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OK, we all know it only takes 6 wins to be eligible but we need to have some wins against opponents who make bowl games themselves. With ECU now 3-3, we still haven't beaten anyone with a winning record (not counting SFA)

Rocktober is huge for SMU to be bowl deserving. ECU was a good win and I assume they will be bowl eligible when all is said and done. Now, if we can win another one of these next 3 games, we can hopefully finish with at least 7 wins and feel better about being bowl deserving

April 23, 2009


The EagleBank Bowl and the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission announced today that the 2009 EagleBank Bowl will be held on Tuesday, December 29 at RFK Stadium starting at 4:30 p.m. ET. The game will be televised live nationally on ESPN for the second straight year.

In just its second year of existence, the EagleBank Bowl moves into the heart of the college football bowl schedule between Christmas and early January. The 2009 edition of the Bowl is set to feature Army against the eighth selection from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), a move-up of one selection from last year's inaugural game. If Army is not bowl-eligible, a team from Conference USA will be selected as the ACC opponent, as mutually agreed upon by bowl organizers and Conference USA.

"We sought to build on the success of last year's game and our plans are moving along as projected," said Steve Beck, Executive Director of the EagleBank Bowl. "Moving the date of the game after Christmas maximizes our opportunities in attracting top quality teams and ensures that families and football fans can enjoy the game during the holiday season."

The ACC sent an NCAA record 10 teams to bowl games in 2008 and since becoming a 12-team league in 2005, the league has sent more teams bowling than any other conference.

During the last two seasons, Conference USA sent six teams to bowl games, winning a league-record four in 2008



Due to the fact that Army beat Vanderbilt yesterday in overtime 16-13 and has some winable games on the rest of their schedule ( Temple is next week and North Texas and Air Force are winnable) it could appear that Conference USA will have one less bowl game to be invited to as Army could indeed be bowl eligible this year.

Yep, it appears we're going to need 7. But I've always thought that's the way it ought to be anyway

the 3rd winnable game for Army is VMI not Air Force.

Stallion wrote:the 3rd winnable game for Army is VMI not Air Force.

Yeah that's right as VMI should be the other win...Air Force will be tougher....

Charleston Pony wrote:OK, we all know it only takes 6 wins to be eligible but we need to have some wins against opponents who make bowl games themselves. With ECU now 3-3, we still haven't beaten anyone with a winning record (not counting SFA)

Rocktober is huge for SMU to be bowl deserving. ECU was a good win and I assume they will be bowl eligible when all is said and done. Now, if we can win another one of these next 3 games, we can hopefully finish with at least 7 wins and feel better about being bowl deserving

ECU had a winning record when we faced them. We beat them which is why they are now .500. We beat a team with a winning record.

MustangIcon wrote:

Charleston Pony wrote:OK, we all know it only takes 6 wins to be eligible but we need to have some wins against opponents who make bowl games themselves. With ECU now 3-3, we still haven't beaten anyone with a winning record (not counting SFA)

Rocktober is huge for SMU to be bowl deserving. ECU was a good win and I assume they will be bowl eligible when all is said and done. Now, if we can win another one of these next 3 games, we can hopefully finish with at least 7 wins and feel better about being bowl deserving

ECU had a winning record when we faced them. We beat them which is why they are now .500. We beat a team with a winning record.

well...then technically...UAB had a winning record, too

Charleston Pony wrote:OK, we all know it only takes 6 wins to be eligible but we need to have some wins against opponents who make bowl games themselves. With ECU now 3-3, we still haven't beaten anyone with a winning record (not counting SFA)

Rocktober is huge for SMU to be bowl deserving. ECU was a good win and I assume they will be bowl eligible when all is said and done. Now, if we can win another one of these next 3 games, we can hopefully finish with at least 7 wins and feel better about being bowl deserving

Hawaii bowl cut a deal where they have 2nd selection in the conference and they will take SMU at 6 wins.

No that's not the full story as been repeatedly stated. By NCAA Rule-which overrides CUSA bowl contracts no bowl with a conference affiliation can send a team to a bowl with 6 wins if there are 7 win teams in that conference which are not accommodated first. The key is that Army goes to the Eagle Bank Bowl with 3 more wins-and they have VMI, NTSU and Temple left on schedule. CUSA has 5 bowls plus 1 more if Army doesn't go to Eagle Bank Bowl. The word 'accomodated" means that CUSA has to place 7 win teams in one of their CUSA affiliated bowls first or they can accomodate the 7 win teams in an independent bowl which might open up if say the Big 12 etc can't fill its bowl alottment. So while it is possible SMU could go to the Hawaii bowl with 6 wins-you might be disappointed if SMU doesn't get to 7 wins.

Stallion wrote:No that's not the full story as been repeatedly stated. By NCAA Rule-which overrides CUSA bowl contracts no bowl with a conference affiliation can send a team to a bowl with 6 wins if there are 7 win teams in that conference which are not accommodated first. The key is that Army goes to the Eagle Bank Bowl with 3 more wins-and they have VMI, NTSU and Temple left on schedule. CUSA has 5 bowls plus 1 more if Army doesn't go to Eagle Bank Bowl. The word 'accomodated" means that CUSA has to place 7 win teams in one of their CUSA affiliated bowls first or they can accomodate the 7 win teams in an independent bowl which might open up if say the Big 12 etc can't fill its bowl alottment. So while it is possible SMU could go to the Hawaii bowl with 6 wins-you might be disappointed if SMU doesn't get to 7 wins.****

****see 2006.

I added asterisks.

Let's just get to 6 first and worry about the rest then.