st932253 Wrote:Has Notre Dame secured a BCS Bid? I thought they factored in somehow?

They have to finish in the Top 8 and right now they're 5th. Even with a loss to USC they should still finish no lower then 8th, especially with West Virginia and Arkansas losing.

Here is how I see it. I think that West Virginia regroups and beats Rutgers. Louisville wins the Big East and represents the Big East in the Orange Bowl, although the Sugar Bowl is a possibility if Arkansas beats Florida in the SEC championship game.

Orange or Sugar Bowl: Louisville
Gator Bowl: West Virginia (The Gator Bowl has cooled on the Big 12 now that Oklahoma is unavailable and Texas has 3 losses. The Gator needs West Virginia to sell tickets).
Texas Bowl: Rutgers
Birmingham Bowl: USF
International Bowl: Cinncinati
Motor City Bowl: Pittsburg (If there is a Big East-Motor City Bowl contractual arrangment)

http://www.footballfoundation.com/news.php?id=435

Commissioner Tranghese also noted that the BIG EAST has an agreement with the Motor City Bowl to participate this year and years to come if the Big Ten cannot fill their invitation.

I really didn't think the Big East had any contingency deal with the Motor City any longer until I read this thread. Now it looks like it may.

Pretty simple, if we have the deal than Pitt or UC is guaranteed the spot. If a 7-5 Lafayette or 7-5 MTSU is taken, we know the deal wasn't in place.

NCAA said this yr no secondary agreements. every body could sign one.

templefootballfan Wrote:NCAA said this yr no secondary agreements. every body could sign one.

The NCAA said that bowls can't pick a 6-6 at-large team over a team with a winning record. Assuming this deal is still in place if the Big Ten doesn't fulfill their obligations then the Motor City Bowl become a bowl affiliation just like Birmingham or Texas or the International Bowl.

CatsClaw Wrote:http://www.footballfoundation.com/news.php?id=435

Commissioner Tranghese also noted that the BIG EAST has an agreement with the Motor City Bowl to participate this year and years to come if the Big Ten cannot fill their invitation.

Look at the year of that article. It's from the 2004 Media Day. We don't even have the same bowl tie-ins that we used to in '04 nor the same NCAA qualifications to get into bowls. It's possible that the agreements are still in force, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

mattsarz Wrote:

CatsClaw Wrote:http://www.footballfoundation.com/news.php?id=435

Commissioner Tranghese also noted that the BIG EAST has an agreement with the Motor City Bowl to participate this year and years to come if the Big Ten cannot fill their invitation.

Look at the year of that article. It's from the 2004 Media Day. We don't even have the same bowl tie-ins that we used to in '04. It's possible that the agreements are in force, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Did you read the sentence? It was in 2004 and it said for this year and for YEARS TO COME. That was when the Big East was setting up their new bowl line-ups so nothing should have changed. Not having the same bowl line-ups as then means nothing, because contracts were expiring at the time and new ones were being negotiated, and the MCB was one of them being negotiated.

I am starting to wonder if anyone really knows whether the Big East contingency deal with the Motor City Bowl is still in place.

The Motor City Bowl website says one thing. By the way, Cubanbull, can you post the link so everyone can see it themselves?

Templefootballfan claimed on the MAC board that he e-mailed Motor City Bowl director Ken Hoffman who said there is no deal.

You would think people running bowls would know what deal they have in place. Either the rules changed or someone is lying.

Krocker Krapp Wrote:I am starting to wonder if anyone really knows whether the Big East contingency deal with the Motor City Bowl is still in place.

The Motor City Bowl website says one thing. By the way, Cubanbull, can you post the link so everyone can see it themselves?

Templefootballfan claimed on the MAC board that he e-mailed Motor City Bowl director Ken Hoffman who said there is no deal.

You would think people running bowls would know what deal they have in place. Either the rules changed or someone is lying.

It's Mike Tranghese, so it wouldn't shock me if we didn't have a deal in place. I wish that was me being sarcastic. . .

