Why would the Liberty Bowl screw USM in order to take Cincinatti?

[Irondawg]

USM fans surely would have bought more tickets, hotel rooms, etc.

And I don't understand how USM got the complete shaft all the way around to get stuck in Hawaii. I feel a little bad for them. I know some people harbor some ill will to the few fans who came on talked smack on here, but they had their best season in a long time and then got totally shafted by the bowls and their conference.

ETA - I saw the other question about what the Liberty was forced to do and I also though they HAD to take the champion and all the talk earlier about the Liberty not taking USM was based on them losing to Houston and the LB not being forced to take the runner up

 

[Dogma]

might be their state, but atleast we get to play our bowl in the continental USA.<div>
</div>

 

[drt7891]

They cost their conference their first BCS bid... even if it was undeserved. Their whole conference is pissed at them.

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

I have always said that their team deserved better fan support.

Bowls are about getting fans to come and stay at your place, and spending $.
After that it's the game.
IF the game is important enough, the rest will take care of itself.</p>

 

[Canis]

From what I gathered briefly looking at their board, there is some backroom deal between the Big East and Liberty bowl that if the SEC can not fill the Compass bowl in Birmingham, the Big East team there takes the CUSA slot in the Liberty so they can face an SEC team.

The worst part is CUSA agreed to that stipulation during the most recent bowl contract negotiation.

If I was a USM fan, I would really be pushing to join the WAC right now.