First off, as I understand if the B10 has 2 BCS teams, with NW bowl eligible at 6-6 (only to fulfill conference bowl obligations), the MCB MUST take NW. Is that true? Is there anything in the contract that could allow the MCB to avoid NW (i.e. hardship clause of any kind, etc.).
Second, I saw a post on the Vine whereas DShoe said that the MCB gets the MAC champ this year...........that would imply that the GMAC and the MCB need to wait until after the MACC to announce the pairings. What if Miami wins, and NW is in the MCB? No way anyone wants that pairing again. In the meantime the GMAC has lost valuable time in planning and promoting their game. What's your read on what's going on "behind the scenes" within the MAC and their bowls?
How do you see this shaking out?
Thanks.
Not sure about the Big Ten thing, but the MCB gets first choice of a MAC school. It does not have to be the MAC Champion though, just that they get first choice over the GMAC.
Let's get a couple of things straight since there is so much "miss-information" on these chat boards.
(1) The MAC champ is guaranteed a bowl, either the GMAC or MCB. Neither gets the so-called "first pick." The two bowls do work together to find the best fit for competition and fan support.
(2) Despite what you may read on some other boards, the MAC does have two guaranteed bowl births. If the GMAC takes a team other than a MAC school, the MAC is compensated with either a Humanitarian or Silicon Valley Bowl participant. That comes directly from the MAC office, commish & a press release last year. The GMAC Bowl even signed a three-year extension with the MAC six weeks ago, which is a good sign.
(3) As for the Big Ten in the MCB, if Ohio State gets a BCS offer, N'western is in as the opponent sadly. Any Big Ten team at #7 bowl eligible will be taken, should they choose to accept the offer. If Ohio State does not get a BCS bid, the #7 team will be either MSU or Wisconsin, depending on how the Big Ten teams divi-up their bowls.
(4) I would fully expect a GMAC Bowl matchup of Miami vs. either Lo'ville or TCU. Remember, this is the first year of the Ft Worth Bowl, and they may want to keep TCU at home to ensure a good crowd and get that bowl in the black in a hurry.
(5) Extremely sad, with several conferences starting to fill up their slots after this weekend's outcomes, and teams like Syracuse, BC, UConn & Navy available, do not expect a third bowl team from the MAC. Attendance is not the issue here. Putting up the needed money up front to "buy" the bowl birth is though. The Big East has a lot more money and clout to put up $$$ so that one of their schools gets any possible open slot of bowl opportunity. For instance, if a lower tier bowl has a chance to take Syracuse, and also get 'Cuse for one or two home basketball games, then guess who they will take. This is how Cincy got a Humanitarian Bowl birth in the late 1990s. UC B-ball made two trips afterwards to Boise to get that done.
NIU & the BG/Toledo loser will very likley sit at home with a lot of quality victories under their belt. That is wrong, but that is life in the MAC at this time.
It does seem as if the bowls could announce pairings (Miami to one and the BG/U (sic) T winner to the other. We should keep our eyes peeled.
If they don't, it could mean one of two things:
1. The MAC is still in the mix for a third bowl. Getting this done will require negotiations with the GMAC and Motor City. If we don't hear anything, it would seem to mean those talks continue.
2. The MAC isn't in the mix for a third bowl, but the GMAC or Motor City is still eyeing Northern Illinois.
One reason the MAC might still be in the mix for a third bowl could be that the BCS bowls haven't decided whether or not they will take two Big Ten teams. If only one Big Ten team goes, then -- I'm not sure, but does that mean the Motor City can take anyone it wants. If so, this might create room elsewhere in the country for a Northern Illinois.
One scenario that will *not* play out is Northwestern rejecting the chance to play in the Motor City. Randy Walker sounds giddy about the idea of post season play:
"I don't care what anybody says, they deserve it," Walker said. "We are not going to back into anybody's bowl. We deserve to go there and we're playing as good as a whole bunch of teams are right now." :rolleyes:
<a href='http://www.dailynorthwestern.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/11/24/3fc1c38e7ce45' target='_blank'>http://www.dailynorthwestern.com/vnews/dis...4/3fc1c38e7ce45</a>
I think that this is pretty tough on the GMAC, as no doubt they'd like to announce their pairings immediately. OTOH, Miami may prefer the MCB if we get a Wisconsin or MSU, partly due to the fact that we can take far more fans to Detroit than the pre-Xmas GMAC, plus our administration is probably not keen on the team going to the GMAC during finals week. There is also talk on the TCU board (which may or may not have any substance), that Miami only wants to accept an early offer to the GMAC if TCU is the opponent. (vs. UL). I think that rumor may have some merit actually.
