Most Non-random Non-Coincidence Ever

[PonySoprano]

Since we are playing 'what if' the other thing to look at in the Hawaii vs. Liberty Bowl debate is quality of opponent.

The Liberty is against an SEC team and gives us a chance at a signature win versus an SEC team (maybe Ole Miss or Arkansas). The Hawaii Bowl will most likely be against Nevada. Since we are still trying to build a program, I think a win over an SEC team plays much better than a win against a WAC team.

Think about TCU in 1998 - they went to the Sun Bowl and beat USC which turned out to be a real turn-around point for their program.

[SMU21TCU10]

I dont think we are ready to play a good SEC team. We couldnt even beat the worst BCS team

[PonySoprano]

Nobody thought TCU would beat USC back in 1998. TCU lobbied hard to get into the Sun Bowl that year because they knew they would have an opportunity to get a signature win. It was a gamble, but it has paid off for them.

[Dooby]

Nobody thought TCU would beat USC back in 1998. TCU lobbied hard to get into the Sun Bowl that year because they knew they would have an opportunity to get a signature win. It was a gamble, but it has paid off for them.

TCU lucked into that game. The Sun Bowl had an existing contract with the WAC that ran for a couple of more years and the conference had just imploded. The Sun Bowl was PO'd and still affiliated with the WAC and neither had any interest in letting a Mountain West team go to the Sun Bowl, which left TCU. Furthermore, the Sun Bowl's sponsor at the time was Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo had just been acquired by Norwest Bank (Norwest bought Wells, but kept the name). Norwest had recently bought a lot of smaller banks, including a very well run bank in Fort Worth called Central Bank and Trust. They kept a lot of the officers from that bank and added one to the board of directors and moved a large operation and chunk of management to Fort Worth. In other words, the stars almost litterally had to friggin' align to get TCU in that bowl game and it friggin' happened.

Then, TCU played a poorly coached on its way down USC team that didn't take the game seriously. Hats off to them for winning, though.

[PonySoprano]

The point is that all anybody took away from that game was that TCU beat USC. Yes, it was a pre-Pete Carrol USC, but it was still the Trojans. The Trojans were probably disappointed to be in El Paso and were not "up" for the game. TCU saw an opening and took advantage of it. I'm just saying if the stars friggin' for us, we need to recognize an opportunity and jump all over it.

I think it would go a long way in the recruiting wars to say we beat Arkansas or Ole Miss rather than we beat Nevada.

Disclaimer: Any bowl game would be great - don't get me wrong.