A lot of people, particularly some ECU and Houston fans a reading a line from this article and misinterpreting it:

Along with the six BCS conference champions, there will be four at-large teams selected for the BCS. But the champions of the five non-BCS conferences -- the Mid-American, Mountain West, Sun Belt, Western Athletic and Conference USA -- are guaranteed a spot if they finish in the top 12 of the final BCS poll.

A non-BCS conference champion also can qualify for an at-large bid if it is ranked in the top 15 in the final BCS poll provided it is ranked ahead of a champion from a BCS conference.

Long said the fifth BCS bowl spot will be open to bidders with the Cotton, Citrus and Peach all being likely contenders.

You WOULD NOT get the Big East's BCS bid. If the champion of C-USA finished ahead of the Big East's champion in the BCS standings they WOULDN'T get the at-large bid. If the C-USA champion finished ahead of the Big East, or SEC champion or something they would qualify for an at-large that. That is another qualification. Originally, the only way a non-BCS school could qualify for a BCS bid is to finish in the Top 12, a Top 6 spot guaranteed a spot. Now, not only do you have those qualification, you have a new qualification. If, say West Virginia wins the Big East is ranked #15 and Memphis wins C-USA and is ranked #14 then Memphis would qualify for an at-large spot, they would not take one of the Big Six conferences' at-large bid. Some people think that if their conference champion finishes ahead of the Big East's champion or a "Big Six" conference's champion they would "steal" the Big East's or that conferences BCS bid, that is incorrect. Also, keep in mind, ranking in the Top 12 every year doesn't mean a Top 12 ranking EVERY year. Example, say West Virginia finishes #10 in the BCS rankings this year, which is possible. Then, all a Big East team would have to do is finish #14 next year, and the Big East would average a Top 12 ranking for 2 years.

cat's Claw, you need to go back and read all the information that came out a couple of months ago when the new contract negioations started. The new agreement for 2006 is not done yet but it will include a provision that gives the BCS the right to exclude any team that does not finish in the top 16. Dr Perlman at Nebraska proposed it to avoid having a 7-4 team qualify for the Orange Bowl. While that proposal isn't neccessarily aimed at the Big East it is obvious that it would be the most at risk.
Plus, The new fifth bowl will be hosted by the Big East. You will play the qualifying non BCS team in that game. The political pressures are such that they will put a top 16 finishing non BCS team in that bowl. The Ohio State AD ststed it well, "we lost the PR battle on this." Based on last years finishes the new BCS bowl would have matched West Virginia vs Miami (O). That may not be what you want to hear but it is the reality of the situation. The BCS is being considerably watered down .

cat's Claw, you need to go back and read all the information that came out a couple of months ago when the new contract negioations started. The new agreement for 2006 is not done yet but it will include a provision that gives the BCS the right to exclude any team that does not finish in the top 16. Dr Perlman at Nebraska proposed it to avoid having a 7-4 team qualify for the Orange Bowl. While that proposal isn't neccessarily aimed at the Big East it is obvious that it would be the most at risk.

A lot of the info that came out ther first few weeks were inaccurate. Teams have to finish in the Top 16 or risk losing their bids, but it's not a guarantee. The Big East champion likely would still get an at-large bid. BUT the Big East champion that doesn't finish in the Top 16, if they DO get denied, which I doubt, would likely lose their BCS bid to a Big 12 or SEC at-large. But a lot of the stuff that came out the first week weren't true, the articles that have come out lately have cleared up a lot of the mistakes. Example, people thought that if C-USA or the MWC finished as the 6th best conference they would get an at-large bid to the BCS, that is false.

Plus, The new fifth bowl will be hosted by the Big East.

That's not true, nobody knows WHO will host the 5th bowl. There is a chance of the Gator Bowl getting it, but all signs point towards the Cotton Bowl getting it. The Cotton Bowl wanted to be a BCS bowl badly, and a lot of people were upset it didn't get BCS status.

You will play the qualifying non BCS team in that game.

