Wolfpack’s Bowl Picture Becoming More Clear (Updated 11:35am)
NC State’s bowl chances now appear to rest on the University and the ACC’s ability to secure an at-large bid.
It seems apparent now that the NCAA and the ACC are standing firm by not allowing a 6-6 NC State team take one of the 9 bowl bids affiliated with the ACC. Over the past 2 days, the order at the top of the ACC bowl lineup has been confirmed exactly as we projected on Tuesday and today the evolution continues as the order near the bottom of the conference is also taking shape.
The key variable in the second half of the conference’s pecking order continues to be the Emerald Bowl’s preference for Miami’s national reputation for televison ratings.
The primary questions that currently remain: does NC State get a bowl bid, and if so, where?
What we know:
Orange Bowl: Winner of VT/BC ACC Championship game
Peach Bowl: Ga Tech
Gator Bowl: Clemson
Champs Bowl: FSU
Music City Bowl: Loser of VT/BC Championship game
Meineke Bowl: UNC
What we speculate based on various reports –
Emerald: Miami
This is what we have heard all week and the Emerald Bowl’s executive director pretty much states that they want Miami on the bowl’s website.
Boise: Maryland
It seems Maryland is headed to Boise to play Nevada after the Terps whined their way out of the EagleBank Bowl and after Ball State declined an opportunity to battle Boise in this bowl.
EagleBank Bowl: Wake Forest
Reports today indicate that Navy doesn’t have much choice in waving their rematch clause, thus paving the way for Navy and Wake to meet in the EagleBank Bowl. Another article from Baltimore with updated information.
The president and executive director of the inaugural EagleBank Bowl said last night that a rematch of Navy and Wake Forest is a “strong possibility.”
After conversations yesterday with Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuk, Steve Beck said that he is confident that the no-rematch stipulation will be waived by the Midshipmen.
Q: So, where does that leave NC State?
A: An at-large bid is NC State’s only chance for a bowl. Fortunately, there appears to be a good chance of that occurring.
If Troy beats Arkansas State in the Sun Belt title game, it will free up a spot in the PapaJohn’s bowl, which we think will then select NC State and which we think has been Coach Tom O’Brien’s preference all along. In fact, the “Scarlett Scuttlebutt” is predicting NC State vs Rutgers for the PapaJohn’s Bowl.
If Arkansas State beats Troy – thus giving the Sun Belt a PapaJohn’s – bid then we hope Ohio State gets an at-large BCS bowl. IF that happens, it opens up a slot in the Motor City Bowl in Detroit, and NC State would be strong candidate there.
After these two possibilities a trip to Hawaii or Shreveport for the Independence Bowl are not out of the question.
Our best assumption at this point is that Troy will win the Sun Belt and NC State will land in the PapaJohn’s bowl on Dec. 29th in Birmingham. But, we will keep our eyes and ears open!
57 Responses to “Wolfpack’s Bowl Picture Becoming More Clear (Updated 11:35am)”
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This is unfortunate because I live in DC but I’ve never been to AL so what the hell! See you guys in the deep South!
I don’t care who or where the Pack plays, just please keep it off ESPN-U.
Well if we end up playing Rutgers I hope to heck we beat ‘em because otherwise the holes will never let us live it down.
I definitely prefer the later bowl. The practice time is invaluable!
Birmingham is a cool city. Birmingham is also much safer than Detroit. Any idea what the money difference is between these?
GoldenChain………..41-10
I don’t think we’re the ones to live down anything, anytime soon:)
Troy IS an 11.5 point favorite on Saturday…
I apologize for the slight highjack, but I don’t know where else to put this. Anyway, has anyone been paying attention to the recent spate of commitments in football recruiting. The strong finish seems to be paying off on the recruiting trail. Just wondering if we can maybe have a discussion thread on that at some point soon.
According to football-bowl.com. The difference in est. payout:
PJ 300k
Moto 750k
DC 1m
yeah, I was gonna mention the recent windfall in recruiting, as well. . . some great commitments, 4 or 5, so far.
I just happened to be in the car that was hijacked… What’s the scope on the young man who was the Clemson recruit who was thinking of opting out of Clemson — a very nice, respectful young man who liked the character he saw here but not the jiving swagger he saw at UNChoke.
looks like though the Pizza Bowl is best for the program, its not best payout-wise… those are the breaks when you finish 6-6 I guess. For Saturday anyway, let the ghost Hector rise again.
