Holidays with the Obamas?

That appears to be the festive plan for Marshall's football team, officials and fans.

Courtesy of Marshall's more suspenseful than necessary 34-31 win over SMU Saturday night before 19,646 very chilly fans at Edwards Stadium, the Herd attained provisional bowl eligibility.

Marshall's destination?

It is very likely the EagleBank Bowl in Washington, D.C., at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 29 (Tuesday) at RFK Stadium.

Hello Barack. Hello Michelle. Hello Bo, the presidential pooch.

Ah, what a kick.

Don't feel bad if you aren't familiar with the D.C.-based bowl. Few are. Its first season of existence was just last year when it was called "The Congressional Bowl."

Since then, it got a sponsor.

Which is good because Marshall will receive a much-needed $1 million payout.

What isn't so good is RFK Stadium. The EagleBank Bowl Web Site refers to the venue as "historic" RFK Stadium. Historic is a synonym for "antiquated."

But considering Marshall players haven't gone bowling anywhere other than Colonial Lanes since 2004, they aren't going to be choosy.

Right, Brian Anderson?

"I don't care where we go," said Marshall's quarterback after completing 13 of 22 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns against SMU. "I just want to go somewhere.

"I don't want to go home for Christmas again. I like going home, but. ..."

Enough is enough.

After not going to a bowl since 2004, the Marshall football program's return to postseason play was way overdue.

The win over SMU took care of that.

Sure, technically Marshall's bowl status is provisional. But at press time it appeared likely that Conference USA would have only six bowl eligible teams.

And since the Atlantic Coast Conference and Army aren't expected to fill the EagleBank Bowl slots, it becomes a contingency issue with C-USA and the Mid-American Conference expected to fill the vacancies.

That means Marshall vs. a MAC opponent is the probable matchup.

Which MAC opponent?

That's the part that isn't going to get the Herd universe excited. The likely foe appears to be Bowling Green.

Yes, Bowling Green.

The Falcons are 6-5 heading into their final game against Toledo on Nov. 27.

The less than thrilling part for Herd fans, naturally, is the fact Marshall already has played Bowling Green this season, rallying to beat the Falcons, 17-10, on Sept. 19 at Edwards Stadium.

Rematches are never considered attractive in bowl games.

Yet, television network sources as well as CBS Sports.com are projecting a Marshall-Bowling Green matchup in the EagleBank Bowl.

That's because such ESPN-owned bowls as the Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl (formerly the Motor City) and the GMAC Bowl are expected to grab the MAC's Central Michigan and Temple respectively.

Ohio is slated for the International Bowl in Toronto and Northern Illinois is projected for the New Mexico Bowl.

That leaves Marshall, Bowling Green and the Obamas in Washington, D.C.

Is that a best-case scenario for Marshall? No. But is it better than staying home for the holidays again? Just ask Mario Harvey.

"It feels good to be bowl eligible because I ain't never been to no bowl," said the star linebacker. "Anytime I go home I always hear about it from my friends and how they've been to a bowl.

"So, I really want to go and feel it and imagine it with my own eyes.

"I mean, I want to go home for Christmas. But I don't want to go home for the whole Christmas, you know? I want somewhere else to go."

Even if that somewhere else involves Bowling Green.

Chuck Landon is a sports columnist for The Herald-Dispatch. Call him at 304-526-2827. E-mail him at clandon@herald-dispatch.com.

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