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Here's a question regarding bowl wins and eligibility. Are wins against I-AA/FCS teams counted in the 6-win requirement for bowl eligibility? I remember hearing initially that they were never counted but that now they can be used in alternating years, or something like that. This could end up being important to us as several MAC teams like Ohio and Kent State are ahead of us in total wins on the strength of some wins against I-AA teams. I would hope that a 7-5 or 6-6 for them would not be considered one in the same as a 7-5 or 6-6 for us.

Here's what I found. Good luck with the minutia over what FCS teams qualify. Plus, it's just plucked from the Interwebs. Therefore reliability is not 100% guaranteed.

"a team must record at least six wins in the standard 12-game schedule, which may include one win against a Division I FCS scholarship-awarding opponent, and the team must not be on probation. The NCAA allows one victory per season over a Division I FCS (formerly I-AA) team to count toward an FBS team's bowl eligibility, so long as the FCS team has supplied financial aid for football averaging out to at least 56.7 full scholarships (90% of the limit of 63 allowed to FCS schools) over the preceding two years. This prevents teams from scheduling multiple games against FCS teams in an effort to pad their win total."

The other thing that goes into bowl bids isn't really wins and losses, but who can pack the stands. After the last GMAC Bowl I find it hard to believe that BG will get a bowl bid unless we automatically qualify. I hope I am wrong.

As I recall, we didn't pack the stands in Mobile back in 04 either, but we did bring a big crowd to Detroit in 03. I think both Motor City and International may be interested if we are eligible ... it's just asking a lot for a big crowd to go all the way south to the Gulf of Mexico from Bowling Green.

daspollak wrote:The other thing that goes into bowl bids isn't really wins and losses, but who can pack the stands. After the last GMAC Bowl I find it hard to believe that BG will get a bowl bid unless we automatically qualify. I hope I am wrong.

What other MAC team other than possibly CMU has done better than BG when it comes to putting butts in seats, especially on the road?

I rest my case.

The fact of the matter us that many times the bowl does not have much choice. 64 teams get bowl bids and often there are barely that many eligible. Last year BG was one of the few elugible teams not to get a bid. If bg has 7 wins with a record setting marquee player I suspect we have a good shot

All I am saying is bowls want teams who can put butts in the seats. I'm sure some of these bowls will try to scheme there way in the near future to get under .500 teams from the BCS conferences in bowls. The big plus for the GMAC Bowl this year is they get an ACC team if eligible.

One other thing to consider is that if a bowl has an opening because a conference doesn't have enough bowl-eligible teams to fulfill it's requirement all 7-5 at-large teams must be selected before a 6-6 at-large team can be selected.

daspollak wrote:All I am saying is bowls want teams who can put butts in the seats. I'm sure some of these bowls will try to scheme there way in the near future to get under .500 teams from the BCS conferences in bowls. The big plus for the GMAC Bowl this year is they get an ACC team if eligible.

This would undermine the credibility of the bowl system even further. I doubt they would take this step. Although it could make the playoff system an even more attractive option.

MarkL wrote:it's just asking a lot for a big crowd to go all the way south to the Gulf of Mexico from Bowling Green.

It's a Catch-22. You either go to the warm weather spots or miss out on some of the "bowl atmosphere." The difference between the MCB and the GMAC, from a fan perspective, is enormous.

If BGSU can't sell it's allotment of tickets to a far away bowl game and has to buy them, to save money wouldn't it be better not to go?

professorjackson wrote:If BGSU can't sell it's allotment of tickets to a far away bowl game and has to buy them, to save money wouldn't it be better not to go?

IMO, no.

1987alum wrote:
The difference between the MCB and the GMAC, from a fan perspective, is enormous.

That's definitely an UNDERSTATEMENT!

Not absolutely sure thing if we go and we're 7-5, but it sure helps. I'd say at 6-6 no way. Even at 7-5 we might be the 4th or 5th team in MAC rankings, a conference with only 3 automatics. So lets hope Ohio loses out. Would have helped if Ball State came from behind NIll last night but ....dang it.

I'd prefer any bowl, although '87 is correct. You basically drive up and then back to Detroit while in Mobile you get to stay overnight and eat your marshmellow and banana pies from the parade, party at Joe's Bar, eat at the Brick Pit, climb through a battleship, etc. I'm really hoping for International though....also to make a pilgrimmage to the Hockey Hall of Fame

We'll see....but one thing is clear, the fella's need to win out in order to strap that hemet on for another month! Beating Toledo along the way is gravy.

and before I forget....for remote planning purposes does anyone know if you need a Passport to travel into Canada? Lord Byron? Upstaters do you know?