App State wins first bowl game!

[CDAGRIZ]

No bowl hate in me. Yet one bowl is not the same as another bowl. Fact is watching football games is fun and bowl games are often entertaining. None the less, unless they contain the words "Rose, Orange, Sugar, or Cotton" in their names they are a greatly diminished commodity.

This year in particular is the pinnacle of bowl sadness!

There are bowl games where the WINNING TEAM can end the year with a LOSING RECORD.
Re-read that sentence and let it sink in for a minute.

Damn I love football but it is just plain wrong to pretend a bowl game is a reward for teams playing well. It really has become a joke. Most bowls are a mere excuse for a community to try to entice some tourists in for a long weekend. I'd enjoy a Dec./Jan. trip to San Diego or Honolulu to watch the Grizzlies play a bowl game. However much fun that trip might be it still isn't as cool as watching a successful Montana team advance through the playoffs to try to achieve an actual championship.

Again, no bowl hate in me. Though be honest about it. Most bowl invites are simply the collegiate version of participation ribbons given to Little Guy Football players. It can still be entertaining to watch but it doesn't really mean much of anything.

I understand your point, and many people think the same. I used to be one of them. With the current state of the FCS, however, I think a first round game for Dayton or Stony Brook or some team that has no chance of winning it all is much more meaningless than any bowl game. At least they can play it in front of dozens of friends and family.

I'm with you on trying to achieve a NC, and I know that idea would be out the window in the FBS. I still think it would be cool to have a bowl game to look forward to in the years where we aren't going to win it all (which make up the vast majority of years). One thing is for sure: making fun of the Camping World Independence Bowl, or making the time-honored "Toilet Bowl" joke is ridiculous when they are on national TV, and FCS playoff games are on ESPN3.

 

[IdaGriz01]

No bowl hate in me. Yet one bowl is not the same as another bowl. Fact is watching football games is fun and bowl games are often entertaining. None the less, unless they contain the words "Rose, Orange, Sugar, or Cotton" in their names they are a greatly diminished commodity.

This year in particular is the pinnacle of bowl sadness!

There are bowl games where the WINNING TEAM can end the year with a LOSING RECORD.
Re-read that sentence and let it sink in for a minute.

Damn I love football but it is just plain wrong to pretend a bowl game is a reward for teams playing well. It really has become a joke. Most bowls are a mere excuse for a community to try to entice some tourists in for a long weekend. I'd enjoy a Dec./Jan. trip to San Diego or Honolulu to watch the Grizzlies play a bowl game. However much fun that trip might be it still isn't as cool as watching a successful Montana team advance through the playoffs to try to achieve an actual championship.

Again, no bowl hate in me. Though be honest about it. Most bowl invites are simply the collegiate version of participation ribbons given to Little Guy Football players. It can still be entertaining to watch but it doesn't really mean much of anything.

I understand your point, and many people think the same. I used to be one of them. With the current state of the FCS, however, I think a first round game for Dayton or Stony Brook or some team that has no chance of winning it all is much more meaningless than any bowl game. At least they can play it in front of dozens of friends and family.

I'm with you on trying to achieve a NC, and I know that idea would be out the window in the FBS. I still think it would be cool to have a bowl game to look forward to in the years where we aren't going to win it all (which make up the vast majority of years). One thing is for sure: making fun of the Camping World Independence Bowl, or making the time-honored "Toilet Bowl" joke is ridiculous when they are on national TV, and FCS playoff games are on ESPN3.

Have to agree, although I've been guilty myself on the Toilet Bowl point.

Quite often games between two mediocre teams can be very entertaining. And you can have it both ways, like we did today. Two pretty good defensive struggles: Wash State - Miami (FL), 20-14; and Marshal - Connecticut, 16-10. Then you had the track meets: V-Tech -Tulsa, 55-52 and Wash - SouMiss, 44-31. Plus an OT game: Duke - Indiana, 44-41. If you just like college football ... that's a pretty damn good day.

No telling how the UCLA - Nebraska will turn out, but it's pretty competitive so far. Edit: Check that, UCLA just scored to go up 21-7. But we've also already had a big comeback ... Tulsa was pretty far down and made it a 1 FG game at the end.

 

[CDAGRIZ]

Ida, UCLA is letting the Huskers back in this one. 21-21 half.

