Decision due on
fate of bowl game

DO an Internet search on the words "Silicon Valley Classic," click on the first result, and you get this:

"This domain name expired on 4/11/2005 and is pending renewal or deletion."

If you hunt around enough, though, you can eventually find the bowl game's Web site.

It's sort of like the SVC itself -- it still exists, but its renewal or deletion from the college bowl game lineup is being decided this week by an NCAA committee in Phoenix.

Critical mass is quickly approaching in the formula of bowl-eligible teams and the number of slots that need to be filled. There are 118 teams with Division I-A football teams and 56 of those teams need to qualify to play in 28 bowl games.

Also, two new games are vying for certification this week.

Only 5,494 people attended the Silicon Valley Classic last year, so the San Jose, Calif., game is in jeopardy of losing certification. That would mean the WAC would lose one of the three bowl games in which it is guaranteed a spot.

WAC commissioner Karl Benson said the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl and the MPC Computers Bowl in Boise are both on "solid ground."

He said the poorly attended SVC was a fluke because of a not-so-attractive matchup of Troy and Northern Illinois; it turned out to be an entertaining game, but it was a geographic and name-recognition nightmare. One reason the SVC got scraps was that UTEP didn't do anyone but itself any favors by going to the Houston Bowl to play Colorado instead of playing in one of the WAC's games. The Miners broke a WAC rule to do so, but didn't care because they're leaving the conference anyway. In a strange way, it seems like a fair trade when you factor in that UTEP doesn't get a share of future basketball money it earned with NCAA Tournament appearances in 2004 and 2005.

As usual, Benson is optimistic. He said he believes the game will be re-certified, despite it being impossible to meet the three-year attendance requirement, even with a full house in the next game -- if there is one.

"I think they're putting forward a strong case and plan for the future," he said. "The WAC needs the bowl."

But the league didn't need it last year the way things worked out, and that could lead to its demise.

The NCAA is close to approving a 12-game schedule (13 for Hawaii and other teams with exempt games) starting in 2006. That would likely mean one or two more bowl-eligible teams each year, and could be a savior for the SVC.

On another note, Benson said the league is still reviewing whether to implement instant replay this fall and in what fashion.

Even with ESPNU picking up "a fairly significant number of games" there will still be WAC games that are not televised, Benson said.

"It would more than likely be cost-prohibitive to self-produce games (for the purpose of replay)," Benson said.

See the Columnists section for some past articles.

Dave Reardon is a Star-Bulletin sportswriter who covers University of Hawaii football and other topics. His column appears periodically. E-mail him at dreardon@starbulletin.com

Decision due on fate of bowl game

Decision due on
fate of bowl game