May 15, 2008
ACC says, "Bye, bye, Boise"
The ACC has announced that it is ending its relationship with the Humanitarian Bowl.
"We will be leaving the Humanitarian Bowl in Boise," [ACC commissioner John] Swofford said. "They provided some excellent experiences for our teams. I think if you talk with our teams they've enjoyed being there. It's a little different kind of bowl experience than a lot of places but our schools, coaches and athletic directors have wanted to move that particular game back more in our geographic footprint."
Which is a really nice way of saying... none of our teams or fans ever want to go back to Boise again.
Actually the writing has been on the wall for this move for several weeks, as the ACC announced a new partnership with the fledgling Congressional Bowl last month. The Congressional Bowl will pit an ACC team against Navy in December 2008.
The biggest loser in all of this is -- of course -- the Humanitarian Bowl itself. While the game essentially have the WAC locked up, it has suffered in recent years as WAC champions have been swept up into BCS at-large slots, leaving lackluster support for the game.
Pulling a BCS conference team out of the game is a significant blow to the future of the Humanitarian Bowl, and it may be difficult to find another BCS partner for the game, especially with the Pac 10 and Big XII struggling to fill all of their bowl slots in recent years. A deal with the Mountain West Conference may be feasible, but it's unclear if the MWC would draw a crowd in Boise, despite their historical link to the WAC opponents.
ESPN reports that the conference is also exploring options with the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Alabama to secure a ninth tie-in for the ACC.
Comments:
40 Acres of Burnt Orange
posted on May 15, 2008 10:53 AM — 192.91.75.30 — link — abuse?
said:
Can't imagine why an ACC team wouldn't want to go out into the middle of nowhere at the end of December and freeze their butts off on a blue turf that always seems to induce hangover like migraines from staring at it for too long. I'm still hoping that one day the Cotton Bowl will become a BCS bowl.
HookEmHorns!
posted on May 15, 2008 11:17 AM — 72.145.94.138 — link — abuse?War Eagle Atlanta
said:
This just in: Because Boise wasn't quite far enough west for the ACC to travel, initial talks between the ACC and both the Emerald Bowl in San Franciso and the Aloha Bowl have begun.
Said commissioner Swofford, the new BCS coordinator, "the goal, in addition to spreading our teams out far and wide, is to have so many tie-ins that even Duke gets a bowl bid..." When confronted with statements about Duke's continual losing records, Swofford added this,"Look, someone votes them in the top 25 the start of each season, so that's good enough for me..."
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c-dogg said:
posted on May 15, 2008 10:12 AM — 66.219.131.67 — link — abuse?This is good news. Now my Canes do not have to play on Smurf Turf if we SUCK again! Still love my team. Go Canes! :o)