If no NY6 then where?

[t4pizza]

It would be great IF something were to work out and we could play an ACC or SEC team, but it seems that some of our fans are setting themselves up for disappointment with the attitudes towards our aligned bowls. I'm not sure why the NO Bowl would only be considered so bad (only half a dozen or so "crappy" bowls worse per above). I don't agree with that statement. It is a chance for the SB Champ to play the CUSA champ (if they don't chicken out again this year) and is in a destination city. Things could be a lot worse.

Why is it that the CUSA champ can opt out, yet we're being told by Ethan that we can't do the same?

It's the dodging App State clause all CUSA teams covet.

Seriously though, our contractual obligation differs from theirs?

Yes, they are not required to send their champion. CUSA allows their champion to pick the bowl they want to. Heck, it wasn't until a year or two ago that the SunBelt agreed to send our champ. Hopefully CUSA does the same thing soon.

[EastHallApp]

It would be great IF something were to work out and we could play an ACC or SEC team, but it seems that some of our fans are setting themselves up for disappointment with the attitudes towards our aligned bowls. I'm not sure why the NO Bowl would only be considered so bad (only half a dozen or so "crappy" bowls worse per above). I don't agree with that statement. It is a chance for the SB Champ to play the CUSA champ (if they don't chicken out again this year) and is in a destination city. Things could be a lot worse.

Why is it that the CUSA champ can opt out, yet we're being told by Ethan that we can't do the same?

CUSA allows their champion to take their pick of any CUSA primary tie-in bowl. They can't "opt out" in the sense that they can go to a bowl that does NOT have a CUSA tie-in. They just aren't automatically locked into one particular bowl.

The Sun Belt, OTOH, gives an automatic NOLA bid to the champ.

[t4pizza]

I don't think the SBC would allow its champion to go anywhere other than NO unless they qualify for the NY6.

I am not questioning your point from your viewpoint but I will ask this question - Why Not?
I understand the way things are set for the SB teams - Why wouldn't it be the "best of both worlds" to have APP go to a bigger name bowl against a P5 team which would be more exposure for the SunBelt and with coordination then put ULL in New Orleans where the crowds would be much much larger and ULL is a very good team -

According to the SunBelt commissioner, there is currently no system set up for a waiver of the bowls that we have tie-ins with. This isn't something that the commissioner can just do on his own. It would require a "system/process" set up by the schools presidents that would designate why, when and how a waiver could be granted and who would have the authority to do that.

[EastHallApp]

As far as last year, I know App fans enjoy the talking point that UAB was scurred to play us. Who knows, maybe they were. But they fact is, they had a home basketball game against a top 10 Auburn team on the same day as the NOLA Bowl; seems pretty reasonable that they wouldn't want to make their fans and students pick one or the other. And their team got to go to Boca Raton instead, which, you know, was probably a pretty good trip.

[97APP]

It would be great IF something were to work out and we could play an ACC or SEC team, but it seems that some of our fans are setting themselves up for disappointment with the attitudes towards our aligned bowls. I'm not sure why the NO Bowl would only be considered so bad (only half a dozen or so "crappy" bowls worse per above). I don't agree with that statement. It is a chance for the SB Champ to play the CUSA champ (if they don't chicken out again this year) and is in a destination city. Things could be a lot worse.

Why is it that the CUSA champ can opt out, yet we're being told by Ethan that we can't do the same?

It's the dodging App State clause all CUSA teams covet.

Seriously though, our contractual obligation differs from theirs?

Yes, and this is my biggest concern with the NO Bowl. The SBC agreed to send its Champion there while CUSA isn't. From my understanding CUSA could send any of its bowl eligible teams there. I want to say that this agreement was only for 2018 & 2019. So if I were the SBC commissioner I'd let it be known that we want CUSA's #1 team or the ability for our champion to opt out.

[bigdaddyg]

I will answer the question I posed. I go with the Orange Bowl. We could play a decent ACC team, the players get a great trip to Miami, nice swag and a pretty good payout for the school and the conference. We could really see how we stand against a better P5.

The standard answer of New Orleans is understood. The premise of the thread assumes that we still win out including the conference championship and it also assumes that we are not locked into that Bowl game. Should have known that IF would be totally ignored.

[Saint3333]

No SBC team would choose the other 4 bowl tie-ins over the NOLA bowl which is what the CUSA champ has the option to do.

9 out of 10 years this arrangement is favorable for the SBC champ, and based upon the current rankings it still is.

