In the old days, East Carolina’s bowl destination and opponent would not be floating around in the twilight zone.

When ECU went to Shreveport to play Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl in 1978, most of the region knew the Pirates were going before the official announcement.

Bowls used to court programs, but now the postseason is shrouded in speculation and limited to potential scenarios. Years ago, it was noteworthy when particular bowls had representatives at a regular season game.

Sometimes there were negotiations and a guarantee on a ticket allotment could seal a deal.

A lot depends on the conference championships this weekend. Those matchups will help the College Football Playoff committee make its seedings for 12 teams.

ESPN executives will be heavily involved in placing the rest of the teams in the 37 remaining non-CFP bowl games. The entertainment network owns many of the bowl games.

Some of the facts that will determine East Carolina’s pending plans for the holidays are the eight bowls with which the American Conference has some degree of affiliation.

There are 28 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision, such as the Pirates, which have eight wins.

The Military Bowl, which operates outside of ESPN ownership, seized its opportunity last year to pit N.C. State and ECU in a rival confrontation within a drivable distance.

That was a good window with the game being played on Dec. 28. There was time to go and come back without interfering with Christmas or New Year’s.

There are 11 bowl eligible teams from the ACC that could potentially provide an opponent for the Pirates. Duke and Wake Forest would be the most enticing for ECU fans.

The Wolfpack and Pirates again in Annapolis? Not likely.

Also drivable and probably warmer would be the Myrtle Beach Bowl. Conway, SC, has a lot of what the Hawaii Bowl (Dec. 24) offers without having to take out a second mortgage for the trip.

Duke and Wake, again, would drive ticket sales vs. ECU.

The Pirates have a good reputation for fan support at bowl games and that could get them placed a notch above their record.

The powers that be in the bowl selection process like a game that has some meaning to fuel ticket sales, ideally within the region of the bowl to allow reasonable fan access.

Some teams travel well regardless of the venue.

Fans who are hoping for an early postseason assignment can pull for a placement in the Cure Bowl in Orlando on Dec. 17.

The Myrtle Beach Bowl and the Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa are both relatively early — on Dec. 19.

The Boca Raton Bowl is two days before Christmas at 2 p.m. and the Pirates have played well there, finishing the regular season with a 42-3 quick getaway against Florida Atlantic.

Coaches like bowl games because it allows extra practice time for development of players. Some of the later potential opportunities include the Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 29 and the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth on Jan. 2.

Long hauls include the Frisco (TX) Bowl on Dec. 23 and the First Responder Bowl on Dec. 26 in Dallas. Both are too close to Christmas and too far away.

New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque on Dec. 27? Hope not.

Louisville has been mentioned as a possible opponent in the Fenway Bowl on Dec. 27.

The bowl pairings will be released on Sunday, Dec. 7. Coaches will start making game plans and fans will start making travel plans.

Hopefully, the Pirates get an attractive challenge and locale.