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Friday, March 10, 2000
Hula Bowl making move
By Paul Arnett
to prime time on ESPN
Star-BulletinThe 2001 Hula Bowl will be moved to the afternoon locally to accommodate a prime time audience on ESPN-TV.
Bowl Games Hawaii officials have been trying to get the college all-star game moved into prime time on the East Coast for years. The local kickoff at Maui's War Memorial Stadium is 3 p.m on Saturday, Jan. 20. (8 p.m. EST).
"This will definitely improve our viewing audience," Bowl Games Hawaii chief executive officer Lenny Klompus said. This year's game drew a 1.48 rating on ESPN. The Senior Bowl had a 1.7 while the East-West Shrine Classic didn't draw even a 1.0 rating.
"We went head-to-head with the Senior Bowl and still almost had the same number they did," Klompus said. "Now, if we can combine those audiences in a prime time game, then you're talking about a really good number."
Meanwhile, the fallout over Texas coach Mack Brown not being a part of the upcoming Hula Bowl landed hard back in the Lonestar State. Camera crews and reporters questioned Brown during a spring practice yesterday about the decision by the American Football Coaches Association not to have him as a coach.
"How can I be uninvited when I was never officially invited?" Brown asked reporters.
"He has an open invitation to coach here in the future whenever he wants,'' Klompus said. "Let's just leave it at that."
Klompus and the AFCA announced last month that Brown and Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer would be the head coaches for the 2001 game.
But, after Brown decided earlier this week not to honor a contract to play Hawaii on Sept. 2, all parties thought it best he not coach here in 2001.
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