 

[IdaGriz01]

No bowl hate in me. Yet one bowl is not the same as another bowl. Fact is watching football games is fun and bowl games are often entertaining. None the less, unless they contain the words "Rose, Orange, Sugar, or Cotton" in their names they are a greatly diminished commodity.

This year in particular is the pinnacle of bowl sadness!

There are bowl games where the WINNING TEAM can end the year with a LOSING RECORD.
Re-read that sentence and let it sink in for a minute.

Damn I love football but it is just plain wrong to pretend a bowl game is a reward for teams playing well. ... It can still be entertaining to watch but it doesn't really mean much of anything.

Personally, IMHO, the notion about a reward for playing well went out when they go to twenty bowl game (maybe earlier, but surely by then). As we have read before, schools often lose money going to a bowl (what with ticket guarantee in addition to expenses). But they go because -- apparently -- it does help get their names out there and pumps enrollment. And if it's a good location, the fans like it because they get a nice cold-weather break. The coaches love it most of all: (1) I'm betting that every FBS coach has a bonus clause in his contract if the team goes to a bowl. (2) Those two (almost) extra weeks of contact allowed by NCAA are worth their wait in gold, especially if you have a young team.

As to your other point :lol: The "Cure" Bowl in Orlando "featured" San Jose State (5-7, but with the good APR) versus Georgia State (6-6). SJSU won ... so both teams in the bowl ended up with 6-7 (losing) records. But even that travesty (from one point of view) sold 18,536 tickets. Tell me again about attendance at the more "meaningful" FCS playoff games?

And we watch because we like to watch college football -- your other good point.

 

[grizfan47]

I love football. I will watch all the FCS playoff games I can. I have been watching every bowl game that I can although I certainly pick and choose the matchups I really want to see. Sometimes it is hard to catch all the day games.

It was great to watch App, GSU and Marshall play. I personally believe the Griz should be playing up and in bowl game contention. I believe it will happen someday. I just hope I'm still around to see it.

 

[IdaGriz01]

Ida, UCLA is letting the Huskers back in this one. 21-21 half.

Yep. After their early rush, UCLA is acting like they don't really give a s**t -- they just seem to have no energy. My guess is, at bottom, UCLA considered it an insult that they should have to play in a bowl against a team with a losing record. But when they discovered they could not just throw their jocks on the field and win, they had no answer. On the other side, Nebraska is playing like they have something to prove (which, in truth, they do). Not saying it's out of reach for the teddy-bears, but it's certainly going that way.

 

[CDAGRIZ]

Ida, UCLA is letting the Huskers back in this one. 21-21 half.

Yep. After their early rush, UCLA is acting like they don't really give a s**t -- they just seem to have no energy. My guess is, at bottom, UCLA considered it an insult that they should have to play in a bowl against a team with a losing record. But when they discovered they could not just throw their jocks on the field and win, they had no answer. On the other side, Nebraska is playing like they have something to prove (which, in truth, they do). Not saying it's out of reach for the teddy-bears, but it's certainly going that way.

The Bruins' run defense is like a baked turd sandwich. I've noted it before, but I have the pleasure of seeing both sides of big rivalries. I went to both UM and UCLA, so I know about supporting the better program and the worse program in a rivalry. UCLA fans mirror the Cats in a lot of ways, starting with the fact that a lot of them have historically cared more about USC losing than UCLA winning. The parallels are incredible.

 

[IdaGriz01]

I love football. I will watch all the FCS playoff games I can. I have been watching every bowl game that I can although I certainly pick and choose the matchups I really want to see. Sometimes it is hard to catch all the day games.

It was great to watch App, GSU and Marshall play. I personally believe the Griz should be playing up and in bowl game contention. I believe it will happen someday. I just hope I'm still around to see it.

I once thought FCS was doomed (and I'm not totally convinced it isn't). But it seems to me we're seeing more and more FBS drop-downs (in favored areas, admittedly). Kids/young men now see that the NFL does look at FCS talent. So those who might be two or three down on the depth chart at a power-5 school decide they'd rather get reps and playing time ... and drop down to FCS where they can play right away. The same goes for talent that "knows" -- thru coaching advice, etc. -- they would be #2 or #3 at the FBS level, so they go straight to FCS. If the trend is (first) real and (second) continues, then FCS has a place in the college football world. Of course, if my notion is right, then the FCS level with stratify even more. FCS teams that take advantage of that "non-starter" talent will thrive, and the others with suck. Hopefully, the Griz will be in the former group ... even if they don't move up.

