NOknee6of7
11-15-2005, 10:02 AM
Straight out of Jacksonville....
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Notre Dame fading from Gator's plans
Louisville vs. Virginia Tech is now bowl's preferred matchup.
By GARRY SMITS, The Times-Union
Notre Dame moved one step closer to a Bowl Championship Series game as one of the two at-large teams -- and one step further from a possible Gator Bowl date Jan. 2 at Alltel Stadium.
As a result, the Gator Bowl is now turning its attention to matching Louisville (7-2) from the Big East against Virginia Tech (8-1) from the Atlantic Coast Conference.
"If we don't get Notre Dame, Virginia Tech-Louisville is our dream game," Catlett said Monday.
Notre Dame (8-2) is ninth in this week's BCS rankings after beating Navy and plays at home against Syracuse (1- 8Saturday and at Stanford (5-4) Nov. 26. The Fighting Irish are eligible for a BCS bid with nine victories and ranked 12th or higher, and if they reach eighth or higher in the final BCS rankings, they are a mandatory at-large team.
The Gator Bowl is allowed to bypass its eligible Big East team for Notre Dame twice within the current four-year contract, which is in its final year. Notre Dame played North Carolina State in the 2003 Gator Bowl.
Virginia Tech, which has played in four Gator Bowls in the last 11 years (the last two were sellouts in 2001 and 2002), will be left out of the ACC championship game if Miami (8-1) beats Georgia Tech and North Carolina to end the regular season. Virginia Tech lost to the Hurricanes two weeks ago and would finish second to UM in the Coastal Division as a result of their head-to-head meeting.
But if the Hokies win their final two games at Virginia Saturday and home against North Carolina Nov. 26, they could climb to fourth in the BCS standings (they're sixth this week) and receive an automatic BCS bid. The Gator Bowl would then look to Boston College (7-3, at Maryland Saturday) as an opponent for Louisville.
The Cardinals have shaken off losses to West Virginia and South Florida to win their last three games, averaging 47 points per game. Louisville plays Syracuse Nov. 26 and is at Connecticut (4-5) Dec. 3.
Catlett said Gator Bowl ticket sales are around 20 percent ahead of last year's pace and on the way to a sixth consecutive sellout.
Put it to rest man. You are fighting an uphill battle. Just accept the dominant force that IS THE LOUISVILLE CARDINALS!!!!!
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Notre Dame fading from Gator's plans
Louisville vs. Virginia Tech is now bowl's preferred matchup.
By GARRY SMITS, The Times-Union
Notre Dame moved one step closer to a Bowl Championship Series game as one of the two at-large teams -- and one step further from a possible Gator Bowl date Jan. 2 at Alltel Stadium.
As a result, the Gator Bowl is now turning its attention to matching Louisville (7-2) from the Big East against Virginia Tech (8-1) from the Atlantic Coast Conference.
"If we don't get Notre Dame, Virginia Tech-Louisville is our dream game," Catlett said Monday.
Notre Dame (8-2) is ninth in this week's BCS rankings after beating Navy and plays at home against Syracuse (1- 8Saturday and at Stanford (5-4) Nov. 26. The Fighting Irish are eligible for a BCS bid with nine victories and ranked 12th or higher, and if they reach eighth or higher in the final BCS rankings, they are a mandatory at-large team.
The Gator Bowl is allowed to bypass its eligible Big East team for Notre Dame twice within the current four-year contract, which is in its final year. Notre Dame played North Carolina State in the 2003 Gator Bowl.
Virginia Tech, which has played in four Gator Bowls in the last 11 years (the last two were sellouts in 2001 and 2002), will be left out of the ACC championship game if Miami (8-1) beats Georgia Tech and North Carolina to end the regular season. Virginia Tech lost to the Hurricanes two weeks ago and would finish second to UM in the Coastal Division as a result of their head-to-head meeting.
But if the Hokies win their final two games at Virginia Saturday and home against North Carolina Nov. 26, they could climb to fourth in the BCS standings (they're sixth this week) and receive an automatic BCS bid. The Gator Bowl would then look to Boston College (7-3, at Maryland Saturday) as an opponent for Louisville.
The Cardinals have shaken off losses to West Virginia and South Florida to win their last three games, averaging 47 points per game. Louisville plays Syracuse Nov. 26 and is at Connecticut (4-5) Dec. 3.
Catlett said Gator Bowl ticket sales are around 20 percent ahead of last year's pace and on the way to a sixth consecutive sellout.
Put it to rest man. You are fighting an uphill battle. Just accept the dominant force that IS THE LOUISVILLE CARDINALS!!!!!
