(07-14-2019 12:30 PM)TexanMark Wrote:  

(07-14-2019 12:07 PM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  

(07-14-2019 10:46 AM)TexanMark Wrote:  

(07-13-2019 07:29 PM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  

(07-13-2019 05:59 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  Yes, but getting in a car and driving 3 hours is a pain in the arse after flying.

It’s worse being stuck at an airport for 7 hours for a connecting flight especially if you have kids. There’s few flights to/from Shreveport so the connecting flights take a little longer compared to medium/large airports.

It’s 3 hours not six. Totally doable and worth it if you want to save money.

I agree. I'd rather get in a rental car than wait for a connecting flight. Three hours is nothing.

I’ve done it multiple times. When UTEP played at Memphis in our first year in C-USA, I flew to Little Rock on Southwest and drove to Memphis on a rental (I was going to get a rental regardless if I flew directly to Memphis so it’s not included as an additional expense). I saved about $250 doing that. That was a time when Northwest had a monopoly in their Memphis hub and Southwest didn’t fly there. Memphis was an expensive airport to fly to/from. I’ve done the same thing when I’ve gone to Tucson (Phoenix), Colorado Springs (Denver), Palm Springs (LAX), Mobile (NOLA), Sacramento (SFO), Toronto (Detroit or Buffalo), Bloomington, IN (Louisville instead of Indianapolis) and State College (Pittsburgh).

I know people who use DFW and Love Field instead of their local airport in Waco, Abilene, Wichita Falls, Tyler/Longview, Texarkana even Oklahoma City. I’m sure quo knows people in Baton Rouge and Lafayette who would rather drive to NOLA for the savings and the multiple options it offers.

I'm lucky right now. Allegiant offers me non-stop flights beween FL and Syracuse. I can cheaply fly between my home and summer place. The planes have pretty high capacity too so it should be around for awhile.

If you are military or a veteran they have special deals for you.

https://www.allegiantair.com/military-discount

Allegiant serves underrated markets by flying directly to mostly secondary airports. I have a good friend in El Paso who took his family to Orlando and he says the price made a difference plus it was just a 3.5 hour nonstop flight and saved money by not having a connecting flight which means the kids will be hungry by then and airport food is usually expensive.

Sure, they nickel you and dime you but if people just read the terms and conditions they won’t be shocked for additional fees at the airport. Besides who wants airline food anyway?

That’s why I laugh when people say Shreveport/Indy Bowl is hard to get to and expensive. It is if you don’t look at other options.

(07-13-2019 10:53 AM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  Am I the only one who doesn’t find Shreveport undesirable?

I’ve been there a few times and never had a bad experience. It’s not NOLA or Las Vegas but I’d rather go to Shreveport for a bowl game than Little Rock or Tulsa (if they had one).

I can see the issue of flying there though. Shreveport is not an easy place to fly to/from. But DFW and Love Field are just 3 hours away.

I've lived in both Shreveport and Little Rock and I could point you to a MUCH better time in Little Rock but if you were just stumbling into town for the game, you would have a really good time in Shreveport, especially if you like casinos. The riverwalk and casinos are really handy for fan events while Little Rock's Rivermarket is great it isn't as EVENT friendly.

Truth of the matter is there are people who malign Shreveport who you can find going there fairly regularly.

It could be a GREAT G5 bowl because you have so many AAC, CUSA, Sun Belt schools within an easy day's drive.

If someone ever wanted to create a showcase bowl that picked from a pool of G5's
You have five Sun Belt within 7 hours (barely misses being six), five AAC within 7 hours and six CUSA

It's like Santa has received my wish list.

