The Mele Kalikimaka Classic is one of three bowl games currently awaiting approval from college football's governing body. Nashville, Tenn., and Mobile, Ala., are also attempting to secure a bowl game.
While at first glance it may appear giving a city a second bowl game would be out of the question, the plan has many supports. Among them is Karl Benson, the commissioner for the Western Athletic Conference.
"We've always looked at the Jeep Aloha Bowl as a game the WAC would love to be affiliated with," Benson told reporters at the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. "If there was to be a second game, we would definitely be interested.
"It would guarantee a spot for the loser of the WAC Championship game. One of our goals has always been to find a bowl that makes sense for that team."
Benson added that he was unsure to the proposal's chances until he spoke with NCAA Championship Committee chairman Ron Guenther. According to Benson, Guenther emphatically supports the planned doubleheader.
My attempts to contact Bowl Games of Hawaii for comment were unsuccessful. Lenny Klompus, CEO of the organization, was the one who first made the bid several years ago. At that time, Hawaii wanted to host four teams and the national championship game.
No format for the proposed doubleheader has yet been released to the press.
I, for one, would love to see a bowl doubleheader. One of the greatest things about college football is that it combines the skill of the pros with the energy and sheer love of the game found mostly in prep sports.
A doubleheader would be like something right out of high school athletics, where fans can spend an entire day watching the sport they love. There is nothing a sports fan enjoys more. If you've ever been to a high school conference tournament, you know what I mean.
Both the fans and the game would benefit. And during an era where eight out of 10 NCAA headlines each day involve crimes, the sport needs all the help it can get.
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