The Big East will probably end up with Poinsettia and Emerald match-ups against the Pac-12 in California, the Armed Forces against the Big 12 and Ticket City or Sun against the Big Ten in Texas, plus the Liberty against the SEC in the middle of the footprint.
In the East, look to have the Pinstripe against the Big Ten, keep the Champs against the ACC, possibly move the Belk match-up to DC against the ACC, and find a better opponent than CUSA for the Beef O'Brady's. That gives the league 9 bowls to start with.
Wasting money on trips to Hawaii or chasing Las Vegas in hopes of enticing BYU would be stupid moves. The Big East will not be able to bump either the Pac-12 or MWC out of Las Vegas and should not have any desire at all to face the MWC host team in Hawaii.
At this point, the Big East can focus on the champion situation, although the problem is it will need to be more than one bowl due to the widespread geography. That is, of course, unless the Big East signs a deal to have its top team play Notre Dame every year.
I love the fun and excitement of bowl games and will follow the Blue & Gray to any bowl, anywhere and anytiime. I feel sorry for fans who lack the passion required to reap such joy from college football (the greatest game in the history of the human race).
(06-06-2012 12:32 AM)Footballjunky Wrote: Well if the Holiday bowl is looking to get a better matchup they won't get it from the PAC or Big 12. Their top two teams in theory will be locked up in the playoffs or the rose and new Big 12 bowl with the SEC. Truth is the third and fourth place teams From the PAC or Big 12 aren't very good therefore they don't draw well enough and the games aren't as good as they use to be back when the Holiday bowl started.
The bowl landscape has completely done a 180 in the past few months. It use to be that the teams would fight over themselves to get into the bowls with the highest payouts. Now the teams are creating new bowls and dictating who will be in them. The TV money has completely trumped any single bowl payout. Don't be surprised if the BE number one or two team ends up in the Holiday bowl if the money for that bowl is competitive with the current bowl that takes BE number one team. Probably against a third place PAC team would be my guess.
I think the problem that I see with the thinking of a lot of people is that what bowls and TV networks believe is a "better matchup" is much different than what fans outside of the non-power conferences believe is the "better matchup". "Better matchup" to bowls means two power conference teams playing each other, even if they are lower selections.
Just look at how bowls *act* (not just what you hope that they will do). The MWC currently has its #1 tie-in with the Las Vegas Bowl against Pac-12 #5. It's even worse when you look at the context of that matchup because that contract was signed when the MWC had BYU, Utah and TCU while the Pac-12 was only the Pac-10 and hadn't expanded. If the MWC could only get its champ when it was *much* stronger to play the #5 team from the pre-expansion Pac-10, what could get its champ get now?
Similarly, the top selection from C-USA has been playing the #7 or #8 teams from the SEC or Big Ten, and those contracts were signed prior to the defections of Houston, SMU, UCF and Memphis.
The ACC and Pac-12 might be willing to send their lower selections (#6/#7 or lower) to bowls with schools outside of the "Power 5" because they don't travel quite as well, so their options are a bit more limited. (Even then, as much as people want to bash the ACC, they don't have a bowl tie-in against a non-AQ league until it gets to its #8 selection with the new Independence Bowl change.) However, I doubt you'll see the Big Ten, SEC and Big 12 have any bowl tie-ins against schools outside of the Power 5. Even their #8 teams will likely be all playing against each other. Chuck Neinas might be misleading with his comments about protecting the ACC because the Big 12 could surely still raid them, but I definitely believe that he's being sincere that the power conferences look at the world as five top conferences (where they all want to play each other) and then everyone else.
(This post was last modified: 06-06-2012 08:23 AM by Frank the Tank.)
I agree Frank. The MWC, Cusa, Mac, and Sunbelt will get no or at best 1 game vs a big 5. The BE likely will get some but probably not a top 3 or 4. The break away is set up and in place to have real separation between the 5 and the rest. You already see it happening with the talk of ACC vs ? for their champion.
(06-05-2012 07:05 PM)UConn-SMU Wrote: The Ticket City bowl doesn't blow anyone away with it's tradition and prestige, but it has done fairly well. It's played in the Cotton Bowl and the last two matchups gave drawn well (Texas Tech-Northwestern, Houston-Penn State). Dallas is the biggest city in the South and #4 in the U.S., so it's a decent destination (better than Charlotte, Shreveport, Nashville, Birmingham, etc).
The weather is quirky - it could be in the 80's or in the 20's.
Very rare in Dallas for it to be in the 20's seeing the AVERAGE high in January is around 60. That would be almost 40 degrees below average. It's more likely to be in the 70's or 80s than it is 20's, as that is closer to average. And yes, I used to live in North Texas, I am familiar with Blue Northers. But 80% of the winter in DFW is mild to warm, similar in climate to South Georgia.
