For the past 19 years, Rick Catlett has been president and CEO of the Gator Bowl Association. It’s a 501c3 nonprofit organization that brings the New Year’s Day college football classic to Jacksonville each year.
During his tenure, Catlett has seen a lot of changes in college football. He told members and guests at Monday’s meeting of the Rotary Club of Jacksonville that he expects even more changes are on the way.
One aspect that hasn’t changed is the Gator Bowl Association’s mission to serve the community.
“We bring a lot of people to Jacksonville, have them spend about $15 million and then go home,” he said.
The matchup for the Jan. 1 game hasn’t been announced. The association invites a team from the Southeastern Conference to face an opponent from the Big 10 Conference.
Catlett said possibilities for this year’s game include Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee and Florida to play Michigan, Ohio State or Nebraska.
“They are two of the finest football conferences in America,” Catlett said.
He also thanked the U.S. government for one of its road projects, Interstate 75.
“The federal government built a highway from the center of the Big 10 to Jacksonville so their fans could come to Florida for the Gator Bowl,” said Catlett.
The SEC always will draw large numbers of fans to any college football game and having the Big 10 on the other side of the ball New Year’s Day will bring fans to Jacksonville.
“The Big 10 has 500,000 alumni living in Florida,” said Catlett.
As for the future of the sport, Catlett predicted that revenue-sharing will be the most important factor.
“The conferences that share their money equally will survive. Those that don’t will not survive,” he said.
Catlett predicted that when it’s all said and done, the enduring college athletic conferences will be the SEC, the Pac 12, the Big 10, the Big 12 and the Atlantic Coast Conference.
“You’ll see the ACC take the remnants of the Big East and the Big 10 is looking at Georgia Tech and Rutgers. Notre Dame can no longer survive as an independent, so look for them to go to the Big 10. Don’t be surprised if the SEC adds North Carolina and Duke,” said Catlett.
He said the association is proud of its relationship with the game’s new title sponsor, TaxSlayer.com. It’s a 60-year-old company that was founded in Augusta, Ga., and markets income tax preparation software to CPAs.
Catlett said the company wants to increase its market share among individuals who file their own taxes.
“TaxSlayer.com decided that getting involved with college football is the way to get their product out there,” he said.
Catlett predicted a long relationship between the Gator Bowl and TaxSlayer.com.
“I think they’ll go forward with us for the next 10 or 12 years. By that time, I’ll be retired,” he said.
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