by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
With increasing interest in the annual Gator Bowl college match-up, membership in the Gator Bowl Association Committee has reached a record 250 members.
New committee members are given red shirts during their first year on the committee, and the association handed out more than 50 shirts Thursday to the class of 2011.
Though not associated with the Masters golf tournament, Gator Bowl Association Committee veteran members are recognized by their green jackets.
“The new conferences have helped create more interest in being a part of the Gator Bowl,” said Greg Smith, chair of the committee.
“People are excited to see the SEC and Big 10 back at the Gator Bowl, and that excitement has helped us attract so many new members,” he said.
The organization will keep a watchful eye on its growth.
“We want to maintain that exclusivity for our members to show them the value of being a member,” said Rick Catlett, president and CEO of the Gator Bowl Association.
Smith agreed.
“We don’t expect to place a limit on membership, but we will continue to evaluate the size of the organization,” he said.
The Gator Bowl Association’s mission “is to provide Northeast Florida with the very best in college athletics and related activities in order to maximize positive impact on the area’s economy, national image and community pride.”
The association, in its 66th year, has featured some of the top talent in college football including Heisman Trophy winners George Rogers, Pat Sullivan, Earl Campbell and John David Crow, as well as notable players such as Dan Marino, Thurman Thomas, Archie Manning, Larry Csonka and Peyton Manning.
The Gator Bowl Association reports that it annually draws about 40,000 out-of-town visitors for an average stay of two nights and three days.
During the Gator Bowl events, there is an average of $16 million in direct spending in the local economy and a $30 million overall economic impact to Northeast Florida.
Though there is no guarantee which teams will show up at the Gator Bowl from year to year, Catlett was certain of two situations.
“The BCS is not going to get rid of the Fiesta Bowl and I won’t see a playoff system in college football during my lifetime,” said Catlett.
The questions about the Fiesta Bowl’s status as a Bowl Championship Series arose after it recently fired its president and CEO, John Junker, for allegedly misappropriating funds.
“People have been coming up to me and asking if we have a shot at becoming a BCS Bowl,” said Catlett. “The Fiesta Bowl is going to be fine and they will not be dropped from the BCS.”
He said the Gator Bowl will adjust its schedule to play the game on Jan. 2 instead of its usual New Year’s Day spot.
“The first falls on a Sunday next year, so we will play the game on Jan. 2 on a Monday,” said Catlett.
“We will have our full program of events on Saturday, New Year’s Eve, but we will move the pep rallies for the teams and the battle of the bands to Sunday,” he said.
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