- [x] New President (bonus: alumni)
--- [x] New AD (bonus: alumni and letterwinner)
------ [x] New FB coach (bonus: O'Leary 3.0)
--------- [x] Completely overhaul recruiting
------ [x] New baseball coach (everybody other than Danny Hall has been hired in the last 18 months)
------ [_] New basketball coach
- [x] No more Shreveport or Detroit bowl affiliations in the ACC
- [_] Highly lucrative ACCN launch


While this baby is on a roll, let me pencil in some more requests, but more unreasonable.
- Beat Clemson to open the ACCN
- Swap BC/Cuse/Pitt/Wake for Auburn/TN/UGAg/Florida

(07-14-2019 08:22 AM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  

(07-14-2019 07:25 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(07-13-2019 07:29 PM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  

(07-13-2019 05:59 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(07-13-2019 11:27 AM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  Flying to Dallas is way cheaper than Shreveport and there’s more flight options. Especially if you’re flying with family.

Based on the last matchup (Duke vs Temple) fares between 12/25 and 12/27 (the game this year is on 12/26) from Raleigh to Shreveport on Delta is $368 RT with a 7 hour layover in Atlanta. If you’re flying American or United is $503. Dallas? 272.....nonstop. From Philadelphia is $388 on Delta with a 8 hour layover in ATL. It’s $548 on United with a stop in Houston and $579 on American with a stop in Charlotte. DFW? $222.....nonstop.

That makes a huge difference if you’re flying with the wife and probably the kids. Even renting a car and driving the 3 hours to Shreveport is worth the savings.

Yes, but getting in a car and driving 3 hours is a pain in the arse after flying.

It’s worse being stuck at an airport for 7 hours for a connecting flight especially if you have kids. There’s few flights to/from Shreveport so the connecting flights take a little longer compared to medium/large airports.

It’s 3 hours not six. Totally doable and worth it if you want to save money.

First, the cost of renting a car is going to eat in to those $300 in flight savings pretty significantly.

Second, I think you are missing my point. I'm not comparing flying in to Dallas and then driving 3 hours to Shreveport with flying in to Dallas and then waiting seven hours for a connecting flight to Shreveport.

I'm comparing flying in to Dallas and then driving 3 hours to Shreveport with .... staying far away at home and watching the game on TV. To me, flying to Dallas, then renting a car to drive to Shreveport is way more hassle than I need for something like the Independence Bowl. My son would have to be playing in the game for me to do that.

I’m not missing anything. You just like to argue for the sake of argument.

You’re renting a car regardless if you’re flying directly to Shreveport or Dallas. Just because you won’t do it doesn’t mean other people won’t pass on the savings. For a family of four that’s a difference on savings between $400-$1200 especially on such a short notice and on Christmas.

I'm all in favor of savings, and if I was traveling by myself, I'd do what you suggest, fly in to Dallas and then drive to Shreveport. But ... with wife and kids? Kids stuck in the car for 3 long hours on I-20 after the hassle of flying? Remember, those kids got up, got dressed, got in the car, drove to airport, went through all the airport crap, got on plane, flew on plane, then all the crap of disembarking, getting baggage, dealing with rental car, then ..... when they are exhausted after 5-6 hours of air travel and ready to chill .... we got a 3 hour drive to Shreveport!

What's the Pot O' Gold at the end of that long anti-rainbow? Not Disney World ... Bossier City!

Same with my wife - if she knew I was sacrificing her comfort, making her make that drive, to save money, she'd be ... grouchy, LOL. So you have to balance cost savings with family happiness.

No thanks.

And no, you're not necessarily renting a car if you fly to Shreveport. There are things called Uber and public transportation to get around a city.

I usually only rent a car if I plan to be driving out of the city some distance to see sights. But there's nothing within 50 miles of Shreveport to see, so no need there.

FWIW, Shreveport for me is a 3.5 hour drive, up from Baton Rouge. I've made the drive a couple of times, the last to see The Eagles in concert a few years ago. For a guy or group of guys, no problemo. But my wife passed on the concert just for that reason. Sad, as it turned out to be Glenn Frey's last show before he passed.

(07-13-2019 04:12 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(07-13-2019 04:00 PM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  CUSA first selection I think would have some value.

That would mean CUSA West most of the time.

MAC first selection might work too. They said they want to commit to 6 bowl games but have not signed the games in Alabama. They could let CUSA have one of the Alabama games.

