http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releas...15-season/

Unless I am mistaken this would be the first bowl game for FCS, who already has a 24-team playoff. It will be the same day (12/19) as the Cure Bowl, but will be on a ESPN network, whereas the newly-created Cure Bowl (AAC vs. SBC) will be on CBSSN.

Could this start a trend of bowl games for FCS?

(03-18-2015 10:20 AM)CommuterBob Wrote:  http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releas...15-season/

Unless I am mistaken this would be the first bowl game for FCS, who already has a 24-team playoff. It will be the same day (12/19) as the Cure Bowl, but will be on a ESPN network, whereas the newly-created Cure Bowl (AAC vs. SBC) will be on CBSSN.

Could this start a trend of bowl games for FCS?

It's a game between the champs of the HBCU conferences, who do not participate in the FCS playoffs.

IIRC, there was an HBCU bowl game at some point in the past.

(03-18-2015 10:27 AM)Wedge Wrote:  

(03-18-2015 10:20 AM)CommuterBob Wrote:  http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releas...15-season/

Unless I am mistaken this would be the first bowl game for FCS, who already has a 24-team playoff. It will be the same day (12/19) as the Cure Bowl, but will be on a ESPN network, whereas the newly-created Cure Bowl (AAC vs. SBC) will be on CBSSN.

Could this start a trend of bowl games for FCS?

It's a game between the champs of the HBCU conferences, who do not participate in the FCS playoffs.

IIRC, there was an HBCU bowl game at some point in the past.

Not true. The SWAC doesn't participate in the FCS playoffs because of the conflict with the Bayou Classic and the first round of games, but the MEAC does. Maybe they bow out. Considering that the game is to pit the champions of each conference, my guess is that the MEAC abstains from the FCS postseason, like the SWAC and Ivy League does.

I don't think it'll start a trend. The SWAC doesn't participate in the FCS playoffs and this may mean that the MEAC will not be part of the FCS playoffs either.
For 2 historically black college conferences, I think this fit well. It is a unique situation.

The SWAC and MEAC also play a big regular season game in Orlando every year. This year I think it's in early September.

The Pioneer League and NEC used to play a bowl game of sorts.

(03-18-2015 11:57 AM)bullitt_60 Wrote:  The Pioneer League and NEC used to play a bowl game of sorts.

Yep and the SWAC and MEAC have done this previously.

Division II has a playoff but also has four or five bowl games for teams not picked for the playoff.

So the Heritage Bowl is reborn.

According to an article I read MEAC champion gives up the right to play in FCS championship but an at-large birth for a non champion is possible. Apparently MEAC & SWAC historically have not done well in the FCS playoffs. I always thought Atlanta would get a second bowl game. I think this will be a very well attended bowl and get decent ratings.

(03-18-2015 12:41 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote:  So the Heritage Bowl is reborn.

Beat me to it.

I'm surprised the Ivy League and the other non-scholie conferences never got together on a bowl game (or maybe I missed that).

(03-18-2015 05:31 PM)_C2_ Wrote:  

(03-18-2015 12:41 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote:  So the Heritage Bowl is reborn.

Beat me to it.

I'm surprised the Ivy League and the other non-scholie conferences never got together on a bowl game (or maybe I missed that).

Ivy League doesn't allow it's football teams to participate in ANY Post-season.

And before the Pioneer League and the Northeast Conference were given auto-bids to the FCS playoffs, they had a post-season game for several years matching their champions.

BTW - there are several MEAC teams not happy with this, and would welcome a lifeline out of the MEAC.

(03-18-2015 05:42 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  BTW - there are several MEAC teams not happy with this, and would welcome a lifeline out of the MEAC.

What schools would those be? The Atl Sun would probably be interested, as well as Big South football.

(03-18-2015 05:31 PM)_C2_ Wrote:  I'm surprised the Ivy League and the other non-scholie conferences never got together on a bowl game (or maybe I missed that).

