Friday, December 31, 1999
Oahu Bowl was
good TV draw
The game drew a 2.5 rating,
By Paul Arnett
which pleased ESPN; Aloha Bowl's
was lowest of decade
Star-BulletinOvernight ratings for the Aloha and Oahu bowls were released by ABC and it was a good news, bad news scenario.
The Oahu Bowl matchup between Hawaii and Oregon State drew a 2.5 and raves from the ESPN office, according to Bowl Games Hawaii chief executive officer Lenny Klompus.
"They were very happy,'' Klompus said yesterday. "It was an attractive game between two teams that had great seasons. I think people were intrigued by it nationally.''
Unfortunately for Klompus, the same can't be said about the Aloha Bowl between Arizona State and Wake Forest. The overnight was a 3.7, the lowest rating this decade and down two points from last year.
Both teams had to win their final games of the regular season to be bowl-eligible at 6-5. Wake Forest wanted it more and that was reflected in the 23-3 win by the Demon Deacons.
This year, the two college games were up against a pair of marquee NBA matchups, including a nightcap between the defending champion San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Klompus said he was contacted yesterday by the ACC to see if he was interested in extending the one-year deal. The Aloha Bowl currently pits the fifth team from the ACC against the fourth choice of the Pac-10.
"I told them I would have to get back to them after the Hula Bowl,'' Klompus said. "I heard the Mobile Bowl might be interested in inviting an ACC team next year, so I don't know what that means for the WAC.
"Obviously, we're happy with the ESPN results and disappointed with the Aloha Bowl number. One way you can look at is that both games did a combined six rating, which means about 25 million people watched the two games.''
Klompus said the Christmas Day doubleheader format is entering the third season of a five-year deal that includes ABC-TV and ESPN, Jeep and the Pac-10.
"Our sponsor was very happy with the way things went,'' Klompus said. "Like we did last year, we'll evaluate the two games after the Hula Bowl and see how everyone feels. We may look at having two at-large selections vs. the two Pac-10 teams. We'll see. But right now, we've got to take care of the Hula Bowl first.''
