(07-24-2013 09:23 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 09:17 AM)TIGER-PAUL Wrote:  B12 had alot to do with sec/liberty I think.
Sec did kind of devalue it when they started sharing it with compass a couple years ago.

Yep, and it was because the LB actually did something that Memphis fans have claimed it would do: Stick up for Memphis's conference. About 4 years ago the SEC told the LB it wanted only the Big East as its opponent and didn't want C-USA to share that slot. But the LB stood its ground and refused, though it did give the SEC the right to "veto" a C-USA team every two years, which is what happened to USM after they beat Houston in 2011 to win the C-USA title. They SEC vetoed USM in the Liberty Bowl.

And, the SEC also demoted the LB in its bowl hierarchy, forcing them to share #8/#9 with the lowly Compass Bowl.

This time around, the LB decided life in the SEC doghouse was not so good, so they gave the SEC what it wanted - a full time P5/AQ opponent, and were rewarded with a restored place in the hierarchy (now rotation pool).

which was great for UC that year!!!!

(07-24-2013 09:23 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 09:17 AM)TIGER-PAUL Wrote:  B12 had alot to do with sec/liberty I think.
Sec did kind of devalue it when they started sharing it with compass a couple years ago.

Yep, and it was because the LB actually did something that Memphis fans have claimed it would do: Stick up for Memphis's conference. About 4 years ago the SEC told the LB it wanted only the Big East as its opponent and didn't want C-USA to share that slot. But the LB stood its ground and refused, though it did give the SEC the right to "veto" a C-USA team every two years, which is what happened to USM after they beat Houston in 2011 to win the C-USA title. They SEC vetoed USM in the Liberty Bowl.

And, the SEC also demoted the LB in its bowl hierarchy, forcing them to share #8/#9 with the lowly Compass Bowl.

This time around, the LB decided life in the SEC doghouse was not so good, so they gave the SEC what it wanted - a full time P5/AQ opponent, and were rewarded with a restored place in the hierarchy (now rotation pool).

You are close, but not 100% accurate. The SEC did not have veto rights. The contract said there would be no intrastate matchups and no regular season rematches.

USM was not vetoed. The Big East had a contractual deal with the Liberty Bowl to play in the game one out of every few years.

So, at this point, wouldn't Birmingham be an extremely unattractive site for an AAC bowl? The only thing it had going for it was an SEC opponent---beyond that it was a pretty worthless bowl in a nasty location. Hopefully this one gets dumped from our line up.

(07-24-2013 09:36 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  So, at this point, wouldn't Birmingham be an extremely unattractive site for an AAC bowl? The only thing it had going for it was an SEC opponent---beyond that it was a pretty worthless bowl in a nasty location. Hopefully this one gets dumped from our line up.

Birmingham sucks...heck no

(07-24-2013 09:33 AM)3601 Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 09:23 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 09:17 AM)TIGER-PAUL Wrote:  B12 had alot to do with sec/liberty I think.
Sec did kind of devalue it when they started sharing it with compass a couple years ago.

Yep, and it was because the LB actually did something that Memphis fans have claimed it would do: Stick up for Memphis's conference. About 4 years ago the SEC told the LB it wanted only the Big East as its opponent and didn't want C-USA to share that slot. But the LB stood its ground and refused, though it did give the SEC the right to "veto" a C-USA team every two years, which is what happened to USM after they beat Houston in 2011 to win the C-USA title. They SEC vetoed USM in the Liberty Bowl.

And, the SEC also demoted the LB in its bowl hierarchy, forcing them to share #8/#9 with the lowly Compass Bowl.

This time around, the LB decided life in the SEC doghouse was not so good, so they gave the SEC what it wanted - a full time P5/AQ opponent, and were rewarded with a restored place in the hierarchy (now rotation pool).

You are close, but not 100% accurate. The SEC did not have veto rights. The contract said there would be no intrastate matchups and no regular season rematches.

USM was not vetoed. The Big East had a contractual deal with the Liberty Bowl to play in the game one out of every few years.