Just for kicks I researched last years January Weather in Dallas. The Average High the entire month was 62F. There were 21 days where it was at least 60F and many of those were above 70F. On the contrary, there were ZERO days in the 20s or even 30s. The coldest high was 42F.
I've been here 26+ years. We're usually between 55 and 60 in January. But in the week before last year's Super Bowl, we never got above 20. It was horrible - the coldest weather since the 1980's.
Your point is correct ... usually pretty good weather for a bowl.
Joe Montana on occasion or two, when asked to talked about that miracle comeback, talks how COLD it was at the Cotton Bowl back on Jan 1, 1979...as the HIGH that day was only 24 degrees.
That freezing weather that gripped much of DFW for most of the SuperBowl Week recently....those that were there said it was cold as HECK! (And that was from people that flew in from NY, WI, CO, etc...!)
KL,
That Super bowl week freeze was a once in 20 year event. I wouldn't judge anything on that. The week after that it was in the 70s and 80s. But by then the tourists were gone.
It is quite unpredictable in winter in North Texas, but on average it is mild to warm. Lots of 60s, 70s, and even 80s in mid winter. There is usually about one freezing precip event per year.
Just like it can get cold in the Florida Panhandle or South Georgia as well, but on average it's usually fairly nice. DFW on average is warmer than Atlanta Georgia every month of the year.
(06-05-2012 05:27 PM)tnzazz Wrote: Liberty Bowl is a done deal and the payout is bigger then most bowls if I'm not mistaken. It would be perfect for a Big East vs SEC/Big12 match up.
I agree, we just need a higher matchup than SEC #8 or whatever it is now.
Yep. Since no CUSA team will be playing in it and the payout will be increased, I think we have a good shot at landing a better SEC team. It is a well run bowl, and has a lot of history.
(06-05-2012 07:05 PM)UConn-SMU Wrote: The Ticket City bowl doesn't blow anyone away with it's tradition and prestige, but it has done fairly well. It's played in the Cotton Bowl and the last two matchups gave drawn well (Texas Tech-Northwestern, Houston-Penn State). Dallas is the biggest city in the South and #4 in the U.S., so it's a decent destination (better than Charlotte, Shreveport, Nashville, Birmingham, etc).
The weather is quirky - it could be in the 80's or in the 20's.
Very rare in Dallas for it to be in the 20's seeing the AVERAGE high in January is around 60. That would be almost 40 degrees below average. It's more likely to be in the 70's or 80s than it is 20's, as that is closer to average. And yes, I used to live in North Texas, I am familiar with Blue Northers. But 80% of the winter in DFW is mild to warm, similar in climate to South Georgia.
Just for kicks I researched last years January Weather in Dallas. The Average High the entire month was 62F. There were 21 days where it was at least 60F and many of those were above 70F. On the contrary, there were ZERO days in the 20s or even 30s. The coldest high was 42F.
I've been here 26+ years. We're usually between 55 and 60 in January. But in the week before last year's Super Bowl, we never got above 20. It was horrible - the coldest weather since the 1980's.
Your point is correct ... usually pretty good weather for a bowl.
Joe Montana on occasion or two, when asked to talked about that miracle comeback, talks how COLD it was at the Cotton Bowl back on Jan 1, 1979...as the HIGH that day was only 24 degrees.
That freezing weather that gripped much of DFW for most of the SuperBowl Week recently....those that were there said it was cold as HECK! (And that was from people that flew in from NY, WI, CO, etc...!)
KL,
That Super bowl week freeze was a once in 20 year event. I wouldn't judge anything on that. The week after that it was in the 70s and 80s. But by then the tourists were gone.
It is quite unpredictable in winter in North Texas, but on average it is mild to warm. Lots of 60s, 70s, and even 80s in mid winter. There is usually about one freezing precip event per year.
Just like it can get cold in the Florida Panhandle or South Georgia as well, but on average it's usually fairly nice. DFW on average is warmer than Atlanta Georgia every month of the year.
No doubt...but even over Thanksgiving....most remember the snow/ice storm during the Dallas vs Miami game...which made Leon Lett a name that will always be remembered in NFL History.
The Big East will be playing the Big Ten in the Pinstripe Bowl, SEC in the Liberty Bowl, Big 12 in one of the Texas bowls, and Pac-12 in a couple of West Coast bowls, so people can shove their so-called "Power Five" where the sun doesn't shine. There will be a "Top Six" and a "Next Four" (or "Next Five" if the WAC pulls off a miracle).
The "Top Six" will exclusively play bowls against each other while the "Next Four or Five" will have no choice but to play all of their bowls against each other as well. There is no way to kick the Big East out of further bowl games against the remaining former BCS AQ leagues as both sides have needs which arrogant fans can't erase.
