The MEAC has provided an official statement on the Heritage Bowl, exclusive to the HBCU Sports Blog.
“The MEAC has not rescinded its {automatic qualifier} in the NCAA FCS playoffs nor have we made any announcements regarding the Heritage Bowl.”
So, there it is. Rumors were that the MEAC had agreed to participate in the Heritage Bowl, and the conference, for now, has said that it hasn’t. Doesn’t mean they won’t, but you can rest peacefully knowing the MEAC is still the whipping boy of the FCS Playoffs.
big don 8:53 am on December 14, 2009 Permalink
JC. Sounds like you WANT the MEAC to skip the playoffs and go to the Heritage bowl…
JC 10:53 am on December 14, 2009 Permalink
I just want the MEAC as a conference to be better prepared to contend for a national championship. If we can be honest, we can say that D-I black colleges are not on standard with other FCS programs in the way of recruiting or resources to make for a better conference. Historically, that’s on the powers-that-be.
In contemporary times, with our lack of support, that’s on us.
I think that bowl games and classics are a good way to build resources and exposure for the conference as a whole, so that we can establish better fundraising networks and recruiting bases. Once black college conferences are positioned to hire better coaches and build better facilities, which in turn will bring in better players, then I believe we should take the automatic qualifier and run to the championship with it.
No one starts out of the gate a championship contender. Some feel that competing in the playoffs will help build that profile, and I can understand the logic. I just think the conference at large should improve, rather than the same 3 or 4 teams every season, so that the MEAC and SWAC can be regarded with the same respect as the CAA or SoCon. And I think the quickest and most logical way to do that is to concentrate the product into post season games; at least for the interim.
REJ 8:39 pm on December 15, 2009 Permalink
Don’t do it, Dennis Thomas. We need representation in the playoffs! Don’t follow the SWAC’s lead. SC State has competed heartily against the once 3-time FCS champion, App St, and thus, has earned respect across the country. Let’s not forget FAMU having won the first Div I-AA championship in 1978. Since then, no other HBCU has returned to glory (FAMU made the semi’s in 1999 though). How about both! Have the MEAC take the automatic bid and send the 2nd place team to the Heritage Bowl. That’s a win-win, huh? So this year, SC State goes to the playoffs and FAMU would have played PV A&M in the Heritage Bowl. Sounds like a good crowd draw to me. Both teams were ranked in the top 25 at season’s end…both have good bands (FAMU having the best of course). I just don’t buy the fact that a team (like SC State) works hard…goes 19-0 (or so) in the MEAC…breaks records doing so…only to play PV A&M? That’s a slap in the face to the program.