TCU might turn down GMAC Bowl

Advertiser News Services

It appears TCU won't play in the GMAC Bowl, after all.

TCU athletic director Eric Hyman said yesterday one "could draw the conclusion" that the Horned Frogs will turn down an anticipated invitation from the GMAC Bowl because of academic reasons.

The GMAC Bowl will be played Dec. 18, in Mobile, Ala. That week coincides with TCU's final-semester exams. Hyman said no decisions have been made about which bowl game TCU will play in, and he declined to discuss his school's options or preferences.

Hyman said his concerns with playing in the GMAC Bowl are based strictly on academics.

"I respect the GMAC bowl. They want to do what's right for their sponsors," Hyman said. "I have to do what's right for our student-athletes."

No. 19 TCU (10-1) missed an opportunity to play in the Bowl Championship Series with a loss at Southern Miss last week. Southern Miss can win the Conference USA championship outright by defeating East Carolina tomorrow. Southern Miss would then play in the Liberty Bowl against Utah, the champion of the Mountain West Conference. The GMAC Bowl has the right to select the second-place finisher in Conference USA.

Conference USA's other bowl tie-ins include the PlainsCapital Fort Worth Bowl, Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl and New Orleans Bowl.

Based on Hyman's comments, it appears unlikely TCU would play in the New Orleans Bowl because that game is Dec. 16, just two days before the GMAC Bowl.

That leaves the Fort Worth Bowl (Dec. 23) and the Hawai'i Bowl (Dec. 25) as the two other options. Hyman brushed aside speculation that the Frogs would play in the Fort Worth Bowl because it is at TCU's Amon G. Carter Stadium.

TCU was expected to play Miami-Ohio of the Mid-American Conference in the GMAC Bowl.