Are the Champs Bowl folks wavering over picking West Virginia and taking Notre Dame instead for their bowl game?

Just when it looked like a dream match up between Notre Dame and Miami was set for El Paso it now appears that Champs bowl folks are having second thoughts about West Virginia who are 9-3

"The last confirmation we had, the Champs Bowl was going to take West Virginia," longtime football selection committee chairman John Folmer told the El Paso Times.

"And how can they not? West Virginia is the Big East runner-up, West Virginia is 9-3, West Virginia is nationally ranked and West Virginia always travels well. That will leave us free to select Notre Dame and that's what we plan to do.

"And it did. West Virginia won. Washington had to come back and win in the closing seconds against Washington State. And Connecticut had to come back and win in the closing seconds to beat South Florida. Maybe the stars are finally aligned for us.

"Now if the Champs Bowl decides to go back on its word, that changes everything."

But now it appears that there is a sign that Champs Bowl wants Notre Dame amid some indication the Champs Bowl is wavering.

"I just got off the phone with him and he said it was his understanding that the Champs Bowl was going to take West Virginia," Folmer told the newspaper.

However he cannot be certain until 2p.m. today.

"This is absolutely the latest it's ever been to not know at least one side of the equation," Olivas said. "We have to wait and see what the Champs does. Our fate is still in the Champs Bowl's hands. I guess they've earned the right to pick ahead of us because they pay a little bit more ($2,130,000 to the Sun Bowl's $2 million). That's just the bowl business.

"Earlier in the day (Saturday) I heard (they were taking) West Virginia, then I heard they were sticking with Notre Dame."

So we all have to hang on in there.