N.M. Bowl Director Jeff Siembieda named to Bowl Season Executive Committee

He doesn't know yet what exactly he's getting himself into, other than "it's more work for no more pay and it'll cut into my golf time."

Nonetheless, Jeff Siembieda is enthusiastically on board.

The 17-year executive director of the Albuquerque-based New Mexico Bowl, not to mention his other gig as the award-winning morning sports radio personality on KNML radio (610 AM), has accepted a spot on the Bowl Season Executive Committee, which helps oversee and advocate for the postseason games played at college football's highest level.

"It's such a critical time in the industry with the bowl industry and the CFP (College Football Playoff) expanding," Siembieda told the Journal on Wednesday afternoon. "It's humbling when I was asked to do it. I feel like in some ways it validates a little bit what we've done for 17 years and shows that there's respect amongst our peers for what we do.

"And I think it's good for our community to have a seat at the table."

Bowl Season, formerly known as the Football Bowl Association, is self-described as the "advocating body for all 43 bowl games" that take place following the FBS college football season. It's a collective association of all FBS-level bowl games.

Whatever may come up each bowl season -- and in college athletics there seems to be a new topic to tackle with every turn of the calendar -- Bowl Season, and its executive committee serve as a front line in trying to keep the bowl format running smoothly. The bowl game system, one that is unique to all other sports under the NCAA umbrella, has been a key part of the continual revenue growth that has firmly positioned FBS football as the driving force in most every major decision in college athletics.

Siembieda joins as the "at-large" member of the eight-person executive committee, that has a progressive transition of positions format that also includes a Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary and the three most recent past chairs.

Joining Siembieda on the Bowl Season Executive Committee for the 2023-24 season (including title and bowl affiliation):

• Steve Beck -- Chair -- Military Bowl

• John Saccenti -- Vice Chair -- SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl

• Danny Morrison -- Treasurer -- Duke’s Mayo Bowl

• Derrick Fox -- Secretary -- Valero Alamo Bowl

• Jeff Hundley -- Past Chair -- Allstate Sugar Bowl

• Mark Neville -- Past Chair -- San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl

• Missy Setters -- Past Chair -- Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl

Siembieda said that while his role isn't only to advocate for the New Mexico Bowl, he noted that it is important to remember the college bowl format is one that does feature events of all statures.

According to the 2022-23 Bowl Season annual report, December's New Mexico Bowl between BYU and SMU drew a viewership just north of 2 million (13 bowls had smaller television viewership, including the first exclusively-streamed game -- the Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl -- which had a reported 994,000).

“As our New Mexico Bowl Executive Director for nearly two decades, Jeff brings invaluable knowledge and experience to the executive committee board,” said Clint Overby, Vice President of ESPN Events.

"These qualifications, plus his vast relationships throughout the industry, will benefit the entire Bowl Season system in Jeff’s new role."

The appointment does not change Siembieda's role with either the New Mexico Bowl or KNML radio.