COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL REPORT : FIESTA : Recession Has Hit Bowl Games, Too

Hard times have hit the major bowls, with shrinking commercial sponsors and greater competition for their dollars.

The Fiesta Bowl was the first New Year’s Day game to sign a title sponsor (Sunkist) in 1985. However, the game lost its sponsor this year and has dropped its payout from $2.3 million a team to $2 million.

Penn State quarterback Tony Sacca has impressed the Tennessee coaching staff with his size and toughness. The senior is 6 feet 5 and 220 pounds.

Observed Larry Lacewell, the Volunteers’ defensive coordinator: “Their quarterback is a great one. Tall as he is, he can fall forward and make a first down. Heck, he’s even bigger than our linebackers.”

Sacca, from New Jersey, was at yet another official function, politely thanking his Fiesta Bowl hosts--outfitted in their full western regalia and cowboy boots--and lavishly complimenting them on their “Southern hospitality.”

The Fiesta Bowl prides itself on its hospitality. And, like most bowls, it organizes leisure activities designed to provide the players with a slice of “the Arizona experience.” This means cookouts, western dancing . . . and horseback riding.

Tennessee had a scare last week when All-American wide receiver Carl Pickens fell off a horse during a trail ride. Tennessee Coach Johnny Majors didn’t even know that Pickens, who will forgo his senior season and make himself eligible for the NFL draft, was riding.

“I was proud of him when I heard he got right up,” Majors said.

Pickens was unhurt, except for minor injury to his pride. “I wanted to say something to that horse,” he said. “But I couldn’t catch him. I probably would have hit him if I had caught him, though.”