but they’re gone now and I can’t imagine rooting for the Sooners after the way they treated us so rudely. Besides, I’m part Indian and paleface land thieves don’t rate very highly with me. :-)

I plan on being just an interested bystander, saving my energy for the Cotton Bowl.

The rules for selection of the replacement for the Fiesta is that the Big 12 team has to be ranked better than 12th.

You guys can not do simple reading and comprehension! Here is the rules! http://www.bcsfootball.org/bcsfb/eligibility

The one everyone is pointing to is rule 5 which talks about the top 4 and their automatic bids. That is true to a point. But you all failed to read the next sentence!

5. If any of the 10 slots remain open after application of provisions 1 through 4, and an at-large team from a conference with an annual automatic berth for its champion is ranked No. 3 in the final BCS Standings, that team will become an automatic qualifier, provided that no at-large team from the same conference qualifies for the national championship game.

Did you get it? Let me make this clear! " Provided that no at large team from the same conference qualifies for the National Championship game"

What this means is the because Oklahoma goes to the National championship game that the BCS 3 and 4 does not matter!

It only matters when the conference does not have a National Champion qualifying team.
Then the 3 and 4 are guaranteed a bowl.

But because Oklahoma can go to the NCG, then Texas Tech HAS EQUAL RIGHT IF NOT MORE RIGHT TO THE FIESTA!

For NM99 and Crabtreeforheisman.

NM99, No you are totally off and wrong! Why? Answer for Crabtreeforhiesman.

What is the definition of an at large team. Well at the link the at large team is defined under the heading at large elibility.

Its a team that has more than 9 wins within a conference and ranked 14th or better in the final BCS standings.

Here is the reason why Texas Tech is equal up with Texas straight from the Rules!

BURN IT INTO YOUR INGORANT BRAINS!

From the rules of at large elgibility!

(1) if any conference has two or more teams in the top 14, then two of those teams must be selected

There is no rule saying that BCS position is in play.

Because the term at large is defined as a team which has 9 or more wins and ranked in the to 14.

Thus Oklahoma is both a champion of the Big 12 and an at large team.

Texas and Texas Tech are also at large teams.

The bowl selection section then picks up with:

If a bowl loses a host team to the NCG, then such bowl shall select a replacement team from among the automatic-qualifying teams and the at-large teams before any other selections are made. If two bowls lose host teams to the NCG, each bowl will get a replacement pick before any other selections are made. In such case, the bowl losing the No. 1 team gets the first replacement pick, and the bowl losing the No. 2 team gets the second replacement pick.

After completion of the selection process as described in Paragraph Nos. 1-4, the conferences and Notre Dame may, but are not required to, adjust the pairings taking into consideration the following:

  A. whether the same team will be playing in the same bowl game for two consecutive years;
  B. whether two teams that played against one another in the regular season will be paired against one another in a bowl game;
  C. whether the same two teams will play against each other in a bowl game for two consecutive years; and
  D. whether alternative pairings may have greater or lesser appeal to college football fans as measured by expected ticket sales for the bowls and by expected television interest, and the consequent financial impact on Fox and the bowls.

The pairings may not be altered by removing the Big 10 Champion or Pac-10 champion from the Rose Bowl.

Thats the rules concerning the picking for the Fiesta Bowl. Texas does not get an automatic pass to the Fiesta by being ranked #3 or #4.

The Fiesta Bowl gets to decide based on ticket and TV viewing audience which teams would have the greatest appeal to the national audience.

Thus we the Tech fans need to stop acting like whipped dogs and hype it up about how much Tech is loved and respected around the country and how Tech games have gotten high TV ratings this fall even before and after the Texas game.

In fact, the Tech OSU game got more ratings than the Oklahoma Texas red river shootout.

Something we can point to.

But stop acting like we lost when we have not!

The post did not come out as I had originally posted. I had two sections. One for two posters and a section for the board as a whole.

Thus I did not specifically call anyone by name ignorant. But rather spoke to the general idea that Tech cannot be selected for the Fiesta which is untrue.

