Buckeyes, Tigers get Nintendo Wiis as bowl gifts

Slimdust

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) si.com -- While their schools are making millions of dollars off their appearance in the Bowl Championship Series title game, each of the players from Ohio State and LSU will at least walk away with one of the hottest gifts this holiday season.

The Buckeyes and Tigers will receive a Nintendo Wii video-game system in addition to several other gifts for participating in the game on Jan. 7 in New Orleans.

Most stores have sold out of the Wii, a game which allows people in their living rooms to participate in video sporting events. A wave of the controller is represented on the screen as the swing of a bat or a golf club or a tennis racket.

The bowls presenting the Wii had to work hard to reserve enough of the games.

"It was not easy," said Mark Neville, a spokesman for the Holiday Bowl in San Diego that also is giving the Wii. The Alamo Bowl in San Antonio is the other bowl with the Wii in its gift package.

Along with the video-game console, each of the Ohio State Buckeyes and LSU Tigers will get four Wii games, a baseball cap, a watch and a fleece pullover.

According to NCAA guidelines dealing with amateurism, a bowl can spend up to $500 per team member. Each school can also give merchandise worth up to $350 per player.

"We try to get a feel for what kids like to have," said Mike Schulze, spokesman for the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla., which is giving a Sony digital camera, a custom ring and a watch.

As is the case in most homes, electronic gadgets are extremely popular.

The participants in the Rose Bowl, Illinois and USC, will receive a Sony Bravia home-theater system. The Sugar Bowl is giving the players from Hawaii and Georgia a Sony digital camcorder.

The Capital One and Champs Sports bowls, both played in Orlando, Fla., are allowing the players themselves to get what they want. Each player will receive a $400 Best Buy gift card, and they are then allowed to go on their personal shopping spree while the store is closed to customers.

Each Ohio State player also receives six free tickets to the game, which cannot be resold for profit.

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