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Liberty Bowl Shakeup News - Printable Version

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- cuseroc - 04-27-2005 03:57 PM

I got this info off of thebullspen.com. A USF board.
It would be a nice replacement for the Gator. The jealous goons at killerfrogs were so happy that the Gator maybe dropping the BE, but the Liberty might not even be interested in taking their CUSA champ.




April 26, 2005

AutoZone Liberty Bowl executive director Steve Ehrhart said Monday this year's game -- the 12th straight played in the afternoon -- will kick off at noon on Dec. 31.

Ehrhart said the combination of a noon kickoff, a Saturday playing date and a New Year's Eve game should give the bowl the opportunity to attract a large local contingent.


"We think it's a wonderful date," Ehrhart said. "People will be off from work because it's a Saturday, and they can bring their families.

"We debated whether to be on Friday afternoon (Dec. 30) or New Year's Eve. But the Dec. 31 date has worked well for us in the past. The game will be played during the warmest part of the day, and people will still have plenty of time to have a New Year's Eve party on Saturday night."

The 2004 game, an exciting 44-40 Louisville win over Boise State, kicked off at 2:30 p.m.

While the kickoff is set, there is uncertainty regarding the opponents. The bowl ended its affiliation last year with the Mountain West Conference to send its champion to play the Conference USA champion.

While C-USA will provide one of the opponents this year, Ehrhart said it won't necessarily be the champion. C-USA is undergoing a shakeup next season, losing Louisville, Cincinnati, South Florida, Army and TCU, while adding UTEP, Tulsa, SMU, Rice, Marshall and Central Florida.

The shakeup will result in two six-team divisions, allowing the league to play its first conference title game.

Ehrhart said Monday the Liberty Bowl isn't committed to taking the winner of the title game because of the massive changes to C-USA's membership.

"We've officially listed (the opponents) on our application as the first selection from Conference USA on one side against a second team to be determined," Ehrhart said.

Ehrhart said he submitted the information to the NCAA last week during annual bowl meetings in Phoenix. C-USA officials were not available for comment Monday.

"Conference USA knows that is our position," Ehrhart said. "Our contract with Conference USA (to offer the champion) was determined before they announced a championship game. So it was in place prior to them creating a championship game.

"We are still discussing it with them. We feel this makes the most sense for both the conference and the bowl with the changes in the conference and the advent of the championship game. We think it's in the best interests for both sides."

Ehrhart said inviting the championship game winner remains an option.

"This is the first year the league will have people traveling to a championship game," he said. "It's a league in transition.

"It may very well be we invite the team that wins that game, but it's something we need to work through this year."

As for the C-USA opponent, Ehrhart said he's had discussions with the Big East, the Big 12, the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Western Athletic Conference and with Navy, in addition to the Mountain West.

"We are continuing discussions with basically everybody," Ehrhart said.[B]

- fsquid - 04-27-2005 04:04 PM

The Liberty is just protecting themselves in case there is a major upset in the championship game.

- DW4uconn - 04-27-2005 04:11 PM

I can't remember where I read it, but I recall the MWC wants out of the Liberty Bowl. I am sure as long a Memphis is in C-USA, the Liberty Bowl will still want to be affiliated with C-USA, but the most attractive opponant for the game would be a BE conference school. I see the #3 or #4 BE finisher getting the invite. It is all up in the air what bowls the BE will have next year as we are losing the Gator and the Independance bowls. The BE needs another bowl in addition to the Champs Bowl (Citrus). The Liberty Bowl will be a good choice.

DW

- 99Tiger - 04-27-2005 06:36 PM

As long as Memphis is in CUSA, the LB will be affiliated with CUSA. However, the BE is not and will not be the top option to eventually take the MWC's spot. They're rumored to be looking at the ACC.

For a bowl game that depends largely on the locals to support it and buy the tickets, it just wouldn't make sense for them to take a team from a conference that just rejected the hometown team.

Oh yeah...TopCoog...this isn't me begging for Memphis to get into the BE...just stating reality.

- DW4uconn - 04-27-2005 07:28 PM

99Tiger,

Many say that Memphis is just a Community School. They say that Memphis is a Tier 4 school and does not fit in the BE. From your comment, I take it the Memphis topic must be somewhere else. The Bigeastboards.com has been overrun by ECU Pirates who think they deserve to be in the BE. Just wondering what your thoughts were?

