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[Ragin4U]

Or at least a "short bus". They love riding those.

But its the "Ivy League of the South" short bus.

[Tell The Truth]

Why should usl get the top SUN WORST bowl every year when they are the 4th-5th place team in the conference??? Just wait till next year when bowl reps look at the numbers from this years fleur de leis fans....the chili peppers might get told to just stay home...where they belong...

[Cajunfanatico]

Just curious - why is this newsworthy?

Cure Bowl attendance was even worse ....

Newsworthy in that the Sun Belt lost a pizz pot of money this year by leaning on the New Orleans Bowl to take the conference champ. Of course, when the Sun Belt left money on the table, that means it affects every member down the line.

[Cajunfanatico]

The SBC conference winner and runner up should have first and second choice of any bowl game within the SBC bowl tie in. We have to operate different from the P5 schools. We have to keep our product as close to the fan base as possible.

Bowl games should also get smart and partner with regional conferences. The Independence Bowl has Temple vs Duke this year. No one will attend that game. Imagine if that was Tulane vs UL in primetime. Folks would get hotels, gamble for a night, eat, drink and be happy.

It only makes sense.

Excellent post. It does make sense.

I go back to the 2013 New Orleans Bowl where the Cajuns and Tulane played. Over 54,000 paid attendance. That attendance number ranked 11th out of all bowl games played that year. I never looked to see how it ranked as a G5 bowl, but if it wasn't the best, I bet it wasn't but a slot or two below.

And that's what our program and efforts are supposed to focused on right now, no? As it relates to football in particular, we need to be near the top of the G5 group in every aspect that we can. Having the Sun Belt own 2 or 3 of the best-attended G5 bowl games is nothing but a positive for the conference and the member schools.

[Bankruptcyman]

The other teams can go to the New Orleans Bowl if we are not bowl eligible. The massive crowds are a good look for the entire Sun Belt and it separates and elevates the entire league. Our attendance and impact on the New Orleans Bowl has obviously been noticed by Sport Illustrated. It is also cool that Sports Illustrated considered the New Orleans Bowl (at least when we played in it) the kick-off to the Bowl season. The other Sun Belt teams should be happy for this exposure and not demand changes at the expense of the conference. When App. State, Georgia Southern, Troy and/or stAte can bring 35,000 plus fans to any bowl game, then we can listen to their cries of unfairness. Until then . . . a full stadium in the New Orleans Bowl is a good look for the whole conference and Sports Illustrated (for one) has noticed.

When you have a bowl game with no attendance, it looks like no one cares. Regional/drive-able match ups are the key.

[CajunVic]

Just curious - why is this newsworthy?

Cure Bowl attendance was even worse ....

Just Curious - when did this become a news site?

And if it is, who are the Anchor, cause I have . . . %**###%%%$$$$

[Cajunrunner]

Guess I’m in the minority here, but I like the idea of having a bowl game designated for the Sunbelt Champion each year, and if that’s NOLA, then awesome.

Obviously, short of said Sunbelt Champion being offered a NY6 type bowl. Other than that, rules set forth, and we know what bowl to be shooting for. Would love for NOLA to be SBC Champ vs another G5 champ each year.

[Cajun90]

Would love for NOLA to be SBC Champ vs another G5 champ each year.

Yeah but that isn't happening. No other conference wants to see their champ beat to a pulp by the SBC champ.

When bowls like the Fiesta have teams losing money it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that most of these bowls are a lose/lose for the teams. Only ones making any money are the bowl "foundation" employees.

It would definitely benefit all of college football if the following happened.......

Sixteen team playoff expanded to additional bowl games like it is right now with the four team playoff. That is ten conference champs and six at large bids. No one can really argue with that arrangement for the NC.

Then take the rest of the bowls and look at rivalries/attendance and place teams accordingly.

Not happening but it would be a huge win for absolutely everyone.