Email exchange with the Big Ten and note from Jim Delany
Quoting Big Ten - Mark Rudner <MRudner@bigten.org>:
Dear Tom Bowl-
As you know Commissioner Jim Delany was an early and ardent supporter of the
Tom Bowl.
And as you also probably know Commissioner Delany will Be retiring (on Jan.
1) after a long and distinguished 41+ year career in college athletics
administration, the last 30 years at the Big Ten.
I am writing to determine if you and the Tom Bowl board and staff would want
to acknowledge his support of the bowl and college football.
Perhaps you could invite Jim to be the grand Marshall of your parade, do the
coin toss, provide color commentary on the tv broadcast (once a media
partner is secured), kiss babies, do a halftime lecture on the
Spanish-American war or constitutional law...just some ideas.
Please let me know your thoughts.
Thank you.
Yours in football ,
Mark Rudner
Senior Associate Commissioner
BIG Ten Conference
From: tombowl@tombowl.com
Date: October 13, 2019 at 10:15:05 AM CDT
To: Big Ten - Mark Rudner
Subject: Re: Jim Delany
Dear Mr. Rudner:
Thank you for your note. The Tom Bowl has great appreciation for the
contribution Jim Delany made to all things Tom Bowl. It is for this reason,
that in 2003, the Tom Bowl inducted Jim into the Tom Bowl Hall of Fame.
Among all of college football, there has been no bigger supporter of the Tom
Bowl than Jim Delaney. It's also why, when requested, we sent Jim an
official Tom Bowl Hall of Fame Certificate of Membership of which we have no
doubt is prominently displayed in his office.
The Tom Bowl likes most of your suggestions, as all of them seem to be
fitting tributes to Jim. However, it may prove difficult to find some babies
for him to kiss but we do have a cat if that is acceptable. In addition to
naming Jim Grand Marshal, performing the coin toss, providing TV commentary
and the halftime lecture on the Spanish-American War we were also wondering
if Jim might bring a team or two with him as we have had difficulties
getting anyone to show up for the game. We do understand the zero dollar
payout is a deterrent along with the lack of a TV broadcast agreement or
even a sizable crowds but we still think the 1997 matchup between Nebraska
and Michigan would have been a sight to behold. We do reserve the right to
believe that past Tom Bowl invitees may have just gotten lost on the way to
the game so maybe Jim can help them with their GPS.
In addition to the above, we will be adding a special tribute to Jim on the
Tom Bowl website. We will let you know when it is complete.
Thank you for reaching out to us. As you know, the Tom Bowl is the only
major college bowl game not sanctioned by the NCAA. We are very excited to
enter our third decade of providing scoreless ties in an attempt to answer
the true #1 team in college football. Although we had nothing to do with it,
we like to believe we had some part in creating the current college football
playoff system.
Sincerely,
Tom Cantrell
Tom Bowl President
Sent from my iPhone
From: Big Ten - Mark Rudner
To: "tombowl@tombowl.com"
<tombowl@tombowl.com>
Cc:
Bcc:
Date: Sun, 13 Oct 2019 16:42:19 +0000
Subject: Fwd: Jim Delany
Dear Tom Bowl sir:
I am happy to share with you Commissioner Delany’s thoughts on the Tom Bowl.
We will include your very kind and thoughtful note in the commemorative
book we are preparing for Jim and his family where the Tom Bowl will forever
be remembered.
Yours in football .
Mark Rudner
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From: Mobile - Jim Delany
Date: October 13, 2019 at 11:16:46 AM CDT
To: Big Ten - Mark Rudner
Subject: Re: Jim Delany
The Tom Bowl a perfect partner over the years. Very much appreciate the Tom
Bowl’s role here because in fact the vision they put forward impacted my
thinking and indeed the whole college football community leading up to the
formation of BCS and ultimately the CFP . Please share this note with Tom
Cantrell and other Tom Bowl leaders .jim
