Liberty Bowl News

[sdgukhsdgl]

"borrowed" from Knight Light off the rivals board....

From Memphis Commercial Appeal today:

Liberty Bowl to have noon kickoff

Ties to C-USA are adjusted for 2005

April 26, 2005

AutoZone Liberty Bowl executive director Steve Ehrhart said Monday this year's game -- the 12th straight played in the afternoon -- will kick off at noon on Dec. 31.

Ehrhart said the combination of a noon kickoff, a Saturday playing date and a New Year's Eve game should give the bowl the opportunity to attract a large local contingent.

"We think it's a wonderful date," Ehrhart said. "People will be off from work because it's a Saturday, and they can bring their families.

"We debated whether to be on Friday afternoon (Dec. 30) or New Year's Eve. But the Dec. 31 date has worked well for us in the past. The game will be played during the warmest part of the day, and people will still have plenty of time to have a New Year's Eve party on Saturday night."

The 2004 game, an exciting 44-40 Louisville win over Boise State, kicked off at 2:30 p.m.

While the kickoff is set, there is uncertainty regarding the opponents. The bowl ended its affiliation last year with the Mountain West Conference to send its champion to play the Conference USA champion.

While C-USA will provide one of the opponents this year, Ehrhart said it won't necessarily be the champion. C-USA is undergoing a shakeup next season, losing Louisville, Cincinnati, South Florida, Army and TCU, while adding UTEP, Tulsa, SMU, Rice, Marshall and Central Florida.

The shakeup will result in two six-team divisions, allowing the league to play its first conference title game.

Ehrhart said Monday the Liberty Bowl isn't committed to taking the winner of the title game because of the massive changes to C-USA's membership.

"We've officially listed (the opponents) on our application as the first selection from Conference USA on one side against a second team to be determined," Ehrhart said.

Ehrhart said he submitted the information to the NCAA last week during annual bowl meetings in Phoenix. C-USA officials were not available for comment Monday.

"Conference USA knows that is our position," Ehrhart said. "Our contract with Conference USA (to offer the champion) was determined before they announced a championship game. So it was in place prior to them creating a championship game.

"We are still discussing it with them. We feel this makes the most sense for both the conference and the bowl with the changes in the conference and the advent of the championship game. We think it's in the best interests for both sides."

Ehrhart said inviting the championship game winner remains an option.

"This is the first year the league will have people traveling to a championship game," he said. "It's a league in transition.

"It may very well be we invite the team that wins that game, but it's something we need to work through this year."

As for the C-USA opponent, Ehrhart said he's had discussions with the Big East, the Big 12, the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Western Athletic Conference and with Navy, in addition to the Mountain West.

"We are continuing discussions with basically everybody," Ehrhart said.

so out of all that.... Liberty bowl just set it up so they can take Memphis every year!  and still no official tie for the opponent yet

[E.T.]

Would LOVE for the Big East get another Bowl Tie-In.

Go BULLS !!!

[Jim Johnson]

Would LOVE for the Big East get another Bowl Tie-In.

Go BULLS !!!

It would make sense to have a Big East - C-USA matchup... they could get Louisville back again!

[GarySJ]

Ehrhart said Monday the Liberty Bowl isn't committed to taking the winner of the title game because of the massive changes to C-USA's membership.

That says a lot.

[CyberBull]

first step in C-USA losing the Liberty Bowl.

The last thing Liberty Bowl wants to see is a Rice or UAB go to their bowl game.

If the Liberty Bowl is serious about attracting a BCS conference anchor it needs to do better than a C-DOA opponent.

[GarySJ]

So the C-USA championship game is actually hurting, not helping, their bowl situation? Interesting...

[bulls96go]

big east is a good fit

may get wvu- travel well

             pitt- tradition

             louisville - old friend

             usf- rising star

            or notre dame- an absolute coup!

[GarySJ]

The Liberty is a quality bowl game, and the Big East would be wise to grab a spot in it if they can. Especially if the conference is planning to add regional teams like USM and Memphis in the future.

[NokiaBull]

The BE is losing the Gator, so picking up the Liberty would not be bad, but reading the Memphis board, the Liberty is looking for the 3rd or 4th place ACC or SEC team vs. a C-USA team.  The provision was added in case a Rice wins the C-USA championship, the Liberty could pick the higher profile school such as a Memphis, ECU, Southern Miss, or Marshall.

[Guest S.  Bien]

Two things.  The Liberty Bowl will never get a third or fourth place ACC team.  Second the Liberty Bowl has never forgot how well UL has traveled to their bowl, both times being the only school to buy their entire alotment of tickets and even sending 25k about 5 years ago.  

The Big East has an excellent shot at the Liberty Bowl, especially if ND can be thrown in the mix.  Also, with Notre Dame we still could keep the Gator Bowl.  The word is the best they could hope for is a 5th seed in the SEC, ACC, or B10.  Whereas a second place WVU, UL, ND, or Pitt has demonstrated they can pack the stands.

Who knows how it will shake out but the Big East still has a lot to sell especially if we keep ND in the tie-ins.  I don't love giving ND that kicker but if it means keeping bowl tie-ins and increasing our bowl revenue then so be it.