Louisiana Tech Passes On First Bowl Bid, Second One Never Comes

Dillon Cheverere12 years ago

How’s that saying go about a bird in the hand being worth two in the bush? This is the kind of situation that saying is referring to. And how’s that other saying go about how if you’re Louisiana Tech and a bowl game invites you to participate, you should accept, because you’re Louisiana Tech?

Look, I’m not trying to hate on the Bulldogs here. They had a damn fine season (9-3 record, #1 scoring offense in nation at 51.5 ppg). It’s just that they really overplayed their hand. When you’re not the caliber of football program that can draw a crowd and get America to tune in to watch you play, you’re a settler. You settle. It sucks, but it’s the reality of the dollar-driven enterprise known as NCAA football. It’s like if you’re a 4, and a 4 of the opposite sex, or even a 3 or 5, starts grinding with you on the dance floor. You lock that shit down. The 7 you’ve been eyeing wants nothing to do with your ugly ass.

Louisiana Tech passed on an invitation to play in the AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl against their rival, Louisiana-Monroe.

Athletic director Bruce Van De Velde told The Associated Press that Independence Bowl organizers offered a spot in their game on Saturday afternoon, but the Bulldogs had other possible options still available to them. Van De Velde said he asked the Independence Bowl for more time to make a decision, but was told by game organizers that they could not wait.

“Nobody turned a bowl bid down,” he said. “We asked for more time to vet two other opportunities that we had that we felt good about.”

Independence Bowl chairman Jack Andres said organizers had to set a deadline for Louisiana Tech. They were concerned if they waited they would be stuck with a team that was barely bowl eligible and too far away from Shreveport to bring many fans to the game.

“We had to make some decisions to get somebody in there. We’ve got sponsors, hotels. There’s a lot of money riding on this,” he said.

A second offer never came. Louisiana Tech will not play in a bowl game. The players, alumni, students, and coaches all got jobbed. Head coach Sonny Dykes was shocked.

“Under no circumstances did I ever think there was any possibility at all that we would not play in a bowl game,” coach Sonny Dykes said in a statement. “It is a shame that our nationally recognized team and its 31 seniors have to end the season this way.”

Coach Dykes has a Twitter account, too.

I’m heartbroken for our 31 seniors that have given so much for Louisiana Tech. They deserve to finish their careers in a bowl game.

— Sonny Dykes (@SonnyDykes) December 3, 2012

Indeed, this is a shame. Esteemed alumnus and NBA Hall-of-Famer, Karl Malone, wasn’t too pleased with the development either. The Mailman has a solution, though. He should take over as La. Tech’s athletic director.

I am Bulldog to the core, I am heart broken and embarrassed that our university would do this to Tech Nation. To our football and staff this

— Karl Malone (@TheDeliverer_32) December 3, 2012

is exactly what is wrong with our university. Now it’s time to get former athletes to run our program. I’m 6″9 and not hard to find.

— Karl Malone (@TheDeliverer_32) December 3, 2012

He’s 6’9″, guys. He could run the shit out of that program.

[H/T to Fr*nk & MitchyStyle]
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