I've looked over all the bowl eligible info, and unless some other bowl wants to play Miami, (which isn't likely, mind you), I think the MAC is destined to 2 bowls only. Also, Nick, is there any talk that Miami could figure into a bowl swap and play TCU in Ft. Worth, allowing the GMAC to take NIU now? Also, do you think Miami will "bite" the bullet and take a GMAC offer (if pending, which I think it is) this very week, or will the MAC wait until after the MACC to accept bowl offers???
Nick, I thought that I read somewhere (not on a message board but in a newspaper release when the Big Ten signed with the MCB) that the GMAC and MCB would alternate who gets first choice every year. From what you said above that is incorrect. I am going to assume your statement above in correct, so I apologize for the incorrect information I had.
NIU AD Cary Groth, with the full support and assistance of President Peters, has evidently launched a fairly extensive media campaign to sell NIU as an excellent bowl candidate. In the various reports and interviews I saw, much was made of the need for us to potentially "purchase" a bowl bid, and both Groth and Peters seemed confident that wouldn't be a problem. The overall attitude of everyone directly involved with the program has been upbeat to the point of being bizarre given our situation as regards the two guaranteed bowl berths, to say nothing of the typically reserved attitude of people in the program when dealing with the media. I've really gotten the feeling they know something we don't, and while I trust Nick's insider appraisals, I will be mildly surprised if the MAC ends up with only two bids.
There is a MCB press release I posted at one time from last year I think. Basically, the GMAC and the MCB committed to work together to get the best matchups possible with, normally, the East winner going to the GMAC and the West winner going to the MCB. Having said that, here is my unerringly accurate prediction as to what will happen.
1. The MCB will take the West winner.
2. GMAC will take Miami.
3. Big 12 will send two teams to BCS bowls and will therefore not be able to fulfill their committment to send Big 12 #8 to Ft. Worth.
4. Ft. Worth will make a switcheroo with the Tangering so that Big 12 #7 comes to Ft. Worth to face TCU. Tangerine will take their ACC team and Navy.
5. Miami will face Louisville in GMAC.
I'm willing to bet that Randy's responding to his former coach's (Novak) comments about NU possibly bowling being a travesty when NIU at 10-2 is going.
NIU/NU is the big rumor going around Huskieland. Of course that would mean that the GMAC would end up with the MAC champ, and that's guesswork if they want it announced early. That would also really only be palatable if UT beats BG then loses to Miami.
It sucks that we have to look at undercutting one of our conference brethren to get a bid!!
I think one of the BCS bowls is going to bite on the Buckeyes and invite them, putting NU in Detroit. I also think that the MCB sees this and agrees to let GMAC take Miami to avoid an ugly matchup. If Miami wins the MACC vs. UT, I then would not be surprised to see the MCB invite NIU as the most interesting matchup vs. NU. In that case, I think BG and UT stay home. If BG loses the MACC, then I'd give them a slight edge to get the MCB bid, but again, NIU might still get it. If not, I would not be surprised to see NIU bowl somewhere else, depending on how the auto-bids fall out over the next week or two.
I think UT's only hope to go bowling is to win the MACC.
Then again, I just get on the internet and make stuff up.
I think the speculation here is about as sensible as I've ever seen it.
One other factor that I hope is being considered, is the meetings between the BCS and xBCS. That might have some sway in how a bowl might respond to a 6-6 team.
Frankly, who wants to see a 6-6 team (even if they could buy their way in) when a 10-2 team or 9-3 team is available?
Even if these discussions are in place, that doesn't mean the MAC will get chosen over UConn or Navy. Frankly, the Big East might choose to promote UConn (and put out a few bball games) instead of Syr. That might be a strategy that helps the Big East, while seemingly attempting to alleviate the disparity in college football.
Maybe they are waiting to see if Marshall wins Friday.
I wouldn't count out a possible 8-4 MU team just yet.
HERDitALL Wrote:I wouldn't count out a possible 8-4 MU team just yet.
I already have. :rolleyes:
Yeah, that's what it is...
Jesus, get over yourselves already. The SCORE of your game against UCF didn't even make it into two major metro newspapers (Wash. Post, Chicago Trib), the next day. You ain't as important to the college football world as you think you are...