 

[IdaGriz01]

Ida, UCLA is letting the Huskers back in this one. 21-21 half.

Yep. After their early rush, UCLA is acting like they don't really give a s**t -- they just seem to have no energy. My guess is, at bottom, UCLA considered it an insult that they should have to play in a bowl against a team with a losing record. But when they discovered they could not just throw their jocks on the field and win, they had no answer. On the other side, Nebraska is playing like they have something to prove (which, in truth, they do). Not saying it's out of reach for the teddy-bears, but it's certainly going that way.

The Bruins' run defense is like a baked turd sandwich. I've noted it before, but I have the pleasure of seeing both sides of big rivalries. I went to both UM and UCLA, so I know about supporting the better program and the worse program in a rivalry. UCLA fans mirror the Cats in a lot of ways, starting with the fact that a lot of them have historically cared more about USC losing than UCLA winning. The parallels are incredible.

Did not go to any of the schools of the teams involved (USC-UCLA, or UM-MSU), but grew up with the California rivalry and then had a family connection with the Griz. I totally agree with your point about the parallels between the two situations. What makes it even funnier in the Cal case is that -- overall -- UCLA has, I believe, had much more success in athletics -- men and women -- than USC (basketball, track, volleyball and a bunch more). But UCLA is still the "little brother" in football ... and it kills them.

 

[CDAGRIZ]

Ida, UCLA is letting the Huskers back in this one. 21-21 half.

Yep. After their early rush, UCLA is acting like they don't really give a s**t -- they just seem to have no energy. My guess is, at bottom, UCLA considered it an insult that they should have to play in a bowl against a team with a losing record. But when they discovered they could not just throw their jocks on the field and win, they had no answer. On the other side, Nebraska is playing like they have something to prove (which, in truth, they do). Not saying it's out of reach for the teddy-bears, but it's certainly going that way.

The Bruins' run defense is like a baked turd sandwich. I've noted it before, but I have the pleasure of seeing both sides of big rivalries. I went to both UM and UCLA, so I know about supporting the better program and the worse program in a rivalry. UCLA fans mirror the Cats in a lot of ways, starting with the fact that a lot of them have historically cared more about USC losing than UCLA winning. The parallels are incredible.

Did not go to any of the schools of the teams involved (USC-UCLA, or UM-MSU), but grew up with the California rivalry and then had a family connection with the Griz. I totally agree with your point about the parallels between the two situations. What makes it even funnier in the Cal case is that -- overall -- UCLA has, I believe, had much more success in athletics -- men and women -- than USC (basketball, track, volleyball and a bunch more). But UCLA is still the "little brother" in football ... and it kills them.

It's true that UCLA has more overall athletic success than USC, and every other school in the country. It's definitely the school of champions overall. But the lil' bro syndrome a lot of the fans have when it comes to FB is an exact picture of Cat fans.

 

[WYOBISONMAN]

Give me a good run in the FCS playoffs any day over a minor Bowl game. More games to watch.

 

[bgbigdog]

Give me a good run in the FCS playoffs any day over a minor Bowl game. More games to watch.

I consider myself selfish, cause it has to be a hell of a strain on the kids, but am in total agreement with you.

 

[BDizzle]

I love watching the bowl games but would rather the Griz stay and have a chance at a championship than play in a bowl with a losing record.

And comparing attendance figures is apples to oranges. FCS schools usually have less attendance so that is going to affect how many fans they have. Also have less time to schedule travel arrangements for the game. Also hoping you keep advancing so not everybody can afford to go to every game. Also the games usually aren't scheduled in as desirable/populated locations. And I guarantee a lot of these bowl game attendance figures are inflated, (as are most FCS playoff games).

 

[WYOBISONMAN]

Give me a good run in the FCS playoffs any day over a minor Bowl game. More games to watch.

I consider myself selfish, cause it has to be a hell of a strain on the kids, but am in total agreement with you.

I have a couple of kids I know pretty well on those title teams...... And it really does put a strain on them. If a team wasn't seeded and went to the chipper, it is like playing almost 1 1/2 seasons of ball. Any of those kids playing football on any of these teams give a hell of a lot in exchange for a scholarship.