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All-Conference
Gator Bowl: We're Interested
An 8-4 NU team has a shot at New Year's Day
by Samuel McKewon
November 11, 2008
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Nebraska’s still in the mix for a New Year’s Day bowl game.
The Gator Bowl would “strongly consider” the Cornhuskers if they win their last games and the Big 12 lands two teams in the Bowl Championship Series, Gator Bowl Association president Rick Catlett said Tuesday.
“We’d be delighted in an 8-4 Nebraska,” Catlett said, adding that NU “brought thousands and thousands of fans to Florida when they went to Orange Bowl.”
Played in Jacksonville, Fla., the Gator Bowl pits the No. 3 ACC team against one of the following: a Big East school, Notre Dame or, twice every four years, a Big 12 school. Texas Tech came from behind to beat Virginia 31-28 in the game last year. The payout to each team is $2.5 million.
Although it’s presumed that the Gator Bowl would select the Notre Dame should the Irish finish 7-5, Catlett said an 8-4 NU team would make a compelling argument.
Under those circumstances, the Huskers would have won five of their last six games. ND, should it lose to USC, would have finished 3-4 to end its season. Nebraska has historically traveled well to any bowl game, and NU nearly matches ND in name recognition. The Irish also hasn’t beaten a team with a winning record in 2008.
“Plus, you factor in that (Nebraska) didn’t go to a bowl last year, and they’ve never played in the Gator Bowl,” Catlett said. Notre Dame lost to North Carolina State in 2003 and Georgia Tech in 1999.
Notre Dame might have an edge in “television considerations” but overall, Nebraska “compares favorably.”
Catlett also indicated that Nebraska might be more attractive than a 10-3 Missouri team coming off a loss in the Big 12 Championship game, which is where the Tigers seemed headed. Under similar circumstances, Mizzou was passed over by the Orange Bowl last year in favor of Kansas. Bowls are reluctant to select conference title game losers because of a perceived fan letdown. ND could face a similar problem should it get blown out in its last regular season game at USC.
When asked to compare Nebraska and a potential 9-3 Oklahoma State, Catlett said “I don’t think we’d have a chance to pick Oklahoma State.”
That’s because Catlett believes, as do most college football pundits, that the Big 12 is almost a lock for two bids in the BCS. The winner of the Big 12 title game gets the automatic bid. A second bid is then up for grabs amongst Texas, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech, should Missouri win the Big 12 Championship.
If the BCS selects two Big 12 teams, that leaves the Cotton Bowl to select the No. 3 team and the Holiday Bowl to select the No. 4. Oklahoma State hasn’t been to San Diego since Barry Sanders’ Heisman season in 1988, and seems a logical fit there.
The Gator Bowl is sponsored by Konica Minolta and held at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, home to the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars and site of the annual Florida-Georgia game.
Other possible bowl destinations for Nebraska include the Alamo Bowl, the Sun Bowl - which could select a Big 12 team if the Gator Bowl does not - and the Insight Bowl.
How do Husker fans survive deep in the heart of Big Ten country? Find out!
Email Samuel McKewon at sam@ne.statepaper.com
http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/displ...1/491a633723d8b
An 8-4 NU team has a shot at New Year's Day
by Samuel McKewon
November 11, 2008
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nebraska’s still in the mix for a New Year’s Day bowl game.
The Gator Bowl would “strongly consider” the Cornhuskers if they win their last games and the Big 12 lands two teams in the Bowl Championship Series, Gator Bowl Association president Rick Catlett said Tuesday.
“We’d be delighted in an 8-4 Nebraska,” Catlett said, adding that NU “brought thousands and thousands of fans to Florida when they went to Orange Bowl.”
Played in Jacksonville, Fla., the Gator Bowl pits the No. 3 ACC team against one of the following: a Big East school, Notre Dame or, twice every four years, a Big 12 school. Texas Tech came from behind to beat Virginia 31-28 in the game last year. The payout to each team is $2.5 million.
Although it’s presumed that the Gator Bowl would select the Notre Dame should the Irish finish 7-5, Catlett said an 8-4 NU team would make a compelling argument.
Under those circumstances, the Huskers would have won five of their last six games. ND, should it lose to USC, would have finished 3-4 to end its season. Nebraska has historically traveled well to any bowl game, and NU nearly matches ND in name recognition. The Irish also hasn’t beaten a team with a winning record in 2008.
“Plus, you factor in that (Nebraska) didn’t go to a bowl last year, and they’ve never played in the Gator Bowl,” Catlett said. Notre Dame lost to North Carolina State in 2003 and Georgia Tech in 1999.
Notre Dame might have an edge in “television considerations” but overall, Nebraska “compares favorably.”
Catlett also indicated that Nebraska might be more attractive than a 10-3 Missouri team coming off a loss in the Big 12 Championship game, which is where the Tigers seemed headed. Under similar circumstances, Mizzou was passed over by the Orange Bowl last year in favor of Kansas. Bowls are reluctant to select conference title game losers because of a perceived fan letdown. ND could face a similar problem should it get blown out in its last regular season game at USC.
When asked to compare Nebraska and a potential 9-3 Oklahoma State, Catlett said “I don’t think we’d have a chance to pick Oklahoma State.”
That’s because Catlett believes, as do most college football pundits, that the Big 12 is almost a lock for two bids in the BCS. The winner of the Big 12 title game gets the automatic bid. A second bid is then up for grabs amongst Texas, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech, should Missouri win the Big 12 Championship.
If the BCS selects two Big 12 teams, that leaves the Cotton Bowl to select the No. 3 team and the Holiday Bowl to select the No. 4. Oklahoma State hasn’t been to San Diego since Barry Sanders’ Heisman season in 1988, and seems a logical fit there.
The Gator Bowl is sponsored by Konica Minolta and held at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, home to the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars and site of the annual Florida-Georgia game.
Other possible bowl destinations for Nebraska include the Alamo Bowl, the Sun Bowl - which could select a Big 12 team if the Gator Bowl does not - and the Insight Bowl.
How do Husker fans survive deep in the heart of Big Ten country? Find out!
Email Samuel McKewon at sam@ne.statepaper.com
http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/displ...1/491a633723d8b
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