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© St. Petersburg Times, published October 4, 2001
ORLANDO -- After an almost two-decade absence from the Orlando sports scene, the Tangerine Bowl is back.
Despite the lack of a title sponsor, the Tangerine Bowl will be played Dec. 20 at the Citrus Bowl. The game is expected to be televised by ESPN.
Game officials are confident they can sell the estimated 40,000 tickets needed in order to break even financially -- even after conceding that December isn't the best month in terms of tourists.
Moreover, Florida Citrus Sports already stages a New Year's Day game at the same site. There is some financial risk involved.
"Still, I'd be shocked if we have red ink," incoming FCS director Tom Mickle said.
The turnstiles will tell the tale. This year, the game will likely pit the fourth- or fifth-place teams from the Atlantic Coast and Big East conferences.
However, bowl officials are in discussions with the more attractive Big 12 about establishing a long-term tie-in.
The ACC is committed through 2005, but the Big East has no obligation beyond this year. If teams from either conference don't have the required six victories, at-large teams will be sought.
Notre Dame, an independent, can play as the Big East representative.
Each school is guaranteed a $750,000 payout, the minimum for an NCAA-sanctioned bowl appearance, yet must buy 12,500 tickets for the game. That leaves the bowl to sell approximately 15,000 tickets to cover expenses.
"We feel like with our membership and conference tie-in (guarantees), the stadium is half sold-out already," Dymond said of the FCS, a non-profit organization that also stages the Florida Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1.
The Tangerine bowl replaces the MicronPC.com Bowl, which was played at Pro Player Stadium in Miami.
Since 1995, the game had used four different names to reflect its various sponsors and, given its myriad identity changes during its 11-year history, struggled to attract fans.
The announced crowd last year was 28,359.
The Orlando group landed MicronPC.com Bowl's NCAA certification by paying off some of the old game's obligations to its old stadium and vendors.
CORAL GABLES -- Linebacker Howard Clark will start at weak-side against Troy State on Saturday for Miami if D.J. Williams, who has a high-ankle sprain, doesn't play.
Clark started nine games at weak-side last year but was switched to the middle in the spring and lost his starting spot to Jonathan Vilma.
How long is it going to last?" Clark said. "I don't know. I'll just keep playing as hard as I can and hope it stays that way."
ORLANDO -- The hamstring injury to Central Florida's Carlos Thompson has opened the door for redshirt freshman Alphonzo Hopkins to back up Asante Samuel at strong-side cornerback.
Hopkins has played mostly special teams this year but will see several defensive snaps Saturday against Alabama-Birmingham.
"I've gotten more reps in practice, and they say UAB runs their plays real quick. So Asante might get tired some," Hopkins said.
"I'm not nervous. I played a few defensive plays against Virginia Tech and Clemson, so I'm over that. I'm looking forward to it."