[Gonzo]

[Rick83]

It would be great IF something were to work out and we could play an ACC or SEC team, but it seems that some of our fans are setting themselves up for disappointment with the attitudes towards our aligned bowls. I'm not sure why the NO Bowl would only be considered so bad (only half a dozen or so "crappy" bowls worse per above). I don't agree with that statement. It is a chance for the SB Champ to play the CUSA champ (if they don't chicken out again this year) and is in a destination city. Things could be a lot worse.

Why is it that the CUSA champ can opt out, yet we're being told by Ethan that we can't do the same?

It's the dodging App State clause all CUSA teams covet.

Seriously though, our contractual obligation differs from theirs?

The SBC champion automatically goes to the NO bowl; whereas, the CUSA champion gets to decide where to go among their affiliated bowls.

[Gonzo]

No SBC team would choose the other 4 bowl tie-ins over the NOLA bowl which is what the CUSA champ has the option to do.

9 out of 10 years this arrangement is favorable for the SBC champ, and based upon the current rankings it still is.

I think we would opt in to NoLa most years we won the conference, but a year like 2019 we would opt for the Belk Bowl or something better. I don't see how this is favorable to the SBC at all. There isn't a downside to giving the Champ a choice like the CUSA Champ.

[EastHallApp]

So let's acknowledge up front that this is hypothetical and isn't going to happen. For purposes of discussion, where would I want to go? I won't go down the list of all the bowls, but broadly speaking, I'd want:

- A destination city.
- A ranked and/or big-name opponent.
- On a convenient date, preferably within reasonable distance.

I would NOT rather go somewhere random like Birmingham or Shreveport to play a 6-6 team that got passed over by its league's more desirable bowls, like Boston College or Temple or Kentucky or whoever. What does that do for us? We already know we can beat middle-of-the-pack ACC and SEC teams.

I get the appeal of Belk, and I'd certainly be there. But if you're giving me the choice of 3-4 days in NOLA or an overnight trip to Charlotte, I know which I'm picking and it ain't the Queen City. Maybe if we're playing a top 25 team, but one look at the ACC this year says that's not happening.

Bottom line, guys: We aren't playing for a national title here. Unless you're in the CFP, bowls are an excuse to take a vacation and put another trophy in the case. Who cares if you're playing Middle Tennessee or UAB or Pittsburgh or Missouri?

The New Orleans Bowl, as others have said, is a great option. Great city, easy flight, NFL stadium. It could use a better opposing tie-in, but maybe that will happen in time. If we aren't in the NY6, I'm glad we're guaranteed to go there with a conference title, and I can't wait to go back.

[Saint3333]

No SBC team would choose the other 4 bowl tie-ins over the NOLA bowl which is what the CUSA champ has the option to do.

9 out of 10 years this arrangement is favorable for the SBC champ, and based upon the current rankings it still is.

I think we would opt in to NoLa most years we won the conference, but a year like 2019 we would opt for the Belk Bowl or something better. I don't see how this is favorable to the SBC at all. There isn't a downside to giving the Champ a choice like the CUSA Champ.

That assumes the conference and it's teams have leverage over the bowls. I believe our leverage is growing (when comparing us to CUSA and MAC), but historically that isn't the case. If it were to play out that ULL was the second team (I do worry about a rematch with them) and App had the chance at a bowl game vs. a P5 I think the conference will likely approach the NOLA bowl to work with them.

[Gonzo]

There is only one G5 NY6 opportunity and 0 CFP G5 opportunities. Our conference needs to negotiate a way for a nationally relevant SBC team to opt into a bigger bowl than NoLa. It was an honor to play there last year and I'll go back this year, but this won't be the last season Appalachian is in the CFP poll at the end of the season and we can't depend on being the LONE G5 at the top of those rankings with so many AAC teams + Boise having great years most of the time.

Call it the App State Clause.

[bigdaddyg]

So let's acknowledge up front that this is hypothetical and isn't going to happen. For purposes of discussion, where would I want to go? I won't go down the list of all the bowls, but broadly speaking, I'd want:

- A destination city.
- A ranked and/or big-name opponent.
- On a convenient date, preferably within reasonable distance.

I would NOT rather go somewhere random like Birmingham or Shreveport to play a 6-6 team that got passed over by its league's more desirable bowls, like Boston College or Temple or Kentucky or whoever. What does that do for us? We already know we can beat middle-of-the-pack ACC and SEC teams.

I get the appeal of Belk, and I'd certainly be there. But if you're giving me the choice of 3-4 days in NOLA or an overnight trip to Charlotte, I know which I'm picking and it ain't the Queen City. Maybe if we're playing a top 25 team, but one look at the ACC this year says that's not happening.

Bottom line, guys: We aren't playing for a national title here. Unless you're in the CFP, bowls are an excuse to take a vacation and put another trophy in the case. Who cares if you're playing Middle Tennessee or UAB or Pittsburgh or Missouri?

