Wolverines to play in Motor City Bowl

[Demetrius Dew]

Perles wants Wolverines to play in Motor City Bowl

'We'd love to have them,' game's CEO says of U-M, which must win four to be bowl-eligible.

FARMINGTON HILLS -- Former Michigan State coach George Perles is changing his colors and becoming a Michigan fan.

Hang on, hang on. That's going to happen after Saturday's annual rivalry game between Michigan and Michigan State.

Perles, who coached the Spartans from 1983-1994, is founder and CEO of the Motor City Bowl played Dec. 26 at Ford Field. The Bowl features the No. 1 selection from the MAC and the No. 7 team from the Big Ten.

"We'd love to have them," Perles said of the Wolverines (2-5) on Tuesday during a Michigan-Michigan State function sponsored by the Detroit Sports Broadcasters at Ginopolis restaurant. "We want them in our game."

Michigan, which has been in 33 straight bowl games, would be contractually obligated to play in the Motor City Bowl if the Wolverines earn the required six victories and assuming co-bowl founders Perles and Ken Hoffman select them.

"They would have to go," Perles said. "They have no choice."

Ford Field capacity is 65,000 for football, but the 2006 Super Bowl set a stadium record with an attendance of 80,103. He is confident the Michigan faithful would attend the game.

"There's a lot of people who want to go to Michigan games but can't get tickets," he said. "They would go downtown to Detroit to watch."

WMU has 'bowl-type' game

Tim Hiller and Jamarko Simmons were at Ford Field Tuesday afternoon to promote Western Michigan's upcoming game there (Nov. 8, noon) against Illinois.

Hiller and Simmons could one day be playing on that same field on Sundays in the NFL. But, right now they are working hard to make the Broncos (6-2) a force in college football.

They are one of the top quarterback-receiver combinations in the country.

Simmons, a Flint native, leads the nation in receptions (66). Hiller ranks first nationally in completions (231) and attempts (336), third in TD passes (25) and fifth in passing yards (2,517).

The WMU-Illinois game has a bowl-type quality with a Mid-American Conference team going up against a Big Ten team. Purdue defeated Central Michigan 51-48 in last year's Motor City Bowl.

"It does feel like a bowl-type game," Hiller said. "We're playing a BCS conference team in a great venue. It's a game you look forward to playing. I'm excited about it."

"Our kids deserve this," WMU coach Bill Cubit said of the game against Illinois (4-3).

[Demetrius Dew]

We have someone that wants us now we just need to win 4 more game. <_< <_<

[robbyb03]

I have faith in Michigan making a bowl game this season.

[Demetrius Dew]

I have faith in Michigan making a bowl game this season.

Well now the ball is in our court (Michigan) because now we have someone that wants us.

[dan9124]

Well now the ball is in our court (Michigan) because now we have someone that wants us.

was there ever any uncertainty that Michigan wouldn't garner interest from bowls if they were eligible? A program like that will always get in a bowl if it's eligible.

[Demetrius Dew]

was there ever any uncertainty that Michigan wouldn't garner interest from bowls if they were eligible? A program like that will always get in a bowl if it's eligible.

Even if Michigan wins 6 game and is eligible if there are 7 teams in the Big Ten that are ahead of Michigan I believe we will not go to a Bowl Game regardless of this story. I think the Big Ten only sends 7 teams to bowl games if Michigan is that seventh school if not I think we (Big Ten) only sends 6 schools.

Penn State

Ohio State

Minnesota

Northwestern

Michigan State

Illinois

Iowa and Michigan are a Toss up for the 7th Position.

[FaIconfansince80]

What if Michigan went to a bowl game and got beat by Washington State or Toledo? woot woot!

[SacFalcFan]

Michigan must go 7-5 if they are to make this bowl game. If there is another team even out of conference with a 7-5 record, they can not pick michigan for this game..

Two NCAA rules combine to make it unlikely, though possible, that a team with seven wins will be left out of a bowl game:

* Bowl games that have a contract with a conference must select a team with at least seven wins if one is available.

* Any bowl berths not already filled by contract must be filled by a team with seven wins before any spare 6-6 team can be accommodated.

[Demetrius Dew]

What if Michigan went to a bowl game and got beat by Washington State or Toledo? woot woot!

That already happen. <_< <_<

Michigan must go 7-5 if they are to make this bowl game. If there is another team even out of conference with a 7-5 record, they can not pick michigan for this game..

Two NCAA rules combine to make it unlikely, though possible, that a team with seven wins will be left out of a bowl game:

* Bowl games that have a contract with a conference must select a team with at least seven wins if one is available.

* Any bowl berths not already filled by contract must be filled by a team with seven wins before any spare 6-6 team can be accommodated.

The Music City Bowl has a contract to take a MAC team and the 7th Overall Big Ten team, so a 6 win Big Ten team could make the Music City Bowl or even the Alamo Bowl.