2008 Woodie Awards
FOOTBALL: Official says Ball State has bowl options
NCAA announces Miami must win Saturday to get MAC bowl bid
Ryan Wood
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With speculation swirling about Ball State University's possible bowl destination, Ken Hoffman, executive director for two Mid-American Conference bowls, is one of the few people who can make an accurate prediction.
Hoffman, who will issue invitations to participants in the Motor City Bowl and International Bowl, said no decisions would be released until after the MAC Championship Game. The game kicks off at 11 a.m. Saturday in Detroit and pits Central Michigan University against Miami University. However, Hoffman said a Miami loss would probably mean Ball State fans will travel north during winter break.
"In all likelihood I would think that Ball State could go to the International Bowl or Motor City Bowl," Hoffman said, adding that Central Michigan would go to the opposite bowl of Ball State and Bowling Green would earn a bid to the GMAC Bowl. "There are obviously several different moving parts involved, so it's very difficult at this juncture to predict where everybody will end up."
Hoffman's prediction came in the wake of the NCAA's official announcement Tuesday that Miami must win Saturday to receive an invitation to one of the three bowls with MAC ties - the Motor City Bowl, GMAC Bowl and International Bowl. The NCAA passed a waiver for the RedHawks to be bowl eligible even with a loss that would produce 6-7, but they can't be chosen before a conference opponent with seven wins or more.
Hoffman said he believed the NCAA's ruling was fair.
"I think the commissioner [Rick Chryst] did the right thing in requesting that Miami not be penalized for participating in the championship game," Hoffman said. "[Miami] would have been able to go to a bowl before any other six-win team but not before a seven-win team."
If Miami were to win the MAC crown Saturday, Hoffman said, the RedHawks and Central Michigan would be the first two teams chosen for the MAC tie-in bowls. In that scenario, there would be four seven-win MAC teams and three bowls, forcing the odd team out to search for a bid to an at-large bowl. Hoffman said Ball State or Bowling Green would be chosen for the final MAC-affiliate game.
Hoffman, who will issue invitations to participants in the Motor City Bowl and International Bowl, said no decisions would be released until after the MAC Championship Game. The game kicks off at 11 a.m. Saturday in Detroit and pits Central Michigan University against Miami University. However, Hoffman said a Miami loss would probably mean Ball State fans will travel north during winter break.
"In all likelihood I would think that Ball State could go to the International Bowl or Motor City Bowl," Hoffman said, adding that Central Michigan would go to the opposite bowl of Ball State and Bowling Green would earn a bid to the GMAC Bowl. "There are obviously several different moving parts involved, so it's very difficult at this juncture to predict where everybody will end up."
Hoffman's prediction came in the wake of the NCAA's official announcement Tuesday that Miami must win Saturday to receive an invitation to one of the three bowls with MAC ties - the Motor City Bowl, GMAC Bowl and International Bowl. The NCAA passed a waiver for the RedHawks to be bowl eligible even with a loss that would produce 6-7, but they can't be chosen before a conference opponent with seven wins or more.
Hoffman said he believed the NCAA's ruling was fair.
"I think the commissioner [Rick Chryst] did the right thing in requesting that Miami not be penalized for participating in the championship game," Hoffman said. "[Miami] would have been able to go to a bowl before any other six-win team but not before a seven-win team."
If Miami were to win the MAC crown Saturday, Hoffman said, the RedHawks and Central Michigan would be the first two teams chosen for the MAC tie-in bowls. In that scenario, there would be four seven-win MAC teams and three bowls, forcing the odd team out to search for a bid to an at-large bowl. Hoffman said Ball State or Bowling Green would be chosen for the final MAC-affiliate game.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
cedar
posted 11/28/07 @ 9:58 AM EST
Take us to Detroit!! Let the boilers play us this year on neutral turf.. since TILLER is to scared to come to Muncie!!
Jerry
posted 11/28/07 @ 11:28 AM EST
Cedar
Purdue isn't 5th in the Big10 Penn State is.
So let me correct that for you.
"Take us to Detroit!! Let the nittany lions play us this year on neutral turf. (Continued…)
Cory
posted 11/28/07 @ 12:00 PM EST
Let me correct you both, most bowl predictions say that it will be Michigan St vs Central Mich in Detriot and BSU will go to the International Bowl and play Rutgers. (Continued…)
Cam
posted 11/28/07 @ 12:14 PM EST
I'll go anywhere to see a bowl game. The team was never very good when I was a student, so this has been 4 years in the making for me. Armed Forces or International Bowls are the most likely from what I have seen. (Continued…)
Levin T. Black
posted 11/28/07 @ 12:35 PM EST
For one the no. 7 Big Ten team plays in Detriot which is a three way tie between Indiana Mich. St. and Purdue. Penn State will almost defintately be in a better bowl like the Alamo. (Continued…)
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