Wednesday, February 20, 2002
ESPN to televise AXA Liberty Bowl through 2008
ESPN.com news services
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The AXA Liberty Bowl and ESPN have agreed to a seven-year extension of their contract. Under terms of the agreement, ESPN will have national television rights to the AXA Liberty Bowl through the 2008 game.
The AXA Liberty Bowl features the champions of Conference USA and the Mountain West Conference. The game serves as a national showcase for world renowned St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, founded in Memphis by entertainer Danny Thomas. The 2002 AXA Liberty Bowl will be played Dec. 31.
"This contract is a compliment to the thousands of people who have worked so hard to build the AXA Liberty Bowl into one of America's great traditions," said Steve Ehrhart, executive director of the game. "Our thanks go out to the great sponsors and volunteers who have made this all possible. Now, the future of the Bowl is solidified with this long-term contract with ESPN."
The AXA Liberty Bowl is now in its 44th year, making it college football's seventh oldest bowl game. The game was founded on the principles of patriotism and American freedom and has featured legendary coaches such as Bear Bryant, Lou Holtz, John McKay, Tom Osborne and LaVell Edwards. Heisman Trophy winners Ernie Davis, Terry Baker, Bo Jackson and Doug Flutie have played in the game. In recent years current NFL stars Donovan McNabb, Antowain Smith and Shaun King have led their teams into Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis.
As part of the agreement, ESPN, Inc. has obtained the use of the AXA Liberty Bowl archives for ESPN Classic and video on demand programming, as well as live audio rights for ESPN.com.
