Can the Big East really count the Houston Bowl, when no one can be sure they will find a replacement? I mean when the NCAA is unable to recertify another bowl, you know there’s a lot of problems.
On the other hand two more bowls were certified and are tied to the Big East.
In the International Bowl, the BIG EAST will meet a team from the Mid-American Conference. In the Birmingham Bowl, the BIG EAST will play a team from Conference USA.
“We’re very excited to be associated with these two new bowls and extremely pleased with the number of bowl opportunities that we have for this season and beyond,” said Tranghese. “BIG EAST football fans now have even more attractive postseason destinations.”
The International Bowl will be played in the Rogers Centre on Jan. 6. The Birmingham Bowl will be played at Legion Field on Dec. 23. Both games will be televised by one of the ESPN networks.
The BIG EAST champion automatically qualifies for a spot in the Bowl Championship Series. After the BCS representative has been determined, a BIG EAST team will go to the Toyota Gator Bowl or the Vitalis Sun Bowl.
Then, the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, N.C. will select a BIG EAST team.
Earlier this year, the BIG EAST announced an agreement with the Houston Bowl. The NCAA Bowl Certification Committee gave the Houston Bowl a 60-day extension before making a decision on certification.
Everyone is trying to put a positive spin on match-ups against Conference USA and the MAC.
Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said the addition of the new bowls are yet another sign that the Big East is on the rise.
“Bowls can choose whatever conferences they want to be affiliated with, and everyone wants to be associated with a winner,” Wannstedt said.
“So this is all a very positive sign about how the Big East is perceived. It also speaks well of our commissioner and his staff and the job they have done in selling the conference based on its merits.
“The bottom line is these bowls are run by businessmen and every conference had a chance to sell their product to them. The Big East obviously has a lot to offer and it is only going to get better.”
I think the Toronto Bowl has something of a chance. At least it is within a decent driving distance for a lot of the schools, so it’s not exactly a bad road trip.
Ah, it’s easy to mock and be down on these games. Fact is, the Big East has earned this rung. The conference has a well-earned reputation of not traveling well (no matter what the conference composition was) and the conference is still trying to get itself back up to respectability in terms of overall performance.
