Greg Auman reported last week that the St. Pete Bowl was likely to invite Rutgers or UConn (barring the outcomes of next week’s games). Technically, the International (Toronto) and PapaJohn’s.com (Birmingham) bowls have first dibs before St. Pete, but my understanding is that, in practice, the Big East office works with the three to set up the best logistical matchups (a point echoed by Auman). Hence, they don’t want to send a team to the same game two years in a row, and want to avoid sending a team like USF all the way to Canada.
I think that Rutgers is likely to get the nod over UConn for several reasons if it came down to those two teams. Rutgers won the head to head matchup (although, UConn may very well be the better team this year…), they’re a bigger name, hail from a bigger media market, and have a better travelling reputation. Now, on Wednesday, an Orlando Sentinel blogger reported that UConn was unlikely to accept any bid to the St. Pete bowl if it was offered, as it conflicts with their finals schedule. Does that mean they’re ticketed for Toronto (or a trade with Detroit?) However, Dec. 19th falls right in the middle of the Rutgers finals too. I have to think that Rutgers would absolutely not turn St. Pete considering the other options, although this is one more reason to try to win next week, because the bowl in Charlotte is on the 26th.
Yes, I am completely discounting the possibility of a Notre Dame win over Stanford, which could further throw a wrench into things.
2 responses so far ↓
JerseyJoe // November 28, 2009 at 11:45 pm |
Tell you something about the Big East bowl lineup when the St. Pete’s bowl is looking like a preferred destination.
In any case, let’s hope all that talk is moot and that RU breaks this winless drought against WVU. All things considered, Charlotte would be a great experience for this relatively young team against BCS conference competition.
Non-related topic: Craig James had a really insightful comment during yet another ass-kicking at the expense of USF. He referenced that USF – and other teams right on the cusp of making that next ’step’ (e.g. Rutgers) – have a starting 22 that can play (not necessarily beat. but play) with anyone in the country. However, what separates the USFs of the world from the Floridas and Texas is that they can’t recruit the depth. Players are coming to USF to start, not be backups. Where with schools like Florida, players are coming to compete but may not make the starting lineups.
As it relates to Rutgers, I think we are finally starting to see Schiano get the depth through recruiting at least on the defensive side of the ball. Now if the offensive side in recruiting can catch up, and the defensive side can maintain the talent pipeline….time will tell.
James Allen // November 29, 2009 at 8:05 am |
Well, Notre Dame dutifully lost, so no wrench there.
And Louisville, wanting to beat Notre Dame to the punch at something, fired Kragthorpe. No shock that.
And as far as bowls go, I see there’s a proposed bowl at Yankee stadium next year which will pit Big East 4th vs. Big 12 7th. I have no idea why bowls have to go 7 deep (other than the fact that there are about 80 bowls or something), but there you are. New Yankee Stadium, just the place to be on a cold late December day. Makes me not look back wistfully at the old Garden State Bowl.