AAC Signs Deal To Play Sun Belt Conference In New Cure Bowl In 2015
By Chris Bains
Dec 28, 2013; Orlando, FL, USA; Fireworks explode before the Miami Hurricanes play the Louisville Cardinals in the Russell Athletic Bowl at Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports
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WESH in Orlando, Florida has announced that the American Athletic Conference has signed a deal to play in the newly created Cure Bowl in 2015. The inaugural game will be played on December 19th, 2015 in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando against a to-be-determined Sun Belt Conference opponent. In all likelihood if UCF doesn’t finish near the top of the conference, they will be the de facto AAC selection much like Rutgers was for the Pinstripe Bowl over the past few years.
On the surface I like the idea of this bowl. The fact that Cincinnati’s conference will be involved in a game that will help raise money towards breast cancer research should be met with praise. Plus the Citrus Bowl is undergoing a $200 million renovation which will bring the venue into the 21st century. So in those respects Mike Aresco did a nice job securing this bowl alignment for the AAC.
Additionally it should be noted that while the American’s postseason lineup is far, far inferior to the Big East, the commissioner has done a nice job providing the conference’s teams with several options. The Cure Bowl is one of 6-8 tie-ins for the AAC including the Miami Beach and St. Petersberg Bowls, also in Florida. That will certainly help UC with recruiting the state. Now, that’s not to say I’m especially excited about this conference’s bowl lineup. They might have access to a major postseason game by way of the “Best of the G5 Bowl” however it’s not a certainty like in the Big East days. But it is what it is and we as Cincinnati fans have to make the most of it.