Indy Bowl trying to find a second team

[Choudawg86]

Once again it is proven, the Indy Bowl is a Bowl you have to lose your way into. I have an extremely hard time feeling sorry for that bowl in s'port that doesn't have a sponser.



No Virginia for Independence Bowl
Shreveport game turns attention to Mid-American Conference teams.
December 1, 2004
By Scott Ferrell

sferrell@gannett.com

No, Virginia, there won't be a Shreveport Christmas for the Cavaliers.

The No. 18-ranked Virginia Cavaliers accepted a bid on Tuesday to the MPC Computers Bowl in Boise, Idaho, just one day after it appeared the team was possibly headed to Shreveport.

The change came as a result of a hectic day on the bowl front. The MPC Computers Bowl, which has tie-ins to the Western Athletic Conference and the Atlantic Coast Conference, did not release Virginia (8-3) for selection by Shreveport's Independence Bowl.

"We had a board of directors meeting. Virginia was the best possible matchup for our bowl,'' MPC Computers Bowl Executive Director Gary Beck told the Idaho Statesman for today's editions. "At that point, we made the decision to invite Virginia and they accepted.''

Only a day earlier, Beck had told the Washington Post that his bowl was "trying to work with the ACC and get Virginia a little closer to home and get a higher payout for an 8-3 team.''

His bowl would have to get one of three Big East schools --Boston College, Connecticut or Syracuse -- in exchange.

However, things changed. The Big East sent none of the three to Boise.

Fresno State, the WAC team expected to play Virginia, also made rumblings about opting for the Silicon Valley Classic instead.

Fresno State coach Pat Hill told the Fresno (Calif.) Bee that he was going to Boise only to play Virginia. Otherwise, Hill was prepared to play in San Jose again.

The Boise bowl capitulated and now the I-Bowl is once again looking for a team to replace its Southeastern Conference tie-in for the Dec. 28 game at Independence Stadium.

"We're evaluating other options,'' I-Bowl Executive Director Glen Krupica said. "Basically, they're MAC (Mid-American Conference) schools.''

The most likely scenarios for the I-Bowl are these:

If the Big 12 has only one school playing in the Bowl Championship Series, it will likely be Oklahoma State playing Northern Illinois (8-3) in the I-Bowl.

If the Big 12 has two schools playing in the BCS, then it will likely be Iowa State playing the loser of the MAC Championship Game between Toledo (8-3) and Miami of Ohio (8-3).

"It was disappointing this morning (with Virginia going to Boise),'' Krupica said, "but all along I knew there was a decent chance that it might not happen ... I think we'll have somebody come to this game that will be absolutely thrilled with the opportunity.'

[killerdawg]

Imagine that. Someone preferring to go to the frozen blue tundra in December instead of to beautiful, sunny Shreveport.

And at the same time, you know that those jerks are sighing a big sigh of relief that Tech didn't win another game.

[macp38]

Weren't those the same guys that laughed at us for going to that "no name bowl" in 2001!!! I find that funny.

[dawg80]

UVA opts for Boise over S'port!? That is too funny!

[GrassyNoleHitman]

UVA opts for Boise over S'port!? That is too funny!

that is not it at all. UVA REALLY wanted to go to Shreveport instead of Boise. BUT....

[quote]Only a day earlier, Beck had told the Washington Post that his bowl was "trying to work with the ACC and get Virginia a little closer to home and get a higher payout for an 8-3 team.''
His bowl would have to get one of three Big East schools --Boston College, Connecticut or Syracuse -- in exchange.[quote]

do you really think the Big East would do anything to help the ACC get a better bowl payout? they would rather help out the Taliban than help out the ACC after we took UM, VT, and BC. the only way it could have been done is if the ACC sent BC to Boise in UVA's place. but we don't treat our teams as pawns like that. as we especially would not do that to an incoming team even before they are officially in. that just sets a very bad precident.