OU to Gator Bowl

[BullsFanInTX]

According to an article in my local paper, the San Antonio Express News, the Gator bowl looks like they are taking Oklahoma.  They are looking for a new sponsor and want a big name for the game.  

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/stories/MYSA111406.8D.gatorbowl.2fd6f91.html

Gator considers leaping Cotton for Big 12 team

Web Posted: 11/14/2006 01:40 AM CST

Tim Griffin

Express-News Staff Writer

The Gator Bowl is strongly considering using a one-time provision to jump in front of the Cotton Bowl to invite a Big 12 team this season.

The Jacksonville, Fla.-based bowl likely would benefit from selecting a team such as Oklahoma. The Gator needs strong attendance and healthy TV ratings as it seeks a new title sponsor.

"There's a number of teams from the Big 12 that would fill what the Gator Bowl would be looking for," Gator Bowl executive director Rick Catlett said Monday. "Obviously a 10-2 team like Oklahoma, if they finish that way, would be one of them. But you also have teams like Texas, Nebraska and Texas A&M. There are some awfully good teams there."

The Gator Bowl has the choice of matching either the fourth-place Big 12 team or second-place Big East team against an Atlantic Coast Conference team. But the deal enables it to jump in front of the Cotton Bowl, which typically takes the No. 2 Big 12 team, once in the bowl's four-year contract with the Big 12 and Big East.

The opportunity arises only when the Big 12 has one team in the Bowl Championship Series pool and no at-large teams. With most projections indicating Oklahoma will just miss the cut, it would accentuate the Sooners' value to the Gator Bowl.

The Gator's other potential choice is the No. 2 team in the Big East, which is set for a banner season with three teams currently in the BCS standings' top 10. But some of that excitement is tempered because Louisville played in the Gator Bowl last season, and West Virginia played there the two seasons before that.

The Cotton Bowl has had five Big 12 South Division teams in the past five seasons. Bowl sources indicate Nebraska is attractive to Cotton officials because of that recent past, and because the Cornhuskers haven't played in Dallas since 1980.

Texas A&M is presumed to be the leading candidate for the Holiday Bowl. That would leave Missouri, Texas Tech or Kansas State as Alamo Bowl candidates.

Alamo Bowl executive director Derrick Fox said selling tickets is an important factor to determine which Big 12 team he will take  particularly without a title sponsor.

"Whoever comes here will have to convince me they will bring fans to San Antonio to follow their team," Fox said.

Missouri (7-3) has never played in S.A. and would be intriguing because of a concentration of former Texas high school players, such as quarterback Chase Daniel, safety David Overstreet, wide receiver Brad Ekwerekwu and former Jay standout safety Mack Breed.

Kansas State (7-4) would be an attractive candidate if it can win at Kansas on Saturday, thanks to its impressive victory over Texas and its strong finish.

Texas Tech (6-5) is a proven draw in San Antonio and has played in the Alamo Bowl twice since 1996.

The Alamo and Champs Bowl draw from the fourth- and fifth-place Big Ten teams in the four-year deal, with each bowl getting the fourth choice twice. Fox confirmed that the Champs Bowl will take the fourth selection this season, in front of the Alamo.

But with Purdue (7-4) and Iowa (6-5) as the likely two selections, there shouldn't be much difference.

[RMF5630]

As we have been saying, the way a team travels plays into bowls.  Once you get to a certain level, it is more important than being a good football team.  The Meineke Bowl is going to bite us, the national perception is that USF does not travel well and has a poor fan following.  

[BullBlood]

So, what does this do to the bowl scenarios for the BE??

And more importantly for the bowl scenario for USF??

[flsportsfan83]

So, what does this do to the bowl scenarios for the BE??

And more importantly for the bowl scenario for USF??

USF is going to B-Ham

[Guest]

So, what does this do to the bowl scenarios for the BE??

And more importantly for the bowl scenario for USF??

USF is going to B-Ham

That is not certain.

---

It doesn't do much to hurt USF's scenario... instead of the Gator Bowl, we get the Sun Bowl.

So if Louisville gets an at-large BCS bid, then we go to Texas... if Louisville doesn't, then we go to Birmingham.

[BullyPulpit]

This would have no impact on USF. It just means that the first non-BCS selection from the BE will go to the Sun Bowl instead of the Gator Bowl. Another good thing about it is that it keeps the BE's 2 years open with the Gator, in the event we are in a position to go in the next three years. (Although I still have BCS aspirations)

[BullyPulpit]

Beat me to it by a few seconds....

[E.T.]

... the national perception is that USF does not travel well and has a poor fan following.  

Unfortunately ... it's not perception - it's FACT.

This year's Bowl Game will need a statement by our fans, unfortunately ... do not think our base grew enough to get more than about 5K to ny Bowl Game this year.

I will not be able to make it with a Brand New BULL in the Pen.

[ChiTownBull]

i think we get about 3k to bham

[BullBlood]

thanks.  I started getting worried there for a second.  I hoping we don't get stuck going to Toronto because of the date (early jan).