I was going by information such as this:

"Two years ago, the Liberty Bowl signed a pretty complex agreement with Southeastern Conference that gave it considerable power over the selection of teams for the bowl game. About five minutes after UCF defeated Georgia in the 2010 Liberty Bowl, it was apparent the SEC would try to use that veto power to avoid facing a Conference USA team this year."

"The negotiations seemed to finally reach a breaking point two years ago, with the Liberty Bowl forced to agree to a complex contract that effectively gave the SEC veto power every two years."

So OK, the writer refers to "effective veto power" rather than than referring to a formal contract mechanism, but the result seems to have been the same:

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_...e-usa.html

(07-24-2013 09:36 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  So, at this point, wouldn't Birmingham be an extremely unattractive site for an AAC bowl? The only thing it had going for it was an SEC opponent---beyond that it was a pretty worthless bowl in a nasty location. Hopefully this one gets dumped from our line up.

I've been saying that for a while, that without the SEC opponent this is one of the worst available bowls out there. The Independence Bowl has the same set of issues, that it's only valuable if there's a decent opponent on the other side. At this point for me I guess the hopes are

Aresco Bowl (have to pray at this point it happens)
Armed Forces Bowl
Military Bowl
Beef Bowl
New Orleans Bowl (I'd rather have this than an SEC less Bham or P5less Indy Bowl)
Hawaii Bowl (bad for fans but players like it)

And I wouldn't sign anything more than 6 and maybe only 5. There's no point in bogging down with crap when there will be other stuff that opens up. Even Aresco mentioned as much in one of the last interviews he came up with. I'd also allow the champ the option of the best available bowl in our lineup or the best available open bowl that can be acquired. Without the Liberty there's no bowl good enough to warrant locking in the champ to.

(07-24-2013 09:47 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 09:36 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  So, at this point, wouldn't Birmingham be an extremely unattractive site for an AAC bowl? The only thing it had going for it was an SEC opponent---beyond that it was a pretty worthless bowl in a nasty location. Hopefully this one gets dumped from our line up.

I've been saying that for a while, that without the SEC opponent this is one of the worst available bowls out there. The Independence Bowl has the same set of issues, that it's only valuable if there's a decent opponent on the other side. At this point for me I guess the hopes are

Aresco Bowl (have to pray at this point it happens)
Armed Forces Bowl
Military Bowl
Beef Bowl
New Orleans Bowl (I'd rather have this than an SEC less Bham or P5less Indy Bowl)
Hawaii Bowl (bad for fans but players like it)

And I wouldn't sign anything more than 6 and maybe only 5. There's no point in bogging down with crap when there will be other stuff that opens up. Even Aresco mentioned as much in one of the last interviews he came up with. I'd also allow the champ the option of the best available bowl in our lineup or the best available open bowl that can be acquired. Without the Liberty there's no bowl good enough to warrant locking in the champ to.

I'd say what you've shown is not unlikely at this point.

Hawaii Bowl is the only bowl game played on (Christmas?) it generally gets decent ratings and the players love it. Hawaii Bowl vs MWC is not that bad at all.

(07-24-2013 09:58 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 09:47 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 09:36 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  So, at this point, wouldn't Birmingham be an extremely unattractive site for an AAC bowl? The only thing it had going for it was an SEC opponent---beyond that it was a pretty worthless bowl in a nasty location. Hopefully this one gets dumped from our line up.

I've been saying that for a while, that without the SEC opponent this is one of the worst available bowls out there. The Independence Bowl has the same set of issues, that it's only valuable if there's a decent opponent on the other side. At this point for me I guess the hopes are

Aresco Bowl (have to pray at this point it happens)
Armed Forces Bowl
Military Bowl
Beef Bowl
New Orleans Bowl (I'd rather have this than an SEC less Bham or P5less Indy Bowl)
Hawaii Bowl (bad for fans but players like it)

And I wouldn't sign anything more than 6 and maybe only 5. There's no point in bogging down with crap when there will be other stuff that opens up. Even Aresco mentioned as much in one of the last interviews he came up with. I'd also allow the champ the option of the best available bowl in our lineup or the best available open bowl that can be acquired. Without the Liberty there's no bowl good enough to warrant locking in the champ to.

