From: sfm@manduca.neurobio.arizona.edu (Stephen Matheson)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college
Subject: Re: PAC-10 vs. Big-10 (was Re: Mediocracy vs Money)
Date: 20 Nov 92 02:54:34 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Arizona UNIX Users Group

From article <1992Nov19.202837.21682@serval.net.wsu.edu>,
by jjungbau@meriadoc.eecs.wsu.edu (Jim Jungbauer):
> In article <1992Nov19.120840.61049@cc.usu.edu>, sl45z@cc.usu.edu writes:
> |> 
> |> 	Is this years field of Bowl-eligable teams rather dismal? (piss-poor) 
> |> I get sick listening to people talk about teams with 6-5 or 5-5
> |> records who
> |> have hopes of a Bowl showi.  
>                                  [more deleted...]
> 
> No kidding!  It's especially ridiculous that the Big Ten will probably
> have as many or more teams in bowls than the PAC-10.

"Ridiculous" just doesn't cut it.  Maybe "ludicrous", "preposterous",
"just plain gross".

> Every time I hear about Iowa going to the Copper Bowl at 6-5
> I cringe,

Brace yourself.  Iowa is *5-6*, and the Copper Bowl is counting on
their defeating Minnesota in the last game; in fact, their invitation
is contingent on beating the mighty Golden Gophers.  According to today's
Tucson newspaper, the CB will invite WSU (7-3), Oregon (5-5)
or Arizona State (5-5) if this upset occurs.  The order of the
3 alternates is quoted from the paper, but I don't know how significant
it is (it certainly isn't alphabetical).

> knowing that WSU is more deserving.

That's for sure.  But don't take it personally (admittedly, I would).
The CB has made it clear why they chose BYU and Iowa: both have a
reputation for bringing lots of folks with them.  This is reportedly
critical for the Copper Bowl, which has averaged 36,400 fans in its
3 years and apparently needs to do better this year to survive.  At
least that's what the Copper Bowl dudes say.  Read on  to hear a
different account...

> Even if we lose the Apple Cup, at 7-4, we're still better
> than Iowa.  I'll take our PAC-10 teams against those good-for-nothing
> Big Ten teams anyday.  Unfortunately, how good you are seems to
> have nothing to do with it,

Well, here are some more disturbing reports from today's Tucson
paper:
	"We made it clear to the CB that Arizona, Arizona
	State and Oregon could all still be available," PAC-10
	commissioner Tom Hansen told the Star yesterday.  "If you
	look at those teams and still pick a 6-6 Iowa team, then
	you have to wonder what the purpose of having that bowl is."

	Sources say the CB invited Iowa out of spite, because it was
	upset with the PAC-10's arrangement with the Hancock Bowl
	yesterday.  (Me: Hancock Bowl gets 4th pick of PAC-10 teams.)
	But a PAC-10 official said the league offered the CB that
	same deal ... and the CB turned it down.  The PAC-10 wouldn't
	guarantee enough ticket sales...

	In signing Iowa, the CB has risked alienating the PAC-10,
	and the city of Tucson.

	The Hawkeyes have beaten *one* team (Illinois, 5-4-1) with
	a winning record this season.  (Me: And *what* a winning
	record *that* is!)
 
	Oregon took 17,000 fans to its last bowl game.	

> and to make matters worse, people around here don't seem to
> be aware of that... even the WSU newspaper showed the Cougars in the Copper
> Bowl Slot in its little 'projected bowl matchup' section.  I think a lot of
> people are going to be disappointed... especially if we somehow *do* upset
> the Huskies and *still* don't go to a bowl, at 8-3.
> 
> Let me just add that even though I am obviously not a Husky fan, once the
> Apple Cup is over, I will be counting the days until the Rose Bowl, so we
> can see the Dawgs wipe the field with an overrated Michigan team,

OH YES!!!

> and show just how pathetic the Big Ten really is.

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES.
GO Huskies!  Go Cardinal!  Go Trojans (sort of).  Go Cats!  Go Cougs!

> Jim





--

Steve Matheson   Program in Neuroscience   University of Arizona
sfm@neurobio.arizona.edu
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college,rec.sport.basketball.college,rec.sport.baseball.college