Interesting that Vandy actually got the 2nd best bowl game going to Texas

[Tbonewannabe]

As much as people were complaining about us possibly not getting the Outback, the Texas Bowl is basically on par with the Outback as far as payout. Gator is actually the lowest payout but is one of the oldest bowls.

Honestly, I didn't want us to go to the Texas Bowl because I couldn't go this year. I would prefer to go there next year if we don't get something better because I could maybe go to the game.

[Pit Bull]

Yeah....guess our 2/16th's share of the payout will really put us in high cotton.

[Johnson85]

As much as people were complaining about us possibly not getting the Outback, the Texas Bowl is basically on par with the Outback as far as payout. Gator is actually the lowest payout but is one of the oldest bowls.

Honestly, I didn't want us to go to the Texas Bowl because I couldn't go this year. I would prefer to go there next year if we don't get something better because I could maybe go to the game.

I'm going to be really interested to see how bowls like the Texas and Liberty feel after really upping their payout. You have to think Liberty doesn't love the deal they got. Part of the problem is that fanbases still see them as the low end of the Pool of 6. Part of it is that because of the SEC's success in putting teams in NY6 bowls, they teams in the pool of 6 are just not as attractive as they otherwise be.

I'm sure Texas is pissed about getting Vandy.

[Captain Falcon]

I don’t think any of the other schools really wanted to go to Houston and Vandy was practically begging to go anywhere other than Nashville or Memphis so the SEC just said fine and went with it. I think the other bowls are probably pretty content with who they got (other than maybe the Outback Bowl taking us). SC in Charlotte means a big crowd, A&M will travel to Jacksonville well, and then Auburn in Nashville and Mizzou in Memphis should be pretty well attended too.

[Pit Bull]

I'm going to be really interested to see how bowls like the Texas and Liberty feel after really upping their payout. You have to think Liberty doesn't love the deal they got. Part of the problem is that fanbases still see them as the low end of the Pool of 6. Part of it is that because of the SEC's success in putting teams in NY6 bowls, they teams in the pool of 6 are just not as attractive as they otherwise be.

I'm sure Texas is pissed about getting Vandy.

I think the Liberty matchup is a good one. Will be an old rematch of Southwest Conference opponents. OKST fans are within about 8-10 hrs of Memphis and Mizzou fans are about 4-8 hrs. out. This could sell out. Liberty is not crazy about Vandy....even though they are 3-4 hrs. away, they just don't travel well. Liberty loves MSU....we are a guaranteed sellout for them and they have a MSU alum on their executive committee. They will take us whenever the situation is right.....usually if we beat Ole Miss, they know we are excited, and will bring around 40K+ to Memphis. Had we not gotten the Outback bid, I would have just as soon gone to the Liberty Bowl as any of the others.

[Howboutdemdogs]

I just don't like the Liberty Bowl due to several factors:

-The facilities are old
-One has to packing heat on the drive to and from the stadium
-It seems to always be cold as a well diggers ass there
-The fact that the Liberty Bowl is perceived as a lesser bowl

However, don't get me wrong, we love the food, Beale Street, and the Tunica Casinos.

[DogsofAnarchy]

I just don't like the Liberty Bowl due to several factors:

-The facilities are old
-One has to packing heat on the drive to and from the stadium
-It seems to always be cold as a well diggers ass there
-The fact that the Liberty Bowl is perceived as a lesser bowl

However, don't get me wrong, we love the food, Beale Street, and the Tunica Casinos.

The Liberty Bowl is a GREAT place to watch a game. I have been to 15 Memphis games in the last 4 years and there is nothing wrong with the facility. The lighting there is cool at night with blue lights. I tried to get our athletic department to doctor our joint up with Maroon lights, would look cool. The Liberty Bowl is Fan friendly and the crowd has fun at their games.

Your perception of that part of Memphis is old. Overton Square is a very cool place and has some world class restaurants and Bars. The Bayou Bar and Grill is one of the best places I have ever been!! We have nothing like that place.

