BOWL BIDS

 I really don’t understand the bowl selection process. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to me that Western Kentucky University could be left out of a bowl when there are 35 bowl games set to begin across the country.

The reason I don’t understand is because the Hilltoppers finished 7-5 overall and 7-1 in the Sun Belt Conference. They lost the automatic bid to Arkansas State, the team that finished first in the conference. But, why does the third place team, Louisiana-Lafayette, get a bid over Western, especially after WKU beat the Ragin’ Cajuns, 45-20.

As of last weekend, 64 teams were bowl-eligible to fill the 70 bowl slots.

Coach Willie Taggart, a former quarterback for the ‘Toppers, is in his second-year with his old school. He has done all the right things to get WKU on the NCAA track, now he just needs a little break. I realize the Sun Belt Conference is not one of the “biggies”, but wasn’t it Western that took on the big boys of the SEC this season. They lost to Kentucky and LSU, but they gained a lot of respect. Now, it’s time one of the bowls showed a little love for the school on the hill in Bowling Green.

Western has one of the top runners in the nation in Bobby Rainey, who became the Hilltoppers all-time leading rusher with a 227 yards on 43 carries in a 41-18 win over Troy Saturday. As of Monday, Rainey led the entire NCAA Division 1-A with 1695 yards. Not only do they have one of the top rushers, they have one of the top linemen in Quanterus Smith who is averaging 7.5 sacks per game. No other Kentucky teams can boast either mark.

This season has been a storybook for the NCAA. After breaking the nation’s longest losing streak last season, and going 4-36 since 2007, they have put together an outstanding season and deserve one of those bowl bids.

WKU won seven of their last eight games and they can still claim a share of the Sun Belt Conference if Arkansas State loses to Troy Saturday.

The Ragin’ Cajuns of Louisiana-Lafayette got the bid over WKU and it makes no sense whatsoever other than the New Orleans Bowl is right in their backyard. Louisiana-Lafayette finished 8-4 with Western ending the season 7-5. But, who did the Ragin’ Cajuns play? They beat Kent State (20-12), Nichols (38-21), Florida International (36-31), Florida Atlantic (37-34), Troy (31-17), North Texas (30-10), Middle Tennessee (45-20), Louisiana-Monroe (36-35).

They lost to Oklahoma State (61-34), Western (45-20), Arkansas State (30-21) and Arizona (45-37).

After going 3-8 in 2010, the Hilltoppers rebounded with seven wins. Middle Tennessee (36-33), Florida Atlantic (20-0), Lafayette (42-23), Monroe (31-28), North Texas (31-21) and Troy (41-18). Two of their five losses came to SEC schools, including a 14-3 loss to Kentucky and a 42-9 loss to the nation’s number one team, LSU. They lost to Navy and Indiana State.

There are a couple of web sites projecting the Hilltoppers in a bowl. It’s all-confusing at this point of the game. However, by next Monday, the picture should be clear. Let’s hope the ‘Toppers have earned enough respect to get in one of the many bowl games.

Speaking of bowls, where will Louisville end up? It looks like Cincinnati is going to get the BCS bid when the two finish as co-champions of the Big East. The Cardinals have come a long way and if everyone hangs around Louisville should be a national contender in about two years.

Coach Charlie Strong has done a great job at Louisville in just two seasons and he has made Cardinal fans forget that coach between he and Bobby Petrino. Gosh, I already forgot his name anyway!

It looks like Georgetown College is going to make a run at the NAIA football title. The #3 Tigers play # 2 Carroll College this week in the semifinals. They will have to go on the road for the first time in the playoffs. The Tigers are 13-0. Georgetown has beaten Benedictine College 21-7 and turned back University of Saint Francis last week, 26-14.

Georgetown is undefeated for the first time since the 2004 season. Carroll College is 12-1 and the current defending champions. The two programs have nine national championships between the two schools.

Eastern Kentucky closed out their season with a 20-17 loss to James Madison Saturday in Richmond. The Colonels ended the season with a 7-5 record overall and 6-2 in conference play.

University of Kentucky’s 10-7 win over Tennessee was much like a bowl game for the Wildcats. The losing streak is over and Coach Joker Phillips can rest his head knowing his job is secure for a couple of more years.