The Fiesta Bowl will make it choice based on total economic reasons which I posted which was put into the rules. Where a bowl can refuse a team because they would not be economically viable for a bowl if they were not an automatic team.

Texas is not automatic because, Oklahoma is going to the NCG provided they beat Missouri. Thus Texas Tech needs an Oklahoma win to get to a good bowl.

The bowl choices right now are Fiesta and cotton with an Oklahoma win.

If Oklahoma loses, then Tech has cotton or Holiday.

Its far better for Tech to have Oklahoma beat Missouri but beat Missouri by a massive margin.

There will be less than the 10 qualifiers for the bowls this year!
 Because two conferences will send its champion to the NCG.

Causing the autobids to two BCS bowls to become void. Thus you will have only 8 teams which qualify under the general BCS rules.

Thus why the section for replacement teams become important!

Because if Oklahoma beats Missouri, then Oklahoma can not go to the Fiesta. Thus that position is vacant. Not automatically filled. Because the winner of the Big 12 conference send its champion to the Fiesta. But should the Champion go to the NCG then the Fiesta has no team. Thus the position is vacant. The SEC will also send its Champion to Sugar. Thus if Alabama beats Florida, then the Sugar loses its auto.

Its not a given if Florida beats Alabama that they achieve the #2 spot though everyone wants that to happen. Its very possible for Florida to end up at #3.

But the point is that currently the SEC and Big 12 is expected to have vacant positions in their bowls Thus giving only 8 of the 10 qualifiers to their perspective bowls. Texas is not an automatic qualifier because they are not the Big 12 Champion nor can they be.

The best Texas can be is an at large replacement team.

Thus one of the reasons why the BCS sucks. You have #3 Texas not being an autobid to a BCS bowl because they are not a Conference champion.

Because of the rules, The Fiesta gets to choose first its replacement for Oklahoma from the at large teams which qualify for a BCS birth from the Big 12.

That is Texas and Texa Tech. The Fiesta then chooses the replacement based on economic reasons not necessarily on record or BCS position.

Remember California lost out to Norte Dame on that very ground and its still in the rules as that has not changed one bit.

Thus you guys need reading comprehension because your all goo goo gaga for Texas to go to the Fiesta when Texas Tech has the same shot at it as Texas does.

But that is a flaw of mine when I get angry at stupidity.

The Issue, As I pointed out so I can spoon feed some more is very plain.

The issue is who gets the autobid and what happens when the autobid can not be applied by the base rule.

The assumption here is that Oklahoma has to beat Missouri and that an SEC team is one or two in the BCS.

If Oklahoma finishes in the top 2 in the BCS, the autobid for Oklahoma is for the Fiesta unless Oklahoma is either one or two.

In the case where Oklahoma is both the autobid to the NCG and the Fiesta. The rules for replacement team comes into effect for the Fiesta. There is no autobid that just replaces Oklahoma for the Fiesta.

By definition, the Big 12 Champ goes to the Fiesta unless the champ goes to the NCG. In the case where the Big 12 sends a team to the NCG, then the team Team replacement selection rules apply!

Because the Fiesta has no auto because its team went to the NCG, then there is not 10 teams auto. Because Oklahoma was the Fiesta auto. There is no BCS standing replacement from the Big 12 when the Fiesta loses the Big 12 Champ to the NCG.

That is the flaw you guy are missing. Its in the darn rules. It even defines the terms including what is an at large team.

Also, you guys seem to forget that the Fiesta gets to choose its replacement first over the other bowls choices for a team. According to the rules, The Fiesta gets first choice for replacement in 2009 as the bowls are in rotation as to who gets first choice at replacement.

Thus the rules for replacement for Oklahoma comes into effect. The rules only say that from the at large group within the Big 12 only those teams which have at least 9 wins and are ranked 12th or better can be selected for the Fiesta as a replacement for Oklahoma.

That is as basic as it gets. It does not matter if Texas is #3 or #12. Any team which has 9 wins and is ranked in the BCS with 12th or better can be selected for the Fiesta.

That is what the rules say concerning what happens when the Big 12 champ also goes on to the NCG.