DW

- brista21 - 04-27-2005 07:52 PM

DW4uconn Wrote:99Tiger,

Many say that Memphis is just a Community School. They say that Memphis is a Tier 4 school and does not fit in the BE. From your comment, I take it the Memphis topic must be somewhere else. The Bigeastboards.com has been overrun by ECU Pirates who think they deserve to be in the BE. Just wondering what your thoughts were?

DW
Coming from me as much as the USF Bulls will offer this conference, I still think that if we were able to pull off the 12 team dream conference that included all 7 Eastern Independents, Maryland, Louisville, Cincy, and Connecticut, that Memphis be the 12th team and let USF go into a Southern Conference (ie the SEC or the ACC) where they belong. I still say if we need to go immediately to 9 that Memphis be invited as the 9th member. However, they do need to get their academics up, because no matter how desperate the BE gets to save its BCS status, it will not include a Tier 4 school in its conference. That's one of the reasons why Marshall had zero support, Bob Mulcahy and Richard McCormick shot it down right away.

- CardFANATIC - 04-27-2005 07:58 PM

I tend to think this is the LB making it easier to take Memphis in case UM doesnt win the conference. Good move for both UM and the LB folks.

- ShoreBuc - 04-27-2005 08:31 PM

Liberty Bowl has been known to alter the contract. Years ago when they had the Liberty Bowl alliance they would take the CUSA Champ or ECU before we were in CUSA. They selected ECU two years in a row because they knew we would bring 30k fans.
Like most have stated on this board as long as Memphis is in CUSA, the Liberty Bowl will have a tie in with CUSA. My only concern with playing BE #3 or #4 is outside of UL and WVU, what Big East team would send a lot of fans to Memphis for a butt arse cold outdoor game in the Liberty Bowl?

- Murph1 - 04-27-2005 08:51 PM

Memphis should hope the Big East doesn't get the Liberty Bowl at the moment.

With the Big East on the verge of losing a bowl or two and the conference eventually needing at least a 9th member, Memphis is in the unique position of being able to literally bring a bowl game with them if they get an invite.

- DW4uconn - 04-27-2005 09:19 PM

Murph,

The Liberty Bowl will be giving the BE a serious look anyway. We don't need to invite Memphis to get a contract done.

I am still concerned about Memphis' academics, Community College stigma, the condition of the stadium and a pro team coming to Memphis. If Memphis finally lands that pro team they covet, will there still be interest in Memphis U? Especially once they start getting their butts kicked by the likes our our Huskies 03-wink

I am really interested in hearing a real Memphis fan's opinion on being invited to the BE. I think Memphis is a very long shot. last year I really liked them, but the shine has tarnished for me.

DW

- 99Tiger - 04-27-2005 11:08 PM

DW4uconn Wrote:99Tiger,

Many say that Memphis is just a Community School. They say that Memphis is a Tier 4 school and does not fit in the BE. From your comment, I take it the Memphis topic must be somewhere else. The Bigeastboards.com has been overrun by ECU Pirates who think they deserve to be in the BE. Just wondering what your thoughts were?

DW
Well, many can say whatever the hell they want. Academic rankings are a load of crap...do you really want me to start listing reasons I feel that way? To name a few...(1) alumni giving is a factor in the rankings, (2) the list of what schools are good has been engraved in stone for quite some time, (3) urban public universities are often treated harshly for serving their stated purpose of educating the public, (4) I've attended Memphis and a school ranked in the top 10 (or is it 15) and found Memphis to be considerably tougher. Anyway...I hate the academic ranking BS...Louisville was a Tier 4 school, they get invited to the BE, then suddenly they go up to Tier 3. Hell, isn't Free Shoes University a Tier 1? That alone proves that the system is flawed.

With regards to Memphis and the BE, the BCS access and rejoining Louisville and Cincinnati is quite appealing to me. Losing the ability to drive to games (yes, I can drive to a few in CUSA) does not appeal to me. Overall, I would be mildly excited to join the BE, but disappointed if we somehow lost our annual game against Southern Miss.

