A week after getting slapped on the wrist with a meaningless and hollow $1 million fine but still being allowed to remain a part of the BcS rotation, the Fiesta Bowl has received some additional good news this afternoon.
And another meaningless and hollow punishment.
The NCAA Postseason Bowl Licensing Subcommittee announced Tuesday that they have reaffirmed the bowl licenses for the Tostitos Fiesta and Insight bowls. However, both bowls, which are operated by the same organization, have been placed on probation for a period of one year.
(Ouch, my wrist hurts all the way out here.)
The Fiesta’s spot in the BcS rotation as well as their NCAA license was (chuckle) placed in doubt following a months-long internal investigation into alleged campaign contribution violations and other financial misconduct by members of the Fiesta Bowl organization, which resulted in long-time CEO John Junker being terminated with cause in late March. The NCAA announced in April that the “membership committee that licenses postseason bowl games is delaying its decision on the Fiesta Bowl.”
During a subsequent meeting in New Orleans, today’s release states, “Fiesta Bowl representatives presented detailed information regarding organizational changes made in the wake of the independent special committee report that highlighted numerous financial and political improprieties involving former bowl officials.” Based on that information, the NCAA decided to flick the Fiesta Bowl in both ears and give them a very stern and sincere-sounding “behave yourselves” in order to teach it a lesson.
“The subcommittee was greatly concerned with the apparent lack of oversight and integrity associated with previous Fiesta Bowl management,” Nick Carparelli, chair of the postseason bowl licensing subcommittee and senior associate commissioner at the Big East Conference, said in a statement. “Considering the business model changes and new direction of the bowl, along with the actions from the BCS, the subcommittee felt comfortable with reaffirming the Fiesta and Insight licenses on a probationary status.”
In other words... ahhh, screw it. It’s not even worth it anymore.