(12-06-2016 12:55 AM)TheRevSWT Wrote: (12-06-2016 12:39 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote: (12-05-2016 09:45 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote: Who's complaining about the NOLA bowl selection?
I mean, it's a no brainer... The Cajuns have filled that bowl many times over. It is in a town that has many Cajun fans.
Can someone explain why there's an issue here? I mean, I could understand if the Cajuns were 5-7 and got selected over a team with more wins... But that is not the case.
Because teams will end up in Arizona simply because one of 'our' bowls is really the property of one team. I'm not mad about this year....I just see it as a general problem. For USA, we have TWO bowls that we cannot participate in, regardless of our record....The New Orleans Bowl and the Dollar General. Its good that the Camellia likes us.
Sure, its better than not bowling, but still...we could get another, equitable bowl slot if we jettisoned a bowl that isn't working with the conference.
I still think that 2 times in 5 years should be the limit unless there's a exceptional reason to do so. This year, the NO Bowl has a local team (USM is actually closer to New Orleans than ULL). Let ULL go somewhere else for a change. An App/USM match would be well attended. Why should App be limited in their bowl options simply because the conference has a bowl that doesn't really work with the conference. ULL has played in that bowl the last FIVE times they've been bowl eligible. Five out of the last six years. Add up the fact that the other good bowl in the conference won't take one team (USA) and has a decided preference for a particular team (Ark State), then there's a real problem developing.
For Texas State, there's a problem. You guys want to go to the 'no one will see it bowl' at the business end of a 1000 dollar airfare simply because the conference won't establish a protocol for bowl slots. Other conferences do that.
The dynamic has changed. Its good that we've gone from not enough slots to inequitable slots, but that doesn't mean we can't work on equitable treatment.
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Easy enough to fix.
1) No bowl can take a team more than 2 times in a five year period, unless there's a waiver. This guarantees that at least THREE different teams will play in a particular bowl in a five year period.
2) Teams that finish first or second should be placed prior to six win teams (subject to the constraint above). And no, playing UCF in a road game or going to Arizona isn't going to be considered to be placing prior to the DG or the NO Bowl.
3) No bowl can effectively ban any teams in the conference
And to that, I say (no offense but) up yours. For a South Alabama fan to be complaining about not having access to a bowl because they chose someone closer... Well, that's just downright mean.
The dynamic is far different than three years ago. You guys did get robbed. But I'm not sure your anger is properly placed. But we did beat you guys and had an equal number of FBS wins. I see your anger and understand. But there was an argument.
To be clear, I'm not mad about going to Arizona this year. But I understand that the conference has TWO bowls that basically won't take us, even if we won 10 games. And I see it as a problem.
But the precise reason you're upset is EXACTLY why Texas State should understand that a change would protect them. Placing limits on bowls picking favorites (especially geographic favorites) over teams that earned it will help you guys.
As things stand right now
The New Orleans Bowl will not pick you, regardless of your record, if ULL is available. And that's the closest bowl to you guys.
The Dollar General Bowl will not pick you, if Arkansas State or Troy are available. And probably if App or Ga Southern are available. And that's the second closest bowl to you guys.
Camellia Bowl? Troy or USA are going to be picked before Texas State.
Cure Bowl? Sorry...they'd rather have an Eastern team
So where does that leave a bowl eligible Texas State with say 8 or 9 wins? Arizona in a game that isn't that close to you and is barely televised. And Tucson is further away from Texas State than Mobile, Montgomery, and New Orleans. And you guys are largely locked out of all three of those bowls.
If the system doesn't change. USA will be forever relegated to the Camellia, Cure, or Arizona. And Texas and Georgia State will only see the Cure or the Arizona. ULM? Hope you like Arizona.
By the way, Ga State is probably in the same boat as Texas State.