The date is especially attractive compared to some of the other games and it has tradition, over 45 years plus is played in a 48,000 seat stadium.

I’d be thrilled to send the MAC champion to a bowl with as much tradition as the Independence Bowl. As good as you can ask for.

I completely agree! Shreveport is a nice place. The bowl game has rich history. It would be nice to send our CCG winner there guaranteed. A game for the MAC Champions after Christmas, often close to New Year's would be a great setup!

It does not appear the I-Bowl will be able to sign a P5 to this bowl cycle. So, I hope the I-Bowl signs C-USA and the AAC to play in this bowl. It is one of the older Bowls and has good history and name recognition. It would be a solid destination for all of the teams in C-USA West (North Texas, Rice, LA Tech, Southern Miss, UAB, UTEP, and UTSA), and most of the programs in the AAC West (Memphis, Houston, SMU, Tulane, and Tulsa).

I think the Independence Bowl as an AAC vs C-USA match up would be nice. Sure the Independence Bowl would probably like P5s but sometimes you have to play the hand you're dealt.

(07-14-2019 01:57 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(07-14-2019 08:22 AM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  

(07-14-2019 07:25 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(07-13-2019 07:29 PM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  

(07-13-2019 05:59 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  Yes, but getting in a car and driving 3 hours is a pain in the arse after flying.

It’s worse being stuck at an airport for 7 hours for a connecting flight especially if you have kids. There’s few flights to/from Shreveport so the connecting flights take a little longer compared to medium/large airports.

It’s 3 hours not six. Totally doable and worth it if you want to save money.

First, the cost of renting a car is going to eat in to those $300 in flight savings pretty significantly.

Second, I think you are missing my point. I'm not comparing flying in to Dallas and then driving 3 hours to Shreveport with flying in to Dallas and then waiting seven hours for a connecting flight to Shreveport.

I'm comparing flying in to Dallas and then driving 3 hours to Shreveport with .... staying far away at home and watching the game on TV. To me, flying to Dallas, then renting a car to drive to Shreveport is way more hassle than I need for something like the Independence Bowl. My son would have to be playing in the game for me to do that.

I’m not missing anything. You just like to argue for the sake of argument.

You’re renting a car regardless if you’re flying directly to Shreveport or Dallas. Just because you won’t do it doesn’t mean other people won’t pass on the savings. For a family of four that’s a difference on savings between $400-$1200 especially on such a short notice and on Christmas.

I'm all in favor of savings, and if I was traveling by myself, I'd do what you suggest, fly in to Dallas and then drive to Shreveport. But ... with wife and kids? Kids stuck in the car for 3 long hours on I-20 after the hassle of flying? Remember, those kids got up, got dressed, got in the car, drove to airport, went through all the airport crap, got on plane, flew on plane, then all the crap of disembarking, getting baggage, dealing with rental car, then ..... when they are exhausted after 5-6 hours of air travel and ready to chill .... we got a 3 hour drive to Shreveport!

What's the Pot O' Gold at the end of that long anti-rainbow? Not Disney World ... Bossier City!

Same with my wife - if she knew I was sacrificing her comfort, making her make that drive, to save money, she'd be ... grouchy, LOL. So you have to balance cost savings with family happiness.

No thanks.

And no, you're not necessarily renting a car if you fly to Shreveport. There are things called Uber and public transportation to get around a city.

I usually only rent a car if I plan to be driving out of the city some distance to see sights. But there's nothing within 50 miles of Shreveport to see, so no need there.

FWIW, Shreveport for me is a 3.5 hour drive, up from Baton Rouge. I've made the drive a couple of times, the last to see The Eagles in concert a few years ago. For a guy or group of guys, no problemo. But my wife passed on the concert just for that reason. Sad, as it turned out to be Glenn Frey's last show before he passed.