I'm trying to find as many links as I can to see about the Motor City Bowl agreement.

http://www.macreportonline.com/motor_cit...in_tie.htm

Addressing some of the jitters that were sparked by the Big Ten's announcement of six bowl tie-ins without mentioning the Motor City Bowl ("made me nervous too," joked Hoffman), Hoffman offered that the Big Ten, "as most of the conferences do, negotiate their new deals from top to bottom," hence the announcement, according to Hoffman, of the Big Ten's first six bowl tie-ins. Explaining that the Mid-American Conference and the Big Ten are expected to announce some major cooperative scheduling deals, Hoffman offered that the latest four year deal with the Big Ten will be announced shortly. "We will be at the Big Ten kickoff on August 1 and 2. Once Rick Chryst announces the scheduling piece with the Big Ten, I am sure that we will then be announcing our deal." Hoffman also states that the Big East will be in the mix this season as a backup in case the Big Ten cannot supply a bowl-eligible team.


(This was for the 2005 season, or last season)

http://www.barrystickets.com/college-bow...ickets.php

Motor City Bowl Information

The Motor City Bowl is a major post-season college football bowl game certified by the NCAA that has been played annually since 1997. The first five games (1997-2001) were played at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan. Starting in 2002, the venue was moved to 65,000-seat Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The game features a team from the Mid-American Conference playing one from the Big Ten Conference. If the Big Ten does not have an eligible team, the game has an agreement to feature a team from the Big East Conference.

The interesting thing that on one of the webpages it's saying that the Big Ten can't fulfill their obligation and that MCB officials are doing everything they can to avoid a MAC/Sun Belt matchup.

http://www.mlive.com/sports/kzgazette/in...xml&coll=7

So you would think that if they have a deal with the Big East they would exercise it. Then again, some articles seem to imply that the new International Bowl may have lead to the Big East pushing MCB out of the Big East bowl picture which may suck for the Motor City Bowl, who could be stuck with MAC/Sun Belt extravaganza!

I think Pitt is headed for the Toronto Bowl. The papers up their have been talking about such a secenario for awhile now. It looks to me like USF is going to play in the papa johns bowl in Alabama

-- If WVU wins on Saturday I think its going to the Sun Bowl. If RU wins then they are the BE champs and are going to the BCS


Jackson

Because Pitt finished at 6-6, they can't got to a BE bowl without some sort of drug deal. So it looks like the MCB is our best bet and Cinci goes to Toronto.

cujocat10 Wrote:Yeah, I'd honestly prefer to go to any of them over the International. I'm psyched we're in this situation in the first place, so I'll gladly take what's given, but as a student, I'm back in school on January 6 and it's on a weekend but still, it would be stressful. Also, most students I know don't own a passport and it takes a good month or so to get one, for those that can even afford it in the first place. I'd rather drive 7 hours to Birmingham (and then meet my lady friend in Gainesville) or drive 4 hours to Detroit and enjoy Ford Field. Those just seem more convenient.

The new passport rules only apply to flying into Canada. You should be good to drive with a photo id and a copy of your birth certificate.

This article seems to imply that the Big East - meaning Pitt - is not in the Motor City Bowl mix whatsoever.

The Kalamazoo Gazette Wrote:WMU-CMU rematch `attractive' to Motor City Bowl
Friday, November 24, 2006
By Graham Couch

Western Michigan University versus Central Michigan in the Motor City Bowl -- ``It's a viable option,'' according to Motor City Bowl executive director Ken Hoffman.

``In fact,'' Hoffman continued, ``if the way it plays out is the way I think it might, it's very attractive.''

Such a statement from the man who owns both the Motor City and International bowls, the Mid-American Conference's first and third bowl game tie-ins, respectively, is the most concrete Broncos bowl buzz yet.

MAC East champion Ohio is expected to accept an invitation to the GMAC Bowl (Jan. 7 in Mobile, Ala.), the league's other tie-in.

Central Michigan (7-4, 6-1 MAC) all but ensured itself a spot in the Motor City Bowl (Dec. 26 at Ford Field in Detroit) with its MAC West Division-clinching 31-7 victory against WMU (7-4, 5-2) on Nov. 10.

With the Big Ten, the Motor City's other conference tie-in, failing to produce enough bowl-eligible teams to fulfill its commitments, a rematch of the rivalry tarnished by a driving rain storm the first time around might be Hoffman's best marketing option.

The NCAA prohibits at-large bowls -- which without the Big Ten, the Motor City is -- from inviting 6-6 teams before all Division I-A programs with seven or more wins are taken.

