One of the absolute best guys in the business, a great friend, and a titan in the college football world, Jeff Hundley is the Chief Executive Officer of the Sugar Bowl. I first met Jeff when I was a freshman at Georgia and he was the editor of The Georgia Bulldog Magazine and Sports Information Director for gymnastics (he had also worked baseball). Jeff was always so kind, he was a great mentor and so sharp and witty. I knew great things were in store for him and sure am proud of my old friend.
The Georgia people love New Orleans, how does the Sugar Bowl like it when the Bulldogs come to town?
One of the primary reasons that we’ve done whatever we needed to do to be a part of the College Football Playoff is because we know we’ll have the opportunity to host teams like the Dawgs. It’s a great program with a very passionate fan base – and we’ve learned from hosting them quite a few times in recent years that it’s a well-run organization and the fans are good people and they enjoy our city.
What are some of your fondest memories from your days in Athens?
Coming to Georgia was my first time in the “big time.” My wife Janine and I were in heaven in Athens, immediately. The people in the athletic department were hard-working, genuine folks and are still great friends today. One of my most proud moments was when I got to help Coach Dooley write his retirement speech (from coaching). That was pretty heady stuff for a young man from Iowa who was just getting started in his career. I also got to travel to Omaha with the Diamond Dawgs and experienced a few gymnastics National Championships with Suzanne Yoculan and her great teams. But more than anything, Saturdays in the fall were just spectacular – I feel blessed to have been a small part of it all over those years.
There are so many memories from my time working for Claude (Felton) and with a great gang in his office. It means so much to run into people from that group all over the country at different events. My fondest memories are all of the fun we had while still working hard and learning – and it was also pretty cool that I had the opportunity to get to know a legend like Coach Dooley.
The Sugar Bowl has such a rich history, what are some of your favorite parts of the event?
The relationships we’ve made working with so many different people every year really makes this position worthwhile. Sometimes I’ll bump into somebody who played in the game 30 years ago and he’s so happy to hear that I’m with the Sugar Bowl, a game that meant so much to him when he was young. And then there are things that happen every year that are exciting mile markers, I guess you could say. The announcement of teams is always such a big day, the teams arriving at the airport with our brass band greeting them right there on the tarmac is the start of our time truly hosting them. And it’s always so special to watch the game actually kick off and hearing the roar of the crowd. For me, even 32 years later, that is a “goosebumps” moment every time.
How have things changed with the game, which for so long was the ultimate reward and season capper, now being a part of the CFP?
We’ve been saying for quite a while now that the only thing that’s consistent with college football of late is change. We’ve made a concentrated effort to embrace that change in order to remain relevant in the sport. Despite all that change, our goal with our guests remains the same, even if they may be going onto another playoff game, we want everybody – fans, players, coaches, spouses, staff, media, everyone – to have a great time and enjoy their time at the Sugar Bowl.
With all the incredible food in New Orleans, how have you managed to live there so long and not attained the weight of a Saints nose guard?
When I first moved to New Orleans and started the job it was November 1. By the time the game was over on January 1, I’d gained 15 pounds, so I had to learn how to throttle back a little! You need to pick your battles, or in this case, pick your meals. You can’t take them all on. There’s so much great food here that you have no choice but to develop some discipline. You can’t let your guard down either, I do my best to make regular trips to the gym so I can truly enjoy the food – in moderation!
For first timers, what are some of your favorite New Orleans activities?
One thing we say here is that New Orleans has something for everyone. So many people think it’s all about Bourbon Street and partying, but there’s so much more. Take the streetcar to see uptown, take a ride to City Park and see the majestic oak trees, and for those with kids, the Children’s Museum is really special. The World War II Museum regularly gets recognized as one of the best museums in the world. For people coming for the game, spend some time during the day walking the French Quarter and checking the amazing architecture – and then make your way toward the river and catch the Sugar Bowl New Year’s Eve Parade that starts at 2 p.m. It’s a true Mardi Gras-style parade which is something new for a lot of people. And of course, plan out some great meals.
Whether it’s the Sugar, the Super Bowl, Final Four, why is New Orleans such a popular big event destination?
We always say that New Orleans is the smallest big city in the world. We have nearly 30,000 hotel rooms in walking distance to the Superdome, and it often seems like we have nearly that many amazing restaurants as well. If your friend hears you’re in town and reaches out to you, chances are you’re just a couple of blocks away from each other. And the people of this city embrace visitors, they love to host the Sugar Bowl fans and make sure that everybody is having a good time.