Texas Bowl dropped from Big East Lineup

[Joe]

can't link on a crackberry, but this is per Charleston WV Gazette

[smazza]

good bowl

too bad

great stadium

[KB]

Reliant stadium in Houston, right?

[SANJAY]

http://www.wvgazette.com/Sports/WVU/200805010004

The Big East announced an agreement with the St. Petersburg Bowl, which was certified by the NCAA Wednesday, to play a C-USA team at Tropicana Field beginning this coming season. The bowl was established by ESPN Regional Television and will air on ESPN in December.

While that seems to give the Big East seven bowl slots for an eight-team league, the Gazette has learned the Texas Bowl, which was supposed to play host to the league twice in four years, will disappear from the Big East roster.

Conference USA, of which Marshall is a member, will be a full partner of the Texas Bowl lineup opposite a Big 12 team. In exchange for that, C-USA gave way to the SEC-Big East matchup in the PapaJohns.com Bowl in Birmingham, Ala.

[SANJAY]

Per Brett's blog:

Goodbye Houston? The Texas Bowl in Houston has the seventh selection from the Big East - “as of today,†Carparelli told me - but that could change. Don’t be surprised if the Texas Bowl opts out of its Big East contract for 2008 - it was the final year anyway - and seeks a conference with a better geographical fit.

“I don’t think it [the Houston Bowl] is a priority,†Carparelli said. “But if they stay in our lineup, that’s fine too.â€Â

Even if Houston remains a Big East bowl in 2008, the Big East’s 2009 bowl lineup will be: BCS, Gator/Sun, Meineke Car Care, International, St. Pete and Papajohns.com

After 2009, the bowl contracts expire with each conference, meaning you could see a free-for-all with bowls changing conference affiliations. The Papajohns.com upgrading from C-USA to the SEC on Wednesday is one example. And yes, Notre Dame remains eligible for any Big East bowl (other than the Big East champion BCS slot).

http://sports.tboblogs.com/index.php/sports/related/C127/

[Bull Martin]

Unrelated:

What was the final number we sent to El Paso last year?  I can't recall.

[Mama_Bull]

can't link on a crackberry, but this is per Charleston WV Gazette

Here is the mention and the link:

Also starting this year, a C-USA team will play a Big 12 Conference opponent in the Texas Bowl, which is scheduled for Dec. 28 at Reliant Stadium in Houston."The Big East is going to vacate the Texas Bowl," Giannini said. "It was a stretch for them geographically (to bring large crowds). That will give us (C-USA) the Texas Bowl. It is a perfect fit for us because we have so many teams from the state (Houston, Rice, SMU and UTEP)."

http://www.dailymail.com/Sports/200805010165

[Henry Jones Jr.]

I like this move. Add a bowl closer to home for bail out reasons. Get the oppurtinity to play an SEC team in the good but not great seasons. Then again 12-0 and we get to play for the crystal ball.  :2cents

[Jihme]

sounds like a win-win

[Triple B]

Plus, wasn't this the one that was only broadcast on the NFL Network? .... Good riddance.