The New Orleans Bowl, as others have said, is a great option. Great city, easy flight, NFL stadium. It could use a better opposing tie-in, but maybe that will happen in time. If we aren't in the NY6, I'm glad we're guaranteed to go there with a conference title, and I can't wait to go back.

Good answers. You are right on track with where I was hoping a response would go. Some bowls would absolutely be out of the question like the Rose, Sugar and Fiesta. The Chick-Fil-A is also out because it is one of the playoff sites. Several of the undesirable places like you mention get nixed. Belk would be good on most years due to the ACC opponent but as you mentioned it really isn't somewhere most of want to spend several days. What would our guys do for that week leading up to the game? I like to factor the team reward aspect as well. Convenience is a biggie in my mind, both with date and locale. As long we as we get a good opponent New Orleans seems to still be fairly high on the list since it still offers a lot of perks that some of the other bowls simply don't have.

[EastHallApp]

No SBC team would choose the other 4 bowl tie-ins over the NOLA bowl which is what the CUSA champ has the option to do.

9 out of 10 years this arrangement is favorable for the SBC champ, and based upon the current rankings it still is.

I think we would opt in to NoLa most years we won the conference, but a year like 2019 we would opt for the Belk Bowl or something better. I don't see how this is favorable to the SBC at all. There isn't a downside to giving the Champ a choice like the CUSA Champ.

That assumes the conference and it's teams have leverage over the bowls. I believe our leverage is growing (when comparing us to CUSA and MAC), but historically that isn't the case. If it were to play out that ULL was the second team (I do worry about a rematch with them) and App had the chance at a bowl game vs. a P5 I think the conference will likely approach the NOLA bowl to work with them.

Right, not to mention it affects not just NOLA but all the other SBC bowls, who potentially could get marginally worse teams from the domino effect of taking App out of the equation.

And of course, it also assumes that these higher-tier bowls actually want a Sun Belt team in their game.

[ericsaid]

I would want New Orleans and an AAC team

New Orleans is going to get C-USA two or three. So unless NOLA contracts with AAC or a P5 team from 2020-2025, I don't understand the rationale behind sending the champion from the Sun Belt during those years, and this year.

[ericsaid]

Louisville and App would be a fun and well attended game in Charlotte.

[ericsaid]

No SBC team would choose the other 4 bowl tie-ins over the NOLA bowl which is what the CUSA champ has the option to do.

9 out of 10 years this arrangement is favorable for the SBC champ, and based upon the current rankings it still is.

How would playing Marshall, other than for novelty, better than playing a SEC or ACC team in a bowl?

[Yosef84]

It would be great IF something were to work out and we could play an ACC or SEC team, but it seems that some of our fans are setting themselves up for disappointment with the attitudes towards our aligned bowls. I'm not sure why the NO Bowl would only be considered so bad (only half a dozen or so "crappy" bowls worse per above). I don't agree with that statement. It is a chance for the SB Champ to play the CUSA champ (if they don't chicken out again this year) and is in a destination city. Things could be a lot worse.

Why is it that the CUSA champ can opt out, yet we're being told by Ethan that we can't do the same?

I don't know if the Sun Belt's decision to send the champion is because of our agreement with the NO Bowl or whether it is just a conference decision. I think it is the latter. Until last year, there was no such rule and it was known that the NO Bowl would ALWAYS choose UL whenever they were available. That left the conference champ in many cases to be grabbed by the Camelia Bowl or the Dollar General Bowl (now Lending Tree). If I recall, the folks were pretty unhappy about being consigned to those bowls...with the Cure having a great destination but terrible television deal. If you ask me, the rule favors us and makes the conferences "best" bowl game accessible to App.

I do think it sucks that UAB dodged us last year. Personally, I think a game between the conference champs in New Orleans would be a great game for App (assuming no Cotton Bowl).

[Yosef84]

No SBC team would choose the other 4 bowl tie-ins over the NOLA bowl which is what the CUSA champ has the option to do.

9 out of 10 years this arrangement is favorable for the SBC champ, and based upon the current rankings it still is.

How would playing Marshall, other than for novelty, better than playing a SEC or ACC team in a bowl?

That's a matter of personal preference, but playing a 6-6 SEC/ACC team as our season finale isn't all that intriguing. We already have 2 P5 wins. A game against a CUSA (peer) champion would provide bragging rights for App and the SBC.

Sure, we all love to win games against the P5 but I refuse to buy into the narrative that ANY P5 game is better than a game against the G5, even if that G5 team is a quality "peer" of ours.