I'd say what you've shown is not unlikely at this point.

My main concern is about where the champ ends up. Everything past that really is just filler and not that important. I believe more years than not the champ is going to be a top 25 team, baring an upset in the title game. This league can not be sending top 25 teams to play pure trash in a game no one cares about. Whatever has to be done to ensure that every year the champ has something worth playing in has to be done. Whether that's by a tie in we can get (very unlikely at this point) or by just waiting it out every year and making trades and filling open slots. I'm not concerned about teams at the bottom not getting bowls, because the 6th or 7th bowl eligible AAC team is going to be more valuable than the 4th or 5th MAC or Sun Belt team and they'll get something.

(07-24-2013 10:03 AM)No Bull Wrote:  Hawaii Bowl is the only bowl game played on (Christmas?) it generally gets decent ratings and the players love it. Hawaii Bowl vs MWC is not that bad at all.

I agree it's not bad at all when you are down to what we are looking at. What we are down to is either can we get a game with a P5 or good location. Bad location against G5 should just be avoided. Hawaii is fine, New Orleans is fine, St. Pete is good, and we need to hope the Aresco Bowl in Miami happens.

(07-24-2013 10:03 AM)No Bull Wrote:  Hawaii Bowl is the only bowl game played on (Christmas?) it generally gets decent ratings and the players love it. Hawaii Bowl vs MWC is not that bad at all.

Its been held on Christmas Eve during most recent years. (Might change when NFL Sunday lands on the 24th).

Yes, its a GREAT trip for players...but very hard for fans, especially those on the East Coast to make it out there for the Christmas Holidays on short notice (one of the most expensive times to visit Hawaii is Christmas Week).

(07-24-2013 10:24 AM)KnightLight Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 10:03 AM)No Bull Wrote:  Hawaii Bowl is the only bowl game played on (Christmas?) it generally gets decent ratings and the players love it. Hawaii Bowl vs MWC is not that bad at all.

Its been held on Christmas Eve during most recent years. (Might change when NFL Sunday lands on the 24th).

Yes, its a GREAT trip for players...but very hard for fans, especially those on the East Coast to make it out there for the Christmas Holidays on short notice (one of the most expensive times to visit Hawaii is Christmas Week).

That's just a made for TV game (and yes most others are as well) that realistically fans aren't expected to travel to. Considering we are looking at bowls now that most fans won't want to travel to it's better to pick this than that trash in Detroit or some of the other things that have been tossed around.

(07-24-2013 09:44 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 09:33 AM)3601 Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 09:23 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 09:17 AM)TIGER-PAUL Wrote:  B12 had alot to do with sec/liberty I think.
Sec did kind of devalue it when they started sharing it with compass a couple years ago.

Yep, and it was because the LB actually did something that Memphis fans have claimed it would do: Stick up for Memphis's conference. About 4 years ago the SEC told the LB it wanted only the Big East as its opponent and didn't want C-USA to share that slot. But the LB stood its ground and refused, though it did give the SEC the right to "veto" a C-USA team every two years, which is what happened to USM after they beat Houston in 2011 to win the C-USA title. They SEC vetoed USM in the Liberty Bowl.

And, the SEC also demoted the LB in its bowl hierarchy, forcing them to share #8/#9 with the lowly Compass Bowl.

This time around, the LB decided life in the SEC doghouse was not so good, so they gave the SEC what it wanted - a full time P5/AQ opponent, and were rewarded with a restored place in the hierarchy (now rotation pool).

You are close, but not 100% accurate. The SEC did not have veto rights. The contract said there would be no intrastate matchups and no regular season rematches.

USM was not vetoed. The Big East had a contractual deal with the Liberty Bowl to play in the game one out of every few years.

