"We're very excited about it," Klompus said from Orlando, Fla., where this year's meetings were held. "We're considering hosting the four-day event in Maui, but we'll wait and see what develops over the next eight months."

The Jeep Eagle Aloha Bowl was certified in the recently concluded meetings. It remains the only major college bowl game played on Christmas Day.

"That's a huge deal for us," Klompus said. "It hurts our attendance, but to be the only game synonymous with Christmas Day makes it worth it for us nationally."

The Las Vegas Bowl also was certified and will be held on Dec. 20. It will be between the third-place Western Athletic Conference team and an at-large opponent, possibly the Pac-10 or the Big 12. Payouts for the game are $800,000 a team.

Two new bowl games were added. The Ford Motor Bowl will be played in the Silverdome and pit the Mid-American Conference champion against Big Ten six. The game is set for Dec. 26 and will have a $750,000 payout for both teams.

Tentative approval also was given to the Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tenn. The first game is scheduled for December of 1998. One team will be Southeast Conference six with the other half of the equation remaining open for any at-large team.

As for next year's meetings, Klompus said a firm date wasn't in place, but he felt it would be during the third week in April.

"We've discussed some details with FBA executive director Robert Dale Morgan (of the Peach Bowl)," Klompus said. "And they're very excited to be coming here. It's a big thing for us."