2005 NewOrleans Bowl USM-31 ASU-19

[NewsCopy]

Memphis and Southern Mississippi have emerged as the most likely Conference USA representatives for the New Orleans Bowl, scheduled Dec. 20 at the University of Louisiana's Cajun Field. Two of C-USA's bowl-eligible teams locked down bowl game slots Saturday, with Tulsa accepting an invitation to the Liberty Bowl following its 44-27 win over Central Florida in the inaugural Conference USA championship game. Texas-El Paso also accepted a bowl invitation Saturday evening, grabbing the league's slot in the GMAC Bowl in Mobile. Central Florida's bowl selection was not officially announced Saturday, but it is expected that the Golden Knights will accept an invitation to the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl today. Memphis, USM and Houston are C-USA's other bowl-eligible teams, and one of those will take on Arkansas State in the season's first bowl game at Cajun Field. ASU earned the Sun Belt Conference's automatic slot as host of the contest, which was moved from New Orleans to Lafayette after the ravages of Hurricane Katrina. "We'll have an announcement probably early Sunday," said New Orleans Bowl executive director Billy Ferrante, "but we're thinking right now it'll either be Memphis or Southern Miss. We'll be happy with either one. "Both of them have great traditions, and Southern Miss was a big addition to the game last year. Memphis has one of the best running backs in college football in DeAngelo Williams, so we'll be excited to have them. We were watching some highlights and he was unbelievable ... people liken him to Barry Sanders." ASU faced nearby opponent Memphis twice in the last three seasons, but hasn't faced the Golden Eagles since the 1980 season. The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[Mineshaft]

If you study the IN CONFERENCE tiebreakers, Arkansas State legitimately won the 2005 Sunbelt Conference race. ASU is 1a Louisiana is 1b and Monroe is 1c.

As the Sunbelts 1a representative and as a bowl eligible team, I fully support their representation in the New Orleans bowl.

Geaux ASU do the Sunbelt proud I will be there.

Who the |||| cares??

Go find out who the starting 3rd string left tackle was back in 1946 for the lafayette High school Lions.

[Cajun1997]

Who the |||| cares??

Go find out who the starting 3rd string left tackle was back in 1946 for the lafayette High school Lions.

You took the time to read and respond so you must care, if not move on to something you are interested in

[Turbine]

dear Wright Waters

You are off the hook.

My hook anyway

ps In the future, please settle conference standings prior to attempting to decide who goes to bowl games. Thanks

[RaisingCajun08]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2054429

[cajun tom]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2054429

Why would they want to send the same team that played last year in the New Orleans bowl? I think Memphis or Houston would have been a better choice. It makes no sense to me.

[RaisingCajun08]

I have no idea either. I was hoping to see Memphis play Ark St. I wanted to watch DiAngello Williams run. If I am not mistaken, he finished the year 2nd in the nation in rushing yards.

[USLJim]

I have no idea either. I was hoping to see Memphis play Ark St. I wanted to watch DiAngello Williams run. If I am not mistaken, he finished the year 2nd in the nation in rushing yards.

ASU plays Memphis during the regular season. Why would you want them to play each other twice in one season? Information if you didn't know already.

[cajun tom]

ASU plays Memphis during the regular season. Why would you want them to play each other twice in one season? Information if you didn't know already.

Arkansas State did not play Memphis during the regular season.

[badgerwolf]

ASU plays Memphis during the regular season. Why would you want them to play each other twice in one season? Information if you didn't know already.

Memphis played at stAte last year. We led throughout the game in front of 30K, but we lost in the final 4 minutes. It would be great to play Memphis again, but USM will be great also.