Football: Continuing to be bowled over
I love the college football bowl season as much an avid football fan, but we are reaching the level of absurdity aren't we? Actually, we reached that point a long time ago. Thursday's news that three new bowl games might be introduced for 2009, including one here in Salt Lake City, is just a ridiculous idea.
Already we have 32 bowl games on the schedule and last year, according to USA Today, only seven bowl eligible teams were left out of the postseason.
So now the higher-ups are backing the prospect of a Rocky Mountain Bowl featuring a MWC team vs. a WAC team at Rice-Eccles Stadium in December? Craig Thompson and his crew say they don't like the fact that Wyoming and New Mexico weren't invited to bowl games in recent years even though they were eligible. So what, I say. When did the standard for playing in the postseason turn into an eligibility issue, not worthiness? I swear I thought bowl games used to be rewards for good seasons, not for being .500.
And really, how many out-of-state fans do you think are going to be willing to pay a ticket plus travel expenses and lodging, then freeze their rears off watching their mediocre team play another mediocre team in Salt Lake City? Heck, I wonder how many Utah fans would bother to go even if the Utes were involved. My guess is not many, judging by how many no-shows there are for the regular season when the weather is bad.
Approval of the bowl is likely to go through at upcoming NCAA meetings since it can't really be denied, as long as the group backing the bowl proves it has the financial means to make it happen. But at least from my perspective it would be more of a punishment than reward to be invited to play in this bowl game. That is my little rant for the day, what do you think?
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Only two more sessions to go in spring ball. The Utes will have a short run-through today and finish with the Red-White game tomorrow at 1 p.m. Coach Kyle Whittingham said Thursday he was overall satisfied with the practices. "It's still tough to get an accurate read with so many guys who can't go live," he said. "We have six, eight, 10 guys who are limited and you can never get a true gauge until everyone is at full strength."
Whittingham called receiver Freddie Brown the most improved player. He liked how the linebackers were developing, but said the defensive tackle spots are still a concern.
Already we have 32 bowl games on the schedule and last year, according to USA Today, only seven bowl eligible teams were left out of the postseason.
So now the higher-ups are backing the prospect of a Rocky Mountain Bowl featuring a MWC team vs. a WAC team at Rice-Eccles Stadium in December? Craig Thompson and his crew say they don't like the fact that Wyoming and New Mexico weren't invited to bowl games in recent years even though they were eligible. So what, I say. When did the standard for playing in the postseason turn into an eligibility issue, not worthiness? I swear I thought bowl games used to be rewards for good seasons, not for being .500.
And really, how many out-of-state fans do you think are going to be willing to pay a ticket plus travel expenses and lodging, then freeze their rears off watching their mediocre team play another mediocre team in Salt Lake City? Heck, I wonder how many Utah fans would bother to go even if the Utes were involved. My guess is not many, judging by how many no-shows there are for the regular season when the weather is bad.
Approval of the bowl is likely to go through at upcoming NCAA meetings since it can't really be denied, as long as the group backing the bowl proves it has the financial means to make it happen. But at least from my perspective it would be more of a punishment than reward to be invited to play in this bowl game. That is my little rant for the day, what do you think?
******
Only two more sessions to go in spring ball. The Utes will have a short run-through today and finish with the Red-White game tomorrow at 1 p.m. Coach Kyle Whittingham said Thursday he was overall satisfied with the practices. "It's still tough to get an accurate read with so many guys who can't go live," he said. "We have six, eight, 10 guys who are limited and you can never get a true gauge until everyone is at full strength."
Whittingham called receiver Freddie Brown the most improved player. He liked how the linebackers were developing, but said the defensive tackle spots are still a concern.
9:43 AM
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5 Comments:
Well, my only concern is that Utah will end up playing in the Rocky Bowl too often, like BSU in the Humanitarian Bowl.
I do like having MWC and WAC go head to head - I wish it were the conference champions instead of two 6-6 teams. If only the Vegas Bowl could pull the trigger on that.
Otherwise, who cares if teams play one extra game? It's nice for the players and the fans. It's like the CBI this year for the bball team. We weren't under any delusions of grandeur, but as long as they're playing, I'll watch the Utes. I happen to really like watching football and bball. And I'd go in SLC if the tix were affordable even if the Utes aren't playing. Cold weather games are fun in a way, and it would be fun to root against New Mexico or Wyoming or Provo.
I only like the idea of its the MWC champ vs. the WAC champ. BYU vs Boise St or Hawaii last year would have been fun. The WAC doesn't really have anyone intriguing besides Hawaii and BSU.
Another Bowl???? I'm with you Lya....it's ridiculous....especially when bowl eligibility can include wins over 1AA....puhleeeeze!
I love the Utes but their bowl record is diluted because of all the 6-5 teams that drag themselves to a bowl for the payday. Of course the powers that be will allow it because it will make the mid majors happy. Anything that distracts the mid major schools from the playoff debate they will gladly allow. Only the top two team from each conference should go bowling
The SLC bowl is a terrible idea. Why does Craig Thompson still have a job? Terrible bowl affiliation, terrible TV contract, terrible idea to move the conference tourney to Denver, terrible idea to have a bowl in SLC.
Gil, I agree that we should not be distracted and continue to push for either a playoff or inclusion in the BCS. In the meantime, I am guessing you would prefer the Utes to keep winning against these "6-5" teams, instead of losing, or pulling off miracle wins, like the Cougars most recently did against 6-7 UCLA
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