article New proposal could add as many as four new bowls -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Bruce Feldman ESPN The Magazine Think 25 bowls was too many? Well, guess what? The NCAA is about to add three or maybe four more to next season's bowl lineup. Cynics will gripe about how there are already too many games to begin with. They'll whine about a 5-6 North Texas squad getting greenlighted by the Sun Belt Conference to go bowling as being over-the-line. Fair point. But as most college coaches are quick to tell you, if you don't like seeing a 7-4 team play a 6-5 team, don't tune in. Last week, the NCAA lifted its moratorium on the 26-bowl game limit. That, in turn, sparked discussions at the NCAA's football certification subcommittee in San Antonio this week about adding more bowl games. Maybe the best positive example of the expanded bowl schedule is Pittsburgh. Last year, the Panthers began the season 1-5. The woeful start was due to shaky quarterback play, a lackluster ground game and an offense hobbled without all-American wideout Antonio Bryant. But the Panthers got Bryant back from injury, QB David Priestley got hot and they ended up winning five straight to qualify for a bowl, which they ended up winning as well. The Panthers reward was more than just a trip to Orlando to play in the Tangerine Bowl. "It really helps a program rebuild itself to national prominence," says Panthers coach Walt Harris of being labeled a 'bowl team.' "It definitely enhances your recruiting." It also gives coaches additional practice time to teach as well as find out what their younger players can do, while giving them a "carrot" for achieving a goal. "Coaches are always looking for ways to motivate," says West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez. "Of course, players have their education and a scholarship, but it's nice for them to get to play on TV, get the rings and the watches and get to see a different city." The Big East is expected to be one of the conferences that gains with a possible matchup against an ACC team in the Queen City Bowl in Charlotte. A source close to the dealings says that bowl is most likely to be approved, with the San Francisco Bowl (between PAC-10 and Mountain West teams) also a near lock. The other new games could be in Hawaii and Fort Worth. "People have to remember this is a business," says the source. "If the people in San Francisco think they can make money and bring money into their community, than they'll do it. And if critics don't think it's good for college football, go tell Pitt." “ Coaches are always looking for ways to motivate. Of course, players have their education and a scholarship, but it's nice for them to get to play on TV, get the rings and the watches and get to see a different city. ” — West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez
