Bad News for Tech and Good News for the Sunbelt

[CaseyDawg]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3500305
The Sunbelt announced contracts to place teams in St. Petersburg, Birmingham, and Shreveport in the event that the SEC, Big 12, CUSA, or Big East conferences are unable to fulfill their contracts with a bowl eligible team. Why is this bad, it means that if Tech is bowl eligible to play in one of these regional bowls (Independence Bowl) and the Sunbelt also had an eligible team (say ULL) this bowls would have to choose the sunbelt team. While I certainly have nothing against Boise, New Mexico, or Hawaii these bowls are not assessable to a majority of Tech fans. That is why it is important to have regional tie-ins and the ability of fans to drive to their destination. Tech would have 5 times as many fans at a bowl game in Birmingham or Texas, than Boise and 15 times as many fans for a game in Shreveport.
It is also important when considering that for the past three years the current WAC alignment has produced 4 bowl eligible teams; it is likely that the WAC will continue to produce 4 or 5 bowl eligible teams each year. The last three years the WAC has been fortunate to have two BCS teams and a team picked up by the Liberty Bowl, allowing all bowl eligible teams postseason play. The WAC will need at least one pickup this year to keep that steak alive or a Bowl eligible team for the WAC will be setting at home.
Currently, these secondary contracts would not enable a team from the Sunbelt to jump a 7-5 from another conference. That could be important if the WAC were able to get 4 teams to 7-5.

[GatorDawg]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3500305
The Sunbelt announced contracts to place teams in St. Petersburg, Birmingham, and Shreveport in the event that the SEC, Big 12, CUSA, or Big East conferences are unable to fulfill their contracts with a bowl eligible team. Why is this bad, it means that if Tech is bowl eligible to play in one of these regional bowls (Independence Bowl) and the Sunbelt also had an eligible team (say ULL) this bowls would have to choose the sunbelt team. While I certainly have nothing against Boise, New Mexico, or Hawaii these bowls are not assessable to a majority of Tech fans. That is why it is important to have regional tie-ins and the ability of fans to drive to their destination. Tech is likely to take 5 times as many people to a bowl game in Birmingham or Texas, than Boise and 10-15 times as many fans for a game in Shreveport.
It is also important when considering that for the past three years the current WAC alignment has produced 4 bowl eligible teams; it is likely that the WAC will continue to produce 4 or 5 bowl eligible teams each year. The last three years the WAC has been fortunate to have two BCS teams and a team picked up by the Liberty Bowl so that all bowl eligible teams were able to play. The WAC will need at least one pickup this year to keep that steak alive or otherwise a Bowl eligible team for the WAC will be setting at home.
Currently, these secondary contracts would not enable a team from the Sunbelt to jump a 7-5 from another conference. That could be important if the WAC were able to get 4 teams to 7-5.

If a 7-5 Sun Belt team happened, would anyone really know?

[CaseyDawg]

If a 7-5 Sun Belt team happened, would anyone really know?

You can bet that if both Tech and ULL were setting at 6-6 or 7-5 at the end of this season, and Birmingham or Shreveport had an opening you would know.

[GatorDawg]

You can bet that if both Tech and ULL were setting at 6-6 or 7-5 at the end of this season, and Birmingham or Shreveport had an opening you would know.

Odds are tough that the 7-5 Sun Belt team is Troy and is the conference champ.

[GatorDawg]

All that said there is no reason why Benson didn't set up a deal that puts Tech in Indy Bowl if we are eligible and they need a team. Of course leave a loophole for the seasons we go to a BCS bowl...

[GermDawg]

All that said there is no reason why Benson didn't set up a deal that puts Tech in Indy Bowl if we are eligible and they need a team. Of course leave a loophole for the seasons we go to a BCS bowl...

I thought that was the reason behind the possible trade w/ CUSA for the Mobile bowl,I think.

[CaseyDawg]

Degrade the Sunbelt all you want. Just don’t look at the standing for the last two seasons when the Sunbelt had two teams with at least 7 wins. Plus additional teams, ULM & ULL, at 6 wins and bowl eligible. With 7 conference games, soon to be 8, the Sunbelt should produce two teams with 7 wins each year.
These and other secondary contracts will help to determine which bowl eligible teams from the WAC, Mountain West, Sun Belt, and MAC replace teams from the ACC, Big East, CUSA, Big 12, Big 10, PAC 10, and SEC.
This is not meant to say that Tech should join the Sunbelt, I personally believe Tech in better off in the WAC and our long-term future will be with teams currently in CUSA. Tech’s potential far exceeds teams from the Sunbelt. But playing bowl games 1500 miles for Ruston, especially with openings much closer being filled by these secondary contracts, does not excite me.

