Michigan football team's bowl fortunes may swing toward Sunshine State
LIVONIA - When emcee Frank Beckmann made an off-hand quip about the Michigan football team headed west for its upcoming bowl game, athletic director Dave Brandon corrected him.
“I think we’re going in a different direction,” Brandon said Thursday at the podium during the team's annual football banquet at the Laurel Manor.
Brandon’s comment raised the prospect of what many college football experts suspected in recent days - that the Wolverines are headed to Florida to play in either the Outback or Gator Bowl. He did not elaborate.
A firm postseason destination will likely be announced Sunday.
The Outback Bowl, which will be held in Tampa on Jan. 1, pits the third pick of the Big Ten against the third pick of the SEC.
The Gator Bowl has the fourth selections of the same conferences and will be held on Jan. 1 in Jacksonville, Fla.
Rick Catlett, president of the Gator Bowl Association, earlier Thursday told WJXT-News 4 that the bowl’s team selections will largely be based on which programs generate the most tourist dollars for the city.
“Our team selection is based on three criteria,” he told the station. “Heads in beds, fannies in seats and big TV ratings.”
Michigan boasts the largest number of living alumni in the country.
Since Michigan became bowl eligible, many analysts projected the Wolverines as the Big Ten’s representative in the Phoenix-based Insight Bowl, scheduled for Dec. 28 - the western location to which Beckmann referred.
But now?
“We can’t even speculate,” said Andy Bagnato, an Insight Bowl representative. “We are waiting to see what they do ahead of us. … We do have some great options, and Michigan is one of them.”
Pete Bigelow covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2556, via email at petebigelow@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @PeterCBigelow.
Comments
azwolverine
Sat, Dec 4, 2010 : 1:31 a.m.
Yeah, I've been hearing UM to the Gator Bowl to play Tennessee. The good part of that for RR is that Tennessee sucks and would probably be a win. The bad part about that is that it would not represent a win over a quality opponent any more than beating Notre Dame did. The Insight Bowl would offer a much better opportunity to beat a decent team and prove something.
3 And Out
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 5:37 p.m.
Tennessee would be the most fortunate and lucky matchup we could possibly get...they are about as bad as Indiana, so we should win that one in a shootout 42-41.
Txmaizenblue
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 1:03 p.m.
The Gator Bowl against Florida would suck because it would basically be a Florida home game. And I still think Florida has a better team than Michigan this year. Don't let their record fool you. They still have speed on that defense and that is all you need to shut down Michigan's offense...ie; Ohio State. Any team that shuts down Denard comes away with the W.
wvtroll
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 12:23 p.m.
Very sad to see that people are rooting for retaining Rich Rod at the expense of the team.
lawrencelaundry
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 12:03 p.m.
Just listened to the banquet speech by RR on rivals. Wow. I hope this does not change Brandons mind of replacing RR for or Harbaugh.
Tim Wild
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 11:48 a.m.
Gator: Michigan vs Tennessee
Forever27
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 11:44 a.m.
I've never seen a less supportive fan base than this. I am ashamed of my fellow michigan fans. Yes, things are bad. But this is beyond the pale.
J. Dean
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 11:43 a.m.
The1Cool, well said. Very sad to see that people are rooting for Rich Rod's demise at the expense of the team.
P U MSU
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 11:35 a.m.
You are seriously complaining about an New Years Day bowl? The hate has reached a totally new low.
Yelmonian
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 11:34 a.m.
I just hope that whatever Bowl selects UM... They play "You Raise Me UP" while the team storms the field, with hands together above their heads! New UM Football slogan... "There's no crying in Football!"
The1Cool
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 11:30 a.m.
I find it hard to read so many negative posts from supposed "fans". I understand this season has been tough, but why can't improvements be made w/ a month's worth of practice and preparation? I'm not saying act as if everything's rosy and great, b/c that's foolish, but to be at the opposite end of the spectrum is sad. Let's see this for what it is, a challenge and opportunity to show our program can be better. But, most of you don't want that b/c you want the coach fired so badly.
Forever27
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 11:07 a.m.
first, all Rich Rod needed to do this year was get to a bowl game and his job was secure. Then, that wasn't good enough so he needed to make it to a january 1st bowl game. Now that that is a possibility, it's not good enough. He has to win the national championship to keep his job. I love how people keep moving the goal post on this. No matter what Rich Rod does, the same people will always say it's not good enough.
saginaw
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 10:34 a.m.
It looks to me that Brandon will keep RR one more year -- which is fine; I trust Brandon.
