CHRISTMAS COMING EARLY...OR LATE...FOR BOWL TEAMS

The NCAA might try and argue that a bowl game is its own reward for the more than 60 teams that are participating in the postseason this year, but some deep-pocketed sponsors are taking the opportunity to provide fringe benefits to players who are going bowling this holiday season.

The Sports Journal's David Broughton has a comprehensive list of gifts that are going to be handed out to this year's bowl participants and it probably puts your Christmas list to shame.

FedEx Orange Bowl officials have reserved a suite at each of the team hotels, the Westin Diplomat and Fontainebleau, and plan to stock them exclusively with Sony Electronics products. On the night that each of the teams arrives in town, the players will be invited to the suite, handed a folio that not coincidentally features their school colors and is emblazoned with the bowl logo, and given what is basically a $300 credit line. Players can check off from a list in the folio the items that they want (up to $300 in total value), and the gifts will be delivered to the addresses of their choice.

Along with a bevy of gifts from Sony, a variety of gadgets and luxuries will be provided from Apple, Tommy Hilfiger, Nike and Nintendo just to name a few. Check out the full list to see what each Nittany Lion will be taking home from Pasadena (besides a Rose Bowl Championship...zing!).

http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/60900