BE may also get Liberty bowl VS. SEC

[BullsFanInTX]

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/apr/01/autozone-liberty-bowl-could-pair-sec-vs-big-east/

The AutoZone Liberty Bowl could match a Southeastern Conference team against a Big East representative -- rather than the SEC vs. Conference USA champion pairing of the last four years.

A berth for C-USA, which includes the University of Memphis, remains likely "in most future scenarios," said Liberty Bowl executive director Steve Ehrhart. But Ehrhart, who originally wanted a Big East team just as a backup plan in case the SEC didn’t have enough bowl-eligible teams to fill a Liberty slot, said today there could be instances where his bowl would match the SEC vs. the Big East.

Ehrhart could not say specifically the scenario that would match the SEC vs. the Big East in his bowl, thus sending the Conference USA champ to another one of the C-USA bowls.

“It’s just a very tricky, very complex formula,†Ehrhart said. “It just depends on certain years what teams are available, and (if) we wanted a certain matchup like West Virginia vs. Ole Miss. It’s something we’d try to work out with the conferences and our TV partner ESPN.â€

The deal with the Big East hasn’t been signed yet, Ehrhart said, adding, “but I feel like it’s going to work out.†The agreement between the three conferences would start for this year’s game on Dec. 31. The SEC has confirmed that the Liberty Bowl and the Papajohns.com bowl will share the league’s last two bowl picks for the next four years through 2013.

Ehrhart said that the intention to get the Big East involved wasn’t because the University of Memphis wants to leave C-USA for a BCS conference, possibly the Big East if that league expands.

“The Big East seemed like a logical choice for our bowl to pursue as part of a three-way partnership with the SEC and Conference USA,†Ehrhart said. “Teams like West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Louisville and South Florida would be attractive for our bowl. They’ve all been top 20 teams the last few years and we feel those fans would travel well here.â€

He added, “We have always appreciated our relationship with Conference USA and still in most future scenarios a Conference USA team will be in our bowl. But in the long haul, this might be a good deal to get the Big East in here, and expose the Big East to the Memphis market, and Memphis to the Big East.â€

[smazza]

yeah

[BDYZR]

Another great BBQ desto! Football and BBQ, what a great combination.

[South_Florida_Flip]

I'm all for this potential move.

That's one of the biggest reasons that I have supported Memphis being invited to the Big East if the opportunity presents itself.

[BullsFanInTX]

I wonder how this would affect the other bowls, and where this bowl might come in the BE lineup.  The top 4 or 5 BE bowls seem set: BCS, Champs, Meineke, Pinstripe, and PPJ.com....I wonder if it would replace the PPJ.com these years, or slide the St Pete down to #7.

[smazza]

isnt liberty better than meineke

[South_Florida_Flip]

isnt liberty better than meineke

Not when the Meineke would offer a better opponent.

The 8th/9th best SEC team would be a much better option than playing a C-USA team, so the St. Pete Bowl should be put down in the pecking order.

[813knight]

Liberty Bowl was great. Beale St. is very cheap compared w/ Tampa/Orlando and lots of fun. Fun parade that the city actually gets behind, great food, and SEC opponent. When I went Miss St brought like 40K fans

[Bull Dozer]

Memphis BBQ??? Sign me the **** up!!!!!!