I think the conference splits up everyone’s bowl expenses and payouts anyway.
Recruiting has been riding along pretty good. The success has created a buzz and having the best QB in the ACC who is only a Fr. doesn’t hurt.
I’ve heard good things, mainly from Noah, about a few players who are RS this season that gives hope that the player depth and productivity is on the rise.
It seems like blasphemy but arguably the most impressive players I’ve seen on the roster since TOB arrived have been;
1)Wilson
2)Bryan
3)Vermiglio
4)Reiskamp
No one outside of the coaches and the players/families whooped and hollered at any of these signings; it’s all a farce about how may stars these guys have unless your a team like UF, OU, USC and a handful of others beating players away from your doorstep.
An additional week of practice would be great and Papa Johns sounds great. Go Troy!
Just an update…I called the PJ Bowl folks…THEY are HIGHLY optimistic that “after the pairings sort out….NCSU will be invited…Currently WE, the PACK, are their TOP CANDIDATE”. This bowl is run VERY efficiently…I called to find out about MH Parking…they have a HUGE LOT, dedicated to MH, and allow MULTIPLE DAY parking. Legion Field seats almost 72K…Shades of ND in 2003…
GO PACK…
PS…rooms in Birmingham are already getting scarce and INFLATED. Cullman, AL is about an hour NORTH and an easy drive…There are a LOT of motels and food there and the rooms are HALF THE PRICE as the “hotel” links….If you want a really NEAT side trip…go by the Jack Daniels Distillery (free Tour) in Lynchburg, TN and the Huntsville, AL Space Museum…Really a great holiday opportunity.
^ If you are going to stay in Cullman, you may as well stay in Huntsville.
The conference does split all the bowl payouts among all the teams.
General info if you are looking -
Trussville is just north of downtown, and closer then Cullman – but Cullman does have this cool replica of Rome & St. Peter’s in miniature.
Hoover is B’ham’s Cary. The big mall, and lots of hotels just over the mountain from downtown.
If we get picked, and I get done grading finals, I’ll write something up for you all with greater information.
I thought minimum bowl payouts started at $750,000….
Go State
You can call up Bowl people and ask them what their best interest are? If Arkansas St wins the point is moot.
Read the first line of thread, “appear to rest in the University”. Obviously we know the demographic of these corporate Bowl agents (probably the best and brightest of the Co., right?). With that said I sure hope the DVD Jed is sending out shows him sitting in a pimped out red office with about 4 cougars draped on the desk.
Just an update…feeling bad today recovering from a 48 hour bug…mindless computer time…
The rates in Hoover and the “outskirts” of Birmingham are about 25% cheaper than the same chain on the PJ Bowl line. Cullman is about 50% cheaper…however, your total cost will be MUCH LESS. REAL difference is that Birmingham has a 20% tax and Cullman has a 10% tax. However, Cullman is also DRY…so BYOB…that is why EVERY motel has a refrigeator/microwave in the rooms.
Hope all is NOT for NAUGHT…
Bowl payouts are first used to pay expenses of the team. Then the remaining proceeds go into the ACC’s pot and are divided up by the schools.
I too thought the pay out was a min. of $750,000, and if you couldn’t make that you had to close up shop.
Cullman is dry, bless its heart.
It is interstate right down to the Legion Field exit.
Adventuroo – trust you are feeling better. Check out places to the east of B’ham as well. Irondale, Pell City, Talladega and then Oxford/Anniston. Oxford is the furthest, right about 65 miles, but folks from NC will pass through all these places coming down I-20. Then all you NSCAR folks can check out the track, the museum and the new Bass Pro Shop!!!
That is if we get to go. I know they’d like to have Troy, and the Troy folks have been talking about turning down the NO Bowl, even though it’d be theres as conference champs to stay close to home.
Lots still to fall in place.
^
That’s what I thought SF, but didn’t have time to research the back up. ( Had to get back to my job search. The ol’ Cowdog is not used to having to do such a thing. Let me tell ya brothers and sisters, it’s slim pickins’ out there. That’s why I’ve been posting a little more than usual.)
Getting back to payouts, it is not at all unusual for a school to lose money attending a given bowl game. In fact State will probably go in the red on Papa John, given that it is the lowest pay out bowl.
There is no minimum. It is suggested that the bowl meets the contracted teams expenses, however.