I was going by information such as this:

"Two years ago, the Liberty Bowl signed a pretty complex agreement with Southeastern Conference that gave it considerable power over the selection of teams for the bowl game. About five minutes after UCF defeated Georgia in the 2010 Liberty Bowl, it was apparent the SEC would try to use that veto power to avoid facing a Conference USA team this year."

"The negotiations seemed to finally reach a breaking point two years ago, with the Liberty Bowl forced to agree to a complex contract that effectively gave the SEC veto power every two years."

So OK, the writer refers to "effective veto power" rather than than referring to a formal contract mechanism, but the result seems to have been the same:

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_...e-usa.html

More info...

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010...stinations

(07-24-2013 01:07 PM)3601 Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 09:44 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 09:33 AM)3601 Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 09:23 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 09:17 AM)TIGER-PAUL Wrote:  B12 had alot to do with sec/liberty I think.
Sec did kind of devalue it when they started sharing it with compass a couple years ago.

Yep, and it was because the LB actually did something that Memphis fans have claimed it would do: Stick up for Memphis's conference. About 4 years ago the SEC told the LB it wanted only the Big East as its opponent and didn't want C-USA to share that slot. But the LB stood its ground and refused, though it did give the SEC the right to "veto" a C-USA team every two years, which is what happened to USM after they beat Houston in 2011 to win the C-USA title. They SEC vetoed USM in the Liberty Bowl.

And, the SEC also demoted the LB in its bowl hierarchy, forcing them to share #8/#9 with the lowly Compass Bowl.

This time around, the LB decided life in the SEC doghouse was not so good, so they gave the SEC what it wanted - a full time P5/AQ opponent, and were rewarded with a restored place in the hierarchy (now rotation pool).

You are close, but not 100% accurate. The SEC did not have veto rights. The contract said there would be no intrastate matchups and no regular season rematches.

USM was not vetoed. The Big East had a contractual deal with the Liberty Bowl to play in the game one out of every few years.

I was going by information such as this:

"Two years ago, the Liberty Bowl signed a pretty complex agreement with Southeastern Conference that gave it considerable power over the selection of teams for the bowl game. About five minutes after UCF defeated Georgia in the 2010 Liberty Bowl, it was apparent the SEC would try to use that veto power to avoid facing a Conference USA team this year."

"The negotiations seemed to finally reach a breaking point two years ago, with the Liberty Bowl forced to agree to a complex contract that effectively gave the SEC veto power every two years."

So OK, the writer refers to "effective veto power" rather than than referring to a formal contract mechanism, but the result seems to have been the same:

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_...e-usa.html

More info...

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010...stinations

Seems consistent with the info i posted from a year later: Assuming it will be placing a team in the LB, the SEC could veto C-USA once every two years. The SEC chose not to do so in 2010 but did so in 2011, at least according to the article i posted.

(07-24-2013 02:30 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 01:07 PM)3601 Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 09:44 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 09:33 AM)3601 Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 09:23 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  Yep, and it was because the LB actually did something that Memphis fans have claimed it would do: Stick up for Memphis's conference. About 4 years ago the SEC told the LB it wanted only the Big East as its opponent and didn't want C-USA to share that slot. But the LB stood its ground and refused, though it did give the SEC the right to "veto" a C-USA team every two years, which is what happened to USM after they beat Houston in 2011 to win the C-USA title. They SEC vetoed USM in the Liberty Bowl.

And, the SEC also demoted the LB in its bowl hierarchy, forcing them to share #8/#9 with the lowly Compass Bowl.

This time around, the LB decided life in the SEC doghouse was not so good, so they gave the SEC what it wanted - a full time P5/AQ opponent, and were rewarded with a restored place in the hierarchy (now rotation pool).

You are close, but not 100% accurate. The SEC did not have veto rights. The contract said there would be no intrastate matchups and no regular season rematches.

USM was not vetoed. The Big East had a contractual deal with the Liberty Bowl to play in the game one out of every few years.

I was going by information such as this:

"Two years ago, the Liberty Bowl signed a pretty complex agreement with Southeastern Conference that gave it considerable power over the selection of teams for the bowl game. About five minutes after UCF defeated Georgia in the 2010 Liberty Bowl, it was apparent the SEC would try to use that veto power to avoid facing a Conference USA team this year."