Not necessarily true. See, that why I'm telling you that a lot of those older articles aren't correct. It was PROPOSED that the NBE play a non-BCS at-large bid, but that has been scrapped because it would effect the alternating bowls. Example, if the Cotton Bowl is tabbed the 5th BCS bowl the Cotton Bowl might not be the host for non-BCS schools every year. And if the Big East champion is attractive enough they might get a Fiesta Bowl bid. Those early articles tabbing the Big East champion vs the non-BCS team was speculation, not necessarily true. People ASSUMED the Big East champion would face a non-BCS at-large simply because the Gator Bowl is favorite to be given BCS status. Now, even if given BCS status, it's not a guarantee that the Big East champion would face a non-BCS at-large. Outside of the Big Ten champion, would is obligated to play in the Rose Bowl if they're not in the national championship game, ANY of the other 5 conference champions might face a non-BCS at-large.

The political pressures are such that they will put a top 16 finishing non BCS team in that bowl. The Ohio State AD ststed it well, "we lost the PR battle on this." Based on last years finishes the new BCS bowl would have matched West Virginia vs Miami (O). That may not be what you want to hear but it is the reality of the situation. The BCS is being considerably watered down .

Again you are wrong. West Virginia WOULDN'T have necessarily faced Miami-OH. Nobody knows how the new BCS set up would be. The NBE champion might face a team like Miami-OH if the Gator Bowl were given BCS status. But since that might not happen there is a chance that a BCS at-large team might face a non-BCS team. Example Texas as an at-large might face a BCS team, and the Big East champion might play in the Fiesta Bowl. Nobody knows. And a non-BCS team finishing in the Top 16 CANNOT qualify for a BCS bid alone. The only way, as of now, a non-BCS can qualify for an at-large bid is:

Finish in the Top 12 to be considered, Top 6 is an automatic bid
Finish ahead of a BCS conference. Example, the Mountaine West champion finishes ranked #14 in the final BCS poll, another conference, say the Pac-10 champion, finishes ranked #15, the Pac-10 keep their automatic bid, the Mountain West champion gets an automatic bid (at-large) for that year.

Cat's Claw...i think we do know how it will be set up. They are going to have to put in a non BCS auto bid team in one spot. If they do that you can bet the kitchen sink that the Big East champ will play that team. This is not a diss but you guys just won't be strong enough to get a better spot. There is a middle position between your detractors and supporters. On the plus side the league is alive and viable, on the negative side it is far from the old big east and will be treated accordingly.

Cat's Claw...i think we do know how it will be set up. They are going to have to put in a non BCS auto bid team in one spot. If they do that you can bet the kitchen sink that the Big East champ will play that team. This is not a diss but you guys just won't be strong enough to get a better spot. There is a middle position between your detractors and supporters. On the plus side the league is alive and viable, on the negative side it is far from the old big east and will be treated accordingly.

You know what the set up is but the BCS members don't? Look, you want the Big East to be treated as a mid-major but that's likely not going to happen. There is nothing set in stone other then the fact that there will be rotating bowls. The Big East champion was set to possibly be a lock to play a non-BCS bid ONLY if the Gator Bowl is given BCS status. If it's not given BCS status then the 5th bowl will possibly be a BCS at-large or they might have a conference champion. It's going to be decided on a yearly basis. Only the Big Ten champion is a lock for a certain bowl (Rose Bowl). No other bowl is going to tie themselves down to a certain bowl. There is a chance that the Cotton Bowl (if given BCS status) might want a BCS at-large team like Texas. Unless you can see into the future you don't KNOW if the Big East can get a better spot. Just because you hope the Big East doesn't get a better spot doesn't make it true.

I don't want the Big East to be treated any particular way. You on the other hand think the league is going to pick up where it left off and that is not realistic. It is in reality , with the losses it has taken, much closer to CUSA and the MWC than it is to the other BCS leagues. That is not a diss by any means but it is realistic.
1. They have already announced that the 5th BCS bowl will be hosted by the Big East
2. They are also leaning towards excluding the new BCS bowl from the championship rotation.
3. They are not going to put the non BCS league team in the Orange Bowl vs Miami or Fla State, that won't happen.

So where will they put them? Hello......they will play the Big East champ in the 5th bowl. There is no other realistic outcome.
The Cotton Bowl won't touch that game.

