Bye bye, Alamo . . .

But hello Holiday Bowl?

This link from Bud Withers of the Seattle Times says the Alamo Bowl is making a major play -- to the tune of $3 million per team -- for a top team out of the Pac-10. The Alamo's deal with the Big Ten expires after this season.

This deal would send the Pac-10 runner-up to San Antonio in place of the Big Ten's No. 4 and, sometimes, No. 5.

The Holiday Bowl, which currently pays $2.35 million to its teams, could get the heave in this scenario. Also, according to this report, the Insight is making a play for the Big 12's No. 4, which would also pinch the Holiday.

The Insight is the one Big Ten bowl that's locked in after this season (it and a BCS automatic). So, this would mean a Big Ten 4 or 5 vs. a Big 12 No. 4.

So, could the Holiday go shopping?

It's in San Diego. Hayden Fry took the Hawkeyes there three times and is in the bowl's hall of fame. And then there's this story that I can't believe is even on the internet.

"I don't know where those farmers get the money," Fry mused recently, "but we take great crowds with us. You know, we've led the Big Ten in contributions (from alumni and boosters) nine of the last 10 years. We don't have beaches or pro teams. We're the only dance in town. We even sell out rasslin.' "

Wait, I thought that "beaches" quote was a Ferentz-ism?

Anyway, food for thought.

This would be a San Antonio-for-San Diego trade. Iowa has been to SA four times and SD three, so you know the territory, a little.

The upshot of this is that it sounds like the deal could be cinched up by the end of August, thus setting the domino pile toward the Big Ten and forcing some action here.

Here are this year's Big Ten bowl tie-ins: BCS, Capital One, Outback, Alamo, Insight, Champs Sports and Motor City.

By the way, this link is courtesy of my friend Jay Christensen at the Wiz of Odds. (I should also mention here that we out-ruded the quaintly rude waiters at Dick's Last Resort in San Antonio 2001 and were asked to leave. Hey, they started it.)

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