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Fiesta Bowl a financial success

© Chuck Bednar

How successful was the first sanctioned college football championship game in NCAA history? Very successful - economically speaking.

According to a recent Associated Press report, the 1999 Fiesta Bowl attracted 69,000 visitors to Arizona and brought in over $130 million into the state's economy. The January contest between Tennessee and Florida State also brought more than 2,500 jobs and produced $44 million in income for Arizona businesses and households - this according to a study conducted by researchers in Arizona State's business college. Studies had projected the game's economic impact at $120 million.

Previously, the best economic performance in Fiesta Bowl history came in 1996, when a national championship game between Nebraska and Florida brought in over $96 million.

C-USA, WAC inked to Alabama Bowl - Organizers of the new bowl game in Mobile, Alabama Bowl have announced that the game will feature a battle between teams from Conference USA and the Western Athletic Conference. The Dec. 22 game will have the second selection of available teams from both conferences.

According to reports, Conference USA has signed a five-year deal to send its teams to the bowl while the WAC signed on for just one appearance. The Mobile bowl game offers a minimum $750,000 payout to each participating school.

Georgia QB leaves for coaching - Bulldogs backup quarterback Jon England has decided to give up his final year of eligibility in order to coach high school football. In an interview with The Athens Banner-Herald, England said he will take a job as a teacher and assistant coach at Habersham Central High School, where he will work with his former Norcross High School coach, Theo Caldwell.

England is the fourth Georgia quarterback to leave the program following the 1998 season, when starter Quincy Carter set a freshman passing record as Georgia went 9-3 and won the Peach Bowl. Freshman Nate Hybl left the team in March, redshirt freshman Daniel Cobb transferred to Butler Community College in Kansas in January, and sophomore Michael Usry plans to enroll at South Florida at the end of the semester.

England completed 10-of-19 passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns last season.

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