Cat's_Claw Wrote:A lot of people, particularly some ECU and Houston fans a reading a line from this article and misinterpreting it:

Along with the six BCS conference champions, there will be four at-large teams selected for the BCS. But the champions of the five non-BCS conferences -- the Mid-American, Mountain West, Sun Belt, Western Athletic and Conference USA -- are guaranteed a spot if they finish in the top 12 of the final BCS poll.

A non-BCS conference champion also can qualify for an at-large bid if it is ranked in the top 15 in the final BCS poll provided it is ranked ahead of a champion from a BCS conference.

Long said the fifth BCS bowl spot will be open to bidders with the Cotton, Citrus and Peach all being likely contenders.

You WOULD NOT get the Big East's BCS bid. If the champion of C-USA finished ahead of the Big East's champion in the BCS standings they WOULDN'T get the at-large bid. If the C-USA champion finished ahead of the Big East, or SEC champion or something they would qualify for an at-large that. That is another qualification. Originally, the only way a non-BCS school could qualify for a BCS bid is to finish in the Top 12, a Top 6 spot guaranteed a spot. Now, not only do you have those qualification, you have a new qualification. If, say West Virginia wins the Big East is ranked #15 and Memphis wins C-USA and is ranked #14 then Memphis would qualify for an at-large spot, they would not take one of the Big Six conferences' at-large bid. Some people think that if their conference champion finishes ahead of the Big East's champion or a "Big Six" conference's champion they would "steal" the Big East's or that conferences BCS bid, that is incorrect. Also, keep in mind, ranking in the Top 12 every year doesn't mean a Top 12 ranking EVERY year. Example, say West Virginia finishes #10 in the BCS rankings this year, which is possible. Then, all a Big East team would have to do is finish #14 next year, and the Big East would average a Top 12 ranking for 2 years.

There is no misconception Claw. It's just some sour grapes from a few mid-major fans.

TopCoog Wrote:1. They have already announced that the 5th BCS bowl will be hosted by the Big East
2. They are also leaning towards excluding the new BCS bowl from the championship rotation.
3. They are not going to put the non BCS league team in the Orange Bowl vs Miami or Fla State, that won't happen.

I'm shocked, you're here fabricating your fntasy about the Big East's demise also. Wow, you sure are pathetic! :)

1. They have said nothing of the sort about the Big East hosting the 5th game
2. I have read that the fifth bowl will be a full championship member, no exclusion
3. You won't have to worry about a mid-major making a BCS bowl most years; you aren't guaranteed a bid even if you're in the top 12 you only become eligible.

L-Yes, your brain would fit inside a marble. You have to make every post a confrontation of some sort. I'd love to see your discpline reports from middle school. Relax, everything is OK.
All of those points I made are true. The big topic two weeks ago was the problems they were having agreeing on how to add the fifth bowl. the Rose and others want the title game every four years and not five.
Here is the problem....they have to put the non BCS team somewhere in one of those five bowls. They are going to have NO CHOICE but to match that team up with the Big East champ. It is even logical when you think about it.

TopCoog Wrote:L-Yes, your brain would fit inside a marble. You have to make every post a confrontation of some sort. I'd love to see your discpline reports from middle school. Relax, everything is OK.
All of those points I made are true. The big topic two weeks ago was the problems they were having agreeing on how to add the fifth bowl. the Rose and others want the title game every four years and not five.
Here is the problem....they have to put the non BCS team somewhere in one of those five bowls. They are going to have NO CHOICE but to match that team up with the Big East champ. It is even logical when you think about it.

My brain would fit inside a marble? Your passive agressive stance is confrontational and your middle school "marble" comment is less than mature. None of the points you made are true. Show me articles where any of your speculation is refered to as probable or likely to happen. They don't exist; CUSA won't be given an auto bid should one of it's teams miraculously make a 4 year run ranked in the top 12 and the new BCS bowl will be a full partner in the BCS if the new bowl even happens. Kids like you have been preaching the demise of the Big East for 2 years and every time you're proven wrong you just move on to some other line of nay-saying. :wave:

TopCoog Wrote:I don't want the Big East to be treated any particular way. You on the other hand think the league is going to pick up where it left off and that is not realistic. It is in reality , with the losses it has taken, much closer to CUSA and the MWC than it is to the other BCS leagues. That is not a diss by any means but it is realistic.

