Bowl Season executive director Nick Carparelli discusses new coalition

Key notes from Nick Carparelli interview

• I was hired back in January as the executive director of the college football bowl organization. It was essentially an inside trade organization. What we heard a lot from our members was the need to promote the bowl games. It really came to life when March Madness was canceled, and we suffered so much as American sports fans. Over the years, the organization had been shortchanging each other. Bowl season is important, and people watch the games regardless of who is playing. It's an American sports phenomenon. With Bowl Season, we have put a face to the organization to help promote these games and how much they mean to so many different people.
   
• This year, there will be challenges, and we debated whether or not this was a good time to roll out this new initiative. We thought it was better to get it out there as soon as possible, and we're excited.
   
• These games are so important to their communities and to these programs. Nobody is playing a 12-game season this year. Some will be playing five games. To have a chance to play one more is so valuable. Staging these games in the safest way possible is a top priority, but finding a way to have these for these players and the seniors was taken very seriously. Attendance will be limited, like everything else.
   
• Corporate sponsorship is down this year. Many of these bowl games depend on local sponsorship with the in-face promotion that they're not going to get this year.
   
• The lack of a win limitation and the heightened regionality this year will impact bowl selection, and we thought that was the correct decision. If we didn't waive those restrictions for this year, the selection would be a mess. It was key to get rid of that this year.
   
• With the CFP and the New Years Six level, the ACC could have two teams in the playoff, so Miami would go to the Orange Bowl as the third ACC team by rule, by tie-in. If A&M and Florida both don't go to the playoff, A&M would be in line to go to the Orange Bowl. Does the committee flip the two to set up that regional rivalry with Florida-Miami and sent the Aggies to the Cotton Bowl? It's something to watch.
   
• The CFP selection committee puts the four teams in the playoff, but they also select and place the other teams in the bowl games. I could see them putting the Aggies in the Cotton Bowl this year.
   
• I think the first bowl game, the Frisco Bowl, will go off without a hitch. Some teams have wrapped up their seasons already, so they're waiting for bowl season already. I think you're going to see a wave of bowl placements soon so that those games that begin on conference championship Saturday will have their matchups already. You might see a week-long selection Sunday as opposed to the single day like normal.