Aresco updated interview re American Athletic Conf

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Reports have indicated the Russell Athletic Bowl, played locally at the Citrus Bowl, may be dropping The American in order to sign a deal with the Big 12. The Pinstripe Bowl has been rumored to feature an ACC/Big Ten matchup.

"At this point, bowls are a top priority of ours," Aresco said. "We were visiting with the Russell Athletic Bowl yesterday. We really want to keep the Russell Athletic. It's a good bowl for us with UCF right here. We'd like to keep the Pinstripe Bowl in New York City. I think we have a good shot. Some may have heard the ACC has a good chance or other conferences, but we're putting our best foot forward. We're showing bowls what we can do with arrangements that make sense for those bowls."

While Aresco said they have a chance with the Russell Athletic and Pinstripe, he admitted the odds were against them in retaining the Belk Bowl in Charlotte. The SEC is likely moving in because they're losing their tie-in to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, which has become one of the new access bowls.

"The Belk Bowl will be more difficult," Aresco said. "But we haven't given up. That's a great group of people there, but that one is dicier."

Aresco said they're looking to solidify anywhere from six to eight future bowl tie-ins. He said they "intend to keep" the Liberty Bowl (Memphis) and Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl (St. Petersburg) and would be meeting with ESPN about opportunities in their bowls.

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