Cotton execs lobby for BCS slot
Cotton execs lobby for BCS slot

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By Mike Baldwin

Published: July 25, 2007

SAN ANTONIO — Republicans and Democrats aren't the only ones on the campaign trail.

Bolstered by a new contract to play in the Dallas Cowboys' $1 billion stadium, Cotton Bowl officials are attending nearly every media day in an attempt to join the BCS title game rotation.

Under the new Fox television contract, the host for the national championship game also hosts its traditional bowl. Last year it was the Fiesta Bowl and BCS title game. This year it's the Sugar Bowl followed a week later by the BCS title game.

"We feel that's a lot of stress on a city to have two games that close together, especially in New Orleans,” said Michael Konradi, Cotton Bowl vice president for external affairs. "Our hope is officials realize the double-hosting model doesn't work and they will add another site.”

Cotton Bowl reps attended Big East media days last week, Big 12 media days on Monday, will attend SEC media day on Wednesday, and the Big Ten media day next week in Chicago. Last spring, Cotton Bowl officials were at the Pac-10 spring meetings.

"We've determined that it's in our best interest to create a grassroots campaign,” Konradi said. "We want people to know what we're doing with our game and the new stadium where it will be played.”

The Cotton Bowl announced in February their annual bowl game will be played in Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones' new stadium starting in 2010.

The bowl game's two contracts both expire in 2010 — ties with the Big 12 and SEC and the contract to host the bowl game at State Fair Park.

Konradi said the deciding factor to make a strong push to join the BCS title-game rotation was spurred by results from a survey. A third party polled 100 administrators, coaches, school presidents and sponsors involved in the Cotton Bowl the past five years.

"We got 87 responses back and all 87, unanimous, said the Cotton Bowl needs to make this move,” Konradi said. "For us that said it all. Sponsors like FedEx and Allstate that get a title game every four years won't want a five-year rotation, but our title sponsor, AT&T, will help.

"Its possible negotiations (with BCS commissioners) could begin as early as next year. Notre Dame, Conference USA, the WAC and MAC also are important in this process. Television certainly will have a say and we feel good about that since we were the first college entity on Fox.”