BullsFanInTX
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RE: Aresco speaks about AAC bowls
(07-01-2013 11:33 AM)quo vadis Wrote: (07-01-2013 10:28 AM)johnbragg Wrote: Another thing I keep forgetting--there were a lot of accounts that Aresco was instrumental in getting the Access Bowl put together. (Of course that was before Boise left.) I think that counts as pulling a rabbit out of his hat--problem is the rabbit got away?
And I don't think the Liberty Bowl will have much trouble selling tickets to an SEC vs Big 12 matchup. Anything they lose in local ticket sales (and I'm skeptical that Memphis football has that much pull in Memphis, or the attendance wouldn't be what it had been--you can argue the point all you like, I'll still be skeptical) they make up in Kansas State or Texas Tech fans coming in.
My recollection was that originally, Aresco tried to keep the AAC in the access bowl mix as an auto-bid. It was the C-USA Chair who lobbied for a G5 access spot, Aresco later jumped in and tried to take credit for that.As for the Liberty Bowl, I think it boils down to strictly what the SEC wants. If the SEC wants it, the Liberty Bowl will sign with them. IMO, only the most wishful-thinking Memphis fans can believe that the Liberty Bowl, with its 50 year history with the SEC and located within a few hours of 5 SEC programs, would actually turn down the SEC in favor of Memphis and the AAC.
You're wrong about that. Aresco headed it up.
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07-01-2013 11:50 AM |
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b0ndsj0ns
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RE: Aresco speaks about AAC bowls
(07-01-2013 11:38 AM)quo vadis Wrote: (07-01-2013 10:45 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote: I think Memphis football has better pull than you think, and I think the University as a whole has a lot of pull within the city. If the University and all Memphis fans made a real stink about it that would not be insignificant. Could it be made up for with visiting fans? Possibly, but boycotting local sponsors of the bowl, the parade, all events with the bowl, and the university no longer supporting the bowl or it's sponsors would absolutely matter.
OK, but do you really truly think that the Liberty Bowl, knee-deep in SEC territory, with a LONG history of SEC involvement (SEC teams have appeared in the LB far more than any other conference, including in the first game), and within easy driving distance of 5 SEC programs, would pick the AAC over the SEC?
IIRC, Memphis has never, ever played in the Liberty Bowl! That's some commitment there, eh?
Do I think they would pick the AAC over the SEC straight up? No I don't, but I don't know what the SEC is offering and how badly they want it. If they want it badly they will have it, but clearly they don't or they'd have already announced it. Also while Memphis has never played in the game that bowl has been tied to either the independent collection of schools that included Memphis or Memphis' conference for about 20 years so they obviously have viewed some importance in being associated with Memphis University.
(This post was last modified: 07-01-2013 12:00 PM by b0ndsj0ns.)
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07-01-2013 11:58 AM |
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johnbragg
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RE: Aresco speaks about AAC bowls
(07-01-2013 11:58 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote: (07-01-2013 11:38 AM)quo vadis Wrote: (07-01-2013 10:45 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote: I think Memphis football has better pull than you think, and I think the University as a whole has a lot of pull within the city. If the University and all Memphis fans made a real stink about it that would not be insignificant. Could it be made up for with visiting fans? Possibly, but boycotting local sponsors of the bowl, the parade, all events with the bowl, and the university no longer supporting the bowl or it's sponsors would absolutely matter.
OK, but do you really truly think that the Liberty Bowl, knee-deep in SEC territory, with a LONG history of SEC involvement (SEC teams have appeared in the LB far more than any other conference, including in the first game), and within easy driving distance of 5 SEC programs, would pick the AAC over the SEC?
IIRC, Memphis has never, ever played in the Liberty Bowl! That's some commitment there, eh?
Do I think they would pick the AAC over the SEC straight up? No I don't, but I don't know what the SEC is offering and how badly they want it.
I think that, with a Big 12 tie-in on the other side, the Liberty moves up into a tier with the Gator, Belk, Music City, and (probably) Houston bowls. So the SEC can pretty much guarantee the Liberty Bowl a team say 5 years out of 6. Wikipedia shows an SEC team in the Liberty 6 of the past 7 years. On the one hand, 14 SEC teams > 12 SEC teams, on the other hand, more SEC teams will be in the CFP bowls than in BCS bowls.
Quote:If they want it badly they will have it, but clearly they don't or they'd have already announced it.
As far as I can tell, the SEC hasn't announced anything with anybody, except for the Sugar Bowl.
http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2013/0...or_ti.html says "The SEC will be tied again to the Sugar, Gator, Capital One, Outback, Music City, Liberty and Compass Bowls."
Quote:Also while Memphis has never played in the game that bowl has been tied to either the independent collection of schools that included Memphis or Memphis' conference for about 20 years so they obviously have viewed some importance in being associated with Memphis University.
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07-01-2013 12:30 PM |
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Gray Avenger
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RE: Aresco speaks about AAC bowls
(07-01-2013 11:16 AM)johnbragg Wrote: I dont think "UM : City of Memphis" = "UTEP : El Paso" or "NHL : Canada" or "Browns : Cleveland."
There are fans and alumni from a lot schools in Memphis, with Ole Miss and Tennessee being most numerous from outside. . The Commercial Appeal newspaper conducted a poll about 7 years ago which showed that there are more Tiger fans in the county than Tennessee, Ole Miss and Arkansas combined.
By the way, Memphis has never played in the Liberty Bowl, but during the first 30 years that it was here, owner and founder Bud Dudley (a Notre Dame alum) was dead set against inviting the Tigers. Soon after the reigns were turned over, the Liberty Bowl formed a coalition with the schools which founded C-USA, which has proven to be more than satisfactory. Unfortunately for UofM, since then, we have yet to win the conference - nobody's fault but our own.
Tiger fans consititute about 15 to 20 % of Liberty Bowl crowds. Personally, I never once bought a ticket to the Liberty Bowl during the Dudley era, and haven't missed a single game since they became our friend.
(This post was last modified: 07-01-2013 02:55 PM by Gray Avenger.)
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07-01-2013 02:49 PM |
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