sure it will be costly.

``It's safe to say that, unquestionably, they will be expecting a higher payout from us, and quite possibly a significantly higher payout,'' said Hoolahan, who declined to say how much the Sugar Bowl paid the BCS this past season.

Starting in 2006 the BCS will add a fifth bowl to the Sugar, Orange, Fiesta and Rose bowls. Each of the bowls will host a game, then one of the five will host the championship game approximately a week later.

New Orleans is scheduled to host the championship game after the 2007 season.

Also, starting in 2006, Fox will take over televising all of the BCS bowls except the Rose Bowl. ABC retains rights to the Rose Bowl and the title game when it is played in Pasadena, Calif.

``It's a new world we're living in,'' Hoolahan said. ``There are a lot of unanswered questions out there.''

Chief among them is administration of the championship game. The commissioners of conferences that make up the BCS have expressed the preference to pay a management fee to the bowls. But Hoolahan said the bowls would rather remain responsible for all aspects of the game.

``We would rather control our own event, with all of the money coming through us, and, at the end of the day, we will have some profit,'' he said. ``But we're not certain if that's a negotiable point.''

Another point that might not be negotiable is when the Sugar, Orange and Fiesta bowls will be played. Officials from the three would like to have their games played Jan. 1 or as close to that day as possible. But they likely will be spread out during the week. The Rose Bowl still will be played on New Year's Day.

In 2009, the Sugar Bowl would be played on Jan. 5, the day before the championship game.

``Bowls are about getting people to come to your city, and we see that as a real detriment,'' Hoolahan said. ``The bowl organizers will make their feelings known on this, but we understand Fox's desire to show all of its games in prime time and that we have to work around the NFL schedule.''

The 2006 Sugar Bowl will be played Jan. 2, a Monday.

Hoolahan said he is hopeful that an agreement with the BCS will be reached during the meetings in Dallas, which end Thursday. But BCS spokesman Bob Burda said that while he anticipates things will go smoothly, bargaining likely will take longer.

Hoolahan also said that the bowls do not have much leverage in the negotiations, especially since there are other bowls, such as the Gator and Cotton, willing to bid more to become part of the BCS.

``If we walk away from this, there are other people certainly ready to jump in there and take our place,'' he said. ``I think everybody realizes the stakes will be higher this time around. It's going to take some belt-tightening on our part, but we have prepared ourselves for this possibility. Now we'll just see how things go.''

No more potty language, admonishes coach

LAWRENCE, KS — Kansas coach Bill Self wants the profanity-laced chants that come from the student section at Allen Fieldhouse to stop.

Self, the former coach at Oral Roberts and Tulsa, was upset with what he heard from the crowd during the No. 3 Jayhawks' 73-61 win Monday night against Big 12 rival Missouri.

``Nobody enjoys a great home court more than me and no one appreciates students being involved in the game more than me,'' Self said. ``But I do think that if you get into vulgarity, it takes away from how special this place is.''

Self said Kansas students should be able to come up with some other way to support their team.

``I'll plead to the students now. Any type of profanity should not be chanted,'' he said. ``Our students are very clever. They should come up with something creative and clever.''

Some Kansas players brushed off their fellow students' potty-mouthed antics.

``Some people think it's just part of the game,'' senior guard Michael Lee said. ``It can be perceived as classless, but when it's Missouri and Kansas, I guess that brings out the best and worst of people.''

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from Associated Press and other sources. Copyright 2005 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007 12:21 PM