(12-04-2013 08:11 PM)bigbelly Wrote:  Is there someone on here that can explain the true picture of whether the Sun Belt has backup agreements with any bowls, and if not why? At some point in the last two years there have either been published stories or rumors about us having backup agreements with Little Caesar's, Beef O
Brady's, Independence, and BBVA. Not sure what's true or when they may have expired.

However, the reason SBC teams may not get a third bowl bid seems to be because we've once again been outsmarted by others, primarily the MAC. We have two bowl tie-ins and from all indications no backup agreements. The MAC--already with three bowl tie-ins--was somehow able to get negotiate a backup agreement with the SDCCU Poinsettia Bowl and appears to have another backup agreement with Beef O Brady's. BOB's would rather sign up to take a 5th MAC team if a 3rd Sun Belt option were available. That may not be accurate, but if not then why does almost every bowl prognosticator have a MAC school in St. Pete over an SBC team? Can someone convince me that Toledo or Ohio (which lost three of their last four games by an average of 35 points) would send more fans to Tampa than WKU or Troy?

Just more evidence of a lack of leadership and forward-thinking at the top if you ask me. Benson = Waters.

That is what I posted today also.....Ohio brought no one to I Bowl last season and most certainly will not bring many to Tampa...And this is a clear example of how lacking the leadership is in New Orleans to let the MAC come in and gobble every agreement they can in Sun Belt's backyard...That is what is so frustrating about all of this mess....Good luck App St. and Georgia SOuthern, this maybe you in a few seasons but I cannot see how it would every be as bad as this season is with 2 agreements only and no backups to anything coming off 2 or 3 seasons where the SB had 4 bowl eligible teams....Countdown has already begun for LAf. and Ark. St. for the 4th straight season in 2014 and 15..New Orleans and Go DADDY should go ahead and present Laf. and Ark. St with lifetime bowl agreements like Navy and Army have...

In the long run I think bowls can trade or do whatever they want....