monsoongopher
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Here is a clip from The BadgerBeat written 12/2/08 by Tom Mulhern which outlines that the Badgers are leaning and expecting to accept a bid to the Champs Sports Bowl:
"It looks like Wisconsin Badgers football fans will have to wait until Sunday night to officially find out the team's bowl destination.
After speaking with Champs Sports Bowl executive director Steve Hogan on Monday, it's looking almost certain the Badgers are headed back to Orlando, Fla., for the third time in four years. They played in the Capital One Bowl there in 2006 and 2007.
I don't think I will book my plane ticket just yet, but I will be extremely surprised if that's not the way it falls together.
Both Hogan and a UW spokesman said no official decision is expected until after the BCS selection show, which will be televised on Fox on Sunday at 7 p.m.
Also, here is another clip from his December 1st article in which he interviews Steve Hogan, Exec Director Champs Bowl, outlining why the Champs is the most logical choice for Wisconsin.
The major unanswered question was if UW officials felt strongly enough about not returning to Florida, that they worked behind the scenes to get to the Insight Bowl in Tempe, Ariz., which has the next selection.
But Hogan said he has heard nothing about UW officials prefering to go to Arizona.
"I think the team would probably tell you, they want to play the best competition they can play," Hogan said. "They want to match up against the best team, with the highest selection level of the bowls.
But the Champs does have some advantages. The game, to be played on Dec. 27, at 3:30 p.m. Madison time, is televised by ESPN. The Insight is played on Dec. 31, at 5 p.m. Madison time, on the NFL Network, which is not available on the major cable companies in this area.
While Big Ten teams share bowl revenue equally, the Champs has a payout of $2.25 million, compared to $1.3 million for the Insight, which shows the bowls are on different levels.
In terms of the opponent, the Champs features the No. 4 choice from the ACC, while the Insight features the No. 6 pick from the Big 12.
One of the ACC teams frequently linked with the Champs is Florida State. Hogan also mentioned North Carolina, the loser of the ACC title game (Boston College or Virginia Tech) and possibly Clemson.
"When you talk about playing in an unopposed window on ESPN, where you're going to do a nice television rating, against that kind of talent and making that kind of payout, it's certainly at a different level (than the Insight)," Hogan said.
So....there you have it. This might bring some clarity to the rumors feverishly floating around that Wisconsin doesn't want to go to Florida again and also a rationale for why they would want to return again. I think the best matchup for the Gophers vs. Kansas in the Insight and give them the best opportunity to win and have the largest draw of fans. Besides, I live in Phoenix.
"It looks like Wisconsin Badgers football fans will have to wait until Sunday night to officially find out the team's bowl destination.
After speaking with Champs Sports Bowl executive director Steve Hogan on Monday, it's looking almost certain the Badgers are headed back to Orlando, Fla., for the third time in four years. They played in the Capital One Bowl there in 2006 and 2007.
I don't think I will book my plane ticket just yet, but I will be extremely surprised if that's not the way it falls together.
Both Hogan and a UW spokesman said no official decision is expected until after the BCS selection show, which will be televised on Fox on Sunday at 7 p.m.
Also, here is another clip from his December 1st article in which he interviews Steve Hogan, Exec Director Champs Bowl, outlining why the Champs is the most logical choice for Wisconsin.
The major unanswered question was if UW officials felt strongly enough about not returning to Florida, that they worked behind the scenes to get to the Insight Bowl in Tempe, Ariz., which has the next selection.
But Hogan said he has heard nothing about UW officials prefering to go to Arizona.
"I think the team would probably tell you, they want to play the best competition they can play," Hogan said. "They want to match up against the best team, with the highest selection level of the bowls.
But the Champs does have some advantages. The game, to be played on Dec. 27, at 3:30 p.m. Madison time, is televised by ESPN. The Insight is played on Dec. 31, at 5 p.m. Madison time, on the NFL Network, which is not available on the major cable companies in this area.
While Big Ten teams share bowl revenue equally, the Champs has a payout of $2.25 million, compared to $1.3 million for the Insight, which shows the bowls are on different levels.
In terms of the opponent, the Champs features the No. 4 choice from the ACC, while the Insight features the No. 6 pick from the Big 12.
One of the ACC teams frequently linked with the Champs is Florida State. Hogan also mentioned North Carolina, the loser of the ACC title game (Boston College or Virginia Tech) and possibly Clemson.
"When you talk about playing in an unopposed window on ESPN, where you're going to do a nice television rating, against that kind of talent and making that kind of payout, it's certainly at a different level (than the Insight)," Hogan said.
So....there you have it. This might bring some clarity to the rumors feverishly floating around that Wisconsin doesn't want to go to Florida again and also a rationale for why they would want to return again. I think the best matchup for the Gophers vs. Kansas in the Insight and give them the best opportunity to win and have the largest draw of fans. Besides, I live in Phoenix.