Again, is it any better being stuck at ATL, CLT, DFW or IAH for up to 8 hours waiting for that connecting flight to SHV? Remember we’re talking about SHV which has very limited flight options. The kids would hate the airport more than the car. Yes, you can do Uber instead of a rental but it starts adding up if you use it a lot. You can get a three-day rental for less than $150. Now if we’re talking NYC, Vegas, SF then a rental is not necessary especially in NYC.

We just agree to disagree, quo.

(07-14-2019 05:07 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  I think the Independence Bowl as an AAC vs C-USA match up would be nice. Sure the Independence Bowl would probably like P5s but sometimes you have to play the hand you're dealt.

C-USA #1 vs MWC #1 would be nice. C-USA #1 vs AAC #1 or 2 would be nice as well. The MWC just got kicked out of Las Vegas and they’re going to be in the new L.A. bowl. I’m sure they’d be interested in the I-Bowl

Maybe it would be a good place to move the MAC champ vs SBC champ bowl. For what Shreveport lacks as a destination it makes up for with its history.

(07-14-2019 01:30 PM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  While this baby is on a roll, let me pencil in some more requests, but more unreasonable.
- Swap BC/Cuse/Pitt/Wake for Auburn/TN/UGAg/Florida

You convince Auburn, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida to join the ACC and they should fire Swofford and make you the new commissioner on the spot, no questions asked.

(07-14-2019 06:11 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(07-14-2019 01:30 PM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  While this baby is on a roll, let me pencil in some more requests, but more unreasonable.
- Swap BC/Cuse/Pitt/Wake for Auburn/TN/UGAg/Florida

You convince Auburn, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida to join the ACC and they should fire Swofford and make you the new commissioner on the spot, no questions asked.

If Swofford is the bar to clear that action makes sense regardless.

(07-14-2019 05:10 PM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  

(07-14-2019 05:07 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  I think the Independence Bowl as an AAC vs C-USA match up would be nice. Sure the Independence Bowl would probably like P5s but sometimes you have to play the hand you're dealt.

C-USA #1 vs MWC #1 would be nice. C-USA #1 vs AAC #1 or 2 would be nice as well. The MWC just got kicked out of Las Vegas and they’re going to be in the new L.A. bowl. I’m sure they’d be interested in the I-Bowl

Turn the clock back why don't you to 2000 with both champs playing in the Liberty Bowl.

I believe the MWC can only sign 6 tie-ins. Los Angeles, Hawaii, New Mexico, Potato and Arizona are 5 solid commits. Then after that you might be talking about Frisco and First Responder for some slots.

It's a miserable place to go to a bowl game.

It has a lot of great history but dang it sucks to be there.

Never forget, it used to be the weed-eater bowl.

(07-14-2019 05:29 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Maybe it would be a good place to move the MAC champ vs SBC champ bowl. For what Shreveport lacks as a destination it makes up for with its history.

The MAC champ doesn't play the SBC champ but it volunteers its "first selection" to the game in Mobile which is normally the champ.

The SBC supplies any of its bowl eligible teams to play the MAC not its first selection.

I feel like the Cotton Bowl used to have a specific tie-in with the SEC West. It would make a lot of sense for more bowls to create that kind of arrangement. A pool of the AAC, C-USA, and Sun Belt West teams makes too much sense.

(07-14-2019 01:00 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(07-13-2019 10:53 AM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  Am I the only one who doesn’t find Shreveport undesirable?

I’ve been there a few times and never had a bad experience. It’s not NOLA or Las Vegas but I’d rather go to Shreveport for a bowl game than Little Rock or Tulsa (if they had one).

I can see the issue of flying there though. Shreveport is not an easy place to fly to/from. But DFW and Love Field are just 3 hours away.

I've lived in both Shreveport and Little Rock and I could point you to a MUCH better time in Little Rock but if you were just stumbling into town for the game, you would have a really good time in Shreveport, especially if you like casinos. The riverwalk and casinos are really handy for fan events while Little Rock's Rivermarket is great it isn't as EVENT friendly.

Truth of the matter is there are people who malign Shreveport who you can find going there fairly regularly.

