July 8, 1997
No. 246
| ITEM ONE: | NFL SIGNS THREE-YEAR PRO BOWL EXTENSION WITH HAWAII |
| The NFL and the state of Hawaii announced on Monday (July 7) an agreement to play at least three more AFC-NFC Pro Bowl games in Honolulu. The current five-year agreement expires after this season’s Pro Bowl on February 1, 1998. The three-game extension covers 1999 and 2000, and either 2001 or 2002 at the NFL’s option. The agreement also includes a mutual option for a fourth game in the year after the 2001 or 2002 Pro Bowl. "This is fabulous for the state," said Hawaii Governor BEN CAYETANO. "Especially considering the Pro Bowl’s huge impact on our visitor industry, which ranges from filled hotel rooms to national television exposure, as well as the $80-100 million impact it has on our economy." The governor noted that 30,000 out-of-state visitors attended this past February’s game at Aloha Stadium (50,000 capacity) and an average of nearly nine million U.S. households watched the game on television, with another 10 million total radio listeners. | |
| ITEM TWO: | ROAD TO SUPER BOWL LEADS TO HOLMGREN WAY |
| MIKE HOLMGREN has a brand new driveway -- one a little longer than usual. The Green Bay Packers Super Bowl XXXI-winning head coach recently was honored by the Village of Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin -- which abuts the Packers’ office -- by having a street named in his honor. Gross Street now becomes "Holmgren Way." "This is in recognition of winning Super Bowl XXXI," said Village President TED PAMPERIN. Holmgren Way will join (VINCE) LOMBARDI Avenue as one of the most popular roadways in Wisconsin. The Packers’ home -- Lambeau Field -- is named for E.L. "CURLY" LAMBEAU, the team’s founder and first head coach. Several other roadways throughout the U.S. are named for NFL coaches, including GEORGE HALAS Drive in Canton, Ohio; JIMMY JOHNSON Street in Port Arthur, Texas; and the DON SHULA Expressway in Miami, Florida. | |
| ITEM THREE: | BELLHAVEN COLLEGE ADDS MEN’S FOOTBALL |
| While the 25th anniversary of Title IX was celebrated around the country last month, it was interesting to note the decision of Bellhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi, a women’s institution until 1954, to field its first men’s football team. The Blazers will become the 10th football-playing college in Mississippi and will have a football affiliation with the Mid-South Conference. Other schools in the Mid-South include Union (Kentucky) College, Cumberland (Tennessee) College and Georgetown College in Lexington, Kentucky. Georgetown College has a strong NFL connection as the new summer training camp home of the Cincinnati Bengals. As part of the association, the school is building a state-of-the-art athletic facility which includes a new football stadium. |