"The negotiations seemed to finally reach a breaking point two years ago, with the Liberty Bowl forced to agree to a complex contract that effectively gave the SEC veto power every two years."

So OK, the writer refers to "effective veto power" rather than than referring to a formal contract mechanism, but the result seems to have been the same:

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_...e-usa.html

More info...

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010...stinations

Seems consistent with the info i posted from a year later: Assuming it will be placing a team in the LB, the SEC could veto C-USA once every two years. The SEC chose not to do so in 2010 but did so in 2011, at least according to the article i posted.

That's now what I read. Accoridng to what I read, the SEC had the option to bump the C-USA team only if the SEC team were taking its place against a Big East team. The SEC did not bump a C-USA team to avoid playing a C-USA team. More info...

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigeast/post/_/i...g-east-mix

(07-24-2013 03:46 PM)3601 Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 02:30 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 01:07 PM)3601 Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 09:44 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 09:33 AM)3601 Wrote:  You are close, but not 100% accurate. The SEC did not have veto rights. The contract said there would be no intrastate matchups and no regular season rematches.

USM was not vetoed. The Big East had a contractual deal with the Liberty Bowl to play in the game one out of every few years.

I was going by information such as this:

"Two years ago, the Liberty Bowl signed a pretty complex agreement with Southeastern Conference that gave it considerable power over the selection of teams for the bowl game. About five minutes after UCF defeated Georgia in the 2010 Liberty Bowl, it was apparent the SEC would try to use that veto power to avoid facing a Conference USA team this year."

"The negotiations seemed to finally reach a breaking point two years ago, with the Liberty Bowl forced to agree to a complex contract that effectively gave the SEC veto power every two years."

So OK, the writer refers to "effective veto power" rather than than referring to a formal contract mechanism, but the result seems to have been the same:

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_...e-usa.html

More info...

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010...stinations

Seems consistent with the info i posted from a year later: Assuming it will be placing a team in the LB, the SEC could veto C-USA once every two years. The SEC chose not to do so in 2010 but did so in 2011, at least according to the article i posted.

That's now what I read. Accoridng to what I read, the SEC had the option to bump the C-USA team only if the SEC team were taking its place against a Big East team. The SEC did not bump a C-USA team to avoid playing a C-USA team. More info...

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigeast/post/_/i...g-east-mix

More info...

http://www.downthedrive.com/2011/12/3/26...bowl-bound

(07-24-2013 03:47 PM)3601 Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 03:46 PM)3601 Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 02:30 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 01:07 PM)3601 Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 09:44 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  I was going by information such as this:

"Two years ago, the Liberty Bowl signed a pretty complex agreement with Southeastern Conference that gave it considerable power over the selection of teams for the bowl game. About five minutes after UCF defeated Georgia in the 2010 Liberty Bowl, it was apparent the SEC would try to use that veto power to avoid facing a Conference USA team this year."

"The negotiations seemed to finally reach a breaking point two years ago, with the Liberty Bowl forced to agree to a complex contract that effectively gave the SEC veto power every two years."

So OK, the writer refers to "effective veto power" rather than than referring to a formal contract mechanism, but the result seems to have been the same:

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_...e-usa.html

More info...

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010...stinations

Seems consistent with the info i posted from a year later: Assuming it will be placing a team in the LB, the SEC could veto C-USA once every two years. The SEC chose not to do so in 2010 but did so in 2011, at least according to the article i posted.

That's now what I read. Accoridng to what I read, the SEC had the option to bump the C-USA team only if the SEC team were taking its place against a Big East team. The SEC did not bump a C-USA team to avoid playing a C-USA team. More info...

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigeast/post/_/i...g-east-mix

More info...

http://www.downthedrive.com/2011/12/3/26...bowl-bound

I think this article actually explains it the best. It has nothing to do with the SEC having veto power. It was merely a contractual provision that was based on how many bowl eligible teams the SEC had...

