Miami Hurricanes might play game at Yankee Stadium in 2013
Jacory Harris of the U. of Miami throws a pass during drills at practice in Coral Gables, Fla. (Aug. 5, 2010) Credit: AP
The Yankees are looking to expand their schedule of college football games at Yankee Stadium and Miami is on their radar, a person familiar with the negotiations told Newsday Wednesday.
"It's not a done deal yet," the person said.
The Yankees are hoping to make the new Stadium a spot for big college football games. "The whole college program has of taken off," Yankees spokeswoman Alice McGillion said. "We are, in fact, in discussions with a number of top college teams. But until deals are actually finalized, we don't want to discuss them."
Miami athletic director Kirby Hocutt said he is "optimistic" a game can be arranged for the 2013 season. He met with Hal Steinbrenner on Tuesday in New York. "I enjoyed that opportunity," Hocutt said. "It's a great city, it's a huge alumni base for us, a good recruitment base. It makes all the sense in the world. You couldn't ask to partner with a greater brand than that of the New York Yankees. We're excited about discussing the possibilities."
Hocutt would not name possible opponents, but a source said Miami would be on the "top of the ticket," as the featured team. Miami last played in old Yankee Stadium in 1962, losing to Nebraska in the final edition of what was known as the Gotham Bowl.
College football debuts at the new Yankee Stadium Nov. 20 when Notre Dame plays Army. Army has agreements to play Rutgers in 2011, Air Force in 2012 and Boston College in 2014 at the Stadium.
The big Yankee Stadium event is scheduled for Dec. 30 with the inaugural Pinstripe Bowl, which will feature a team from the Big East and Big 12. Both conferences will participate in the bowl game for at least four years.
"It's increasing awareness of college football in the greater New York area," said Nick Carparelli, the senior associate commissioner of the Big East, who steered negotiations for the Pinstripe Bowl. "Anything that can grow the game in the Northeast is good for everybody.
"One thing that's clear with the Yankees, if they are going to do something they are going to do it well and it's going to be a first-class operation. That's one of the things that was attractive to us in the Big East. But I think that's also what has been so attractive to some of these other schools that are considering playing neutral- site games at Yankee Stadium."
