Newsstand: Sun Bowl executive director reveals bizarre selection process that led to Notre Dame
Notre Dame football’s path to El Paso, Texas, came by the luck of a draw. Or that’s at least how Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl executive director Bernie Olivas said it happened.
After hours of deliberation between the Atlantic Coast Conference and several bowl partners, the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl announced the No. 16 Fighting Irish would take on No. 19 Oregon State in the historic bowl game on Dec. 29.
The Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl won the bid to host the Irish after their name was picked out of a hat.
“According to our contract, if Notre Dame was part of the pool, only for them, there will be a draw,” Olivas told KTSM sports director Colin Deaver. “After discussion, all three bowls wanted to have a shot at Notre Dame.
“The Pinstripe Bowl actually had to think about it a lot because Notre Dame is going to play at the beginning of the season at Yankee Stadium. So, they might not have wanted a repeat team. But after discussion, he said, ‘I want to be a part of that pool.’
“There was a drawing, they put our names in a hat, and their attorney drew the Sun Bowl. So here we are.”
Inside ND Sports co-publisher Eric Hansen reported the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl earned the opportunity over the Duke’s Mayo and Pinstripe Bowls.
The Fighting Irish last played in the Sun Bowl in 2010 against Miami (Florida). They defeated the Hurricanes 33-17 in the program’s final game before current Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden took over “The U” as head coach.
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Notre Dame is 0-2 all time against Oregon State. The Beavers beat the Fighting Irish in the 2001 Fiesta Bowl (41-9) and 2004 Insight Bowl (38-21). Oregon State finished the 2023 season (8-4) and replaced former head coach Jonathan Smith with Trent Bray after Smith took over the head job at Michigan State.
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Bray won the Insight Bowl MVP when the Irish and Beavers played each other in 2004.
Irish 2024 wide receiver commits Cam Williams and Logan Saldate reacted positively to reports that the program has hired Wisconsin wide receivers coach Mike Brown for the same position.
Irish coach Marcus Freeman, offensive coordinator Geard Parker and offensive line coach Joe Rudolph visited 2024 offensive line commit Anthonie Knapp in Georgia on Sunday.
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“When they said Notre Dame (was available), I know I gasped. I think our football committee gasped, and I’m sure the other two bowls gasped as well, not knowing how they got into the pool. … The last time Notre Dame was here in 2010, it had the greatest economic impact ever for our bowl game. That’s what I expect.”
— Olivas to Burge on the moment when he learned the Irish were available to potentially play in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl.
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