Liberty could spoil Utes' BCS plans

Put those BCS hopes on hold, Ute fans. And not just because of the comeback victories by Oklahoma, Cal and Texas.

The Liberty Bowl won't be going away quietly if Utah stays unbeaten and finishes the season 11-0.

Liberty Bowl executive director Steve Ehrhart, who was on hand for Utah's 63-31 win over Colorado State Saturday, said he expects the Mountain West Conference to honor its contract with his bowl and send its champion.

Ehrhart envisions a matchup between an 11-0 Utah and 10-1 Louisville featuring two of the best passers in the nation in Alex Smith and Stefan LeFlors.

"That would be one of the best bowls in the country," he said. "I hope they see our position. We've got a bowl that's been in business longer than the Fiesta Bowl

But what if Utah qualifies for a BCS bowl, worth about $13 million more, along with more prestige?

"The BCS can't come along and say all right, we want this team," said Ehrhart. "We've been backing the Mountain West since the day of its inception. The BCS hasn't done anything for the Mountain West. We've been giving them a home for five years."

MWC commissioner Craig Thompson acknowledges that his league's contract binds its champion to the Liberty Bowl. When asked if something could be done to change it, he said, "Yes, probably financial."

However, Ehrhart said money wouldn't appease his bowl.

"Money can't play the game," he said. "We need to have a quality team (to replace Utah if it goes unbeaten)."

Thompson says getting a team to replace an unbeaten Utah is out of his hands.

"I can't help him there," he said. "I can give him BYU or Wyoming or New Mexico or whoever is eligible. That's all I can control."

Ehrhart points out that this is the fourth time in the last seven years that his bowl has gone through this early speculation about the BCS taking one of its team.

"In 1998 Tulane was absolutely convinced it was going to the Sugar Bowl. In 2001, BYU was convinced it was going to the Fiesta Bowl. Then last year, TCU thought it was going to the Fiesta Bowl. We've been through this before."

Thompson said it goes without saying that he would rather have his champion go to a $14.5 million bowl as opposed to a $1.3 million bowl. He feels something could be worked out to help Utah get into a BCS bowl and make the Liberty Bowl happy.

But he agrees that everyone might be getting ahead of themselves.

"Let's wait and see what happens," he said. "Let's wait until Nov. 20, and if Utah's 11-0 then we'll worry about it."

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