Posted on 12/04/2005 7:37:12 PM PST by DuckFan4ever
SAN DIEGO (AP) Spurned by the BCS, the Oregon Ducks had to settle for the next-best thing a late-December trip to San Diego.
The No. 6 Ducks (10-1), whose only loss was to top-ranked USC, accepted an invitation to play Oklahoma in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 29 after they were passed over for an at-large BCS berth.
"I think 'disappointed' is more the word than 'surprised,' " Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said on a conference call on Sunday.
"I didn't quite understand the Notre Dame deal. But obviously I have not been a student of the BCS," said Bellotti, whose Ducks were passed over for a shot at the national championship game four years ago.
Oregon was No. 5 in the final BCS standings, one spot ahead of Notre Dame. But Notre Dame has an easier shot at a BCS berth, including one stipulation that it be ranked three through six in the final BCS standings.
The Pac-10 had lobbied the BCS, specifically the Fiesta Bowl, on behalf of Oregon, which finished second in the conference to USC.
But Notre Dame and Ohio State, both 9-2, received bids to the Fiesta, which pays between $14 million and $17 million per team. The Holiday Bowl's payout is $2 million per team.
Last year, California was 10-1 but got bumped out of the Rose Bowl by Texas and went to the Holiday Bowl, losing 45-31 to Texas Tech.
As is often the case, the Holiday Bowl gets at least one team that thought it might have had a chance of playing in a bigger and more lucrative bowl.
"We couldn't be happier to have the No. 5-ranked team in the country in the BCS polls representing the Pac-10 in the Holiday Bowl," executive director Bruce Binkowski said. "We understand that that is their goal, to play in the BCS. But the system is the system. For us to have the opportunity to get the fifth-ranked team in the country is great. Also, we've never had Oklahoma before. They've had a great second half. We couldn't be happier with the matchup."
Oklahoma (7-4) won five of its last six games.
Oregon will play in the Holiday Bowl for the first time since 2000, when it beat Texas 35-30.
"Overall, we're excited about the Holiday Bowl," Bellotti said. "We had a great experience there the last time, in playing and defeating the University of Texas."
Oregon played Oklahoma last season and will play the Sooners again in 2006.
"I guess this will be a preview," Bellotti said.
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said the Ducks have a strong argument to be in a BCS bowl.
"They've had a great year," Stoops said. "They do a great job, 10-1, they only lost to USC. There's no question I could see where that would be difficult for them. But, of all places to go, the Holiday Bowl is an incredible destination."
Stoops has been to two previous Holiday Bowls, as a graduate assistant with Iowa in 1986 and an assistant coach with Kansas State in 1995.
Go Bucks !
Mobilhoma

We now return you to your regularly scheduled b****fest...
I take it everyone but me knows what a BCS is.
ping
That's correct.
Aww... they didn't get into the BCS. Their conference is still gonna get $14 Million, split amongst 10 teams... not bad.
Try being a fan of a non-BCS team, who starts the season with practically NO CHANCE of being national champion, because even if we go 11-0, the pollsters would never vote us #1 or #2.
Still not as bad as being a fan of a BCS team who starts the season with practically no chance of being national champion because they lose too many games :-p
...what it deserves.
Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho,
The BCS must go, go, go.
:)
BCS: Bucks, Cash, Simoleons.... Notre Dame will generate bigger receipts than Oregon will.
However, I don't think Notre Dame should be in a BCS game. IMHO, Notre Dame is always given special treatment by the pollsters and the BCS and will probably get a BCS berth every year that the BCS can get away with it no matter how many loses they have.
You wanna bet????????? ;-)
Your little texas thingy is upside down. ;-)
That longhorn logo looks like it was modeled after the female reproductive organs.
Give 'em hell, eh? :)
Enjoy - I'm outta here :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.