ESPN announced today that the SYLVANIA Alamo Bowl received a rating of 5.15 reaching approximately 4 million households. The game was the highest rated of the 84 college football games on ESPN and ESPN2 this year including the 12 other bowl games the network broadcasted. This year`s game was also the third most-watched ESPN college bowl game of all-time and the fifth most-watched college football game in ESPN history.
The 1999 SYLVANIA Alamo Bowl was held in the Alamodome in San Antonio on Tuesday, December 28 and featured #13 Penn State`s 24-0 victory over #18 Texas A&M. The game`s popularity on ESPN was matched by the in-stadium attendance as a record crowd of 65,380 packed the 65,000 seat Alamodome. This was the largest crowd in SYLVANIA Alamo Bowl history (surpassing the 64,597 who attended the Texas A&M vs. Michigan bowl game in 1995) and the largest football crowd in Alamodome history (topping the 1999 Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship attendance of 65,035).
“We are most grateful for the kind of support the SYLVANIA Alamo Bowl has received,” said Derrick Fox, Executive Director of the SYLVANIA Alamo Bowl. “These numbers certainly speak volumes about the quality match-up we have with the Big Ten and Big 12 Conferences, the desirability of San Antonio as a visitor`s destination and the support of college football in the San Antonio marketplace.”
In addition to the record attendance, LaVar Arrington, Penn State linebacker and SYLVANIA Alamo Bowl Defensive MVP, recorded a SYLVANIA Alamo Bowl record 14 tackles. The previous high was Iowa`s Mike Dailey with 11 tackles against California in the 1993 game.
Penn State`s hero Derek Fox tied the SYLVANIA Alamo Bowl record with his two interceptions, while Texas A&M quarterback Randy McCown tied Kansas State`s Michael Bishop for most passes intercepted with four.
The Nittany Lions` shutout of Texas A&M was the second time in SYLVANIA Alamo Bowl history a team had not scored. Iowa shutout Texas Tech in the 1996 game 27-0. Texas A&M`s All-American punter Shane Lechler tied the SYLVANIA Alamo Bowl records for longest punt (59 yards) and highest punt average (52.0 yards)