Given that it's considered an "extra benefit" for a student-athlete to use a copier in the football offices, and thus a violation of 'AA bylaws, some may be surprised to know that bowl games provide gifts to the coaches and players competing in their events. Here is a list of the gifts given to each team, by their respective bowls: ■ Gildan New Mexico Bowl Gift suite, Oakley Eyepatch 2, Oakley beanie, New Era cap, Oakley Flak Pack 3.0, pen with box, Christmas ornament ■ Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Gift suite, North End winter coat, Kombi gloves, Nike beanie, Ogio Fugitive backpack, Big Game souvenir football ■ R+L Carriers Samsung Galaxy tablet ■ Beef ‘O’Brady’s Bowl Sony PlayStation 3, Oakley Eyepatch 2, Oakley backpack duffel, mini-helmet ■ San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl Best Buy gift card*, Tourneau watch, hooded sweatshirt, FlexFit cap ■ MAACO Las Vegas Bowl Gift suite, cap ■ Sheraton Hawaii Bowl Oakley sunglasses, Aloha shirt, Pro Athletics custom beach shorts, Oakley T-shirt, performance wear, cap or visor, backpack, beach towels, bowl calendar, playing cards ■ AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl Gift suite, Timely Watch Co. watch, New Era cap, commemorative football ■ Little Caesars Pizza Bowl Timely Watch Co. watch, leather duffel bag, commemorative football ■ Belk Bowl Estimated $400 shopping trip to Belk’s flagship store in Charlotte, Fossil watch ■ Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman Amazon Kindle Fire, Apple iPod nano, Deuce watch, LunaTik wristband (to hold iPod), beanie, Nike backpack ■ Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl Best Buy gift card*, Tourneau watch, hooded sweatshirt, FlexFit cap ■ Champs Sports Bowl $420 shopping trip to a local Best Buy, Timely Watch Co. watch ■ Valero Alamo Bowl $400 Best Buy gift card, Fossil watch, Schutt mini-helmet, panoramic team photo ■ Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl Sony Gift suite, Timely Watch Co. watch, camo knit beanie, Ogio backpack, Big Game souvenir football ■ New Era Pinstripe Bowl Note: Bowl committee would not disclose details about participants’ gifts ■ Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl Gift suite, Reactor watch ■ Insight Bowl Gift suite, Fossil watch, cap, Ogio Convoy backpack ■ Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas Toshiba 32-inch flat-screen television, Fossil watch, belt buckle, T-shirt, backpack ■ Hyundai Sun Bowl Gift suite, Timely Watch Co. watch, Majestic Pro-Base fleece pullover, VP Sports cap, Ogio Politan backpack, Helen of Troy hair dryer, souvenir coin ■ AutoZone Liberty Bowl Best Buy gift card, Fossil watch, Nike training shoes, Nike sport sandals, Nike sunglasses, Nike Air Jordan backpack, commemorative game ball ■ Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl Soundmatters Personal Audiophile loudspeaker, Fossil watch, cap, Timbuk2 custom messenger bag ■ Chick-fil-A Bowl $250 Best Buy gift card, Fossil watch, Russell Athletic ski cap, Russell Athletic travel bag, $15 Chick-fil-A gift card, commemorative football ■ TicketCity Bowl Cotton Bowl, Dallas Monday, Jan. 2, noon, ESPNU Gift suite, Timely Watch Co. watch ■ Capital One Bowl $420 shopping trip to a local Best Buy, Timely Watch Co. watch ■ Outback Bowl $150 Best Buy gift card, Fossil watch, Jostens ring, cap, $25 Outback Steakhouse gift certificate ■ TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl Fossil watch, GatorGear performance headwear, rolling luggage bag, Jostens ring, commemorative football ■ Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio Gift suite, Fossil watch, New Era hat, Oakley Flak Pack 3.0 ■ Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Gift suite, Kenneth Cole watch, cap, Ogio Convoy backpack ■ Allstate Sugar Bowl Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans Tuesday, Jan. 3, 8:30 p.m., ESPN Gift suite, Reactor watch, New Era cap, Majestic fleece pullover ■ Discover Orange Bowl Gift suite, Tourneau watch ■ AT&T Cotton Bowl Fossil watch Note: Bowl committee would not disclose additional details about participant gifts ■ BBVA Compass Bowl Legion Field, Birmingham, Ala. Saturday, Jan. 7, 1 p.m., ESPN iBeats by Dr. Dre (ear buds), Reactor watch, Oakley Eyepatch 2, Oakley backpack duffel, Big Game commemorative football ■ GoDaddy.com Bowl Nikon S80, Timely Watch Co. watch, leather luggage bag, commemorative football ■ Allstate BCS National Championship Game Gift suite, Fossil watch, New Era cap, Boxer and Stone shirt * To be spent during the teams’ official store visit. Balance not used that day will be forfeited. ** The game is usually played at TCU’s Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas. However, the 2011 matchup will be played in Dallas due to renovations at that facility. All times listed are ET. Product details are provided as they were available. Most watches, rings, clothing and luggage are custom-made with the bowl logo. Gift suites are set up as private events in which game participants, and often bowl VIPs, are given an order form and allowed to select a gift, or gifts, up to a value that is predetermined by each specific bowl, not to exceed the NCAA limit of $550 per person. Compiled by David Broughton and Brandon McClung Sources: Bowl committees and vendors Link: 2011 Bowl gifts to participants - SportsBusiness Daily | SportsBusiness Journal
I in no way am against bowl gifts, BUT-- it is patently absurd to give this kind of value as gifts for bowl teams, but nothing of the kind is possible for non-bowl teams. I know it is supposed to be a "reward," but these are supposed to be "amateur players." Why can't a team give a their players gifts of this nature?