[FishingBack]

Degrade the Sunbelt all you want. Just don’t look at the standing for the last two seasons when the Sunbelt had two teams with at least 7 wins. Plus additional teams, ULM & ULL, at 6 wins and bowl eligible. With 7 conference games, soon to be 8, the Sunbelt should produce two teams with 7 wins each year.
These and other secondary contracts will help to determine which bowl eligible teams from the WAC, Mountain West, Sun Belt, and MAC replace teams from the ACC, Big East, CUSA, Big 12, Big 10, PAC 10, and SEC.
This is not meant to say that Tech should join the Sunbelt, I personally believe Tech in better off in the WAC and our long-term future will be with teams currently in CUSA. Tech’s potential far exceeds teams from the Sunbelt. But playing bowl games 1500 miles for Ruston, especially with openings much closer being filled by these secondary contracts, does not excite me.

The Indy bowl will always have that 6-6 team BCS matchup so realistically, a belch team will never make it in. However, with belch teams knocking off BCS powers last year and Troy sitting at home, it makes sense to get into more bowl negotiations.

It would be a monumental failure if they weren't able to secure another spot.

[RealityCheck]

Degrade the Sunbelt all you want. Just don’t look at the standing for the last two seasons when the Sunbelt had two teams with at least 7 wins. Plus additional teams, ULM & ULL, at 6 wins and bowl eligible.

6-6 teams from conferences that do not have a contracted bowl tie-in available can't be selected for a bowl before all 7-5 teams in the country have been placed in a bowl. ULM and ULL may be called "bowl-eligible" at 6-6 by the ignorant media, but teams that cannot possibly be picked for a bowl should not be counted as bowl-eligible.

[KSDAWG]

All that said there is no reason why Benson didn't set up a deal that puts Tech in Indy Bowl if we are eligible and they need a team. Of course leave a loophole for the seasons we go to a BCS bowl...

We need a contract like Hawaii has with its bowl. The Indy Bowl against a Big 12 or SEC team is a heck of alot better than sitting at home or watching the Humanitarian Bowl. I don't have the funds to go to Hawaii or Boise.

[KSDAWG]

Don't be surprised if Sunbelt teams start to put MAC, CUSA or some kinda winnable games instead of travelling to Florida State or Auburn like in the old days. The long run possibilty of making a bowl game will build a fan base quicker than a 500K paycheck.

[CorinthEagle]

Don't be surprised if Sunbelt teams start to put MAC, CUSA or some kinda winnable games instead of travelling to Florida State or Auburn like in the old days. The long run possibilty of making a bowl game will build a fan base quicker than a 500K paycheck.

You are right on that one. 1 or 2 "check" games and then a couple of winnable non-cons. Same formula Dooley has said he wants to use.

[JAB]

The last three years the WAC has been fortunate to have two BCS teams and a team picked up by the Liberty Bowl, allowing all bowl eligible teams postseason play.

uhm... We, TECH, sat at home at 7-4 in 2005. Now the WAC has added a bowl since then but WE have not been fortunate with the team placements in bowls.

All that said there is no reason why Benson didn't set up a deal that puts Tech in Indy Bowl if we are eligible and they need a team. Of course leave a loophole for the seasons we go to a BCS bowl...

I think Benson (and Tech) would be better off making deals with the Dallas , Houston, and NO bowls for TECH. The Indy Bowl, like nlulm, is part of our past. And the Indy bowl, like TECH, wants to move forward.

And I still think that there are just way too many Tech grads on the Indy Bowl commitee to ever allow nlulm in their bowl. I think they would shut the whole thing down before they allow nlulm in there. I know too many of them personally to think otherwise.

But how is this "bad" for TECH? It's not like we lost a tie-in! Tech hasn't been an option for the Indy Bowl in years. And the WAC will NEVER be a conference the Indy Bowl can tie itself to. Wanting a bowl to tie it's self to ONE school NOT in the orignal contract would not be smart move.

And, if the I-Bowl would have put a 8-4 Troy team in the game last year I would have gone and possibly paid money to go. A 7-5 UL-L or nlulm....(7-5 nlulm? like that wil ever happen) ...not so much.

[MG61]

Don't be surprised if Sunbelt teams start to put MAC, CUSA or some kinda winnable games instead of travelling to Florida State or Auburn like in the old days. The long run possibilty of making a bowl game will build a fan base quicker than a 500K paycheck.

South Alabama hasn't even began play & they've signed a 4 year home-home with Navy.

South Alabama AD Joe Gottfried just spoke for a few minutes about the state of the South Alabama football program. Something of note, USA has already signed a four-year home-and-home deal with Navy.

They expect to be a full-time member of the Sun Belt by 2012 with bowl-eligibility.

UNT has signed a 6 year deal with Army commencing in '09 with them coming to Denton plus a multi year deal with nearby SMU.

[Cal&Ken]

We need a contract like Hawaii has with its bowl. The Indy Bowl against a Big 12 or SEC team is a heck of alot better than sitting at home or watching the Humanitarian Bowl. I don't have the funds to go to Hawaii or Boise.

I would rather sit home than support that crappy bowl that doesn't give TECH any respect. I live here and don't want to go to that bowl-ever.