Conferences To Talk Shop

The Big Ten and the Pac-10, which have maintained their Rose Bowl relationship despite changes in the college bowl landscape, will re-examine the arrangement following the 2000 season.

The conferences, which have a contract with ABC-TV to meet in the Rose Bowl the next six seasons, have chosen to stay out of the bowl coalition and newly formed bowl alliance, which begins next season.

Pac-10 commissioner Thomas Hansen said because television contracts with all major bowls expire following the 2000 season, the top conferences will review their options as that deadline nears.

However, he said it would be unlikely the Pac-10 would give up its Rose Bowl ties. He emphasized the relationship with the Big Ten could continue beyond 2000.

Beginning this fall, all major conference champions except the Big Ten and Pac-10 will be free to play in the alliance’s top game, which will rotate among the Fiesta, Sugar and Orange bowls.

A Big 12 Conference championship football game, starting in 1996, appears to be imminent following an 11-1 vote by chief executive officers of the league.

Mark Bernsen, head coach at Southwest Missouri State the last three years, is joining New Mexico State’s basketball program as an assistant coach, the Aggies announced.