Discussions of an impending postseason bowl game between the MEAC and SWAC have taken another turn on Tuesday.
While any agreement is yet to be finalized, even though Morgan State athletic director Floyd Kerr said recently that the presidents of the MEAC and SWAC member schools agreed to play in a postseason football bowl game in 2015, a string of tweets posted today by Tallahassee Democrat Florida A&M beat writer Jordan Culver might shed new light on the developments.
#MEAC voted to have MEAC/SWAC championship. Champion of each conference is obligated to go, according to Townsend.
— Jordan Culver (@JordanCulver) January 7, 2015
This does not stop #MEAC teams from receiving at-large bid to playoffs. Championship game will be televised. — Jordan Culver (@JordanCulver) January 7, 2015
Just spoke one on one w/Townsend. He said the MEAC/SWAC bowl HAS NOT been finalized. Plan is in place and #MEAC has voted yes for it.
— Jordan Culver (@JordanCulver) January 7, 2015
He said he’s not sure when the SWAC will vote on it. Added FAMU voted no because plan commits conference champ to bowl game. — Jordan Culver (@JordanCulver) January 7, 2015
#FAMU interim AD Townsend announces 2015 football schedule, reveals potential bowl game: http://t.co/2ZCGr0HPmH@HBCUGameday@RealHBCUSports
— Jordan Culver (@JordanCulver) January 7, 2015
“That is the plan but it has not been finalized,” Townsend told the Tallahassee Democrat. “The MEAC voted to participate, should it take place.”
Townsend said schools from both leagues would still be eligible to receive at-large bids to the FCS playoffs, but stopped short of FAMU being in support of the plan.
When asked why FAMU voted against the Bowl, Townsend said, “We were very interested in being able to play for a National Championship. Generally, in our conference only the champion has played. Every now and then a second or third team will get a chance to play.”
It’s a game, created by ESPN, Kerr says will pay each conference $1 million.
“The presidents of each league have decided that, yes, this is going to happen,” Kerr said, “ESPN is the driving force behind it and it’s been vetted quite well.
Kerr said an official announcement on the new bowl game would come out “pretty soon.”
