Bowl Game on the Line for Navy-UConn

Let's not mince words. The Meineke Car Care Bowl is at stake.

And who wouldn't want to play in a game sponsored by a company which calls George Forman their spokes-person? For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, let me break it down nice and simple.

Coming off of last season, this year's Meineke Car Care Bowl was supposed to feature the third place finisher in the Big East and the fourth place finisher in the ACC. However, an off-season deal between Raycome Sports and the US. Naval Academy assured that a Bowl eligible Navy team (at least six wins) would receive priority involvement in the game over the third place finisher in the Big East. Needless to say, the deal was seen as a shot in the face to the entire Big East conference, while the whining on various Big East message boards could be heard for days. Leading the assault were the UConn fans, who apparently thought (and still think) that they have a shot to finish third in the conference. Never-mind those pesky Rutgers Scarlet Knights or the Pittsburgh Panthers, who through four weeks look leaps and bounds ahead of the Huskies. Still, the arguments were made that Navy plays a cupcake schedule and doesn't earn their Bowl games, despite winning the last two against New Mexico and Colorado St.

With three wins as of today, Navy technically could lose both games against Big East opponents (UConn and Rutgers) and still make the Meineke Bowl. Yet in doing so this team would still be subjected to all the talk about how they can't beat winning teams or even middle-of-the-road programs. And while winning is really all that matters, a win over UConn this Saturday would go a long way in silencing the critics. In fact, dare I say, a win over the Huskies would all but assure the Mids of a fourth consecutive post-season appearance.