Is the MAC subsidizing OUr program for attending this Bowl? Based upon past experience, $100k will not begin to cover OUr costs. If not, are we taking just 60 players, the coaching staff and no one else on a bus the day of the game and then getting back on the bus and coming back to Athens immediately after the game?

That is my understanding as well. The Camellia Bowl may also cover travel expenses (I believe that is what the Potato Bowl does, since the payout is so low).


Also, if anyone is wondering who Raycom Media is, here is a list of the TV stations they own.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raycom_Media

Among local stations, there's one in Cincy, two in Cleveland, and two in Toledo.

It the end of the day, the university will spend 6 figures on this bowl. Call it a lost, call it a line item in the budget, call it shifting of funds, it will cost money. The question then becomes what is the return on the investment and we've had that debate every year that we've gone to a bowl. Just move on - we're going to a bowl if offered and it's going to cost the university money.

I would hope that if you had that much money you'd put it to something worthwhile like feeding the hungry as opposed to donating to a $28 million dollar game budget.

Payouts according to:

http://www.statisticbrain.com/college-bowl-game-payouts /

Quick Lane Bowl $1,200,000
GoDaddy Bowl $750,000
Poinsettia $612,500
Bahamas $450,000
Boca Raton $400,000
Potato Bowl $325,000
Camellia $100,000

Total $3,837,500

Divide by 12 $319,792

Additionally - interesting point

"Playoff Revenue Pool: Each of the Big 5 conferences will receive an estimated $50 million, whether or not it qualifies a team for the playoffs. An estimated $6 million bonus will be paid for each team a conference sends to the semifinals, $4 million for participating in one of the “Big 6 Bowls”, but no additional dollars for reaching the championship game where each school will receive an estimated $2 million for expenses. Each of the “Group of 5” conferences (American, CUSA, MAC, MWC, Sun Belt), will receive an estimated $18 million each, Notre Dame will receive an estimated $3.75 million, and remaining independents will bag roughly $1.85 million each. Big 6 bowls that don’t host a semifinal game, will split additional revenue with the participating teams/conferences.

Any idea how the conference doles out the $18 million? Would be ridiculous for the bowl schools not to be completely reimbursed (but would be par for the course).

Assuming each school shares in the $18 million (to some decent level) - it is unfair to say we "lose" money by playing in the bowl. The overall payouts are a result of the bowl system. We are going to a bowl because we are involved in the bowl system. Can't have one (costs of a bowl) without the other (revenue from the bowl system).

A bit more info:

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/conferences-protect-bowl-tea... --

Yes, the G5 schools are much better off financially under the current playoff system than the old BCS system. To some extent these extra funds are "hush money" to prevent restraint-of-trade law suits, but that's another issue that we discussed on this board two years ago.

As cc-cat points out, buying the tickets through Ohio rather than directly from the Bowl is not a contribution to the bowl itself. Instead it purchases some of Ohio's ticket allotment, which in turn will decrease Ohio's loss on the game.

Ohio ticket office already offerring tickets for kids or soldiers. $20.00. Tis the season.

Wasn't too many years ago when we were considered in the "small college" division with a national championship in 1960.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960_college_football_season

Despite what wikipedia says, the official name of the division was the "college division" and the other division was called the "university division." OHIO was not in this classification very long, and it only applied to football for that brief period.

And here I thought you would have changed your mind from page 1 to page 3 of the thread - lol.

Yea, eyeballs are good. I also think it makes a great deal of sense to play these earlier bowls in smaller stadiums. Gets away from having 22,000 in a 50,000 person stadium (e.g., Ford Field). Makes for better atmosphere and looks better on TV.

SunBelt is the MAC of the South. So not a notch down - we are peers. And App is a good team (per them being favored). Both would have rather played P5 - but we don't control that. Nice to see the game ranked as the 13th best match-up. Our game is usually near the bottom of that ranking.

I'm not eating any body parts but I am skeptical that we could get 10,000 into Peden for this game; in December, outside of season ticket package, last shopping Saturday before Christmas; unfamiliar opponent, .....