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December 02, 2004

Peach picks Florida over 'Bama

Florida has accepted an invitation to the Peach Bowl to face off against the loser of the Virginia Tech-Miami game this weekend.

The USA Today ran a great behind-the-scenes yesterday of two Peach Bowl Selection Committee meetings. The Peach was bouncing between an up & coming Alabama team that would draw exceptionally well in Atlanta, versus the media storm of Ron Zook & Florida. Many of the committee members recognized that this might be their only chance to tap Alabama for several years, as the Crimson Tide looks to be finishing above the Peach for the foreseeable future.

The Peach was excited with the prospect of having Zook & the Gators face off against in-state rival Miami, having just beaten Florida State. The alternative, Virginia Tech, was a huge fan base draw that would sell every ticket the Peach Bowl threw at them. So, from the ACC matchup angle, Florida was a sure-thing.

In the end, the decision was simple. Florida, with it's media circus intact, had a better record than Alabama. In that regard, it was the "right" decision, but it was interesting to see the lobbying that goes on in selection meetings.

Posted by Kevin Donahue

 

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  1. Don VanDemark says:

    posted on December 2, 2004 11:45 AM — link

    I'm not sure it's true that Alabama will be above the Peach Bowl next year. The Peach gets the 4th SEC team. Assuming Tennessee matures, Florida's new coach gets them going, Auburn doesn't fall too far and/or LSU rebounds, I think Alabama will fall in the 4-5 range.

  2. Pete Holiday says:

    posted on December 2, 2004 12:37 PM — link

    That's a lot of assuming to do, Don... especially when you missed one key assumption: Alabma has to stay injured.

    'Bama played Tennessee close, nearly beat LSU, and gave Auburn a game... all with a third string backfield. Other teams that could do that are few and far between.

  3. Don VanDemark says:

    posted on December 2, 2004 02:38 PM — link

    Granted there is a lot of assuming there, but I don't think it's even close to ridiculous to think Alabama may end up as the 4th SEC team again in the near future. To not end up there, they'd have to win the West consistently - something that won't happen in a competitive conference.

  4. Kevin Donahue says:

    posted on December 2, 2004 03:13 PM — link

    Don - Let's look on the other side of that assumption of yours. Presume that a Crimson Tide team that could have easily won eight or more games continues to improve with young talent. Suddenly a trip to Atlanta looks even more definite, but maybe for the SEC title game instead of the Peach.

  5. From SEC College Football - Fanblogs.com

    pinged on Dec 3, 2004 1:13 PM

    Ron Zook met with the team this week and told the players that he plans to coach Florida against their ACC opponent in the Peach Bowl. Plans could change, however, as Zook is a top candidate at several openings and a new school could put...

  6. Greg Dupes says:

    posted on December 7, 2004 02:48 PM — link

    Kevin- First of all I'd like to say... Nobody can easily win eight games while playing in the SEC. Second of all, next season they are going to face, an SEC championship hungry, South Carolina team. Arkansas will always put up a fight. And I can't see them coming close against LSU, Florida, Tennessee, or Auburn. So, They will be lucky to finnish 5th place in the SEC, but Georgia might be at 5. Now Alabama's trip to Atlanta looks even more impossible, for even the Peach Bowl.

  7. Don VanDemark says:

    posted on December 7, 2004 04:25 PM — link

    I'm not trying to take shots at Alabama. My whole point is the committee's assumption that they wouldn't get another shot at Bama, which I find ridiculous. I'm not talking just next year, but over the next 2-4 (committee's words: only chance to tap Alabama for several years).

    Let's look at who's been at the Peach Bowl the past few years: Tennessee, Auburn, LSU, Mississippi St., Georgia. Not exactly a list of the dregs of the SEC - these are respectable teams that just fell into the 4th slot. Alabama would have to win the West every year to stay out of the Peach.