Ehrhart exploring options for 2006 game

By Ron Higgins
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July 23, 2005

It's nice to be loved.

Having one of the most entertaining matchups of the 2004 bowl season -- a 44-40 Louisville victory over Boise State -- seems to be paying off for the AutoZone Liberty Bowl as executive director Steve Ehrhart seeks teams for the bowl's new contract that starts in 2006.

"The fact that almost every major conference has talked to us, except for the Big Ten, is a tribute to last year's game and the high TV ratings," Ehrhart said. "And having a recognizable name like AutoZone as a sponsor, and a 47-year history of including teams from just about every conference, are also huge positives."

While there has been speculation that the Liberty Bowl will eventually sign an agreement with the Southeastern Conference and either the Atlantic Coast Conference or Big East, Ehrhart said no deals have been done yet and no offers have been made.

The Conference USA agreement with the Liberty Bowl runs out this year, and the Mountain West Conference affiliation expired last year. Ehrhart said though he has talked to several conferences, there's a good chance that this year's Dec. 31 game will have an open wild card spot to face the Conference USA representative.

Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive confirmed on Wednesday that the Liberty Bowl remains a part of the league's bowl negotiations, but he declined to elaborate.

Slive said in early June that he hoped to have all of the conference's bowl contracts, starting with the '06 postseason, done by the start of the SEC's preseason football media days that begin Wednesday in Birmingham. But unless negotiations start breaking the speed limit, that might not happen.

"There are a lot of positives with the SEC, because of all the area alumni ties," Ehrhart said. "But we've had a good relationship with Conference USA and the Mountain West, and there's a new excitement in the Big East with the new teams and new coaches. It seems like every conference we've talked with has some great attributes."

Locally, there's some sentiment that because the University of Memphis is a member of Conference USA, that the Liberty Bowl should remain loyal and re-up with C-USA after this season.

"I haven't felt any pressure about that," Ehrhart said "But I am getting a lot of different opinions, viewpoints and input from people who want to do what's best for the bowl in the long-term future."

Ehrhart wouldn't comment on whether the SEC would agree to playing a Conference USA opponent in the bowl.

There will likely be opposition from several SEC schools, who want to avoid possible in-state post-season matchups, such as Alabama or Auburn vs. Alabama-Birmingham, or Ole Miss or Mississippi State against Southern Miss.

Some C-USA teams annually play SEC teams in the regular season, such as Memphis against Ole Miss, and Southern Mississippi against Alabama. Memphis has also bounced on and off Tennessee's schedule.

Ehrhart said he has no timetable to get an '06 agreement in place, but it might happen sooner than he thinks.

A few days ago, the Big Ten began the first musical chairs dance in the bowl negotiations by adding the Insight Bowl in Tempe, Ariz., and the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando, Fla., starting in '06. After this season, the league will drop the Music City Bowl in Nashville and the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.

-- Ron Higgins: 529-2525

Copyright 2005, commercialappeal.com - Memphis, TN. All Rights Reserved.

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There are some really interesting things in that article, the fact that the LB wouldn't comment on the SEC's relationship with C-USA and whether or not they're attempting to block a C-USA vs SEC showdown in the LB. The fact that they say they feel no pressure to re-up with C-USA because of Memphis. The fact that he talked about his good relationship with C-USA and the MWC and when he got to the Big East just gushed about the new excitement in the conference with the coaches and sounded excited about the Big East. This should be an interesting week or two.

I bet Memphis has already cut a sweetheart deal with the Big East and the Liberty Bowl!

Wilkie01 Wrote:I bet Memphis has already cut a sweetheart deal with the Big East and the Liberty Bowl!

Do you know how absolutely glorious it would be if you were right? :D

Yes, it would be sweet for you guys and the Big East!

I think if we announce that Memphis will be a future member of the BIGEAST, it would be a slam dunk that the LIBERTY BOWL would pit the BE VS. SEC. Just my opinion.

Jim

p.s. It would also be a great bowl.

As I have said in another thread, if Memphis ever gets into a bcs league, I think they will become a very formidable opponent. I say this because of all of the talent in tenn. And becuase of the what the university of tennessee has been able to do for the last 15 years or so. They would start to pickup even more bcs caliber recruits, and with the job that their coach has already done win wise, memphis could get really good really fast.

Memphis fans have been saying we're a sleeping giant for... decades, really.

The giant started rustling when Tommy West was hired, and his eyes started opening the past couple of years.

edit: dunno why the personal attack was felt necessary here.

JIM15068 Wrote:I think if we announce that Memphis will be a future member of the BIGEAST, it would be a slam dunk that the LIBERTY BOWL would pit the BE VS. SEC.&nbsp; Just my opinion.

Jim

p.s. It would also be a great bowl.

I think Big East/SEC is already happening without Memphis. This whole Memphis movement started by you and wilkie should have been going on 3 years ago instead of now if you were pining for the Liberty Bowl. As it turns out it may happen without them. I'm also not so sure that having Memphis in the league make the Liberty attractive to the SEC. Unlike Louisville who's in-state SEC program is on an island Memphis resides in the heart quite literally of SEC country. Those programs who count on the city for recruits and fans probably won't be chomping at the bit for u memphis no matter the conference they are affiliated with.

I think none of know what is happening L-Yes, including you! We are just discussing possiblities. You need to chill and respect other peoples opinions. After all they are just as valid as yours until proven wrong.

Wilkie01 Wrote:I think none of know what is happening L-Yes, including you! We are just discussing possiblities. You need to chill and respect other peoples opinions. After all they are just as valid as yours until proven wrong.

I'm just discussing as well wilkie. Relax.

Ok

L-yes Wrote:

JIM15068 Wrote:I think if we announce that Memphis will be a future member of the BIGEAST, it would be a slam dunk that the LIBERTY BOWL would pit the BE VS. SEC.  Just my opinion.

Jim

p.s. It would also be a great bowl.

I think Big East/SEC is already happening without Memphis. This whole Memphis movement started by you and wilkie should have been going on 3 years ago instead of now if you were pining for the Liberty Bowl. As it turns out it may happen without them. I'm also not so sure that having Memphis in the league make the Liberty attractive to the SEC.<span style='color:red'> Unlike Louisville who's in-state SEC program is on an island Memphis resides in the heart quite literally of SEC country. Those programs who count on the city for recruits and fans probably won't be chomping at the bit for u memphis no matter the conference they are affiliated with.</span>

After read a few articles about SEC teams don’t want to play C-USA team or teams in that region in LB because the harm that it would do to their recruiting yet we still have BE fans pushing Memphis. Do they want to guarantee BE will have no part in LB vs. SEC? At lease L-yes can see the harm.

The success of a bowl game is measured by just a few things.

1. Attendance. Are tickets sold, and seats sat in?

2. Hotels and retail. Are hotel rooms filled? Are restaurants filled? Are shops getting extra business? Are tourist attractions in the area getting extra business?

3. Television. Is the game watched? This drives future TV deals.

Are there any others?

If you're the Liberty Bowl, then why would you want Memphis to play in your bowl? It might help with #1. But it doesn't help #2. And #3? Probably neutral.

I think the SEC's concerns are valid. What's so compelling about Alabama vs UAB ? or Tenn vs Memphis? The SEC has been trying to keep these second tier schools in the second tier for years. I don't see them wanting to give legitimacy to CUSA programs.

SEC vs Big East makes more sense. Either in the LB or the MCB. Bowls vs non-BCS teams have to be at the bottom of the barrel. They need to be your lowest bowl, not your #3.