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/201...r-liberty/

Big East school likely for Liberty Bowl
Mississippi State or Vandy expected to represent Southeastern Conference
By Ron Higgins
Memphis Commercial Appeal
Posted November 30, 2011 at midnight
.DiscussPrintAAA.A Big East Conference team -- Louisville, Cincinnati or West Virginia -- will likely play Mississippi State or Vanderbilt in the Dec. 31 AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

A couple of circumstances -- the Southeastern Conference having just nine bowl-eligible teams with two currently ticketed for the BCS national championship game and Conference USA likely getting Houston in a BCS bowl -- have triggered clauses in the agreement between the SEC, C-USA, the Liberty Bowl and the BBVA Compass Bowl in Birmingham, which is a primary SEC bowl partner and secondary C-USA one.

The Liberty Bowl and the Compass Bowl share the last selections among all the SEC bowl agreements, but the Liberty Bowl picks ahead of the Compass Bowl this season.

Because the SEC is one bowl shy of filling all its bowl slots this year, the Liberty contractually gets the Compass' Big East fourth-place pick that usually goes to Birmingham because part of the agreement states that the Big East always wants one of its teams to play the SEC, whether in the Compass Bowl or the Liberty Bowl.

According to C-USA associate commissioner Alfred White, the Liberty Bowl has three possible matchups every year, depending on the amount of bowl-eligible SEC teams and whether two SEC teams play in BCS bowls.

"If there are eight SEC bowl-eligible teams, the Liberty Bowl matches Conference USA versus the Big East," White said. "If there are nine SEC bowl-eligible teams, it's SEC versus Big East. And if there are 10 bowl-eligible SEC teams, it's the SEC versus Conference USA."

Southern Miss (9-2) plays at Houston (12-0) on Saturday in the C-USA championship game. If Houston wins, it will likely end up in a BCS bowl, probably the Sugar, and Southern Miss would be placed in one of the C-USA's six bowl partners besides the Liberty. If Southern Miss wins, it and Houston would end up in C-USA bowls.

The only way that a C-USA team could end up in Memphis this year is if the SEC has three teams in BCS games. That can happen if Georgia beats No. 1 LSU in the SEC championship game on Saturday to get the league's automatic bowl berth, and Sunday's BCS rankings still have current No. 2 Alabama and LSU as its top two teams, matching the Crimson Tide and the Tigers in the national championship game.

That would leave the Liberty Bowl without an SEC team, meaning that Southern Miss, win or lose over Houston, would come to Memphis to play a Big East team.

Liberty Bowl executive director Steve Ehrhart plans to be in Tampa on Friday night for the Big East game between West Virginia and South Florida, then fly to Atlanta for Saturday's SEC championship game.

The Big East is extremely muddled. Louisville, with its regular season concluded, is 7-5 and has won a share of the conference title with a 5-2 record. Cincinnati and West Virginia, both 8-3 overall and 4-2 in league play, play their final games this weekend.

The crazy thing is that the Big East's current bottom four teams -- Pittsburgh, Connecticut, Syracuse and South Florida -- are all 5-6 and have one last shot Saturday to become bowl eligible.

Though Ehrhart hasn't ruled out 6-6 Florida as a Liberty Bowl candidate, depending which team the Gator Bowl chooses ahead of the Music City and Liberty bowls, he said he would enjoy a first-time Liberty Bowl participant such as Vanderbilt.

-- Ron Higgins: (901) 529-2525

(07-24-2013 03:54 PM)3601 Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 03:47 PM)3601 Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 03:46 PM)3601 Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 02:30 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 01:07 PM)3601 Wrote:  More info...

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010...stinations

Seems consistent with the info i posted from a year later: Assuming it will be placing a team in the LB, the SEC could veto C-USA once every two years. The SEC chose not to do so in 2010 but did so in 2011, at least according to the article i posted.

That's now what I read. Accoridng to what I read, the SEC had the option to bump the C-USA team only if the SEC team were taking its place against a Big East team. The SEC did not bump a C-USA team to avoid playing a C-USA team. More info...

