As an alumni and avid WKU supporter I am more then disapointed that my beloved Hilltoppers will not be bowling this season. Granted they started 0-4 with a loss to Indiana State. I just dont understand how you can justify placing a team like UCLA at 6-7 and a team like Illinois at 6-6, after losing 6 in a row, in a bowl game. Also, the 1st, 3rd, and 4th place team in the same conference as WKU all went to a bowl. Its a mixture of the Sun Belt and their bowl tie ins having silly rules and the money element of the bowl system. Maybe Im just a bitter WKU fan but I just dont understand it.

No, WKU got hosed. It bothers me that they were left out.

From a season standpoint, the loss to Indiana State was probably the biggest black mark against WKU, but I think what hurt them was that there is not a bowl super close that they were up for, Birmingham being the closest that they had a realistic shot at. They got aced out of the New Orleans Bowl as well as the Beef O'Brady's Bowl because ULL and FIU were closer respectively. It is bothersome that the 3rd and 4th teams in the conference that WKU beat (one of which handily) got into bowls while they did not. The Sun Belt failed WKU in that respect.

 

UCLA getting in was a joke, essentially arguing it wasn't their fault that USC was on probation, forcing them to play in a conference championship game. They'll be 6-8 by the time the postseason is over. Without that waiver, WKU goes bowling because I believe they get in over Ball State.

 

What is the hardest to stomach is that when it comes down to it, a failure to convert a 4th and 1 late in the game against Arkansas State that would have sealed the game (and if all other results WKU had the rest of the way held), cost WKU the Sun Belt title and a bowl.

What was Westerns record?

What was Westerns record?

I believe 6-6. I think you get in automatically with 7 wins.

Bottom line, UCLA and Illinois will bring more fans. Sucks and ridiculous but that is college football.

Western was 7-5

It's a myth to think that teams "earn" they way in to a non-BCS bowl.

 

What would be attractive about having WKU?

Is WKU still in the probation period for moving up to D-1? If so they don't get a bowl bid till they clear the probation window.

Is WKU still in the probation period for moving up to D-1? If so they don't get a bowl bid till they clear the probation window.

 

I believe the answer to your first question is no.

Western was 7-5

I stand corrected. I thought teams with 7 wins got in no matter what. I will also add that I think 7 wins should be the qualifier.

I agree completely, WKU got hosed. Who’s to say that even with a win over Indians State that they still wouldn’t have been picked. Bottom line is that WKU is located in the wrong state when the two bowls in main contention are in Florida and Louisiana and the other two eligible teams from the Sun Belt are from those two states.

I stand corrected. I thought teams with 7 wins got in no matter what. I will also add that I think 7 wins should be the qualifier.

 

7 wins get you in automatically IF your league has the open spots. The problem Western had was Arkansas State, FIU, and ULL all also had at least 7 wins. There are no requirements for selecting teams if you can't fulfill your conference obligation.

It's a myth to think that teams "earn" they way in to a non-BCS bowl.

 

What would be attractive about having WKU?

Bowls have always been a civic enterprise to bring dollars to the communhity.

Bowls have always been a civic enterprise to bring dollars to the communhity.

 

Well, at least dollars to some members of the community.