Lorain Steelmen
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 10:12 a.m.
And the negativity continues....by the so called 'michigan fans'. UM will do well in whichever bowl they play. I personally am hoping they go south to florida! Go Blue!
J. Dean
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 9:39 a.m.
I hope for a win for the sake of the school and for the sake of the players. Regardless of how anyone feels about Rich Rod, they should at least have the maturity and decency to root for the team.
cnorman
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 9:18 a.m.
for any who still doubt----the gator bowl website has been advertising apparel for the university of florida and the university of MICHIGAN since wednesday.
michboy40
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 9:17 a.m.
I would prefer to be in a lesser bowl and have a shot at winning. I like the Florida matchup because they are down and an appearance in the Gator Bowl isnt going to inspire anyone down there.
Greggy_D
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 8:58 a.m.
This Michigan team does NOT deserve to play on January 1st.
The OSU
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 8:56 a.m.
I still think UM should hold out for the Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl. Brandon could get the band to do a halftime, "A Tirbute to Domino's." The other band could salute Little Casear's.
A2D2
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 8:54 a.m.
There's a lot of posts worrying about U/M's bowl match-up:. versus Alabama in the Outback = ugly. versus Nebraska in the Insight = ugly. verus Missouri in the Insight = ugly. let's face it: no matted who U/M draws in a bowl, it has the potential to get ugly. Too bad the Insight, Outback or Gator bowls wouldn't let U/M match up against the 4th or 5th Big Eas or ACC school - then it might not be too ugly...................
tulsatom
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 8:41 a.m.
UCONN win or not, I will always admire the King...Elvis Presley that is.
tulsatom
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 8:24 a.m.
Michigan, in some respects, has become the new Notre Dame this year at bowl season. Its large following and tradition bump U-M up to a more prestigious bowl game than they otherwise deserve if the decision was solely based on their showing on the field. Advantage = more $$$ for the university Disadvantage = playing a much better team than you and almost guaranteeing a loss, possibly a lopsided one at that. Which is worse?
81wolverine
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 8 a.m.
Hope Michigan is in Florida. That would be great. Go Blue!
NoBowl4Blue
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 7:10 a.m.
Thanks to a few narrow wins it's not the Pizza Pizza bowl however that being said that might be the only chance for a victory as wherever the bowl game is, it will be ugly
FlintMaize
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 6:40 a.m.
No way we will be playing Alabama in Florida. Alabama will not drop past the Capital One Bowl. Also, it is highly unlikely that Michigan will selected before Penn State in the Outback Bowl. Michigan will be playing in either the Insight Bowl in Tempe, AZ or the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville. Mark it down.
XTR
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 4:06 a.m.
Michigan football is still has appeal from the bowl game organizers even at 7-5 and the 5 losses were not even competitive. They could be 11-1 and still have a hard time landing a good bowl game. Still is a big high profile program, all the program needs is a very good team.
Macabre Sunset
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 2:35 a.m.
That's a lot of confidence for a team that hasn't beaten anyone special in three years. And if his job really is on the line after five Big Ten losses, an out-of-conference win isn't going to save him.
leathercouch
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 2:24 a.m.
Dee Hart and I will believe that when I see it. Even still in that same breath. A win over a big time SEC school and security in RichRods job and more will come...and Dee Hart may return...
JadedBlackDepth
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 2:10 a.m.
Whoever they play, they better make it a good game. Top commit Dee Harris is leaving and more will leave if they are destroyed in bowl and RR is gone.
3 And Out
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 1:30 a.m.
I think were going in a different direction, Brandon said Thursday at the podium +10000000000
Aditya Ezhuthachan
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 1:27 a.m.
Alabama would be ugly... but if there's any chance of these, a loss to any of these would be worse: Les Miles and LSU Ryan Mallett and Arkansas or Florida (Lloyd Carr's last game)
rensational
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 1:23 a.m.
It would be ugly either way. Like I said on another one of these posts, I'd most like to see Michigan in the Gator Bowl against Florida because I think that's the most likely win out of all the options. But this really looks like the Outback Bowl is going to take us. Seriously, which team is most attractive--Iowa, Penn State or Michigan, from a following/money perspective? Ugh...soon we won't be able to brag about our record over the SEC anymore, just like we can't brag about unbroken bowl game streaks, unbroken streaks of years without a losing record, unbroken streaks of beating FCS and MAC teams, etc.
Macabre Sunset
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 : 1:12 a.m.
I can see Alabama dropping into the Outback Bowl if South Carolina pulls an upset Saturday. That would be ugly.