Big East's New Bowl Game

NEW YORK -- The Big East Conference has reached an agreement with the New York Yankees to participate in a new college football bowl game to be played at Yankee Stadium.

A team from the Big 12 Conference will be the Big East's opponent in the game. The Big East will provide its third or fourth selection to the game. The Big 12 will provide its seventh pick. The agreement will run for four years from 2010 through 2013.

The name, date and television plans of the inaugural game are to be announced. The game, which is pending the approval of the NCAA Bowl Licensing Committee, would begin at the conclusion of the 2010 season. It will pay out about $2 million.

"Partnering with the New York Yankees to create a premier postseason bowl game is a natural way for the Big East to further capitalize on its presence in New York City,'' Commissioner John Marinatto said. "The Big East and its men’s basketball championship have become as much a part of New York City as Broadway, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and Madison Square Garden. The Yankees represent the very best in sports in the greatest city in the world. We believe this bowl game will become a staple for the Big East Conference for many years to come.''

Pittsburgh AD Steve Pederson supports the new bowl game as well.

"This makes a lot of sense,'' Pederson told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "This is one of the greatest big cities in the world and it is one with a lot of close ties to our conference. I'm excited about the location, the venue, the opponent -- it is a natural fit and, like I said, it is right in the footprint of our conference.''

Yankee Stadium opened for the 2009 baseball season. The original Yankee Stadium hosted college football games beginning the year it opened, including Fordham University and New York University home games from 1923-46. Army played Notre Dame there from 1925-46. From 1968-73 and 1978-87 Grambling played in a series of games there which was known as the Whitney Young Urban Classic. In 1962, Yankee Stadium hosted the Gotham Bowl. Nebraska defeated Miami (Fla.) 36-34.

The new Stadium already has scheduled regular-season football games in future years, including a game between Rutgers and Army in 2011.

The bowl at Yankee Stadium is the second new postseason game announced by the Big East for 2010. The conference previously announced an agreement with the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando, Fla.

The Big East has enjoyed significant bowl success over the past three seasons, compiling a 12-4 record. The Big East is a charter member of the Bowl Championship Series.