During a Cleveland radio interview on Fri. Jan. 16, Commisioner Chryst once again spoke positively about obtaining a third Bowl Game for the MAC. Since he is not one to whistle in the dark, I'm assuming getting a third Bowl is about as close to certain as you can get.
What, however, are the official steps that must be taken in order for the Bowl to be approved and announced? I believe that the Bowl must be submitted to a NCAA Bowl Committee for approval and once that is done the Bowl is in place. Does anyone know what official steps might remain to be taken? What date does the Bowl Committee meet? Are there other necessary conditions that must be met, e.g., the cancellation of an existing Bowl?
The Commisioner in general spoke very enthusiastically about the MAC being able to advance it's position as a conference. He mentioned receiving very good reports about football recruiting.
I'd like to see some good news forthcoming so the MAC can maintain being in the media spotlight.
Is there any other possible good news apart from a third Bowl announcement--scheduling agreements, MACC game location, etc.?
Several steps to securing a bowl including finding a location, coming up with the money to ensure that the teams get paid and the bowl meets its financial obligation (that has to be in escrow), securing media contracts, conference alliances, and getting certified by the NCAA.
I've heard that there are some more bowl(s) on the drawing board, but remember...division 1-A is almost at the saturation point bowl-wise so getting certified at this point would seem to be the toughest part.
GS.
The reason the Indy Bowl did not "get off the ground" last time around was financing (or lack thereof). In order to get certified, as GS attests, they must show the NCAA certification committee that they have the sponsorship and the "bucks" to successfully stage the bowl.
Even though there are already more than enough bowls, the MAC would likely not run into issues due to bowl saturation, though, since we've obviously have a history (NIU, UT or Marshall this year, BG last year, Miami in 98, etc.) of leaving very capable bowl eligible teams at home. The key is for the Indy folks to line up some "deep pockets" to sponsor the game.
The Indy Bowl is a done deal.
It will pit the MAC vs BigEast.
Also there are a couple of other proposed new bowl games that will be coming about. One is in the southeast region.
Another is on the west coast.
And the rumor is that one of the WAC bowls will be going under.
HERDitALL Wrote:The Indy Bowl is a done deal.
It will pit the MAC vs BigEast.
Where did you hear it is a done deal? Was it a credible source?
Quote:The Indy Bowl is a done deal.
It will pit the MAC vs BigEast.
If it was a "done deal" it would be certified...It's not...
There's absolutely nothing "official" about the Indy Bowl being more than a "wish list" on our (and Rick Chryst's) Christmas list............based on all his comments, I tend to think something "is afoot", though.
The SE Bowl may be played in Charleston, SC, where they are planning a new stadium (not sure what the primary use of the stadium would be for??) IMHO, Charleston is probably a good location (pretty good winter weather, smallish city that might embrace a bowl with good local support) for a tier II bowl, much like Mobile. Of course, it would likely be ACC vs. somebody else, and then the ACC can drop out of one of its "less successful" bowl ventures.
I don't know if "Herd it all" knows anything concrete, but I do tend to believe that at MAC vs. Big East-lite in Indy is very plausible.
Quote:not sure what the primary use of the stadium would be for??
The Citadel.
That Southeastern bowl game will have ACC vs CUSA.
HERDitALL Wrote:That Southeastern bowl game will have ACC vs CUSA.
Is C-USA losing a bowl game or something? There is no way they should have 6 bowl bids!
Quote:That Southeastern bowl game will have ACC vs CUSA.
That's what I hear...
GS.
Who knows about losing bowls.
Might the MAC someday lose the GMAC?
Might C-USA someday lose Hawaii (isn't it a WAC bowl and WAC doesn't like C-USA these days)?
IF TCU goes to MWC, what happens to Fort Worth - does it go to MWC?
I think a bowl in the backyard of the NCAA headquarters, with two major corporate sponsors allegedly on board, being held in an indoor NFL facility in a major city with an outstanding track record of hosting large college sports events would have a much better chance of certification than a game in a small market with no history of hosting any sporting event outside of maybe a golf tournament, to be played in as-yet-unconstructed 1-AA facility.
In other words, ain't no way Charleston gets certified if Indy doesn't. And let me add that if the MAC were proposing to play a bowl game at a 1-AA stadium as his precious C-DOA is, GS would be the first to scoff at it.
Well, I don' think they've even started building the newly proposed stadium in Charleston, so that's a pretty moot discussion for now.........the "word" is that it'll be a 40K type stadium.
I'm sure the whole thing in Indy is now hinging on finding the right corporate sponsors..........what major companies have HQ's in Indy, Papa Lou? To be honest, if the money is "in place", I don't expect the MAC to have any issues with the NCAA on getting the bowl certified, as it's pretty clear that we've had very capable bowl eligible teams stay at home that last couple of years. Think of how well we would've done (attendanc-wise) with NIU in the Indy Bowl this year, or BG the year before. I think BG disproved the notion that they wouldn't have big support for a regional bowl with the 20-25K they took to the MCB this year.
Off the top of my head . . . .
RCA
Eli Lilly
Conseco (not as big a draw as it used to be, but . . . )
Several regional banks
FWIW, here's the Star's list of "Indiana stocks." Not all of these are headquartered in Indianapolis, but it might form a shopping list.
<a href='http://www.indystar.com/business/indianastocks/' target='_blank'>http://www.indystar.com/business/indianastocks/</a>
I'd be in favor of a Steak-n-Shake Bowl so long as they do the concessions at the dome.
Quote:what major companies have HQ's in Indy, Papa Lou?
-ATA
-Eli Lilly & Co. (Pharmaceutical giant)
-Anthem Co. (Parent of Blue Cross-Blue Shield)
-Thomson Consumer Electronics (RCA)
-Marsh Supermarkets
-Clarian Healthcare
-Conseco
-Boehringer Mannheim (medical company)
-Emmis Communications (one of the five largest radio conglomerates in the country)
...that's just off the top of my head.
What is happening is the Indy Bowl is in fact in place for certification. Could be just waiting for the word of a bowl game going under, or waiting for a more appropriate time to announce.
But they have all their ducks in a row, so to speak.
MAC will have 3 bowls in 2004.
Man, Herditall, you must have some serious "insider stuff" going on here.....they would have to move awfully fast to get a new bowl certified by the 2004. I would sure like to believe that your info is correct.......BTW, is the Big East definitely the opponent, or is that just a "wish list" of the new bowl officials (whoever they may be??)
If the bowl is ready for 2004, they probably will keep the opponent at large.
But the new Big East is what they want starting 2005.
When I said MAC will have 3 bowls 2004, that didn't necessarily mean the Indy Bowl will be one of them 2004.
The Indy Bowl is in place for certification. But if it starts in 2005 instead of 2004, then the MAC will announce some kind of 3rd bowl tie-in for 2004 for like a one time deal.
Either way, MAC will have 3 bowl tie-ins.
Chryst is the man folks.
I hate the Herd leaving Chryst behind.