ECU fans have been on their knees, lining up to kiss anyone's @ss because they somehow have a collective delusion that appealing to someone on the internet is going to get the Pirates into a BCS conference. I bet they all spout off the "ECU will bring the Tidewater market" argument. Horsepoop. I grew up in Tidewater and never heard of ECU. They may get coverage, but they certainly don't bring the market. Maybe they should try going out and getting coaches that could potentially make them attractive to recruits and possibly become more competitive. I digress (again?)...in the end, I'm not going to pucker up for anyone's rear on here (or Bigeastboards.com) for something that may or may not happen down the road.

Oh, and my comment on the LB. The Liberty Bowl does rely heavily on locals to fill their seats. Memphis fans are collectively scratching their heads on how we lost out to a school whose athletic offices were in trailers at the time they were selected. The Liberty Bowl is tied to the Tigers (who have never played in the bowl game) and the committee has openly stated that they wish to maintain a relationship with whatever conference Memphis resides and they ultimately hope that Memphis does the unthinkable and actually qualifies for the LB. They would piss a lot of people off by agreeing to take a BE team...and it would cost them ticket sales and possibly hurt sponsorships.

That was probably a little more of a rant than you were expecting. 03-wink

- hbengal - 04-27-2005 11:11 PM

DW4uconn Wrote:I think Memphis is a very long shot. last year I really liked them, but the shine has tarnished for me.

DW
funny you would say that DW.Last year I "really liked " the BE,but as you continue to lose bowls
and have become a marginal BCS league "the shine is tarnished for me".The LB may take a # 2
BE team but a # 3 or # 4 would not work for the LB or the BE.You have a good conference and Memphis has a good athletic program, but the BE is not the SEC or ACC and the Tigers aren't the Fighting Irish

- 99Tiger - 04-27-2005 11:20 PM

CardFANATIC Wrote:I tend to think this is the LB making it easier to take Memphis in case UM doesnt win the conference. Good move for both UM and the LB folks.
I think this is mostly the LB protecting itself from having to take the winner of the conference championship game in the event that someone squeaks in there and upsets the favorite. Although the Liberty Bowl has been fairly upfront about their desires for Memphis to play, I don't think they would risk their credibility by not treating the selection process seriously.

- MHSCard - 04-28-2005 12:16 AM

99Tiger Wrote:With regards to Memphis and the BE, the BCS access and rejoining Louisville and Cincinnati is quite appealing to me. Losing the ability to drive to games (yes, I can drive to a few in CUSA) does not appeal to me. Overall, I would be mildly excited to join the BE, but disappointed if we somehow lost our annual game against Southern Miss.
Don't worry you get over the Southern Miss thing after a season or two. I know I did when CUSA refused to schedule us.

- CardsWin00 - 04-28-2005 01:52 AM

Ugh, if the Liberty Bowl is going to be a Big East bowl game then it sure as hell better be for the 4th place team. If I have to go to Memphis for another freaking bowl game I will shot myself. It has grown a little old to most Cardinal fans.

- Jackson1011 - 04-28-2005 07:16 AM

I have my doubts now if Memphis wants in the BABE....some of there comments there AD has made during the last few months towards Louisville have caught a lot of folks by suprise....I think now if you are looking at expansion targets #1 would be East Carolina who has always wanted in the BE and has pretty much said publicly that they will take a football only....secondly I would think you have to look at UCF with all the money they are putting into there sports programs and it would be nice to give USF a rival

-- Its a shame about Memphis too...they have a lot of potential on the football side (bball is already good)....but they will always be at a major recruiting disadvantage untill they get into a BCS confernece


Jackson

- Maize - 04-28-2005 07:30 AM

I heard their AD is going to retire. If true that could help them. He did them no favors with his actions.

- tigerjeb - 04-29-2005 11:33 AM

Maize Wrote:I heard their AD is going to retire. If true that could help them. He did them no favors with his actions.
he has reached retirement age, his contract expires next year, and his wife has gone through some health issues. i expect memphis will have a new ad in place by 2006-07 academic year.

- Wilkie01 - 04-29-2005 04:29 PM

Do you think you will be in the East soon?

- bengltgrs - 04-29-2005 06:21 PM

CardFANATIC Wrote:I tend to think this is the LB making it easier to take Memphis in case UM doesnt win the conference. Good move for both UM and the LB folks.
CF...you are exactly, precisely "on target".