According to Mid-American conference website from July 23rd...
"Under the terms of the agreement, the GMAC Bowl will have the opportunity to invite a team from either the MAC or WAC to play opposite C-USA in Mobile.
"This partnership gives us an opportunity to broaden our pool of teams, which will further enhance our successful college bowl game," said GMAC Bowl President Jerry Silverstein. "We're very excited to now be associated with the MAC, the WAC and Conference USA."
Should a WAC team be selected for the 2002 GMAC Bowl, the MAC would be guaranteed a berth in either the Silicon Valley Classic (San Jose, CA) or the Crucial.com Humanitatian Bowl (Boise, ID)."
According to the AP yesterday...
"AUGUST 21, 17:40 ET
Big 12 Adds Humanitarian Bowl
DALLAS (AP)
Doc,
There are two articles out this week that announce bowl alliances that may have implications for the MAC. I've posted a couple of them in other threads.
The SVB has announced a lock with the PAC-10, The Humanitarian has announced a lock with the Big-12 both of those are primary WAC bowls. As I understand it, the MAC is a third choice in both bowls behind an at-large team.
What will make the dominioes fall will be a WAC selection to the GMAC...Of course if the GMAC takes an SEC team, that will seal the MAC's fate as a one bowl league (in my opinion).
I think the MAC will get two bowls this year. Three, as has been espoused on this board, is out ot the question in my opinion -- especially this year when 6-6 teams are eligible.
Again, my opinion.
GS.
I believe if the WAC takes our spot in the GMAC, we take their spot in either the Silicon Valley or Humanitarian Bowls. So as long as the Humanitarian Bowl keeps the WAC tie-in, we're ok.
from what I understand, the MAC would be the WAC replacement, not a WAC opponent.
That's true. However, there are several scenerios that could play out.
I don't ever see the WAC giving the SVB to the MAC. The payout is over a million dollars, and it's against a BCS opponent.
So it very well may depend on what WAC teams are bowl elegible. If it's one of their southern teams -- LA Tech, UTEP, Tulsa -- They'd probably take the GMAC.
If it's one of their northern teams -- Nevada, Boise -- They'd probably take the Humanitarian.
Of course, if the GMAC has the chance to match up UAB/Auburn, USM/Ole Miss, USM/MSU, Memphis/Tennessee (OK, that's a stretch) the WAC/MAC deal is out. At least that's my understanding.
Like I say, I think the MAC will get two bowls this year -- three - Never.
GS.
Thanks for clearing things up guys. I guess I may have jumped the gun...
To change this thread a little, anyone else think it is total BS that the Big 12 could have 8 teams going to a bowl game???!!!
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"> To change this thread a little, anyone else think it is total BS that the Big 12 could have 8 teams going to a bowl game???!!! </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yep. Guess some of us (BGSU) will have to do something to keep certain teams from becoming bowl-eligible... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />
We'll see what we can do about those pesky Gators, too!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="tongue.gif" />
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"> We'll see what we can do about those pesky Gators, too!! </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Well, you could try <img border="0" alt="[crying]" title="" src="graemlins/crying.gif" /> or giving them <img border="0" alt="[Drinky]" title="" src="graemlins/drinky.gif" /> ...
<img border="0" alt="[laugh]" title="" src="graemlins/laughing.gif" />
This agreement with the Big12 and the PAC10 forthe visitors spots in the H-Bowl and the SVCB do not effect the agreement or the number of bowls for the MAC. They change the trade offs for the WAC - but the MAC is still gauranteed 2 bowls minimum (unless the GMAC takes a SEC #8 team) - just like before.
If the Big12 filled all their other bowls and had a 6-6 team left over, the H-Bowl would love to invite that team (and it's TV and fans) to Boise. But, if the Big12 team is only barely eligible (6-6), which is likely for an 8th or 9th place team, then they can only accept a bowl invite if the conference has a tie in with that bowl. Therefor, to have any chance at a BCS opponent in either the SVCB or the H-Bowl - they had to tie in.
Ask yourself this:
Would the WAC rather have 2 bowls against BCS teams (like a 6-6 USC and a 6-6 Iowa State) and a Hawaii game against a C-USA team
OR
would they rather have a game against a C-USA team or two (Hawaii and GMAC) and a MAC team or two (SVCB and/or H-Bowl)?
Yes, with these new agreements they would have to trade a slot with the MAC to get the GMAC (IF both the PAC10 #6 and the Big12 #8 are bowl eligible).
If however, either of the BCS conferences fails to have a team available (likely given the concerns about an 8th Big 12 team being eligible at all AND the possibility of the BCS bowls taking 2 Big 12 teams anyway - making it a Big12 #9 team), the WAC is back to trading a VISITORS slot in either the SVCB or the H-Bowl in return for a 4th bowl slot in the GMAC.
The MAC's ONLY possibility of getting left with only 1 bowl game is the same as before the H-Bowl and SVCB made these tie ins with these BCS conferencs: ONLY in the event the GMAC takes an SEC #8 team (same liklihood as the Big12 filling the H-Bowl).
Nothing has changed for the MAC.
And remember, with Alabama on probation, there will likely be one fewer team with a winning record in the SEC who is bowl-eligible.
I really believe Alabama will do some damage in the SEC West.