It could be a GREAT G5 bowl because you have so many AAC, CUSA, Sun Belt schools within an easy day's drive.

If someone ever wanted to create a showcase bowl that picked from a pool of G5's
You have five Sun Belt within 7 hours (barely misses being six), five AAC within 7 hours and six CUSA

This could be a really good place for a champ vs champ G5 bowl.

SBC has AState and the Louisiana schools. But they are maxed out at 5 tie-ins since its a small conference.

CUSA has quite a few more that could travel. UNT, LaTech, USM, MTSU, UAB, WKU.

So does the AAC. It might make sense to rotate it with the Frisco Bowl. A MWC/CUSA/AAC/MAC rotation of 3 slots a piece.

(07-14-2019 08:37 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(07-14-2019 01:00 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(07-13-2019 10:53 AM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  Am I the only one who doesn’t find Shreveport undesirable?

I’ve been there a few times and never had a bad experience. It’s not NOLA or Las Vegas but I’d rather go to Shreveport for a bowl game than Little Rock or Tulsa (if they had one).

I can see the issue of flying there though. Shreveport is not an easy place to fly to/from. But DFW and Love Field are just 3 hours away.

I've lived in both Shreveport and Little Rock and I could point you to a MUCH better time in Little Rock but if you were just stumbling into town for the game, you would have a really good time in Shreveport, especially if you like casinos. The riverwalk and casinos are really handy for fan events while Little Rock's Rivermarket is great it isn't as EVENT friendly.

Truth of the matter is there are people who malign Shreveport who you can find going there fairly regularly.

It could be a GREAT G5 bowl because you have so many AAC, CUSA, Sun Belt schools within an easy day's drive.

If someone ever wanted to create a showcase bowl that picked from a pool of G5's
You have five Sun Belt within 7 hours (barely misses being six), five AAC within 7 hours and six CUSA

This could be a really good place for a champ vs champ G5 bowl.

I think every G5 conference is going to be interested except for the SBC because they are full.

CUSA/AAC for backyard reasons. MWC/MAC to get slots in a Louisiana bowl game.

It might get too stale if only 2 conferences are involved with it.

(07-14-2019 08:47 PM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  

(07-14-2019 08:37 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(07-14-2019 01:00 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(07-13-2019 10:53 AM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  Am I the only one who doesn’t find Shreveport undesirable?

I’ve been there a few times and never had a bad experience. It’s not NOLA or Las Vegas but I’d rather go to Shreveport for a bowl game than Little Rock or Tulsa (if they had one).

I can see the issue of flying there though. Shreveport is not an easy place to fly to/from. But DFW and Love Field are just 3 hours away.

I've lived in both Shreveport and Little Rock and I could point you to a MUCH better time in Little Rock but if you were just stumbling into town for the game, you would have a really good time in Shreveport, especially if you like casinos. The riverwalk and casinos are really handy for fan events while Little Rock's Rivermarket is great it isn't as EVENT friendly.

Truth of the matter is there are people who malign Shreveport who you can find going there fairly regularly.

It could be a GREAT G5 bowl because you have so many AAC, CUSA, Sun Belt schools within an easy day's drive.

If someone ever wanted to create a showcase bowl that picked from a pool of G5's
You have five Sun Belt within 7 hours (barely misses being six), five AAC within 7 hours and six CUSA

This could be a really good place for a champ vs champ G5 bowl.

I think every G5 conference is going to be interested except for the SBC because they are full.

CUSA/AAC for backyard reasons. MWC/MAC to get slots in a Louisiana bowl game.

It might get too stale if only 2 conferences are involved with it.

According to Aresco, the AAC is full as well. That was the reason he gave about a month ago for turning down a spot vs the Big 10 in the Quick Lanes Bowl. Best I can tell, the AAC has just a couple of locked in bowls (Military, Fenway, and apparently rotating slots in Birmingham and St Pete)--and the rest of our teams have been pledged to some ESPN Bowl pool.