So Texas Tech ranked at either #6 or #7 has an equal shot with a #3 Texas.

Too many people just assume that because Texas is at #3 that it gives Texas the autobid. It does not. Why? Because how the Fiesta selects its replacement

Granted that Texas Tech has an up hill battle for the Fiesta. But what makes me mad as hell and sick is to see other Raider fans abandoning ship and sinking what little shot the Team has by going all out and pulling for Tech to go to the Cotton when its is still possible to go to the Fiesta.

Even in the Texas Blogs, they are scared to death that Texas Tech could be selected over them for the Fiesta putting them into the cotton. Why are they that scared? Because the choice of replacement is in the hands of the Fiesta Selection board who has two choices of a replacement for Oklahoma should Oklahoma go to the NCG.

Its also why the Cotton has not given any team an offer yet because the Big 12 Championship game is key along with who the Fiesta takes as a replacement.

Texas Tech has a legit claim to the Fiesta. But its up to the Fiesta Selection Board to decide on which team they want. Texas or Texas Tech when the time comes to make their selection.

What pisses me off is that the Fiesta Selection Board may see a Tech fans so whipped and so down that they will choose Texas because it will be what they are seeing from the Fans.

If we the Fans were demanding the Fiesta and making a massive effort with good stats to back it up, then the Fiesta could be swayed to select Texas Tech.

But when you see uninspired fans for their bowl, then its a given that Tech will not be selected and it will be the fans fault for hurting the Teams chances at a BCS birth.

Because the Selection is based on economic concerns. Go back and read the section in the rules which discusses economic considerations which the bowls can use to deny a team a birth.

The truth is that Texas Tech has a legit shot no matter how much many of you want to deny and destroy or take away from our 11-1 team!

There are several sports networks which are pointing out the Fact that Texas Tech can be the at large replacement for the Fiesta over Texas.

CBSsports, ESPN, Scout, USAToday all have had articles which repeat what I have been saying.

I hope you guys do not need more spoon feeding!

You are reading only the projected of who will go to the bowls.

Like all the pundits and Texas Fans they see a number 3 getting the nod over a Number 7 as an automatic choice.

The truth is that its not automatic. The Fiesta can decide to take Texas Tech over Texas if they so choose. Its their right should they want to do it.

The issues you keep pointing to is not in the rules when the Big 12 Champ also qualifies for the NCG game. Go back and read it.

The Number 3 and Number 4 team could be left out of the BCS in a replacement choice.

See #4 playing who? our Texas Tech in the Holiday as they were passed over in a replacement choice for the Rose Bowl. When USC when the the NCG.

The replacement rules have not changed!

Its just Amazing that despite the written rules and the fact that it has happened before in a BCS bowl choice that people ignore the truth and the facts.

Texas could be passed over should the Fiesta wish to select Texas Tech over Texas.

Its the Fiesta Bowl’s right to select any team from the Big 12 that has 9 wins and is ranked in the BCS better than 12th.

Granted that Texas is an attractive choice at number 3, but its not a given for Texas to be selected as the Fiesta Replacement.

Texas will go to the Orange Bowl should Missouri beat Oklahoma as an autobid being No.3

The truth is that because the Fiesta gets to choose who they want over all other bowls this January, Texas Tech can send Texas to the Cotton if and only if the Fiesta wishes to pass them over for Texas Tech.

Here is the rules one more time: http://www.bcsfootball.org/bcsfb/eligibility

Pay attention here. There is no where listed that Number 3 or Number 4 get an autobid to anything anywhere in the rules.

In the section of at large elgibility, and auto bid qualifications Look closely at what it says!

Texas Tech is ranked in the top 12. So Tech does qualify for a BCS birth under the autobid. However, Only two teams can go and Oklahoma or Missouri gets the Big 12 auto to the Fiesta.

However, should Oklahoma be ranked in the 1 or 2 spot, then they go to the NCG.

Then the rules specifically say that the Fiesta must choose its replacement from the At large qualifications section.

