Notre Dame isn't packing for BCS game just yet

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) _ While it was assumed that a Notre Dame win over USC last week would assure the school a Bowl Championship Series berth worth $13.5 million, the Irish aren't making any travel

Wednesday, November 29th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) _ While it was assumed that a Notre Dame win over USC last week would assure the school a Bowl Championship Series berth worth $13.5 million, the Irish aren't making any travel plans yet.

``It's not that cut and dried at this point,'' said John Heisler, assistant athletic director.

Other than knowing that No. 11 Notre Dame (9-2) is one of four teams still being considered for two at-large BCS berths, the school has not received any signal from bowl representatives that they will receive an invitation, Heisler said.

Rick Catlett, executive director of the Gator Bowl, said he was surprised the BCS on Tuesday didn't announce the Irish as a definite at-large selection.

``If you'd asked me yesterday what I thought our chances of us getting Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl were I'd have said none,'' Catlett said. ``But since the BCS hasn't narrowed down their list yet, I'd say we still have a hope, although it's probably still slim.''

Paul Hoolahan, the Sugar Bowl executive director, said nothing more should be read into the fact that the list hasn't been narrowed further other than there is still a lot at stake this weekend.

If Kansas State beats top-ranked Oklahoma on Saturday, the Wildcats would win the Big 12 title and get an automatic berth to the Fiesta Bowl. The Sooners would likely get an at-large berth to the Sugar Bowl, Hoolahan said. That would leave one at-large berth for either Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Nebraska or Oregon State.

Hoolahan said the Sugar Bowl has little interest in Oregon State because the school is so far from New Orleans. The Irish would be attractive to both bowls even though they have the lowest BCS ratings of all the at-large teams being considered, Hoolahan said.

``That's basically the mystique of Notre Dame. You can't deny it. They have tradition. They have following. They have interest. You can't just push that under the carpet,'' he said.

Fiesta Bowl spokesman Shawn Schoeffler said Notre Dame has one of the greatest traditions in the history of college football.

``Everyone talks about how people either love them or hate them, but everybody pays attention to them,'' Schoeffler said. ``They're a team that's on our list without question. But we want to let the rest of the season play out.''

Both Hoolahan and Catlett said Notre Dame's broad fan base and strong television draw would be factors when picking teams. NBC said ratings for Notre Dame home games were up 22 percent this year over last year and were at their highest since 1996. The games had a 3.3 rating and a 9 share.

If the Irish are left out of the BCS, they would drop into consideration for the Gator Bowl. But if Virginia Tech is also passed over by the BCS, they also would be eligible for the Gator Bowl.

``It would be a nice predicament to be in to have to pick between those two teams,'' Catlett said.