The Ivy has no desire to associate with anyone else in FCS. They still resent being forcibly demoted from FBS. They do tolerate the Patriot League, but only as a little brother conference with which they schedule the equivalent of exhibition games. They would consider a bowl game with the Patriot League champion anti-climactic and pointless after "The Game" between Harvard and Yale, regardless of whether Harvard and Yale were any good that year. And they would never for a second consider a post-season game with any other FCS conference. Maybe if the Big Ten or Pac-12 came calling, that would be prestigious enough for them. Maybe.

I've got a beef with schools who decline to participate in NCAA post-season in FCS football but make sure to show up for the basketball tournament which takes the players out of more classes than the football playoff.

(03-18-2015 10:39 AM)CommuterBob Wrote:  

(03-18-2015 10:27 AM)Wedge Wrote:  

(03-18-2015 10:20 AM)CommuterBob Wrote:  http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releas...15-season/

Unless I am mistaken this would be the first bowl game for FCS, who already has a 24-team playoff. It will be the same day (12/19) as the Cure Bowl, but will be on a ESPN network, whereas the newly-created Cure Bowl (AAC vs. SBC) will be on CBSSN.

Could this start a trend of bowl games for FCS?

It's a game between the champs of the HBCU conferences, who do not participate in the FCS playoffs.

IIRC, there was an HBCU bowl game at some point in the past.

Not true. The SWAC doesn't participate in the FCS playoffs because of the conflict with the Bayou Classic and the first round of games, but the MEAC does. Maybe they bow out. Considering that the game is to pit the champions of each conference, my guess is that the MEAC abstains from the FCS postseason, like the SWAC and Ivy League does.

They're giving up their automatic birth in order to get $1 million from the bowl game. Their runnerups will still go if they get an invite, like the SWAC schools.

(03-18-2015 07:29 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(03-18-2015 05:42 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  BTW - there are several MEAC teams not happy with this, and would welcome a lifeline out of the MEAC.

What schools would those be? The Atl Sun would probably be interested, as well as Big South football.

FAMU? They won a national championship in FCS.

(03-19-2015 09:10 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(03-18-2015 10:39 AM)CommuterBob Wrote:  

(03-18-2015 10:27 AM)Wedge Wrote:  

(03-18-2015 10:20 AM)CommuterBob Wrote:  http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releas...15-season/

Unless I am mistaken this would be the first bowl game for FCS, who already has a 24-team playoff. It will be the same day (12/19) as the Cure Bowl, but will be on a ESPN network, whereas the newly-created Cure Bowl (AAC vs. SBC) will be on CBSSN.

Could this start a trend of bowl games for FCS?

It's a game between the champs of the HBCU conferences, who do not participate in the FCS playoffs.

IIRC, there was an HBCU bowl game at some point in the past.

Not true. The SWAC doesn't participate in the FCS playoffs because of the conflict with the Bayou Classic and the first round of games, but the MEAC does. Maybe they bow out. Considering that the game is to pit the champions of each conference, my guess is that the MEAC abstains from the FCS postseason, like the SWAC and Ivy League does.

They're giving up their automatic birth in order to get $1 million from the bowl game. Their runnerups will still go if they get an invite, like the SWAC schools.

No SWAC team has ever gotten an at-large since they left the playoffs - they haven't had a second place team worthy.

The MEAC has occasionally gotten an at-large

(03-19-2015 09:11 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(03-18-2015 07:29 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(03-18-2015 05:42 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  BTW - there are several MEAC teams not happy with this, and would welcome a lifeline out of the MEAC.

What schools would those be? The Atl Sun would probably be interested, as well as Big South football.

FAMU? They won a national championship in FCS.

More like Norfolk, or one of the North Carolina Schools. Several teams did vote against this.

Big South would be the option at this point.

(03-18-2015 05:42 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  BTW - there are several MEAC teams not happy with this, and would welcome a lifeline out of the MEAC.

The MEAC Presidents and A.Ds voted for it in overwhelming fashion though. Don’t let the fans o the message boards confuse you, this game was proposed by the MEAC lead by their commissioner.