Considering that, it would seem financially foolish for the Motor City Bowl to select a school such as Middle Tennessee State or Arkansas State out of the Sun Belt Conference as the Chippewas' opponent over the biggest two-sided college football rivalry in the state.

Rumor is, Hoffman will do everything in his power to avoid a Sun Belt team, though Hoffman understandably sidestepped the question, saying, ``there are a lot of possibilities still.'' If a larger conference team is available, perhaps South Carolina or Arizona State (both of which would have to win this week), that would change the equation.

WMU's other options include the inaugural International Bowl (Jan. 6 in Toronto), the Poinsettia Bowl (Dec. 19 in San Diego) and the MPC Computers Bowl (Dec. 31 in Boise, Idaho), provided Miami (Fla.) or Virginia doesn't become bowl-eligible.

If Northern Illinois loses today at Eastern Michigan, thus failing to win its seventh game, Hoffman said WMU would probably be headed to Toronto, regardless of its outcome today at Akron.

Prevailing thought within WMU's camp is it needs to win against the Zips to lock up an invitation somewhere.

About the only scenario where the Broncos might find themselves left out is if they lose, Northern Illinois wins -- and is the choice for the International Bowl -- and a more marquee name is available to the Motor City Bowl.

Even if everything played out to favor a CMU-WMU rematch, there are several potential hitches before it would get the go-head, said John Perles, director of operations for the Motor City Bowl.

``Conversations with the commissioner of the MAC and conversations with ESPN (which broadcasts the game) could have weight in the decision, as well,'' he said.

The perception among recruits of an in-conference matchup for the MAC's premier bowl game, Central Michigan's reaction -- likely not favorable -- and how the finances would be divvied up between the league and Motor City Bowl are also probable factors.

This article appeared in the Kalamazoo Gazette on Friday, November 24, 2006.

The latest word is Central Michigan will face Sun Belt #2. A rematch of a conference blowout is ridiculous.

Krocker Krapp Wrote:This article seems to imply that the Big East - meaning Pitt - is not in the Motor City Bowl mix whatsoever.

The Kalamazoo Gazette Wrote:WMU-CMU rematch `attractive' to Motor City Bowl
Friday, November 24, 2006
By Graham Couch

Western Michigan University versus Central Michigan in the Motor City Bowl -- ``It's a viable option,'' according to Motor City Bowl executive director Ken Hoffman.

``In fact,'' Hoffman continued, ``if the way it plays out is the way I think it might, it's very attractive.''

Such a statement from the man who owns both the Motor City and International bowls, the Mid-American Conference's first and third bowl game tie-ins, respectively, is the most concrete Broncos bowl buzz yet.

MAC East champion Ohio is expected to accept an invitation to the GMAC Bowl (Jan. 7 in Mobile, Ala.), the league's other tie-in.

Central Michigan (7-4, 6-1 MAC) all but ensured itself a spot in the Motor City Bowl (Dec. 26 at Ford Field in Detroit) with its MAC West Division-clinching 31-7 victory against WMU (7-4, 5-2) on Nov. 10.

With the Big Ten, the Motor City's other conference tie-in, failing to produce enough bowl-eligible teams to fulfill its commitments, a rematch of the rivalry tarnished by a driving rain storm the first time around might be Hoffman's best marketing option.

The NCAA prohibits at-large bowls -- which without the Big Ten, the Motor City is -- from inviting 6-6 teams before all Division I-A programs with seven or more wins are taken.

Considering that, it would seem financially foolish for the Motor City Bowl to select a school such as Middle Tennessee State or Arkansas State out of the Sun Belt Conference as the Chippewas' opponent over the biggest two-sided college football rivalry in the state.

Rumor is, Hoffman will do everything in his power to avoid a Sun Belt team, though Hoffman understandably sidestepped the question, saying, ``there are a lot of possibilities still.'' If a larger conference team is available, perhaps South Carolina or Arizona State (both of which would have to win this week), that would change the equation.

WMU's other options include the inaugural International Bowl (Jan. 6 in Toronto), the Poinsettia Bowl (Dec. 19 in San Diego) and the MPC Computers Bowl (Dec. 31 in Boise, Idaho), provided Miami (Fla.) or Virginia doesn't become bowl-eligible.

