CUSA-LIBERTY BOWL IN DANGER?

[ALEX LIFESON]

http://www.commercia...ec-vs-big-east/

It's no secret that the University of Memphis, a Conference USA member, would love to join the Big East Conference, a BCS league.

But for now, if you can't get Memphis in the Big East, maybe the Big East can come to Memphis -- for a game, at least.

AutoZone Liberty Bowl executive director Steve Ehrhart revealed on Thursday that his bowl's new four-year agreement through 2013 to match the C-USA champion against a Southeastern Conference team leaves open the possibility of having a Big East team in his game against either league.

That means there could be an SEC vs. Big East matchup without Conference USA -- a scenario Ehrhart couldn't fully explain, but said could happen starting with this year's Dec. 31 game.

"It's just a very tricky, very complex formula," Ehrhart said. "It just depends on certain years what teams are available, and (if) we wanted a certain matchup like West Virginia vs. Ole Miss. It's something we'd try to work out with the conferences and our TV partner ESPN.

"We have always appreciated our relationship with Conference USA and still in most future scenarios a Conference USA team will be in our bowl. The deal with the Big East hasn't been signed yet, but I feel like it's going to work out."

Ehrhart had to consider his options with the Big East when the SEC re-shuffled its bowl lineup. The Liberty, which had shared a No. 6 or 7 pick with the Music City, got bumped to sharing a No. 8 or 9 choice with the Papajohns.com Bowl. The SEC, which ended its contract with the Independence Bowl, signed the Gator Bowl for its No. 6 slot and gave the No. 7 spot solely to the Music City.

Fearing the SEC may not have enough bowl-eligible teams, especially when it sends two teams to BCS bowls with one team qualifying for the national championship game (which has happened the last four years), Ehrhart attracted the Big East.

Conference USA associate commissioner Alfred White said he was disappointed that the SEC pushed the Liberty Bowl down in the picking order. The new arrangement also puts in question where the C-USA champ might play if it doesn't land in Memphis.

"We feel confident we'll find a quality bowl for our champion to play a quality opponent," White said.

Big East spokesman John Paquette said "discussions are ongoing (with the Liberty Bowl), but nothing has been concluded."

Ehrhart said getting the Big East involved wasn't related to the University of Memphis seeking a move to a BCS league, especially to the Big East, should the league expand or lose a member.

"Teams like West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Louisville and South Florida would be attractive for our bowl," Ehrhart said.

SEC associate commissioner Mark Womack said if both the Liberty and Papajohns.com Bowl want the same SEC team (if one is available), the bowls will take turns getting the first selection.

Ehrhart disagreed. "There are provisions in place that we get the first pick (ahead of the Papajohns)," he said.

The SEC won't comment on why it dropped the Liberty Bowl behind the Music City Bowl in the picking order, to share a spot with the Papajohns.com Bowl, a fourth-year bowl that matches the SEC against an Atlantic Coast Conference team.

The Papajohns.com Bowl -- owned by ESPN, which signed a 15-year, $2.25 billion agreement with the SEC that took effect last football season -- is located in Birmingham, the SEC headquarters.

League sources say SEC officials moved the Liberty Bowl back in the picking order because they didn't like the game's tie-in matching the SEC vs. a non-BCS league.

Ehrhart appears to be addressing those concerns by adding the Big East.

"In the long haul, this might be a good deal to get the Big East in here, and expose the Big East to the Memphis market, and Memphis to the Big East," Ehrhart said.

[Stallion]

copy and file 3rd to last sentence in the Antitrust Litigation Evidence File

[CalallenStang]

CUSA has already secured the Dallas Classic vs. Big Ten in upcoming years. Worry not about the Liberty Bowl.

[Stallion]

I personally would rather CUSA transfer support to the new Dallas Bowl than the Liberty Bowl-the chance to play a Big Ten team is pretty nice. I really have no interest in visiting Memphis in December

[CalallenStang]

I personally would rather CUSA transfer support to the new Dallas Bowl than the Liberty Bowl-the chance to play a Big Ten team is pretty nice. I really have no interest in visiting Memphis in December

Stallion and I completely agree on something for once. It's a miracle

[smusic 00]

If it mean Hawaii or Dallas over Memphis, I'm in

[Mexmustang]

Let the Memphis bowl die...honestly, who wants to go to Memphis? Any time of the year?

[Cardinal Puff]

I have been to the Liberty Bowl. Have no desire to return. Let's hope for the best with the Dallas Bowl.

[Stallion]

of course, CUSA's participation in Dallas Football Classic is only every other year

[Charleston Pony]

can't blame the Liberty Bowl for wanting a well attended "regional" matchup. They may fear SMU winning CUSA and bringing our usual 1500 fans

[Cardinal Puff]

1,500 hard drinking, high spending fans. Then again there is a limit on what you can do in Memphis

[CalallenStang]

of course, CUSA's participation in Dallas Football Classic is only every other year

put our champion in and we may get an every year deal there. Who would you rather have, CUSA Champ or Big 12 #9. Obviously this depends on if the #9 is a north or south team but my guess is that more years than not it's going to be Colorado, Kansas State, Iowa State, etc.

[RGV Pony]

of course, CUSA's participation in Dallas Football Classic is only every other year

put our champion in and we may get an every year deal there. Who would you rather have, CUSA Champ or Big 12 #9. Obviously this depends on if the #9 is a north or south team but my guess is that more years than not it's going to be Colorado, Kansas State, Iowa State, etc.

depends. If you're talking having CUSA champ Tulsa or aTm play in a 90,000 seat stadium, I'm afraid the preference may be Big 12 #9.

[Mestengo]

LB stinks they can have that ice bowl , I can't stand Memphis!

[CalallenStang]

of course, CUSA's participation in Dallas Football Classic is only every other year

put our champion in and we may get an every year deal there. Who would you rather have, CUSA Champ or Big 12 #9. Obviously this depends on if the #9 is a north or south team but my guess is that more years than not it's going to be Colorado, Kansas State, Iowa State, etc.

depends. If you're talking having CUSA champ Tulsa or aTm play in a 90,000 seat stadium, I'm afraid the preference may be Big 12 #9.

Hence my 3rd sentence.