Robert J. “Bob” Smith, president of United States operations for Basis 100, has been named the Gator Bowl Association’s chairman-elect, putting him in line to chair the 2005 game.
Basis 100 is a Canadian company which is a technology solutions provider for the financial services industry. It relocated its U.S. offices here from California in a move regarded as a coup for the community.
Smith was selected by the association’s trustees prior to this week’s festivities and will work under the 2004 game’s chair, Bob White of Compass Bank. As chair-elect, Smith will head the association’s marketing committee.
White succeeds Susan Hamilton of CSX, whose term as chair ended Wednesday after she presented the football game trophy to North Carolina State’s team following the Wolfpack’s 28-6 win over Notre Dame.
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The game was a sellout but there were plenty of unused seats. Oddly, a number of club seats were empty, and there were several areas high in the north end zone that were sparsely populated.
The announced crowd: 73,491.
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North Carolina State’s base here has never been strong but there’s at least one very prominent alum: City Council vice president Lad Daniels, class of 1961.
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Some Wolfpack faithful had a pregame party Tuesday night and brought in some North Carolina-style barbecue from Kinston, N.C., for the occasion.
(Yes, it IS different: in North Carolina, the meat is chopped and served with cole slaw, which natives mix into the meat.)
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Credit Sports and Entertainment Board director Mike Sullivan for getting through a grueling few days.
The board hosted the Gator Bowl Hall of Fame ceremony on Tuesday — which meant that Sullivan was responsible for making sure that one of the city’s biggest luncheons went off properly (it was set for 1,000 and almost every seat was taken.) Then, he was at the stadium early handling details and overseeing the city’s role.
His final chore was to run the postgame media press conference for the coaches. When that finished, someone said, “OK, go have a beer.”
Sullivan: “If I started a beer, I’d be asleep before I finished it.”
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A few celebrities were at the game.
Presidential advisor Condoleeza Rice was in the Notre Dame president’s box and visited with other skybox holders in the hall.
Comedian Bill Murray was there, too — he’s a big Notre Dame fan. His brother was along, too: he’s a Catholic priest.
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Consider yourself appreciated. North Carolina State coach Chuck Amato:
“People in Jacksonville are class.”
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No sign of Chad DeBolt, the Notre Dame linebacker who had the dust-up at the police station and got pictures of his battered face spread through the national media. Sideline photographers asked Irish players, but mum was the word. Some Notre Dame classmates were spotted selling “Free DeBolt” T-shirts for $15.
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The huge contingent of North Carolina State fans left plenty of money downtown.
The hotels and the Landing were packed most of the past few days and the celebration Wednesday night made up for Tuesday’s storm which literally dampened the New Year’s Eve fun.
— by Fred Seely