Richter, Alvarez Comment on the Alamo Bowl
December 03, 2002 | Football
UW Athletics Director Pat Richter spoke to the media Tuesday about the Badgers' trip to the Alamo Bowl. Head football coach Barry Alvarez also addressed the media via phone.
A transcript of the news conference follows. The news conference audio is available by clicking on `multimedia' on the red menu bar.
Richter's Opening Statement: 'We were called today by [Alamo Bowl Executive Director/President] Derrick Fox of the Alamo Bowl and we accepted his invitation to participate in the game Dec. 28. We're extremely excited and enthused about going to the Alamo Bowl. For one reason or another over the last few years we always had conversations and never have ended up in the Alamo Bowl, but from what we heard and other people have talked about this is an outstanding bowl game, people do a terrific job, it's obviously a terrific community, it has hosted Final Fours and really knows how to put on an event. We're very excited about this opportunity, we're also very excited about the fact that we got the call today so we can get started and move forward without waiting through next Saturday's game.
What were the factors that spurred on the early call, so you don't have to wait' 'Obviously, you had to have some discussion with people at the BCS level and the commissioner's level. There was a lot of discussion regarding what was the Orange Bowl's take on things. In the final analysis there was discussion today that indicated that most likely Iowa was going to be in the BCS mix somewhere along the line, won't know that until Saturday and I really felt comfortable enough to then say to the Citrus Bowl and the Big Ten and all the bowls thereafter that let's go ahead and start to make the arrangements so the Big Ten then called Citrus, Outback, Alamo, all the directors of those bowl games to indicate to them that once the bowl above them had made a decision then they were free to go ahead and make their selections as well. It was pretty well determined that with Penn State and Michigan in the Citrus and Outback then given the opportunity the Alamo was going to select Wisconsin of the three remaining teams. If you do the math, the Big Ten would not have a team in the Motor City Bowl, there were six bowl eligible teams.
Did this come out of the BCS conference call today ' 'We have our call Sunday afternoon, it was deferred to Monday this time to wait and see what happens. We talked yesterday and then there was going to be an Orange Bowl meeting in the afternoon on Monday and then the BCS conference commissioner 's call on Tuesday morning and we had another call with the Big Ten at noon today and that's when we were informed the direction we were going.'
Was there anyone who spurred this along to give teams more lead time' 'No, I don't think it was so much the athletic directors, it's pretty much left in the hands of Commissioner Delany and people in the Big Ten. I think everybody was really anxious, but obviously there's a lot ' with the UCLA and Washington State game this weekend and a Big 12 opponent probably determined by the Colorado/Oklahoma game. Until you had some movement on a part of the BCS people and the bowls in terms of what their interests where going to be having the opportunity to select certain teams there really was not a lot of jockeying behind the scenes at this point. I think the Big Ten pretty well knew, if given the opportunity, where those teams are going to be, provided two teams moved up what was going to happen if you had one team move up where we would all end up after that as well.'
Is Iowa guaranteed a BCS spot' 'I think you can do the math, you've looked at it long and hard enough. I think given the opportunity to speak Iowa would probably say that there are indications that they probably would be in the BCS mix with the opponent determined based on Saturday's games.'
What do you think of the Alamo Bowl' 'I think it's a terrific opportunity. San Antonio ' I 've never attended a Final Four, but people that have been to the Final Four in San Antonio said it's the best one they've ever attended. You can walk to most of the attractions, the Alamo, the river walk, you can walk to the Alamo Dome. It is one of the top, if not the top, tourist destinations in the country. The people are really excited. Everyone who has gone to that bowl has indicated that they treat you extremely well, they are very hospitable and it's obviously a great opportunity for us. '
With a 2-6 conference record, is it pretty amazing that you 're going to the Alamo Bowl' 'I would say it was a long shot. I think given the system and given the way we always know the number of teams, the likelihood that you were going somewhere was very good. I think the way it unfolded with, coming down to us and Purdue and Minnesota, obviously I think that shows the tremendous support that we've had from the fans and the way we travel and that they 're very excited about having Wisconsin in a bowl game. Obviously it'll be a terrific opponent regardless of who it is and a great team in that regard. We 'll have a good turnout, a good group of people there. Like I say, the Alamo is a great slot, so to speak. Not a lot of [conflicts] at that point in time, it allows people to go to a bowl and get back. It's right between Christmas and New Years. It really is a well-positioned bowl for us to be in.'
Possible opponents and thoughts on the Big 12 championship game: 'I would say this, the Big 12, it sounded as though, if Oklahoma beat Colorado then likely it would be Colorado perhaps. If Colorado wins that game then you have to defer to the Holiday Bowl and their selection as to whether they would take Oklahoma or K-State or something like that. I think it would probably boil down to those three schools being the most likely opponent. One of those three.'