If Northern Illinois loses today at Eastern Michigan, thus failing to win its seventh game, Hoffman said WMU would probably be headed to Toronto, regardless of its outcome today at Akron.

Prevailing thought within WMU's camp is it needs to win against the Zips to lock up an invitation somewhere.

About the only scenario where the Broncos might find themselves left out is if they lose, Northern Illinois wins -- and is the choice for the International Bowl -- and a more marquee name is available to the Motor City Bowl.

Even if everything played out to favor a CMU-WMU rematch, there are several potential hitches before it would get the go-head, said John Perles, director of operations for the Motor City Bowl.

``Conversations with the commissioner of the MAC and conversations with ESPN (which broadcasts the game) could have weight in the decision, as well,'' he said.

The perception among recruits of an in-conference matchup for the MAC's premier bowl game, Central Michigan's reaction -- likely not favorable -- and how the finances would be divvied up between the league and Motor City Bowl are also probable factors.

This article appeared in the Kalamazoo Gazette on Friday, November 24, 2006.

The latest word is Central Michigan will face Sun Belt #2. A rematch of a conference blowout is ridiculous.

That's the article I linked earlier, basically the MCB is screwed.

CatsClaw Wrote:

Krocker Krapp Wrote:

The Kalamazoo Gazette Wrote:WMU-CMU rematch `attractive' to Motor City Bowl

This article seems to imply that the Big East - meaning Pitt - is not in the Motor City Bowl mix whatsoever.

The latest word is Central Michigan will face Sun Belt #2. A rematch of a conference blowout is ridiculous.

That's the article I linked earlier, basically the MCB is screwed.

Sorry about the double link. But the Motor City Bowl is not screwed. Middle Tennessee choked away the Sun Belt title against Troy on Saturday so they will finish second. Nashville is a reasonable drive for Middle Tennessee fans and I bet they would show up in droves.

One thing most people do not realize is that Middle Tennessee was screwed out of the New Orleans Bowl in 2001. They and North Texas both finished 5-1 in the Sun Belt. Middle Tennessee was 8-3 while North Texas was 5-6. Their head to head trumped common sense.

The Sun Belt seemed to regret that decision, after the fact, without actually admitting it since that would create even more bad publicity for them. Anyway it would seem that Middle Tennessee fans ought to feel that they deserve a bowl after that and would make the trip.

What if toronto selects pitt, leaving 7-5 cincy avail to mcb?

TIGER-PAUL Wrote:What if toronto selects pitt, leaving 7-5 cincy avail to mcb?

That is not allowed. The NCAA specifically made rules that all conference teams must be chosen in order to prevent shenanigans like this from taking place. As it is, to be honest, no 6-6 teams, Pitt included, should complain about being left at home anyway.

Krocker Krapp Wrote:

CatsClaw Wrote:

Krocker Krapp Wrote:

The Kalamazoo Gazette Wrote:WMU-CMU rematch `attractive' to Motor City Bowl

This article seems to imply that the Big East - meaning Pitt - is not in the Motor City Bowl mix whatsoever.

The latest word is Central Michigan will face Sun Belt #2. A rematch of a conference blowout is ridiculous.

That's the article I linked earlier, basically the MCB is screwed.

Sorry about the double link. But the Motor City Bowl is not screwed. Middle Tennessee choked away the Sun Belt title against Troy on Saturday so they will finish second. Nashville is a reasonable drive for Middle Tennessee fans and I bet they would show up in droves.

One thing most people do not realize is that Middle Tennessee was screwed out of the New Orleans Bowl in 2001. They and North Texas both finished 5-1 in the Sun Belt. Middle Tennessee was 8-3 while North Texas was 5-6. Their head to head trumped common sense.

The Sun Belt seemed to regret that decision, after the fact, without actually admitting it since that would create even more bad publicity for them. Anyway it would seem that Middle Tennessee fans ought to feel that they deserve a bowl after that and would make the trip.

No problem about the double link, I wasn't getting on you, just saying that I caught the same article as you. That article right there seems to show that the MCB doesn't have an affiliation with the Big East anymore, or the 6-6 rule overrides their affiliation. I didn't realize that Middle Tennessee had lost that game last night. That should be interesting.