Western Athletic Conference to compete in Rose Bowl

Western Athletic Conference to compete in Rose Bowl

By Ken Travis
Ponyville Express
July 7, 2012

In a surprise move by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association that is sure to elicit waves of shock across the college football universe, the champion of the Western Athletic Conference will be guaranteed a slot in the Rose Bowl Game for the next 20 years. This means that there will be a Pac-12 vs. WAC matchup for the next two decades, according to the contract.

As a result of the deal, the Big Ten Champion will be given an automatic spot in the Fiesta Bowl. The WAC is the first-ever mid-major conference to be given an automatic berth in the Bowl Championship Series.

The news was met with delight at all six WAC member schools.

"This is another stepping stone in reestablishing the relevance of this conference," said WAC Commisioner Jeff Hurd. "We are delighted that the Tournament of Roses has extended a bid to us as their way of acknowledging the talent our teams will possess this season.

"Our schools are competent in terms of recruiting players across the country and Canada, and every one of teams is built to go bowling. Unfortunately, only three can play in the postseason, so the competition is expected to be fierce from the get-go."

"You know, when I heard the news, I was like, 'Man, are you kidding?'" said Twilight Sparkle coach Derpy Hooves. "But it quickly began to, you know, sink in, and now we have a chance to play in January in Southern California in the Granddaddy of Them All.

"What more could you ask for, aside from a spot in the National Championship Game."

"Yeah, that is some excellent news coming out of the WAC office," said Applejack State head coach Big MacIntosh. "Our boys will be ready to roll over everyone and go to Pasadena this winter. But they gotta do the work."

"The place is buzzing ever since the news was announced," said Rainbow Dash coach Vinyl Scratch. "Everyone here wants to go to Pasadena to celebrate New Year's Day.

"In a conference as small as ours, the room for error is minimal."

"Practice today was pretty intense and bone-crunching," said Pinkie Pie Major Trouble coach Cheerie Lee. "The boys know that if they win the conference, they're going to what I feel is the best bowl game of them all.

"Forget the national championship, Ponyville. It's Rose Bowl or bust for us."

"At our campus, we have a large garden of roses, and we have seen a lot of our students pose next to the red ones," noted Rarity Royals coach Sweetie Belle. "They really feel that this could be our year, and no one else's.

"My boys need to do the work, though. It doesn't hurt to dream, but it hurts if it does end up being nothing more than a dream."

"We really don't care where we go," said Fluttershy Spirit head coach Berry Punch. "We have three objectives this season: 1. Get a winning record, 2. Defeat our rivals, and 3. Get to a bowl game.

"I don't expect our players to win the WAC, but I expect us to complete these three goals. I know that we have a tie-in with the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl this year, so that's what we'll aim for."

"Everything else is just candy. Lots of it. Diabetics stay back."

Next week, the 2012 Western Athletic Conference schedule will be released for all six schools. They are in the process of being finalized.