It may be closer to the MWC or C-USA as of NOW, but we'll see when recruiting picks up. Logic says South Florida, Louisville and Cincinnati will get better recruits in a higher profile, BCS conference.

1. They have already announced that the 5th BCS bowl will be hosted by the Big East

Where is it stated that the Big East will host a non-BCS team? I haven't seen it anywhere. I saw where they speculated that the Big East champion might play a non-BCS school if the Gator Bowl is given BCS status, but it's highly likely they'll get BCS status. That will probably go to the the Cotton Bowl or potentially the Citrus Bowl.

2. They are also leaning towards excluding the new BCS bowl from the championship rotation.

Yes they are. And did you read the reports? The Top 4 Bowls would go to the Big Six conferences. That's why the New BCS bowl would be left out of the championship rotation. It said in a recent report that the Big Six conferences, Big 12, Big Ten, Big East, ACC, Pac-10 and SEC would go to either the Orange Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Rose Bowl or Sugar Bowl.

3. They are not going to put the non BCS league team in the Orange Bowl vs Miami or Fla State, that won't happen.

I think you're missing my point on the rotating bowl thing. What I means with the rotating bowl thing is that the Big Six conferences will rotate in the Top 4 bowls. Which means the Big East can't be tied to the 5th bowl exclusively.

So where will they put them? Hello......they will play the Big East champ in the 5th bowl. There is no other realistic outcome.
The Cotton Bowl won't touch that game.

Wrong. I don't know if this is sour grapes, as L-yes stated, or you're ill-informed. The bottomline is the the Big East will be in one of the Top 4 Bowls. The reason the Big East champion was considered to be playing a non-BCS school in the Gator Bowl (if it got the BCS bid) because originially the 5th bowl was considered to be part of the bowl rotation. Now, the 5th bowl is likely not going to be part of the bowl rotation so the info you got about the Big East champion in the 5th BCS bowl is outdated.

Here is the problem....they have to put the non BCS team somewhere in one of those five bowls. They are going to have NO CHOICE but to match that team up with the Big East champ. It is even logical when you think about it.

First of all L-yes just said the bowl is likely going to be part of the championship rotation which goes to show you you have read articles EVERYDAY TopCoog. Some of the things you are talking about were written 2 months ago. As for the BCS not having any choice but matching a non-BCS team with a Big East champ that's stupid. There are going to be two new at-large bids available, they could just as easily throw a Big Six "at-large" team in the BCS bowl against a non-BCS team. Or it could be a battle of non-BCS teams in that bowl. Saying that there is no choice but to matchup the Big East against a non-BCS team just sounds more like wishful and hopeful thinking on your part then good, solid facts.

No Cats...its not stupid. Those at large teams are often teams like a 10-2 Texas. They won't play the Big East champ. That matchup simply will not happen. All of those top ten teams will be matched up aganist each other, just as they are now, in the four traditional bowls. The Big East will get the non BCS team, no other realistic way to do it. You can hoot all you want but you know that is going to happen. Supporting your league is one thing...you shgould, being totally unrealistic is another.

No Cats...its not stupid. Those at large teams are often teams like a 10-2 Texas. They won't play the Big East champ. That matchup simply will not happen.

Wrong. That comment is so ridiculous. First of all Texas can't dictate who they play. Second, the Big East is a BCS conference so, yes, they will play the Big East. Just because you view the Big East as mid-major doesn't mean Texas will view it as mid-major, because it's not mid-major.

All of those top ten teams will be matched up aganist each other, just as they are now, in the four traditional bowls. The Big East will get the non BCS team, no other realistic way to do it.

And what makes you think the Big East team won't be a Top 10 or 15 team? The Top 6 conferences are locked into the Top 4 bowls.

You can hoot all you want but you know that is going to happen. Supporting your league is one thing...you shgould, being totally unrealistic is another.

You can whine about the Big East, and complain and try to say it's mid-major, etc., the bottomline is that it is a Top 6 conference, it has an automatic BCS bid, so just get over it already. Unless you're god you DON'T know it's going to happen. Period. Just because you are on your hands and knees praying it'll happen isn't going to make it so. Sorry. Now, if the Citrus Bowl gets it then I could see the Big East getting tied into it. The problem is the 5th bowl isn't automatically going to host a non-BCS school. The 5th bowl is just created to add 2 new at-large bids.