Should we count out Akron, too? They're 'bowl eligible'!
Actually, you'd think that based on the numbers of Marshall' "traveling fans" and national appeal, that if there is an at large opening then they will get it (esp. over the likes of UConn and Tulsa). If not, it'll be the MAC's fault. (again).
Seriously, though, it doesn't look too good for the MAC to get 3 teams bowling, and I know Miamians are already bummed about the "NW scenario" taking away a possible MCB berth.....facing UL in the GMAC (vs. TCU) only makes it much worse.
HuskieDan Wrote:It sucks that we have to look at undercutting one of our conference brethren to get a bid!!
I agree and I'm very concerned the scenario being worked out behind the scenes is one in which we benefit from BG or UT getting the shaft. We're in a situation where if we fail to go bowling, the recruiting benefit of our season will be completely undermined, so I think we have no choice but to pursue something like this, but it would royally suck if we end up basically stealing someone else's bid.
However, I think there is another "backroom" scenario which is plausible. Miami doesn't want to go to the GMAC due to it's timing and location, but they also don't want the MCB if Northwestern is involved. However, they're the one team which likely HAS to go bowling. The scenario I envision has NIU going to Mobile, and BG/UT to Detroit provided the MAC can get a guarantee from another bowl such as the Motor City, Tangerine, Ft. Worth or Humanitarian to take Miami in such a circumstance.
Flying Corn Wrote:HuskieDan Wrote:It sucks that we have to look at undercutting one of our conference brethren to get a bid!!
I agree and I'm very concerned the scenario being worked out behind the scenes is one in which we benefit from BG or UT getting the shaft. We're in a situation where if we fail to go bowling, the recruiting benefit of our season will be completely undermined, so I think we have no choice but to pursue something like this, but it would royally suck if we end up basically stealing someone else's bid.
However, I think there is another "backroom" scenario which is plausible. Miami doesn't want to go to the GMAC due to it's timing and location, but they also don't want the MCB if Northwestern is involved. However, they're the one team which likely HAS to go bowling. The scenario I envision has NIU going to Mobile, and BG/UT to Detroit provided the MAC can get a guarantee from another bowl such as the Motor City, Tangerine, Ft. Worth or Humanitarian to take Miami in such a circumstance.
The problem, however, is that the GMAC and Motor City are both likely lusting after Miami most of all.
If Miami gets an offer aside from the GMAC and the Motor City, is it legally obligated to refuse it in favor of the GMAC or Motor City? I would think so... and that's the sticky part of this whole thing.
Schadenfreude Wrote:Flying Corn Wrote:HuskieDan Wrote:It sucks that we have to look at undercutting one of our conference brethren to get a bid!!
I agree and I'm very concerned the scenario being worked out behind the scenes is one in which we benefit from BG or UT getting the shaft. We're in a situation where if we fail to go bowling, the recruiting benefit of our season will be completely undermined, so I think we have no choice but to pursue something like this, but it would royally suck if we end up basically stealing someone else's bid.
However, I think there is another "backroom" scenario which is plausible. Miami doesn't want to go to the GMAC due to it's timing and location, but they also don't want the MCB if Northwestern is involved. However, they're the one team which likely HAS to go bowling. The scenario I envision has NIU going to Mobile, and BG/UT to Detroit provided the MAC can get a guarantee from another bowl such as the Motor City, Tangerine, Ft. Worth or Humanitarian to take Miami in such a circumstance.
The problem, however, is that the GMAC and Motor City are both likely lusting after Miami most of all.
If Miami gets an offer aside from the GMAC and the Motor City, is it legally obligated to refuse it in favor of the GMAC or Motor City? I would think so... and that's the sticky part of this whole thing.
I doubt it would be a problem if both bowls felt they had viable alternatives. If the Blade story from last week is to be believed, the GMAC is interested in us and the MCB is likely to benefit from the local interest and increased attendance either UT or BG would bring. Furthermore, as you've pointed out, NU/Miami in the MCB would be a disaster for everyone involved, perhaps even prompting Miami fans to skip the game.
Then again, NU really messes everything up for everyone. We're probably the only team the MCB could pair with them which elicits any interest at all.
Honestly, even as bowl hungry as BG fans are at this point, do you think a BG/NU game is liable to generate much interest outside of the BG faithful? Either way, I'd be willing to bet few of the Mildcat fans would deign to make the trip to Detroit... :rolleyes: