Rose Bowl has never been played on a Sunday
http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/bowls/rose-bowl.html
Orange Bowl, once. In 1994
http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/bowls/orange-bowl.html
Sugar Bowl, twice. 1995 and 2003
http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/bowls/sugar-bowl.html
Long before the NFL became the big kid on the block, Hell, long before the NFL, the bowls weren't played on Sunday. Blue Laws probably caused some of it, however.
Your future's all used up.

More like the God-like power of the network advertisers who've bought the NFL.

"Tradition" may be the wrong word there, Dr. I'd say "God-like power of the NFL" may be more accurate.
OMLMTM!

Ahh, so the traditional New Year's Day bowl games are a thing of the past, eh?
No. When the first of the yer falls on Sunday the bowl games have always been moved to the second. Always. That's the tradition.
Pretenders - Never Be Together

Next year they will move back a day, NFL on the 31st, bowls on the 1st. It's mainly about when the 1st falls during the week.
http://timeisaflatcircus.tumblr.com/

Ahh, so the traditional New Year's Day bowl games are a thing of the past, eh?
No trees killed in the sending of this message, but many electrons were terribly inconvenienced.

NFL Week 17 is Jan 1, no bowl games.
Big bowl schedule Jan 2 since that's Monday and the work holiday.
http://timeisaflatcircus.tumblr.com/