Just wanted to give you some background on the developments that led to today's confirmation that the FSU-Alabama game is going to happen to start the 2017 season in Atlanta.
As you probably know, the game has been in the works for months ... I can't even recall the first time Gene reported that it was likely happening, but it has been more than six months at least.
Several sources have told us in recent months that the game was definitely going to happen -- Jimbo and Saban and both administrations have been on board with it for a long time -- but there were some issues that had to be worked out in terms of finances. Not just the payouts, which are expected to be in the $4 million to $5 million range per team, but also with the ticket sales requirements for each school.
Those issues have now been worked out, which is why Stan Wilcox apparently made comments about the game to a Seminole Boosters board meeting today. From what a source told us today, the contracts are now being drawn up and should be signed within the next couple weeks if all goes according to plan.
All in all, it's a great game for college football, the city of Atlanta (the Chick-fil-A bowl people have been pushing to land FSU and Alabama for years) and for both fan bases ... not to mention a big money-maker for both schools.
As you probably know, the game has been in the works for months ... I can't even recall the first time Gene reported that it was likely happening, but it has been more than six months at least.
Several sources have told us in recent months that the game was definitely going to happen -- Jimbo and Saban and both administrations have been on board with it for a long time -- but there were some issues that had to be worked out in terms of finances. Not just the payouts, which are expected to be in the $4 million to $5 million range per team, but also with the ticket sales requirements for each school.
Those issues have now been worked out, which is why Stan Wilcox apparently made comments about the game to a Seminole Boosters board meeting today. From what a source told us today, the contracts are now being drawn up and should be signed within the next couple weeks if all goes according to plan.
All in all, it's a great game for college football, the city of Atlanta (the Chick-fil-A bowl people have been pushing to land FSU and Alabama for years) and for both fan bases ... not to mention a big money-maker for both schools.
