UT, Kentucky jockey for bowl position

 

Just days after beating Kentucky, the Wildcats remain Tennessee's competition for the SEC's bid to the Outback Bowl, according to a source close to the selection process.

 

Tickets sold - or the promise of - likely will be the determining factor despite the fact that UT (7-5, 4-4) has a better conference record than Kentucky (7-5, 3-5) and the Vols beat the Wildcats 30-24 on Saturday.

 

Using guarantees of tickets sold as a determining factor in offering bowl bids is not allowed by SEC rules, yet the Outback Bowl has been suspected of doing so before.

 

UT athletic director Mike Hamilton reminded the media of that rule after the Kentucky game. Hamilton hasn't been known to take part in bowl bidding wars.

 

The Vols looked destined to end up in the Outback Bowl following the 2003 regular season when they were ranked sixth in the nation. Instead, the Outback chose Florida. UT slipped to the Chick-fil-A as the highest-rated team in the bowl's history.

 

An official announcement could come as early as today, though the SEC may not release non-BCS teams to be selected by bowls until Wednesday or later, according to SEC associate commissioner Charles Bloom.

Wow, that'd be strange.

That would be awesome.

Isn't the Outback founder a UK grad? Sounds great. :thumb:

It would be shocking, but it won't happen.

Hope this happens!

Isn't the Outback founder a UK grad? Sounds great. :thumb:

 

Yes, and he serves on the advisory board for the bowl.

I'd love to see them get this but I dont' see it happening.

I'm still thinking Nashville once more.

Is that really fair if the Vols want to go? All the teams in the SEC have great fans that travel well, well maybe Vandy/Mississippi State.

 

Liberty/Music City are good fits for the Cats.

Is that really fair if the Vols want to go? All the teams in the SEC have great fans that travel well, well maybe Vandy/Mississippi State.

 

Liberty/Music City are good fits for the Cats.

 

Since when is the bowl selection process about being fair? UK has the same record as Tennessee and would bring just as many fans.

 

Outback/Peach are good fits for the Cats as well.

Herald Leader just said a source close to the Outback Bowl is going to pick Auburn. That burns me up if it's true.

Per a KSR tweet...Auburn has accepted an invite to the Outback Bowl!

You can vote for UK to go to the Outback bowl on the right:

 

http://www.outbackbowl.com/

UK will be in the Music City Bowl.