Its not going to be as it is now. It lost all of its football power....hello cat, are you awake. None of the teams finished in the top 25 last year. If you go back four of five season the average is way way way below top 12 amoung new big east teams. this league has an opportunity but it has been severly crippled. If you think they are going to treat you like the big 12 you are sadly mistaken. You know better. Big East vs non BCS team in 5th bowl. That is about the best you can expect.

The BCS bid isn't and automatic bid "IF" the BigEast champion isn't ranked in the top 12 BCS poll the bid could end up going to a MWC/CUSA/MAC team that finishes in the top 12 of the BCS. This was added into the BCS after the Q's made it into a BCS bowl in the 90's by winning the BigEast with a record of like 9-4.

TopCoog Wrote:Its not going to be as it is now. It lost all of its football power....hello cat, are you awake. None of the teams finished in the top 25 last year. If you go back four of five season the average is way way way below top 12 amoung new big east teams. this league has an opportunity but it has been severly crippled. If you think they are going to treat you like the big 12 you are sadly mistaken. You know better. Big East vs non BCS team in 5th bowl. That is about the best you can expect.

Hello Frosgter(TopCoog)! Do you still think the Big East will not invite Cincy to join it's conference? :laugh:

MUHERD Wrote:The BCS bid isn't and automatic bid "IF" the BigEast champion isn't ranked in the top 12 BCS poll the bid could end up going to a MWC/CUSA/MAC team that finishes in the top 12 of the BCS.  This was added into the BCS after the Q's made it into a BCS bowl in the 90's by winning the BigEast with a record of like 9-4.

Wrong again MUHerd. The Big East champ is guaranteed a spot in the BCS. It doesn't matter if they do not rank in the top 12 in the BCS standings. If the Big East champion doesn't average a 12 ranking or better over a four year period then the BCS has the right to reevaluate the Big East's BCS bid but it doesn't mean that CUSA or any other non bcs league will automatically get it's spot. It doesn't even mean that the Big East will lose it's bid, only that the whole situation gets reevaluated. I am sick and tired of morons like Muherd and topcoog posting incorrect info about the BCS.

Its not going to be as it is now. It lost all of its football power....hello cat, are you awake. None of the teams finished in the top 25 last year.

No I'm half asleep because you're starting to bore me. Last year? You mean when Miami AND Virginia Tech were also having down years? Nobody in C-USA finished in the Top 25 last year either (TCU is leaving), so I guess we shouldn't expect to see a C-USA team in a BCS bowl game either right?


If you go back four of five season the average is way way way below top 12 amoung new big east teams. this league has an opportunity but it has been severly crippled.

Same goes for C-USA. You know the difference? The Big East's top teams actually have the run of the place, with a BCS bid.

If you think they are going to treat you like the big 12 you are sadly mistaken. You know better.

Really? So because you don't like the Big East the Big 12 doesn't like it? The Big 12 actually pushed for the Big East to keep their BCS bid now you think they won't play them!? I must be mistaken then because the Big East was given a BCS bid, and the non-BCS teams aren't guaranteed a BCS spot. They have to meet qualifications to get a BCS bid, so how is the Big East guaranteed to play a non-BCS team if that team doesn't qualify? So, using your logic, if none of the non-BCS teams qualify none of the other Big 6 conference teams will play the Big East. Right.

Big East vs non BCS team in 5th bowl. That is about the best you can expect.

HAHAHA! That's the best we can expect! What if we don't get that, they're going to strip the BCS bid from the Big East even though they're guaranteed it? Look, you're just looking like a fool now. You don't have a clue what is going on. The non-BCS schools aren't guaranteed a BCS bid, they have to meet the qualifications. L-yess if right TopCoog, it's nothing but sour grapes. You're ticked because the Big East kept its BCS bid so you're taken to whining about them. There are going to be rotating bowls, outside of the Rose Bowl no conference is truly locked into a bowl. Give it up.

Who said anthing about CUSA??? We are talking about a stripped down Big East and what its prospects might be. You can't improve until you can look at your position realistically.