The famous rule 5 you guys keep pointing to says : If any of the 10 slots remain open after application of provisions 1 through 4, and an at-large team from a conference with an annual automatic berth for its champion is ranked No. 3 in the final BCS Standings, that team will become an automatic qualifier, provided that no at-large team from the same conference qualifies for the national championship game.

Texas is not the conference Champ thus does not qualify for the automatic bid to the BCS. That is the rule concerning a team ranked 3rd.

The section about higher ranking in the BCS gets an autobid to the BCS has nothing to do with Texas. It has everything to do with Utah. Because:
No more than one such team from Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, the Sun Belt Conference, and the Western Athletic Conference shall earn an automatic berth in any year. (Note: a second team may be eligible for at-large eligibility as noted below.) If two or more teams from those conferences satisfy the provisions for an automatic berth, then the team with the highest finish in the final BCS Standings will receive the automatic berth, and the remaining team or teams will be considered for at-large selection if it meets the criteria.

Thus Texas can not claim a higher BCS position to get the automatic bid. Thus the section as to who qualifies as a replacement at large team rule comes into effect!

Thus the rule says:
If there are fewer than 10 automatic qualifiers, then the bowls will select at-large participants to fill the remaining berths. An at-large team is any Football Bowl Subdivision team that is bowl-eligible and meets the following requirements:

  A. Has won at least nine regular-season games, and
  B. Is among the top 14 teams in the final BCS Standings.

The issue is if Oklahoma wins the Big 12 championship, it leaves open the slot for the Fiesta making 1 team short of the 10 auto qualifers. Texas does not get the automatic because they are not the Big 12 Champ who gets the auto to the Fiesta. That is why this is important to understand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Under the Team Selection section of the rules:

If a bowl loses a host team to the NCG, then such bowl shall select a replacement team from among the automatic-qualifying teams and the at-large teams before any other selections are made. If two bowls lose host teams to the NCG, each bowl will get a replacement pick before any other selections are made. In such case, the bowl losing the No. 1 team gets the first replacement pick, and the bowl losing the No. 2 team gets the second replacement pick. If the Rose Bowl loses both the Big Ten and Pac-10 champions to the NCG, it will receive two replacement picks.

Ok Now who are the automatic qualifiers as defined by the section 1. Any team who has 9 or more wins and is ranked in the top 12. Go back and read it! It what it says!

Texas Tech and Texas are both 9 plus and in the top 12.

SO what is the next step? Rotation of replacement selection by bowls who can select from the at large. January 2009 games: Fiesta, Sugar, Orange

This brings us the the other No. 5 that some point out.

5. After completion of the selection process as described in Paragraph Nos. 1-4, the conferences and Notre Dame may, but are not required to, adjust the pairings taking into consideration the following:

  A. whether the same team will be playing in the same bowl game for two consecutive years;
  B. whether two teams that played against one another in the regular season will be paired against one another in a bowl game;
  C. whether the same two teams will play against each other in a bowl game for two consecutive years; and
  D. whether alternative pairings may have greater or lesser appeal to college football fans as measured by expected ticket sales for the bowls and by expected television interest, and the consequent financial impact on Fox and the bowls

As you see, there is nothing there which denies Texas Tech from being selected. Section D is where Texas Tech can shine over Texas.

SO I challenge anyone here to show where in the rules and then copy paste that section of the rules which deny Texas Tech!

You will not find it! It does not exist. The choice for who plays in the Fiesta is based solely on who the Fiesta Selection committee want to pick from those teams which are ranked 12th or better in the BCS. A number 6 or 7 Texas Tech who beat Texas playing against a Utah or a Texas.

There is nothing in the rules which deny Texas Tech the right to go to the Fiesta!

Its time for the ignorance to Stop!!!! Its time to demand that our team be given a fair shot even though it seems many ignorant fans are resigned to the cotton.

Texas Tech is an automatic qualifying team. Being qualified does not mean that that team gets an automatic Bid to the BCS.

It just means that they qualify for the right to go to a BCS should the need for a replacement team be needed.

Thus Please look at the rules and stop trying to be negative!