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Bailey's
Take on Conference USA
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From the Anchor Desk
Tuesday, December 4, 2001
By Brian Bailey
Sports Anchor of WNCT-TV 9 |
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Pirate Fan$
Influenced GMAC Pick;
Time for Leaders to Step Forward
©2001 Bonesville.net
I’ve learned one
key element when covering bowl possibilities over the years. The more
committee members with whom you talk from each bowl, and the more you can
get those people to keep talking, the closer you get to the truth.
Bowl matchups are
easier to cover in this age because so many conferences have agreements with
so many bowls.
Conference USA can’t
get a slot in the BCS, but the league can get their teams in four different
bowls. Two of the bowls are against MAC teams, another league that is good
but not nationally known, and even further away from the BCS than is C-USA.
Over the years, you
get to know whom to trust and whom not to trust. Some people will tell you
anything, but others guide you in the right direction.
Take last week, for
instance. By just talking to a couple of people who were in the know, we
pretty much had the C-USA bowl situation figured out.
A representative from
the galleryfurniture.com Bowl admitted that his bowl might take the winner
of the Texas Christian-Southern Miss game — if the Mobile Bowl opted for
East Carolina. That’s exactly how it went down, and now the Frogs and the
Eagles battle for a spot in the post season.
Nothing is fair in
the bowl business. Bowls are about making money — making money for the game,
for the city, for the state. It’s more of an economic windfall then a
playoff game.
Southern Miss Coach
Jeff Bower had a valid point in his
acid remarks about the GMAC Bowl overlooking his team. I don’t
think I would have been quite as vocal, seeing that Bower might need that
bowl next season.
Though the GMAC Bowl
gets the second pick in the bowl structure, it doesn't necessarily have to
take the second place team. All teams that are bowl eligible are also
eligible for the second pick.
It just so happens
that East Carolina has a great travel reputation, and a reputation for
spending money.
Ironically, the
Pirate fans will most likely be outnumbered in Mobile. In fact, early
estimates are that the Thundering Herd fans may exceed 12 or 15 thousand.
East Carolina
officials have indicated that they hope to send 8 thousand to Mobile.
Pirate Seniors Want One More Shot
There were a number
of factors to blame in what many consider to be a disappointing 6-5 season
for East Carolina this year.
But these Pirate
seniors have one more shot to go out a winner. I heard the talk leading up
to the Louisville game, and I heard it before the Southern Miss loss.
I don’t want to hear
any more talk. Somebody has to rise up and be a leader for this team.
Championship teams
have players that refuse to lose. I think somebody has to step up and say
that losing is not an option.
Discipline seems to
be a problem. Missed assignments and turnovers are directly linked to the
poor second halves that have plagued the Pirate cause.
Maybe Coach Logan
will let me talk to the team before the game. I may not know as much
football as the rest of the staff, but I think I can get a fire going in
somebody’s belly.
I don’t necessarily
think that Coach Logan has to be the guy to get the team fired up, but I do
think that somebody has to!
Don’t talk about
redemption. I want to see it on the field!
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Conference USA Power Rankings [120401]
1. Louisville -
Conference USA Champs Head to Memphis.
2. Southern
Miss - Still at Number 2 in Power Ratings, despite snub by GMAC Bowl.
3. East
Carolina - Pirates hope to save their best for last in Mobile.
4. Cincinnati -
Bearcats head to Motor City Bowl to face MAC Champion Toledo.
5. TCU - Horned
Frogs need a win over Southern Miss to slip into the bowl picture.
6. UAB -
Blazers fall short against a very good Pittsburgh team..
7. Memphis -
Tigers' loss to Bearcats has UM thinking of next season.
8. Army -
Congrats to Todd Berry and the Black Knights for win over Navy.
9. Tulane -
Green Wave hopes to see some improvement in 2002.
10. Houston -
Cougars run the table for a 'perfect' 0-11 season. |
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02/23/2007 01:19:56 AM
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