Conference USA has solidified its ties with five current bowl partners for the next four seasons following 2009, and has added one guaranteed spot between two bowls on a rotating basis.
Conference USA has solidified its ties with five current bowl partners for the next four seasons following 2009, and has added one guaranteed spot between two bowls on a rotating basis.
The Irving, Texas-based conference announced Tuesday it is renewing ties with the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tenn., the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl in Honolulu, the St. Petersburg Bowl, the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl and the Bell Helicopters Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas.
As in previous years, the league is guaranteed one spot in each bowl for the 2010-13 seasons, subject to eligibility.
The league added agreements with the EagleBank Bowl in Washington and the proposed Dallas Football Classic. The league gets a spot in Washington in 2010 and 2012, and in Dallas in 2011 and 2013.
For the "off" years in those games, the league has a "backup" agreement to fill any vacancy that goes unfilled by other contracted conferences. Such an agreement is expected to land a C-USA team in Washington, to fill a spot for which Army likely will not qualify.
The C-USA Board of Directors, which consists of the presidents and chancellors of the 12 full members, approved the arrangements Monday.
"Postseason football is amazing and having the right mix of bowl games is important to every conference," said C-USA commissioner Britton Banowsky. "When we began developing our new bowl agreements we wanted three things: great destinations; quality opponents; and, increased revenues. We are very pleased with our lineup for the 2010-2013 seasons and believe it delivers in every way."
As in every season since C-USA's founding in 1996, the league champion will head to the Liberty Bowl. C-USA teams are 7-6 in the game, but have lost three in a row to Southeastern Conference opponents.
Conference USA has solidified its ties with five current bowl partners for the next four seasons following 2009, and has added one guaranteed spot between two bowls on a rotating basis.
The Irving, Texas-based conference announced Tuesday it is renewing ties with the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tenn., the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl in Honolulu, the St. Petersburg Bowl, the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl and the Bell Helicopters Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas.
As in previous years, the league is guaranteed one spot in each bowl for the 2010-13 seasons, subject to eligibility.
The league added agreements with the EagleBank Bowl in Washington and the proposed Dallas Football Classic. The league gets a spot in Washington in 2010 and 2012, and in Dallas in 2011 and 2013.
For the "off" years in those games, the league has a "backup" agreement to fill any vacancy that goes unfilled by other contracted conferences. Such an agreement is expected to land a C-USA team in Washington, to fill a spot for which Army likely will not qualify.
The C-USA Board of Directors, which consists of the presidents and chancellors of the 12 full members, approved the arrangements Monday.
"Postseason football is amazing and having the right mix of bowl games is important to every conference," said C-USA commissioner Britton Banowsky. "When we began developing our new bowl agreements we wanted three things: great destinations; quality opponents; and, increased revenues. We are very pleased with our lineup for the 2010-2013 seasons and believe it delivers in every way."
As in every season since C-USA's founding in 1996, the league champion will head to the Liberty Bowl. C-USA teams are 7-6 in the game, but have lost three in a row to Southeastern Conference opponents.
The other bowls will be filled in no particular order, assistant commissioner Russ Anderson confirmed Tuesday. The opposing conferences in the games remain pretty much the same - Mountain West in the Armed Forces Bowl, Sun Belt in the New Orleans Bowl, Western Athletic Conference in Hawaii and a Big East squad in St. Petersburg.
The SEC apparently is going to continue its relationship with the Liberty Bowl, but the fear is that the Memphis bowl is going to slide further down that league's totem pole. Currently, the SEC sends its No. 6 or No. 7 team to Memphis, in a deal involving the Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tenn.
Anderson said the league negotiated better financial terms in the games, though that isn't limited to payouts. He declined to provide specifics.
Perhaps more important, the agreement provides stability for a league that underwent a radical realignment just four years ago.
"Conference USA has done a great job in securing agreements with quality bowl partners," said Marshall coach Mark Snyder. "These postseason opportunities are great for the league as a whole and our program in terms of recruiting and exposure. It is exciting to be a part of a conference with so many postseason opportunities."
Reach Doug Smock at 304-348-5130 or dougsm...@wvgazette.com.
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