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The SEC hasn't officially announced its entire lineup of bowl contract renewals yet, but the Gator Bowl couldn't wait to tell the world that it has signed a four-year deal with the league. Beginning Jan. 1, 2011, the Gator Bowl, which has never had a contract with the SEC, will match the SEC vs. the Big Ten.
No, the Liberty Bowl isn't in danger of not re-upping with the SEC, though the league probably wants an increased per-team payout.
The problem is that the SEC is placing the Gator Bowl in front of the Liberty in the selection order. And to make matters worse, the league is reportedly sticking the Liberty behind the Music City Bowl (which has been in operation for a grand total of 12 years) in the selection order.
That would give the Liberty the eighth or ninth SEC team. And it could get worse if the Liberty is made an equal of, or placed behind, the ESPN-owned Papajohns.com Bowl that is played in that rustic Birmingham dump known as Legion Field.
It would almost assure that some years the Liberty Bowl may not have an SEC rep to play the Conference USA champ if the SEC doesn't have enough bowl-eligible teams.
Ehrhart doesn't want to say much about this, because he's trying to appease the SEC. But the way the SEC is viewing the Liberty Bowl is a lack of respect for the history of this game, the efficient and hospitable manner in which the bowl operates and what this game means to this city and its charity, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
The SEC is in love with cities that have modern NFL stadiums, like Nashville. And the league supposedly isn't thrilled having to play the Conference USA champion.
True, there's no denying that 45-year-old Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium doesn't have the modern amenities of the Coliseum, home of the Tennessee Titans. But improvements have been made, especially the locker-room areas, which had been a concern to the SEC.
As far as playing Conference USA is concerned, I'd rather see an SEC team playing a conference champion than another eighth- or ninth-place team from a BCS league.
It's not like the SEC has been killing C-USA teams in the Liberty. South Carolina beat Houston, 44-36, three years ago. Mississippi State scored late to edge Central Florida, 10-3, two years ago. And in the most recent game, Kentucky rallied to beat East Carolina, 25-19.
This is how the SEC needs to judge the Liberty Bowl: Did its teams enjoy their stay in Memphis? Were they treated well? Did they have fun at all the bowl events? Was it a good trip?
Back in May at the annual SEC spring business meetings, when I asked South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier and Kentucky coach Rich Brooks about their Liberty experiences, both gushed.
"My friends have gone to all my bowl games, including the Rose Bowl way back when, and they had more fun in Memphis than they had anywhere else," Brooks said.
Added Spurrier, "The Liberty Bowl was super, the most fun bowl we've had since I've been at South Carolina."
Doesn't that count for something? Doesn't it mean something to the SEC that the hundreds of bowl volunteers put their sweat and soul into the game every year to make sure the participating teams and the fans of those teams have a wonderful time?
And, before the SEC wants to toss the Liberty Bowl totally in the dumper, it might want to consider the national and worldwide annual exposure the bowl has given St. Jude.
The Music City Bowl can't match that. And neither can any other bowl.
So what the SEC has to decide before moving the Liberty Bowl to the bottom of the batting order is simple.
Do you judge a bowl on new facilities, a mountain of cash and an opponent from a big-boy league?
Or do you judge it on the magnanimous heart and enduring character of a bowl about to be played for the 51st time?
It's not a hard decision.
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