Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Article on Military Bowl

[Panther_in_Kentucky]

Pitt to play Navy in Military Bowl
December 6, 2015 4:11 PM


By Sam Werner / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


Pitt has accepted a bid to play in the Military Bowl in Annapolis, Md., the school announced today.

The Panthers (8-4, 6-2 ACC) will play No. 21 Navy on Dec. 28 with a 2:30 p.m. kickoff at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

Pitt was passed over by the ACC’s “Tier One” bowls and fell to the Military in Tier Two.

The Midshipmen (9-2, 7-1 AAC) finished second in the American Athletic Conference this year, their first season in the league.

The two teams last met in a 2013 regular season game at Navy. The Midshipmen walked off with a 24-21 victory on a field goal as time expired. Pitt leads the all-time series 22-14-3.

Sam Werner: swerner@post-gazette.com and Twitter @SWernerPG.

 

[rpost3]

Probably a dumb question, but how exactly does a program get "passed over for a Tier 1 bowl"?

 

[Chairman Moe]

Probably a dumb question, but how exactly does a program get "passed over for a Tier 1 bowl"?

Not sure that it's a dumb question. I'd love to know the "truth", too. I'm sure the "spin doctors" have several answers. Again, I'm ok with our matchup; just wish it were in a better venue and not a home game for the Middies

 

[Teh Teh]

Well, honestly Sam werner shoulda told us that reason and made a few calls

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

Yes. I want to know the entire story. I want to know the official ACC rules and protocols for sending teams to bowls and what their contractual agreements are with each bowl the conference is affiliated with. Given that--

I am perfectly okay with today's result if--

Pitt AD and coach Narduzzi actually preferred playing Navy over potential opponents that teams we had a better record than and also beat head to head are getting in their First Tier bowls and, as a result, requested to play Navy in the Military bowl.

I am not okay if the ACC did not give us that option and intentionally allowed teams teams with worse records and who we beat head to head to go ahead of us in line. If allowing that was not the ACC's decision but rather that of the bowls themselves, then AD Barnes better tell ACC officialdom (at least in private) that this result is unacceptable and tell them he plans to vote against renewing agreements with bowls who have that much autonomy.

Bottom line--I am okay with the game; but not okay on how we got it if we got it as the ACC's booby prize.

 

[Pitt1313]

http://www.dailypress.com/sports/teel-blog/dp-teel-time-vt-independence-bowl-post.html

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

Pitt1313--good find. Clearly the ACC's protocols and bowl agreements are in need of revision. This process is unacceptable and unworthy of a P5 conference. There should be no way this should be allowed to happen.

Too bad the Big Ten doesn't need another member!!

Also, why don't Pitt's sports writers provide the level of info that this writer provided?

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

"If you’re reading this that none of the Tier One bowls wanted Pitt, you’re correct. The Panthers had a terrific year under new coach Pat Narduzzi but don’t travel particularly well — their final two home games, against Louisville and Miami, drew announced crowds of 42,119 and 40,126 to 68,400-seat Heinz Field."


Well that just can't be right. Way too many posters here determined that it was the AD's fault that we didn't get a better bowl. Or that we were getting screwed by the ACC. Clearly this must be wrong.

 

[Cap pitt]

Yes. I want to know the entire story. I want to know the official ACC rules and protocols for sending teams to bowls and what their contractual agreements are with each bowl the conference is affiliated with. Given that--

I am perfectly okay with today's result if--

Pitt AD and coach Narduzzi actually preferred playing Navy over potential opponents that teams we had a better record than and also beat head to head are getting in their First Tier bowls and, as a result, requested to play Navy in the Military bowl.

I am not okay if the ACC did not give us that option and intentionally allowed teams teams with worse records and who we beat head to head to go ahead of us in line. If allowing that was not the ACC's decision but rather that of the bowls themselves, then AD Barnes better tell ACC officialdom (at least in private) that this result is unacceptable and tell them he plans to vote against renewing agreements with bowls who have that much autonomy.

Bottom line--I am okay with the game; but not okay on how we got it if we got it as the ACC's booby prize.

Louisville and nc St are in better bowl games with their 7 - 5 records

 

[Panthertag]

Well, honestly Sam werner shoulda told us that reason and made a few calls

The people who post on this forum have more incite than Sam Werner.