Q&A With Heritage Bowl Board Chairman Aric Bonner

Ahead of tomorrow's Division II Heritage Bowl between West Texas A&M and Arkansas Tech, the game's board chairman, Aric Bonner, answered a few questions.

Q: How did the Heritage Bowl come to be back in 2017?

Bonner: Mr. Tony Taulton originated the concept of the game. The original game was called the Corsicana Bowl, but we rebranded the game when we acquired the rights in 2019.

Q: How has the city of Corsicana supported this bowl over the years?

Bonner: The City of Corsicana has been a big partner in assisting in any way we have needed help. We are still working diligently to increase our exposure locally and increase attendance.

Q: What benefits, particularly financially do schools get from playing in the Heritage Bowl?

Bonner: We offer a small stipend to offset travel costs and cover a night at the hotel for the traveling party. The teams are treated to a banquet on Thursday night, lunch on Friday, and lunch on Saturday to cut down on dining expenses.

Q: How does the team selection process work?

Bonner: Our Team Selection Committee starts working on identifying teams a few weeks before the season is over. We identify a target list of 8-10 teams and notify their athletic administration that we are considering their team, and have a conversation to gauge their interest in participating in the game. We prioritize schools that commit to bringing their band and cheerleaders to the game. In addition, we evaluate the team's entire body of work, including home attendance, their results from the last few games played, as well as our experience with them if they have participated in the game before.

Q: I notice that the Lone Star Conference has a tie-in to the Heritage Bowl. Would there ever be a scenario where you would invite either of their two Pacific Northwest schools, Central Washington and Western Oregon?

Bonner: A Pacific Northwest team is not out of the equation, but given the selection criteria and our goal of having a full stadium, they are a little behind the eight ball, simply because of their location.

Q: West Texas A&M is a fairly well-known name in Division II, stemming from their time as a Division I school. Was that brand-name recognizability something that drew the bowl committee to the school? How heavily did you pursue West Texas A&M?

Bonner: West Texas A&M was the most viable option from the Lone Star Conference this year. We don't offer any additional incentives for a team to participate in our game. Fortunately, each year we have had more teams interested in participating than spots available.

Q: What are some ways you’d like to see the bowl grow?

Bonner: Our number one focus is attendance. We would love to see a full stadium on game day. Second, an increase in sponsors for the event and third, but definitely, not less significant, is to be able to partner with ESPN for a seat at the table to have the game broadcast on their network.

Q: What are some events surrounding the bowl game that you want fans to know about?

Bonner: We kick off the event for fans with the Downtown Pep Rally, Friday afternoon at 5:30PM. On Saturday morning at 9:30AM, we are having a pregame concert that is free for all to attend. The pre-game tailgate will have food trucks serving breakfast fare to go along with the live music. After the first quarter and third quarter, a couple of lucky fans will have the opportunity to kick a field to get free Chic-Fil-A for a year.