In case you hadn’t heard, this time a trip to El Paso is a little more limited with the warnings about not crossing the border to visit Juarez, Mexico.

The Sun Bowl ended a longstanding tradition of taking parties from participating teams across the border, citing safety concerns from the alarming homicide rate in Ciudad Juarez. That means the Pitt Panthers, who play Oregon State in the 75th Sun Bowl on Wednesday, and many fans are staying stateside while on their first Pitt bowl trip in four years.

Ciudad Juarez has devolved into a war zone between rival cartels battling to control drug trafficking along border towns. U.S. Customs and Border Protection reportedly seized more than 84 tons of marijuana, 774 pounds of cocaine and $2.8 million in cash in the most recent fiscal year.

The number of homicides for 2008 is approaching 1,600 and, in October, the Department of State issued an alert for citizens traveling and living in Mexico, noting “the situation in Ciudad Juarez is of special concern.”

That means no nights at the bar where the margarita was born, and a bit less of what has historically made the Sun Bowl a much more attractive bowl than would otherwise be expected.

Meanwhile, the speculation over what the Big East plans to do with it’s bowl tie-ins means there is speculation that Pitt could be the last Big East team in El Paso for a while.

“After [this agreement ends], we don’t know what is going to happen,” [Sun Bowl Executive Director Bernie] Olivas said. “The Big East is a good conference for us, they are on the East Coast and turn on a lot of television sets. They’ve been great to work with, but at this point we have no idea where we are and what we are going to work with.

“I read an article where they said they don’t want to have the flip-flopping arrangement [with the Gator Bowl and Big 12], so we have to sit with them and see what they have in mind.”

Olivas said the arrangement has worked well for the bowl because it offers a variety of teams to choose from every year. He said the Big 12 brings a lot of regional teams, the Pac-10 brings in the West Coast and the Big East brings the east coast, so the bowl would have some “tough choices” to make if it came down to having to choose two of the three conferences.

It is a good deal for the Sun and Gator. They have more options. That’s the problem for the Big East. The fans of programs in the Big East are stuck waiting on their travel plans later than most. Not sure where they are going. Additionally, there is the whole pick-up game, “you take the girl, we’ll *sigh* take the Big East” feel to it when the Big East team is finally selected.

As this is Pitt’s third trip to the Sun Bowl, they and WVU have played there more than any other Big East team (Cinci — twice, USF, Georgetown and L-ville once). Something that isn’t a particular shock though the fact that Syracuse has never played the Sun Bowl is a little surprising.

While the Beavers and Panthers gathered for a joint activity, you think Punter Dave Brytus was trying to psyche out Oregon State.

Pitt punter Dave Brytus stole the show at a joint-team activity Friday night when he put on a martial arts display by breaking a dozen boards with a variety of kicks and chops. For his finale, he broke three cinderblocks.

…

“My hands are still a little bit swollen from it and I have a couple cuts, but aside from a few bumps and bruises, I’m fine,” Brytus said. “My nose took a little bit of a beating, though. I did a head break, and it’s supposed to just be your forehead, but I was so hyped up because there were so many people there that I hit it with my face. I thought I broke my nose at first.”

Lovely.