(06-05-2012 07:05 PM)UConn-SMU Wrote: The Ticket City bowl doesn't blow anyone away with it's tradition and prestige, but it has done fairly well. It's played in the Cotton Bowl and the last two matchups gave drawn well (Texas Tech-Northwestern, Houston-Penn State). Dallas is the biggest city in the South and #4 in the U.S., so it's a decent destination (better than Charlotte, Shreveport, Nashville, Birmingham, etc).
The weather is quirky - it could be in the 80's or in the 20's.
Very rare in Dallas for it to be in the 20's seeing the AVERAGE high in January is around 60. That would be almost 40 degrees below average. It's more likely to be in the 70's or 80s than it is 20's, as that is closer to average. And yes, I used to live in North Texas, I am familiar with Blue Northers. But 80% of the winter in DFW is mild to warm, similar in climate to South Georgia.
Just for kicks I researched last years January Weather in Dallas. The Average High the entire month was 62F. There were 21 days where it was at least 60F and many of those were above 70F. On the contrary, there were ZERO days in the 20s or even 30s. The coldest high was 42F.
I've been here 26+ years. We're usually between 55 and 60 in January. But in the week before last year's Super Bowl, we never got above 20. It was horrible - the coldest weather since the 1980's.
Your point is correct ... usually pretty good weather for a bowl.
Joe Montana on occasion or two, when asked to talked about that miracle comeback, talks how COLD it was at the Cotton Bowl back on Jan 1, 1979...as the HIGH that day was only 24 degrees.
That freezing weather that gripped much of DFW for most of the SuperBowl Week recently....those that were there said it was cold as HECK! (And that was from people that flew in from NY, WI, CO, etc...!)
From Dallas. Family had tickets to this Cotton Bowl. Unfortunately, I watched from home with the flu but I was told it was extremely cold (see the empty stands), In addition, I've been told from a reliable source that Joe's "flu" was the self induced kind.
(06-06-2012 10:10 PM)Lolly Popp Wrote: The Big East will be playing the Big Ten in the Pinstripe Bowl, SEC in the Liberty Bowl, Big 12 in one of the Texas bowls, and Pac-12 in a couple of West Coast bowls, so people can shove their so-called "Power Five" where the sun doesn't shine. There will be a "Top Six" and a "Next Four" (or "Next Five" if the WAC pulls off a miracle).
The "Top Six" will exclusively play bowls against each other while the "Next Four or Five" will have no choice but to play all of their bowls against each other as well. There is no way to kick the Big East out of further bowl games against the remaining former BCS AQ leagues as both sides have needs which arrogant fans can't erase.
Lolly I agree to a point. Yes we will play bowl games vs the big 4. But it will mostly be Under #5 in those bowls. They will schedule each other and maybe the ACC champ/#2, with their top 4 to 5 schools. ACC with 5/6 types, and BE with 5-9 kind of schools. The big 4 will do everything possible to avoid Mac, Mwc, Cusa, Sun.
The top 8 or 9 bowls will not include a BE school.
(06-05-2012 04:42 PM)General Mike Wrote: Get BYU and get the Vegas bowl to go with Poinsettia. That would give us 2 western bowls, one in a premier travel destination. Then add one of Armed Forces, Ticket City or Houston Bowl to go with Champs, Liberty, Charlotte, Pinstripe and St. Pete. Probably have to hold onto Birmingham for a 9th bowl in a 14 team league.
Need a bigger bowl besides the Champ Sports Bowl. Big East/ACC should try creating their bowl big bowl game or try getting the Gator Bowl or Outback Bowl.
Eh I figured whoever the Big East champ will be able to get a spot in the Fiesta or Orange or Sugar Bowl most years. Unless we have another Pitt/ UConn situation.
And the Big East has yet to experience a Rutgers situation. Our loss, I guess...
(06-06-2012 10:10 PM)Lolly Popp Wrote: The Big East will be playing the Big Ten in the Pinstripe Bowl, SEC in the Liberty Bowl, Big 12 in one of the Texas bowls, and Pac-12 in a couple of West Coast bowls, so people can shove their so-called "Power Five" where the sun doesn't shine. There will be a "Top Six" and a "Next Four" (or "Next Five" if the WAC pulls off a miracle).
The "Top Six" will exclusively play bowls against each other while the "Next Four or Five" will have no choice but to play all of their bowls against each other as well. There is no way to kick the Big East out of further bowl games against the remaining former BCS AQ leagues as both sides have needs which arrogant fans can't erase.
Lolly I agree to a point. Yes we will play bowl games vs the big 4. But it will mostly be Under #5 in those bowls. They will schedule each other and maybe the ACC champ/#2, with their top 4 to 5 schools. ACC with 5/6 types, and BE with 5-9 kind of schools. The big 4 will do everything possible to avoid Mac, Mwc, Cusa, Sun.
The top 8 or 9 bowls will not include a BE school.
If that happens then we should be winning a majority of these bowl games which will be a nice stat to trot around. If our champ can get into the playoff and do well both will go a long way towards bettering the perception of the league.