Officials from Mobil Corp., in conjunction with Cotton Bowl
executives, announced that the company is dropping its
sponsorship of the bowl game, effective immediately. Mobil cited
the bowl's lost tie-in with the soon-to-be defunct Southwest
Conference as its primary reason for breaking an association that
began in August '88. A clause in the 7-year, $10M contract
allowed Mobil to break the agreement in the event the SWC
champion no longer participated in the game. Cotton Bowl
Athletic Association President John Crawford said Mobil provided
a $1M grant to bowl officials to use during the transition period
until another title sponsor can be found. Crawford said they are
seeking a replacement sponsor and confirmed they have had talks
with Dr Pepper and Southwest Airlines. The '96 game is not in
jeopardy if a sponsor is not found. Starting next year, the
Cotton Bowl will match the second choice from the future Big 12
Conference with either the WAC champion or the No. 2 team from
the Pac 10. In Ft. Worth, Jimmy Burch notes that the Cotton Bowl
finds itself searching for sponsorships at the same time as the
area's three pro golf tournaments: The Colonial, Byron Nelson
Classic and the area's Senior PGA Tour event (FT. WORTH STAR-
TELEGRAM, 3/29).