'How important is a bowl game for this program ' 'I think what it says is that there are a lot of factors that go into selection. In the past where we've attended bowl games whether it 's a Rose Bowl or whether it's a Sun Bowl I think it shows that [we have] a good group of followers and I think that as Barry has always mentioned, it's kind of the total package. Obviously, it's very important for the program and as he's indicated before getting the extra practice time, getting young people to play and getting in that mentality of making sure that you qualify in that regard. I would certainly think that the Alamo is looking at Wisconsin in a total perspective in terms of what type of interest and fan support and people that they would bring to that community for that event.'
What is the reaction in the Big Ten that Iowa might get frozen out of the BCS' 'I don't think that any of us felt that they were necessarily frozen out, I think certainly we felt more comfortable after last weekend's games when USC won in terms of being frozen out for, say a Notre Dame, for example. I think that the feeling around for the most part was that Iowa versus any top opponent ' there's still a possibility of USC in the Rose Bowl, [that] would be a terrific matchup ' they've played as well as anybody obviously and I think that ' nobody really wanted to talk about it as much, certainly it was a concern, but I think also when you look at Iowa, what they did in Minnesota, in terms of the number of people they brought up there, I think they certainly sold the total package too. People said, look, they can bring as many people as anybody can and certainly enthusiastic fans to a BCS bowl. I'm sure that factored into the equation as well.'
Do you think the decisiveness in USC's victory over Notre Dame played a role in maybe Notre Dame not getting a BCS bid' 'It probably did. It seems like that's the take from a national perspective. That it put a big exclamation point on it. But we've been around enough times to know that those things happen too. It's just one game, but obviously it was a very important game. Everybody knew what was on the line in that regard. Where Iowa would end up would be determined by Saturday's games obviously. '
How much is the Big Ten going to push to have a Big Ten ' Pac 10 Rose Bowl' 'Well, I think we're realistic enough to know that that is somewhat out of our control. I think that if it works out for example that another BCS team, which in this case the Orange Bowl has the first selection and decides to go that way in knowing that the Rose Bowl matchup wouldn 't be a SC vs. Iowa, that's their call. When we joined up in that regard we knew that could be a possible outcome. I think, [in a] perfect world, you'd like to see UCLA upset Washington State, USC goes to the Rose Bowl and then somehow Iowa would end up in the Rose Bowl, it'd be a terrific matchup. But if that doesn 't happen, we know those are the rules and the people that have the top selection may take Iowa out of that mix, that's their right and that's given to them because of what they may have lost in their own bowl.'
How important was Wisconsin's non-conference schedule in getting to this point' 'Well, given the fact that we were 2-6 in the conference it was probably critical. In year's past, we 've heard a lot of things about the non-conference schedule and breezing through, obviously that wasn't the case this year. I think if you look at the teams that we played and where they all ended up and the potential bowls they might play in, I think it was a very competitive schedule and I think in that regard ' in one year we had not as tough non-conference and you end up No. 4 after the bowl game I think it was a couple years ago, so people look at it differently. Certainly, in our case I think that you had to win the games first of all but they were very competitive games and certainly helped people think through that. We didn't have any rankings or numbers to worry about in that regard, but just a question of raw victories.'
Do you have a hard time making a case that this team deserves a bowl game' 'Not really. I've played in enough games to know that it doesn't turn out the way you like sometimes. I look at all of our games and with the exception of one or two games, you've got maybe a handful of plays that tipped the scale one way or the other. I'm very much aware the amount of work they've put in to get themselves prepared for these games. I work out myself. I see them in the weight room, I know the commitment they have in that regard. All they can do is play the best they can and if it works out they're eligible and someone selects them then I think certainly that's something that they've earned and it's not something you're going to backdoor in.'
Alvarez' Opening Statement 'I received a call from Derrick Fox and went on with them and he officially offered the invitation and I'm thrilled. I think our players are thrilled and I anticipate our fans will be excited about it. I think it's a great opportunity for us. I know we 'll have a quality opponent in whoever it is from the Big 12 and the people he named off are all quality teams and I think all the people there know how I feel about bowl games in general. It's great for our program. I think it's something that we really need for our football program, [it'll] allow us to work with our young players. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to go to San Antonio and play in the Alamo Bowl.'
Are you happy to know now, rather than having to wait for the weekend' 'I'm happy to know right now. I wanted finality in it. It appeared we would end up in Texas someplace, but now it allows us to make plans. We had all the information on the Alamo Bowl prior ' but just to know that we can go ahead and move forward with it. Our players know where they can go, they can make plans for after the game and that type of thing. I'm pleased that we 're able to know it now rather than wait for Sunday or Monday.'
Did Derrick Fox mention anyone outside of Colorado or Kansas State as an opponent' 'He mentioned Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas State and possibly Texas Tech. He mentioned all four teams.'
If Oklahoma wins the Big 12 championship, would you expect to see Colorado' '[Fox] indicated a lot depends on what the Holiday Bowl would want to do. If Oklahoma would win, it appeared as though, he felt Colorado would be the team.'
