Pretty good interview by the WV media with the Chairman of the Gator Bowl...it does provide a little insight into the negotations between the GB and the BE

http://www.wvmetronews.com/


interview with Dan Murphy is on the right hand side...just click the link

Jackson

I dont really care to hear what their spin is. We are moving on and I much rather go to Orlando than jacksonville.

Things worked out for the best for us. Not only did we maintain a major Florida Bowl, but we added a new, full time, New Year's Bowl in our own backyard. And, best of all, it was proven that we could get those bowls without Notre Dame.

^ Two things. Yankee bowl isn't on new years neither is champs. And we actually did need ND because they helped get the champs. We did improve our bowl situation no doubt but lets not act like its an ideal situation we still have a ways to go and that starts with the fans.

(12-28-2009 10:09 PM)CatsClaw Wrote:  Things worked out for the best for us. Not only did we maintain a major Florida Bowl

Champs isn't a major bowl. It's definitely a tier below the Gator.

(12-29-2009 12:38 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(12-28-2009 10:09 PM)CatsClaw Wrote:  Things worked out for the best for us. Not only did we maintain a major Florida Bowl

Champs isn't a major bowl. It's definitely a tier below the Gator.

Not sure if the Gator will remain that way with its #5 or 6 SEC vs. #4 or #5 Big Ten.

I agree. The Gator has downgraded itself in order to get the SEC. Next year the Gator Bowl will be irrelevant, and will not come close to making the kind of money they are going to make this year...

I'm going to Jacksonville and I'm going to have a blast. The Gator Bowl has been great to WVU so I harbor no animosity toward them.

I don't harbor animosity towards them either. But that doesn't change the fact that they've downgraded themselves...

(12-29-2009 01:12 AM)uvaeer Wrote:  

(12-29-2009 12:38 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(12-28-2009 10:09 PM)CatsClaw Wrote:  Things worked out for the best for us. Not only did we maintain a major Florida Bowl

Champs isn't a major bowl. It's definitely a tier below the Gator.

Not sure if the Gator will remain that way with its #5 or 6 SEC vs. #4 or #5 Big Ten.

We'll see. And maybe with BE #2, the Champs will rise up.

But as of now, the Gator is higher than Champs.

(12-29-2009 10:50 AM)bitcruncher Wrote:  I don't harbor animosity towards them either. But that doesn't change the fact that they've downgraded themselves...

Clearly, the Gator believes that by swapping the ACC and Big East/Big12 for the SEC and Big 10, that they have upgraded themselves.

I guess the future will tell the tale, but as of now it can't be called a 'fact' on way or the other.

(12-29-2009 10:50 AM)bitcruncher Wrote:  I don't harbor animosity towards them either. But that doesn't change the fact that they've downgraded themselves...

They have certainly downgraded themselves in the bowl pecking order, but they did what they thought would best insure their long term success, by taking an SEC and Big 10 team, the 2 leagues with the best traveling fanbases overall. The Gator Bowl, more than any of the top tier bowls seem to really have to depend on ticket sales for some reason, which makes their top tier status somewhat questionable to me.

I think that with the Orlando destination being attractive to all Big East fan bases, the Champs bowl could grow in stature. This is a bowl that BOTH the ACC and Big East need to work with and make it improve.
Lets revisit this 5 years from now and see who won out Gator or Champs

good riideance to them. I agree gator > champs all thing being equal. Problem is gator constantly and publicly tried to tip the scale vs the BE.
Not worth the fight anymore, imo. At least for now.

I don't think anybody really cares about either bowl any more. The Gator is not very prestigious any more with the whole BCS setup.

At one time the Liberty Bowl was prestigious... and the Cotton Bowl. None of them are until they move back to being part of the BCS again (which I believe the Cotton will in the near future if the BCS stays in tact).

We've seen seasons where the SEC has had five top 25 teams and Big Ten has had four, so there's a chance the game will have at least one ranked team in it every year. What remains to be seen is how those teams travel.

That was unbelievable interview. The host was on his knee through the interview. Just unbelievable, he didn’t ask why they drop the great ACC. They complain about the same team but they picked that team it was always their choice.

The biggest problem with the Champs Sports (Citrus) Bowl is the date. It would be better if it were New Years Eve or New Years Day. Aside from that it's an improvement due to location and a more appreciative bowl committee.

(12-29-2009 12:39 PM)mattsarz Wrote:  We've seen seasons where the SEC has had five top 25 teams and Big Ten has had four...

Tell you what, as much as I resent the B-11, Wiskey sure proved itself every bit a top 25 team (top 15 even).

The more Florida based bowls the big east can get, the better it is for the conference.

In some years, we will potentially have three big east teams bowling in florida.