Penn St accepts bid to Alamo Bowl

[backPhil]

ESPN LINK (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=ncf&id=3135494)

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Penn State is going back to the Alamo Bowl.

The Nittany Lions (8-4) accepted a bid Friday to play in the Dec. 29 bowl
game in San Antonio against a Big 12 team -- likely either Texas Tech or
Texas A&M. The final determination will probably be made Sunday, after the
Bowl Championship Series matchups are announced.

It will be coach Joe Paterno's record 34th bowl appearance -- 22 of them
victories -- and the 500th game of his coaching career (371-125-3).

"This team has worked hard all season and has been a great group to work
with," Paterno said in a statement. "I'm happy for the squad that their
efforts will be rewarded with an opportunity to go to San Antonio."

Penn State's only other appearance in the Alamo Bowl was in 1999, a 24-0
win over the Aggies.

[Pokevette]

They will play Texas A&M if the Big-12 gets two teams in the BCS, Texas Tech if the Big-12 gets just one team (which I think is 99.5% impossible of happening).

[topdaug]

Vette, got a question for you...what ranking in the BCS guarantees going to a BCS bowl? I was thinking it was top 6, but am not sure...

And if OU were to beat Mizzou, would the Big XII have a team in the top 6 that could guarantee another slot in a BCS game?

[Pokevette]

Per Jerry Palm:


1) The top two teams in the rankings. Those teams are assigned to the title game.
2) AQ conference champions, regardless of ranking. Exception: If the #1 and #2 teams are from the same conference and neither is the champion, then the champion of that conference will not participate in the BCS.
3) The highest-rated champion of a non-AQ conference if it either ranks in the top 12 or is ranked in the top 16 and also ranked ahead of one of the champions of an AQ conference.
4) Notre Dame, if it finishes in the top eight.
5) The #3 team, if it is a member of an AQ conference and there is still an open spot.
6) The #4 team, if it is a member of an AQ conference and there is still an open spot and no team qualifies under rule 5.


* So as I read that, the only "guarantee" is the Top-2, but #3/#4 have a near guarantee.
* An OU win would leave Mizzou and Kansas as BCS eligible teams. I think it is 99.5% certain that one of those two would be chosen (probably Kansas).
* In fact, I think Kansas is in the BCS regardless of what happens in the Big-12 Champ game. I think the OU/Mizzou winner and Kansas go to the BCS.

[backPhil]

wrote Derrick Fox the president of the Alamo Bowl Committee earlier this week asking him to consider the Cowboys. I just received this email from him today.

Mr. Manning,

The Cowboys have always done very well here in SA and they were under
consideration, but following the loss last weekend, we are now down to Tech
or A&M this year. We hope to see you and the Cowboys back in SA again soon.

Derrick Fox
President/CEO
Valero Alamo Bowl
100 Montana Street, Suite 3D01
San Antonio, Texas 78203

[topdaug]

Not gonna lie Phil, I'm surprised he was that open with you....so then I'm guessing it's the Insight for OSU?

And thanks for the response Vette...I wasn't too sure, but that definitely helps...I was pretty certain that 2 of the 3 from the Big XII would make the BCS....

[backPhil]

Not gonna lie Phil, I'm surprised he was that open with you....

Not me . . . OstatePoke on OrangePower

[topdaug]

I see that now...I never seem to pay attention to the subject lines past the first post, so I didn't notice...

Still, that's surprising that he was as honest and open as he was with OstatePoke....