Cash-Poor Freedom Bowl Off for 1995

Organizers of the Freedom Bowl failed to secure necessary funding for the game Thursday, crushing efforts to continue the college football bowl this season and probably signaling its end.

The Orange County Sports Assn., which had organized the game for the last 11 years at Anaheim Stadium, revised a proposal to have the NCAA certify the game--to be renamed the Big Orange Classic--after learning some needed funds would not be available.

“We had reason to believe we were very close to securing the necessary dollars to have the game in ‘95,” said Jerry McGee, the association’s executive director. “Obviously we’re disappointed, but we knew many things needed to fall perfectly in place.”

During a conference call Thursday with NCAA officials, the Orange County group was told the game will be considered again for certification in 1996.

If the game had been certified, it would have been played Dec. 28 or 30 between the Western Athletic Conference’s third-place team and an at-large selection.

“We’re very disappointed,” WAC Commissioner Karl Benson said. “We’ve had a very positive and beneficial relationship with [the OCSA] over the past several years. We were hoping they would be able to get through this.”

Only twice has the game attracted crowds of more than 50,000 at Anaheim Stadium. In 1994, 27,477 attended the game between Utah and Arizona--the smallest crowd since the inaugural game.

The Orange County Tourism Consortium, which represents various business interests, had been expected to provide the majority of financial support.

Although Orange County officials hope to restart the game next year, some in college football said Thursday’s decision might mean the end of the event.

“It’s going to be very difficult for them [to restart],” said John Reid, executive director of the Holiday Bowl. “Once bowls are gone, they’re usually gone for good.”