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Penn State pushing for Fiesta Bowl bid
Thursday, December 03, 2009
By Ron Musselman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State has launched an all-out blitz to try to secure a berth in a BCS game.
Coach Joe Paterno told his team at a recent meeting that he has made a few calls on the Nittany Lions' behalf, and the athletic department has produced a 2-minute, 21-second video titled, "Our fans take their bowls seriously."
Even so, the question remains: Will Penn State have a New Year's Day date with Mickey Mouse or a Duel in the Desert three days later?
Although there are a number of games Saturday that will determine the final matchups for the five BCS games, the general consensus is that Penn State and Iowa -- both 10-2 -- are competing for an at-large berth in the Jan. 4 Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz.
Most national experts believe the Fiesta Bowl will choose the Hawkeyes because of their 21-10 victory against the Lions in late September at Beaver Stadium. The Hawkeyes' Fiesta opponent likely will be Boise State (12-0).
If that happens -- the official announcement will come Sunday night during the BCS selection show -- Penn State would fall to the Jan. 1 Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Fla. The Lions most likely would play LSU (9-3).
"We are looking at a variety of scenarios and kicking around a number of different things," Tony Alba, director of media operations for the Fiesta Bowl, said yesterday. "What happens Saturday in the championship games is certainly going to have an impact on our game.
"If Texas wins the Big 12 championship and advances to the national championship game, we will have two spots to fill. If Nebraska wins, it would automatically be in our game and we would only have one spot left.
"So to say that it's going to be either Penn State or Iowa is not necessarily the case. The Big Ten Conference is right in the mix, but so are Boise State and TCU."
With the Orange Bowl, which is tied to the Atlantic Coast Conference champion, likely off the table, Alba was asked what team deserved to be in the Fiesta Bowl -- Penn State or Iowa -- if the Big Ten gets a second BCS bid in addition to Rose Bowl-bound Ohio State?
"Our argument is both of them are deserving because both are in top 14 in the BCS rankings," he said. "That's the only criteria we look at."
That's only partially true. Fan base, revenue and TV ratings also are critical for the BCS matchups. The 1987 Fiesta Bowl between Penn State and Miami still is the most-watched college football game with a 25.1 share. The Lions won that game, 14-10, to claim their most recent national championship.
The Hawkeyes, ranked No. 9 in the latest BCS standings, two spots ahead of the Lions, have a huge following in Arizona.
"We like Penn State and Iowa for different reasons," Alba said. "Penn State, we have a long history with them. They have been here six times and they're 6-0. In a lot of ways, we grew up together, and they were very instrumental in helping us put together a national championship game with Miami.
"And Penn State has Joe Paterno. As we saw with [Florida State's] Bobby Bowden the other day, who knows how much longer coach Paterno will be in the business or on the sideline?
"On the other hand, we have no history with Iowa. They have never been here before. They have been on our wish list for a number of years, but the cards have just never fallen the right way."
The Capital One Bowl -- formerly the Citrus Bowl -- would welcome a Penn State-LSU showdown. The Lions have a 1-3 all-time record, but they have played in two of the three-highest rated games in that bowl's history.
The Lions and Tigers have met once before -- in the 1974 Orange Bowl. Heisman Trophy winner John Cappelletti scored a touchdown to cap Penn State's 16-9 victory and a 12-0 season.
"Penn State-LSU would be a great game for us," Greg Creese, director of communications for the Capital One Bowl, said. "Two traditional powers. Two big-name schools. I would have to believe it would be one of the more attractive matchups among all of the bowl games, BCS or non-BCS."
Thursday, December 03, 2009
By Ron Musselman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State has launched an all-out blitz to try to secure a berth in a BCS game.
Coach Joe Paterno told his team at a recent meeting that he has made a few calls on the Nittany Lions' behalf, and the athletic department has produced a 2-minute, 21-second video titled, "Our fans take their bowls seriously."
Even so, the question remains: Will Penn State have a New Year's Day date with Mickey Mouse or a Duel in the Desert three days later?
Although there are a number of games Saturday that will determine the final matchups for the five BCS games, the general consensus is that Penn State and Iowa -- both 10-2 -- are competing for an at-large berth in the Jan. 4 Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz.
Most national experts believe the Fiesta Bowl will choose the Hawkeyes because of their 21-10 victory against the Lions in late September at Beaver Stadium. The Hawkeyes' Fiesta opponent likely will be Boise State (12-0).
If that happens -- the official announcement will come Sunday night during the BCS selection show -- Penn State would fall to the Jan. 1 Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Fla. The Lions most likely would play LSU (9-3).
"We are looking at a variety of scenarios and kicking around a number of different things," Tony Alba, director of media operations for the Fiesta Bowl, said yesterday. "What happens Saturday in the championship games is certainly going to have an impact on our game.
"If Texas wins the Big 12 championship and advances to the national championship game, we will have two spots to fill. If Nebraska wins, it would automatically be in our game and we would only have one spot left.
"So to say that it's going to be either Penn State or Iowa is not necessarily the case. The Big Ten Conference is right in the mix, but so are Boise State and TCU."
With the Orange Bowl, which is tied to the Atlantic Coast Conference champion, likely off the table, Alba was asked what team deserved to be in the Fiesta Bowl -- Penn State or Iowa -- if the Big Ten gets a second BCS bid in addition to Rose Bowl-bound Ohio State?
"Our argument is both of them are deserving because both are in top 14 in the BCS rankings," he said. "That's the only criteria we look at."
That's only partially true. Fan base, revenue and TV ratings also are critical for the BCS matchups. The 1987 Fiesta Bowl between Penn State and Miami still is the most-watched college football game with a 25.1 share. The Lions won that game, 14-10, to claim their most recent national championship.
The Hawkeyes, ranked No. 9 in the latest BCS standings, two spots ahead of the Lions, have a huge following in Arizona.
"We like Penn State and Iowa for different reasons," Alba said. "Penn State, we have a long history with them. They have been here six times and they're 6-0. In a lot of ways, we grew up together, and they were very instrumental in helping us put together a national championship game with Miami.
"And Penn State has Joe Paterno. As we saw with [Florida State's] Bobby Bowden the other day, who knows how much longer coach Paterno will be in the business or on the sideline?
"On the other hand, we have no history with Iowa. They have never been here before. They have been on our wish list for a number of years, but the cards have just never fallen the right way."
The Capital One Bowl -- formerly the Citrus Bowl -- would welcome a Penn State-LSU showdown. The Lions have a 1-3 all-time record, but they have played in two of the three-highest rated games in that bowl's history.
The Lions and Tigers have met once before -- in the 1974 Orange Bowl. Heisman Trophy winner John Cappelletti scored a touchdown to cap Penn State's 16-9 victory and a 12-0 season.
"Penn State-LSU would be a great game for us," Greg Creese, director of communications for the Capital One Bowl, said. "Two traditional powers. Two big-name schools. I would have to believe it would be one of the more attractive matchups among all of the bowl games, BCS or non-BCS."
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