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Call it college football's answer to
Then along came Florida. Officials from the Gator Bowl have offered Widenhofer $2 million just to move his team's home game against Florida in 2000 from Nashville to Jacksonville. A similar offer has also been tendered from Orlando representatives. Widenhofer declined a similar offer for this season, citing that it would be unfair to season ticket holders who purchased a package expecting to see Florida. But he has admitted that he is considering the 2000 proposal, which would go to the city that coughed up the most dough. "I've got to consider it," Widenhofer said. "That could really help our program." Vanderbilt would also receive a sixth home game from a non-conference opponent, which would be announced at a later date. Is it right to auction off home field advantage to raise the funds? "In a perfect world, we'd love to not have to think about raising the money," Vandy sports information director Rod Williamson told Scripps-Howard News Service. "We're not bound and determined to do it, but it's a paying-the-bills kind of last option. We're not trying to be mavericks." Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer fears the move could wind up impacting on SEC standings and the bowl picture. "That's a concern the conference needs to address," Fulmer said. "There is something to having a home-field advantage, and if that little bit of advantage makes a difference because of weather or whatever, it's something that could be an issue." "If we get to the point where institutions are destroying the competitive basis of the conference, then the conference would have to look at it," Volunteers athletic director Doug Dickey said. "Until that time, I don't think it's any of our business what they do, but we'd have to watch it." There are a handful of precedents for purchasing rights to a home game. Florida bought rights to a home game from Mississippi State in 1991 due to facility repairs, and the Bulldogs cleared nearly $800,000 in profits. Larry Templeton, the Bulldogs athletic director, called it "one of the smartest things we did," but added that sale was a one-time deal. Florida won, but lost to Mississippi State 30-6 on the road the following year. Go To Page: 1 2
The copyright of the article Home Games For Sale... in NCAA College Football is owned by . Permission to republish Home Games For Sale... in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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