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USF Eclipses Sun Bowl's Hope To Land Notre Dame

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By BRETT McMURPHY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 25, 2008

The University of South Florida's win Sunday night over UConn all but eliminated Notre Dame from consideration for the Sun Bowl because of Big East Conference bowl commitment, despite what at least one Sun Bowl official seems to believe.

Comments Monday from the Sun Bowl selection committee chairman concerning Notre Dame and the Sun Bowl indicated that bowl still thought it could secure the Irish and their national following, even with Notre Dame's 6-5 record heading into Saturday's regular-season finale against heavily favored Southern Cal.

However, despite comments from Sun Bowl selection committee chairman John Folmer, there is no deal between the Big East and the Sun Bowl to get 6-6 Notre Dame a spot in the Sun Bowl.

Despite the NCAA rules in place, Folmer told a reporter from the El Paso, Texas, ABC-TV station that the Sun Bowl "had a deal with the Big East" to get Notre Dame.

"When we went into the arrangement with the Big East, we did it solely so we'd have an opportunity for Notre Dame. Period," Folmer said. "Based on all the rules and the way the NCAA changes are and the things in the handbook, we're gonna have Notre Dame."

The only problem is there is no such deal. Never has been, never will be.

It's obvious the Sun Bowl loves Notre Dame. It desperately wants Notre Dame. The only problem is the Sun Bowl can't have Notre Dame this year unless the Irish upset USC Saturday or Rutgers loses to Louisville.

A Notre Dame loss and a Rutgers win eliminates Notre Dame from the Sun Bowl.

The Sun Bowl can thank USF for screwing up its plans to invite the Irish. With USF getting a seventh win, the Big East now has five teams with seven or more wins. A Rutgers win against Louisville on Dec. 4 would give the Big East six seven-win teams for its six Big East bowls.

The Big East membership couldn't be happier to have its six teams slotted for Big East affiliated bowls. The Sun Bowl not so enthusiastic, especially since the bowl has been promoting the fact it would land Notre Dame for a few weeks.

Big East officials were stunned when they heard about Folmer's comments that made it sound like some backroom deal had been done for Notre Dame's benefit and at the expense of a Big East bowl-eligible team.

Big East associate commissioners Nick Carparelli and John Paquette, who have patiently explained all the ins and outs of the Big East's bowl lineup the past few days, weeks, months and even years, said that is not accurate.

"There is no new deal in place with the Sun Bowl and the fact remains if the Big East has six teams with winning records [7-5 or better], the Sun Bowl, by [NCAA] rule, can not select Notre Dame at 6-6," Carparelli said Tuesday.

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