al.com on C-USA Bowl Picture

[Brad]

(UAB) Win over Army could help clear bowl picture

Thursday, November 18, 2004

TORAINE NORRIS

News staff writer

If you've seen the latest Conference USA bowl projections and went away scratching your head, you're not alone.

Projections on which C-USA team will wind up where are all over the place.

One thing is certain: This Saturday's games could go a long way toward defining the situation in C-USA and ultimately UAB's postseason destination.

"There are so many scenarios that could play out," said Russ Anderson, assistant commissioner for media relations of C-USA. "When you look at ourleague right now, we could end up with seven bowl eligible teams."

Or as few as four.

UAB (6-3), Louisville (7-1) and Memphis (6-3) are currently the only bowl eligible teams in the league. UAB gained bowl eligibility with its 20-7 win over Houston last week.

The Blazers could help their cause by defeating the Army Black Knights (2-7, 2-5) on Saturday at West Point. A seven- or eight-win Blazer club would be a lot more attractive to bowls.

UAB is being mentioned as a possible candidate in Hawaii, Mobile and New Orleans.

GMAC Bowl Executive Director Frank Modarelli attended the UAB-South Florida game. Despite the loss, Modarelli said UAB was still on the bowl's radar. The GMAC Bowl matches a C-USA team with a team from the Mid-American Conference in Mobile.

"They're still in the mix," said Modarelli. "But there's still a lot of football left to be played. It's too early to make any kind of call."

UAB Athletics Director/football coach Watson Brown is optimistic the Blazers won't be left at home this season. UAB was snubbed for bowls in both 2000 and 2001.

"I like where we're sitting," said Brown.

Others C-USA teams are lurking. Southern Miss (5-3) and Cincinnati (5-4) can become bowl eligible with wins this weekend. TCU (4-5), Tulane (4-5) and South Florida (4-4) are two wins away from qualifying. However, TCU and Tulane will meet next week, so one of them will be eliminated.

TCU hosts Southern Miss this weekend. If the Horned Frogs beat the Golden Eagles, they would only need to beat Tulane on Nov.27 in Fort Worth to reach six wins.

South Florida has three games remaining (at Cincinnati, vs. Memphis, vs. Pittsburgh). If the Bulls win two of their final three, they could become bowl eligible.

Cincinnati will host USF Saturday and finish the season at Louisville. Beside this weekend's game with TCU, Southern Miss hosts UAB (Nov. 27) and California (Dec. 4) in its final two games.

According to one bowl exec, the situation in C-USA could possibly go into Dec. 4 before it's settled. The GMAC bowl would like to make a pick before that weekend, Modarelli said.

C-USA has five contracted bowl tie-ins. The league champion, which at present looks like Louisville, will play in the Liberty Bowl.

The GMAC Bowl gets the second selection but not necessarily the second-place team in C-USA. The remaining bowls - the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, the PlainsCapital Fort Worth Bowl and the Wyndham New Orleans Bowl - then make selections. All selections are made in concert with the league office.

"Everything works through the Liberty Bowl on down," said Anderson. "No one can do anything until the Liberty Bowl makes their selection."

C-USA will work with bowls that have openings should more than five C-USA teams qualify, said Anderson. The Big 12, SEC and the Big Ten conferences are in danger of not having enough teams to fill contracted slots. The Pac-10 won't have enough teams to fill its obligations.

"If we have more than five bowl eligible teams, then we'll look to place those bowl eligible teams in open bowls," said Anderson.

E-mail: tnorris@bhamnews.com

Copyright 2004 al.com. All Rights Reserved.

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[smazza]

that loss to army will kill us

and we have no one to blame by ourselves

[bullMD2005]

I have to agree with the spazza, but I keep holding out hope that somehow we'll end up playing over the holidays.

[goodknightfl]

5-6  likely ending record for the year.  1st bowl game either 06 or 07