[Howboutdemdogs]

Welp, DogsofA, I will open up and venture to the places that you mentioned. Yes, I have a tilted opinion of the LB, but maybe I should re-evaluate it with a new outlook. We shall see said the blind man. (And the deaf and mute woman said, What?). I appreciate the insight. Thanks!

[Gutter Cobreh]

Welp, DogsofA, I will open up and venture to the places that you mentioned. Yes, I have a tilted opinion of the LB, but maybe I should re-evaluate it with a new outlook. We shall see said the blind man. (And the deaf and mute woman said, What?). I appreciate the insight. Thanks!

I noticed there was no rebuttal to your "packing heat" claim from DogsofA. There isn't anyone stain enough to claim they feel 100% safe at night around parts of that stadium....

[Todd4State]

I guess the SEC decided that you can either get a bowl based on better perception and to me a better time slot (Gator, typically NYD bowl and therefore seen as "better") or you can go to a lesser bowl but with a higher payout. Seems to make sense to me since they consider basically everything past the Citrus as "equal".

It takes time to change perception as well. See the Peach Bowl. Back in 1999 most of our fans didn't want to go there. Now it's a NY6 bowl that is seen as better than the Outback.

The same thing could happen with the Liberty Bowl on a smaller level. Years of taking the C-USA Champ hurt their perception but it is a good bowl to go to all things considered. Having a Big 12 team there every year will help. The Texas Bowl is just new. But it's not a bad bowl destination at all and it's well within driving distance for the entire SEC West other than maybe some Auburn fans.


If I was the SEC my goal would be to have the Florida Bowls on NYD- Citrus, Outback, and Gator which is pretty close to what happens anyway and then the Liberty, Music City, and Texas on NY Eve. The Independence and Birmingham Bowls are typically only going to be filled with 6-7 win SEC teams anyway so I don't know that it matters as much as far as when those games are played.

[Todd4State]

I just don't like the Liberty Bowl due to several factors:

-The facilities are old
-One has to packing heat on the drive to and from the stadium
-It seems to always be cold as a well diggers ass there
-The fact that the Liberty Bowl is perceived as a lesser bowl

However, don't get me wrong, we love the food, Beale Street, and the Tunica Casinos.

Here's what I LIKE about the Liberty Bowl. If we go 6-6 like we did in 2013 it's much more likely that we're going there than Birmingham or Shreveport because of our relationship with that bowl. And between those three I'm picking the Liberty every time.

[Johnson85]

I guess the SEC decided that you can either get a bowl based on better perception and to me a better time slot (Gator, typically NYD bowl and therefore seen as "better") or you can go to a lesser bowl but with a higher payout. Seems to make sense to me since they consider basically everything past the Citrus as "equal".

It takes time to change perception as well. See the Peach Bowl. Back in 1999 most of our fans didn't want to go there. Now it's a NY6 bowl that is seen as better than the Outback.

The same thing could happen with the Liberty Bowl on a smaller level. Years of taking the C-USA Champ hurt their perception but it is a good bowl to go to all things considered. Having a Big 12 team there every year will help. The Texas Bowl is just new. But it's not a bad bowl destination at all and it's well within driving distance for the entire SEC West other than maybe some Auburn fans.


If I was the SEC my goal would be to have the Florida Bowls on NYD- Citrus, Outback, and Gator which is pretty close to what happens anyway and then the Liberty, Music City, and Texas on NY Eve. The Independence and Birmingham Bowls are typically only going to be filled with 6-7 win SEC teams anyway so I don't know that it matters as much as far as when those games are played.

That would be good for the SEC ignoring tv money. If I'm the TV partners, ignoring any bowls from other conferences, I think I'd want three New Years Day games (basically the mid day, afternoon, and evening staggered times) and probably one or two on New Year's eve, adn then try to put the rest on the nights leading up to it, or if it's a weekend, in traditional saturday time slots (minus the 11am start). But knowing there will be other bowl games to be showed by the same TV partners, maybe it'd be better to have one each night in prime time from say the 27th through the 30th, and then one maybe late afternoon/early evening on New Year's eve and one or two on New year's day

[Joe Schmedlap]

Give me liberty or give me death. I'm sure there are a few thugs lurking around Memphis that would do the latter for $43.