(12-03-2011 08:35 PM)ollin Wrote:  Apparently Pitt doesn't want to go to the BBVA Compass Bowl.

McMurphyCBS
Source: Big East told Pitt its going to BBVA Compass Bowl but Pitt resisting because went last year. Now up in air

Other possibility is Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl.

To be fair, no one wants to go to Birmingham, especially not to play FIU.

It looks like Vandy-Cincy in the Liberty Bowl.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/201...-cincinna/

(12-03-2011 09:19 PM)WacoBearcat Wrote:  It looks like Vandy-Cincy in the Liberty Bowl.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/201...-cincinna/

Pitt doesn't want to go to Birmingham 2 years in a row, but 6-6 teams can't be choosers. Because the SEC won't have enough bowl eligible teams, the Panthers will play a Sun Belt team and the only one left that hasn't accepted a bid yet is WESTERN KENTUCKY. Negotiations are ongoing though.

(12-03-2011 09:24 PM)Yosemite Panther Wrote:  

(12-03-2011 09:19 PM)WacoBearcat Wrote:  It looks like Vandy-Cincy in the Liberty Bowl.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/201...-cincinna/

Pitt doesn't want to go to Birmingham 2 years in a row, but 6-6 teams can't be choosers. Because the SEC won't have enough bowl eligible teams, the Panthers will play a Sun Belt team and the only one left that hasn't accepted a bid yet is WESTERN KENTUCKY. Negotiations are ongoing though.

Jerry Palm of CBS Sports is projecting that USM will play WKU in the Compass Bowl. If that's true that is a kick in the nuts for Southern Miss.

(12-03-2011 09:34 PM)UpStreamRedTeam Wrote:  

(12-03-2011 09:24 PM)Yosemite Panther Wrote:  

(12-03-2011 09:19 PM)WacoBearcat Wrote:  It looks like Vandy-Cincy in the Liberty Bowl.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/201...-cincinna/

Pitt doesn't want to go to Birmingham 2 years in a row, but 6-6 teams can't be choosers. Because the SEC won't have enough bowl eligible teams, the Panthers will play a Sun Belt team and the only one left that hasn't accepted a bid yet is WESTERN KENTUCKY. Negotiations are ongoing though.

Jerry Palm of CBS Sports is projecting that USM will play WKU in the Compass Bowl. If that's true that is a kick in the nuts for Southern Miss.

Maybe the Compass Bowl is swapping the BE slot (Pitt) with one of the CUSA slots then since Pitt was there last year? Guess we'll find out soon or do we have to wait until the almighty gods (ESPN) say who plays who where and when.

The final count is 72 bowl eligible teams for 70 berths. Obviously every Big East team gets a berth along with all BCS teams, but that will influence a destination and opponent for Pitt. Teams such as WKU, Ball St, and WMU are in danger of being among the 2 left out.

I'm sure no one wants the Hilltoppers as an opponent. 2nd year in FBS, most casual fans don't even realize they are FBS, etc. I know Pitt may feel they get the shaft but Houston and USM may really get it.

The Big East Bowl line up

West Virginia = BCS
Louisville = Belk
Cincinnati = Liberty
Rutgers = Pinstripe
Pitt = Compass or Beef o Brandy
Notre Dame = Champs

Note from the Commercial Appeal Article. The BE bowl contract guarantee they play an SEC team even if it means knocking out the CUSA champ.

"The SEC didn’t have enough bowl-eligible teams to fill its bowl contracts — the Compass Bowl in Birmingham is left without a SEC team and the Big East contract with the Liberty/Compass bowls calls for it to always play a SEC team. If one isn’t available in the Compass Bowl, it plays one in the Liberty, as will be the case this year."

(12-03-2011 10:05 PM)CollegeCard Wrote:  The final count is 72 bowl eligible teams for 70 berths. Obviously every Big East team gets a berth along with all BCS teams, but that will influence a destination and opponent for Pitt. Teams such as WKU, Ball St, and WMU are in danger of being among the 2 left out.

If Western KY were in the compass bowl, they would probably bring 10,000 fans, being that it's only a three or four hour drive.

(12-04-2011 12:38 AM)adcorbett Wrote:  

(12-03-2011 10:05 PM)CollegeCard Wrote:  The final count is 72 bowl eligible teams for 70 berths. Obviously every Big East team gets a berth along with all BCS teams, but that will influence a destination and opponent for Pitt. Teams such as WKU, Ball St, and WMU are in danger of being among the 2 left out.

If Western KY were in the compass bowl, they would probably bring 10,000 fans, being that it's only a three or four hour drive.

I don't know enough about their fan base to guess number wise but I could see that since the drive from Bowling Green to Birmingham isn't bad. With geography and WKU excitement over their first bowl, they probably get the bid and Ball St and WMU are left out.

WKU only averages 15-16K at home. What makes you think 2/3rd of them will drive to a bowl game.

(12-04-2011 04:50 PM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  WKU only averages 15-16K at home. What makes you think 2/3rd of them will drive to a bowl game.

Just a hunch. I attended the school for a short time, and I know what gets the fanbase going. Plus a lot of the fans that go to games drive in from Tennessee. There were something like 25,000 show up for a playoff game against Murray State one year, when the stadium didn't even hold that many *lots of standing room seats. They had about 8,000 or 9,000 go to the championship game that year in Chattanooga. They had close to that number travel to a basketball game in Tennessee in 2009. The majority of the school's alumni (non-local) are from Tennessee, and for a game in Birmingham which would be a short drive, for students on break and fans alike, would likely draw well.

Update from the UC front.

Ticket Update.

partingscott Scott Springer
UC responsible for selling 12,000 fix for Liberty Bowl. Sold 3,000 on first day. #catstix #libertybowl