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigeast/post/_/i...g-east-mix

More info...

http://www.downthedrive.com/2011/12/3/26...bowl-bound

I think this article actually explains it the best. It has nothing to do with the SEC having veto power. It was merely a contractual provision that was based on how many bowl eligible teams the SEC had...

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/201...r-liberty/

Big East school likely for Liberty Bowl
Mississippi State or Vandy expected to represent Southeastern Conference
By Ron Higgins
Memphis Commercial Appeal
Posted November 30, 2011 at midnight
.DiscussPrintAAA.A Big East Conference team -- Louisville, Cincinnati or West Virginia -- will likely play Mississippi State or Vanderbilt in the Dec. 31 AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

A couple of circumstances -- the Southeastern Conference having just nine bowl-eligible teams with two currently ticketed for the BCS national championship game and Conference USA likely getting Houston in a BCS bowl -- have triggered clauses in the agreement between the SEC, C-USA, the Liberty Bowl and the BBVA Compass Bowl in Birmingham, which is a primary SEC bowl partner and secondary C-USA one.

The Liberty Bowl and the Compass Bowl share the last selections among all the SEC bowl agreements, but the Liberty Bowl picks ahead of the Compass Bowl this season.

Because the SEC is one bowl shy of filling all its bowl slots this year, the Liberty contractually gets the Compass' Big East fourth-place pick that usually goes to Birmingham because part of the agreement states that the Big East always wants one of its teams to play the SEC, whether in the Compass Bowl or the Liberty Bowl.

According to C-USA associate commissioner Alfred White, the Liberty Bowl has three possible matchups every year, depending on the amount of bowl-eligible SEC teams and whether two SEC teams play in BCS bowls.

"If there are eight SEC bowl-eligible teams, the Liberty Bowl matches Conference USA versus the Big East," White said. "If there are nine SEC bowl-eligible teams, it's SEC versus Big East. And if there are 10 bowl-eligible SEC teams, it's the SEC versus Conference USA."

Southern Miss (9-2) plays at Houston (12-0) on Saturday in the C-USA championship game. If Houston wins, it will likely end up in a BCS bowl, probably the Sugar, and Southern Miss would be placed in one of the C-USA's six bowl partners besides the Liberty. If Southern Miss wins, it and Houston would end up in C-USA bowls.

The only way that a C-USA team could end up in Memphis this year is if the SEC has three teams in BCS games. That can happen if Georgia beats No. 1 LSU in the SEC championship game on Saturday to get the league's automatic bowl berth, and Sunday's BCS rankings still have current No. 2 Alabama and LSU as its top two teams, matching the Crimson Tide and the Tigers in the national championship game.

That would leave the Liberty Bowl without an SEC team, meaning that Southern Miss, win or lose over Houston, would come to Memphis to play a Big East team.

Liberty Bowl executive director Steve Ehrhart plans to be in Tampa on Friday night for the Big East game between West Virginia and South Florida, then fly to Atlanta for Saturday's SEC championship game.

The Big East is extremely muddled. Louisville, with its regular season concluded, is 7-5 and has won a share of the conference title with a 5-2 record. Cincinnati and West Virginia, both 8-3 overall and 4-2 in league play, play their final games this weekend.

The crazy thing is that the Big East's current bottom four teams -- Pittsburgh, Connecticut, Syracuse and South Florida -- are all 5-6 and have one last shot Saturday to become bowl eligible.

Though Ehrhart hasn't ruled out 6-6 Florida as a Liberty Bowl candidate, depending which team the Gator Bowl chooses ahead of the Music City and Liberty bowls, he said he would enjoy a first-time Liberty Bowl participant such as Vanderbilt.

-- Ron Higgins: (901) 529-2525

This clearly contradicts the article i cited and since it quotes an associate commish i am inclined to believe it. Nice work.

i agree with this- This is a slap in the face when the bowl in your own stadium doesn't want you.

See UTEP and the Sun Bowl and San Diego St and the Holiday Bowl--Both were part of the WAC membership when the bowls were taken away from the WAC and given to other conferences.