Fox lands deal for Bowl Championship Series

The network and the B-C-S announced a four-year, 80 (m) million dollar deal today that gives Fox the broadcast rights to the Fiesta, Orange and Sugar bowls from 2007-to-2010 and the national title game from 2007-to-2009.

A-B-C has held the broadcast rights to the B-C-S since college football's major conferences implemented the system to crown a national champion in 1998.

A-B-C withdrew from the bidding last week, with network officials saying they were unhappy with the new B-C-S structure, which added a fifth game. Starting with the 2006 season, the national title game will be played at the site of either the Fiesta, Orange, Sugar and Rose bowls the week after those games are played.

The new structure would allow greater access to the B-C-S and increase the number of teams involved from eight to 10.

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/sports/colleges/clemson_university/10247820.htm

Posted on Mon, Nov. 22, 2004

Clemson turns down bowl bid after Saturday brawl

By JON SOLOMON

Staff Writer

CLEMSON —- Clemson announced Monday it will not accept a bid for a bowl game because of the brawl that occurred during Saturday’s game against South Carolina.
Clemson athletics director Terry Don Phillips and president Jim Barker supported the decision, calling for a need to repair the university’s image. Coach Tommy Bowden declined to comment until further time, sports information director Tim Bourret said.

South Carolina has scheduled a news conference for later this evening, and the Gamecocks are expected to announce they will skip a bowl game, too.

“This is more than just a football issue,” Phillips said in a statement released Monday afternoon. “The circumstances surrounding Saturday’s game have impacted the perception of the character and integrity of the university. We expect all of our teams and student-athletes to act with class and dignity, and for the most part, we are very proud of our student-athletes and teams. We have outstanding coaches and student-athletes, and we understand that fighting in athletics is not acceptable.”

“I know this decision is not fair to the majority of our players or coaches. But given the circumstances, I believe strongly that it is the right decision so that our university, our student-athletes, supporters and all people that love Clemson know without question what our values are here.

“Football is a team sport. Sometimes there are individual breakdowns within games that affect the outcome for the entire team. This is no different. I feel horrible for our team and coaches, but again, I believe this is the appropriate action.”

Clemson president Jim Barker endorsed the decision and said in the statement that Clemson would not take further action against the athletes involved in the fight.

“But that does not mean this is the end of the discussion,” Barker said.

“We need to learn from this incident and others like it that are tarnishing the image of athletics. I pledge to our students, faculty, staff and alumni that we will do all we can to restore sportsmanship to college sports.

“Attending a bowl game is important to the Clemson family, but nothing is more important the integrity of the university. What happened Saturday does not reflect the values and character of Clemson, and we need to take whatever steps are necessary to make sure it never happens again.”

Phillips is holding a news conference with the media at 6:30 p.m.

Players were informed of the decision during a 10-minute team meeting that began Monday at 4 p.m. One player entered the meeting asking a reporter what would be Clemson’s fate.

The players left somberly, some in tears and many immediately getting on their cell phones. Players were instructed not to speak with reporters.

Senior defensive end Moe Fountain left the McFadden Building crying and was consoled by defensive line coach Ron West and some younger teammates.

Bowden, decked in a suit and tie as he entered his office, decked in a suit and tie, declined to speak with a reporter.

“At least it’s not raining,” Bowden said.

Clemson had overcome a 1-4 start to become bowl-eligible by defeating the Gamecocks 29-7 on Saturday. No ACC team had ever recovered from a

1-4 record to qualify for a bowl, and Clemson had been using that note as a rallying cry.

Had they accepted a bid, the Tigers were in line to play at the MPC Computers Bowl in Boise, Idaho, on Dec. 27, or the Continental Tire Bowl in Charlotte, N.C., on Dec. 30.

The announcement ends Clemson’s streak of five consecutive bowl appearances under Bowden. On Sunday, Bowden voiced his displeasure about skipping a bowl game.

“I don’t think that would be fair to the players,” Bowden said. “Like I said, it’s a serious nature and you don’t condone it. But again, we don’t have a track record of doing this. . . . Gosh, if you cut everybody’s head over one offense. That wouldn’t leave much leeway.”

Bowden said such a sanction “would send a message, but gosh, I surely wouldn’t fire y’all for a bad article or the first bad article. We wouldn’t have any sportswriters.”

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