Sun Belt gets second bowl

[TuffGuy84]

_ Although this is outstanding news, your statement is a little off. By the GMAC getting the 2nd choice of Sunbelt schools, it in NO WAY guarantees that finishing #2 in the Sunbelt will get you in. If Middle Tenn wins the conference next year, the Cajuns come in second at 9-3, with Troy in third at 7-5, you can bet your sweet ___ that the GMAC is taking Troy over us. They get 2nd choice of ALL bowl eligible teams in the conference, but are not obligated to take the #2 team.

Just like when the Whogivesa____ Bowl picked FAU over us in 08.

We need to get rid of this bowl crap anyway and start a playoff. It's going to happen someday so why keep waiting. I think I've watched a grand total of about an hour and a half of bowl games combined this year. Of course, I will be tuned in Thursday, but Geeez this other crap is boring. _

I understand that they get the #2 pick, but in 2005, we were the only team with a winning record in the SBC to not get an invite, and in 2008, the GMAC bowl would have had the option of taking UL, ASU, or FAU or working a deal with the NO bowl to get Troy. Regardless of the situation of whether it was GMAC or New Orleans, I think both of those bowls would have chosen us over FAU due to the fact that we would actually send fans to the game. The Motor City bowl knew that whoever they chose out of FAU, UL, ASU, or San Jose wouldn't send almost any fans so they chose the biggest market which was Miami.

If UL happened to be #2 in the belt at 9-3, I'll guarantee that we're going to a bowl game even if the GMAC skips on us because I don't see a situation with the current format where a 9-3 team gets left out. The point is, if we position ourselves consistently in the top 2 of the conference, eventually we're bound to be in a bowl.

[Hammer58]

_ After the 2 or 3 money games each year usually you end up 0-2 or 0-3 so that means you have to go 8-2 or 8-1. Basically you have to run the table almost. It hasnt happened yet and with this coach it wont happen. _

Difficult and never are two different things.

[zephyr]

_ Wont happen _

The eternal optimist.

[zephyr]

_ After the 2 or 3 money games each year usually you end up 0-2 or 0-3 so that means you have to go 8-2 or 8-1. Basically you have to run the table almost. It hasnt happened yet and with this coach it wont happen. _

No you don't. The main number is 6 wins. That gets you bowl eligible and from there you have at least a shot. 7 wins would likely be the sweet spot. We don't always have OOC games like we do this upcoming year. This upcoming year will be one of our most difficult OOC schedules we've had in some time. We do usually have 2 money games that are likely losses but we have had quite a few years where 2 other games are either wins are against evenly matched teams. The 2007 debacle saw us play games against South Carolina, Tenn, Ohio, Mcneese and UCF. We would lose one of those OOC games now because of WKU's entry into the SBC play. Also, if you manage 2 OOC wins, why is it not possible to go 6-2 in conference. We went 4-4 this year with a young team on offense and a couple of really poor showings. If it was possible this year, it will certainly be possible next year.

[BirdofParadise]

_ I understand that they get the #2 pick, but in 2005, we were the only team with a winning record in the SBC to not get an invite, and in 2008, the GMAC bowl would have had the option of taking UL, ASU, or FAU or working a deal with the NO bowl to get Troy. Regardless of the situation of whether it was GMAC or New Orleans, I think both of those bowls would have chosen us over FAU due to the fact that we would actually send fans to the game. The Motor City bowl knew that whoever they chose out of FAU, UL, ASU, or San Jose wouldn't send almost any fans so they chose the biggest market which was Miami.

If UL happened to be #2 in the belt at 9-3, I'll guarantee that we're going to a bowl game even if the GMAC skips on us because I don't see a situation with the current format where a 9-3 team gets left out. The point is, if we position ourselves consistently in the top 2 of the conference, eventually we're bound to be in a bowl. _

I'll even go a step farther.

If Middle Tennessee wins the league at 8-4, Troy finishes second, also at 8-4 and the Cajuns are 7-5, MTSU would be in the GMAC, the Cajuns would be in New Orleans and Troy would be in the at-large pool. The champion is assured a bowl bid. New Orleans would want the Cajuns so badly that Middle would wind up in Mobile.

It has nothing to do with conference standings.

Also, remember that there will be a vote in April 2010 on a new bowl in Orlando. It would be the Cure Bowl, with the charity being the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. (It happens to be my favorite charity, having lost my mother to the disease when I was sixteen.) This game would pit an SBC team (with preference given to the Florida schools) against a CUSA team. Because of the charity involved, I expect it to be approved. The game would be at UCF's Stadium. Tentative date is 12/18/10. That would give the SBC THREE automatics which means 6-6 probably wouldn't get left out any longer unless the SBC had three 7 win schools.

[jllanclos]

We should petition the NCAA for the Lafayette bowl, which would give preferential treatment to louisiana schools in the sun belt. Then sit sun belt 4 vs mac whatever. That would be 4 bowl ties and we'd be all set!

Better yet, let's have a playoff and only the champ goes. I like that idea better.

igeaux.mobi

[gorcajun]

_ We should petition the NCAA for the Lafayette bowl, which would give preferential treatment to louisiana schools in the sun belt. Then sit sun belt 4 vs mac whatever. That would be 4 bowl ties and we'd be all set!

Better yet, let's have a playoff and only the champ goes. I like that idea better.

igeaux.mobi _

If the Lafayette Bowl ever makes it into reality, and preferential treatment given to Louisiana schools (I realize you wrote "in the Sun Belt) la tech must be excluded. PERIOD.

[jllanclos]

If the Lafayette Bowl ever makes it into reality, and preferential treatment given to Louisiana schools (I realize you wrote "in the Sun Belt) la tech must be excluded. PERIOD.

Yes, only la schools in the sun belt. There will be a contingency agreement in place that says the Lafayette bowl must take a 6-6 school from any other state before an la school not meeting the above criteria can be taken.

igeaux.mobi