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Ohio Football Topic
Topic: 4 MORE BOWL GAMES ?
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Maryland Bobcat
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Posted: 4/7/2015 5:02 PM
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L.C. wrote:expand_more
#moreirrelevantwhatever

WIN A MAC CHAMPIONSHIP.
Thanks for that keen insight, Monroe.
Some folks appreciate posters who post what many of us are thinking but are reluctant to post. By and large, other than a very few bowls, the rest are irrelevant and nothing more than programming to fill a time slot to sell advertising.

Since at the time Monroe posted, it was just friendly chatter about current events (new bowls), I took his post to mean "friendly chatter will not be allowed anymore about anything until such time as Ohio wins a Mac championship". Did you take it differently?

The proliferation of bowls is problematic in my opinion. I just don't see how we can keep justifying this.

Problematic for whom? Who benefits? Who loses? The people involved:
1. Cities - I don't see that these cities for marginal bowls attract a lot of visitors to their cities, and they certainly incur an expense in hosting them. To me, they are the losers. Yet, for some reason, from the news in the first post, it is these types of cities that are pushing for these new bowls? Why?
2. Schools - They incur a small loss from going to the bowl, but get a lot of publicity in the process. They would seem to be winners.
3. Player/Coaches - This gives them extra practices, and some fun. If they didn't enjoy the bowls, they wouldn't go, so I would say they must think it is a good thing.
4. Programs - It helps a programs reputation and recruiting, so its a benefit. How big, I don't know, but certainly a benefit.
5. Families of players - They certainly enjoy the trips
6. Fans - They have no obligation to tune in, or go, or pay any attention to these games. If they do, I presume it is because they enjoy them.
7. Networks - They games fill holiday air time, but the fact that ESPN wasn't interested in these games shows that they are reaching the point of diminishing returns. Thus, they may be losers if they take more games.

In the end, I don't see much benefit to more bowl games, but conversely I don't see any losers that are being harmed. Therefore it doesn't surprise me that the number of bowls continues to expand. We are now reaching the point at which all bowl eligible teams will have a bowl, so, can it expand any more? I think the trend to more bowls has gone as far as it can go.
I can't comment on other cities, but the one I live in (Annapolis, MD) has benefited quite a but in the two games it has hosted since the Military Bowl moved here. I've been to both games, and have seen the excitement and visiting fans both years in the downtown area for an entire weekend. It's helped to have four solid programs play here, though: Maryland, Marshall, Cincinnati and Va Tech.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/anne-arundel/an...
The Optimist
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Posted: 4/7/2015 6:29 PM
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I'll play devil's advocate and justify this: America is obsessed with football.

I'm firmly in that demographic. I watched all sorts of sketchy bowl games this year between very average football teams. Why? I'm obsessed with football. I'll cite a thrilling Bahamas Bowl as my example for why this is awesome.... That was a fun game to watch. It is that simple as to why I won't complain about more football. Because I like watching football. (Have I made that clear?)

#welovefootball
OhioStunter
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Posted: 4/7/2015 7:08 PM
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C Money wrote:expand_more
The BobcatAttack.com Bowl -- Athens, Ohio
If I ever hit the Powerball, this is happening.
Along with a scoreboard hanging in the C Money Convocation Center?
Athens
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Posted: 4/7/2015 7:14 PM
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The Optimist wrote:expand_more
I'll play devil's advocate and justify this: America is obsessed with football.

I'm firmly in that demographic. I watched all sorts of sketchy bowl games this year between very average football teams. Why? I'm obsessed with football. I'll cite a thrilling Bahamas Bowl as my example for why this is awesome.... That was a fun game to watch. It is that simple as to why I won't complain about more football. Because I like watching football. (Have I made that clear?)

#welovefootball
There are general college football fans out there that like to watch all the bowls. People that tune into every ESPN and ESPN football broadcast.
perimeterpost
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Posted: 4/7/2015 7:34 PM
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P5 conferences have 9 guaranteed bowl ties each for years and everybody is fine, but as soon as the Sun Belt gets its 4th bowl tie in suddenly there's too many bowls and its a big ol travesty.
Deciduous Forest Cat
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Posted: 4/7/2015 7:54 PM
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perimeterpost wrote:expand_more
P5 conferences have 9 guaranteed bowl ties each for years and everybody is fine, but as soon as the Sun Belt gets its 4th bowl tie in suddenly there's too many bowls and its a big ol travesty.
EXACTLY!

Used to be when a 6-6 Big 14 team goes to a bowl and an 11-1 MAC Team stays home, the problem was that the wrong team was going to a bowl. The solution should have been to send the right team to the existing bowl, not create more bowls. The newer bowls with little tradition and less financial backing still host some pretty good teams, while .500 teams from power conferences still get larger guaranteed payouts from "traditional" bowls and a better conference payout even if they lose money on the individual bowl.
OU_Country
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Posted: 4/8/2015 8:57 AM
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davepi2 wrote:expand_more
This kind of reminds me of the so called one and done rule. Just like there is no law stating anyone has to go to college for a year, those who watch bowl games also have a choice. If an athlete doesn't want to go to school , don't go. If you don't want to watch the bowl games, don't watch.

Who watches all of these bowl games between 6-6 or 7-5 teams? Alumni and fans of those specific programs, and almost no one else. Maybe if you live in Little Rock, you'd go if you aren't a fan of either playing team. No Ohio fan is driving to Little Rock to watch a MAC team (not Ohio) play a Sunbelt team, and just a few will actually turn the TV on for such a game.
The Optimist
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Posted: 4/8/2015 9:53 AM
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OU_Country wrote:expand_more
This kind of reminds me of the so called one and done rule. Just like there is no law stating anyone has to go to college for a year, those who watch bowl games also have a choice. If an athlete doesn't want to go to school , don't go. If you don't want to watch the bowl games, don't watch.

Who watches all of these bowl games between 6-6 or 7-5 teams? Alumni and fans of those specific programs, and almost no one else. Maybe if you live in Little Rock, you'd go if you aren't a fan of either playing team. No Ohio fan is driving to Little Rock to watch a MAC team (not Ohio) play a Sunbelt team, and just a few will actually turn the TV on for such a game.
I don't disagree about people actually going to games... I disagree heavily on turning on the TV. Over December and January, I will watch just about any bowl game over the other garbage on TV. I don't care if it is 6-6 vs 7-5. As long as it is FBS, I'll watch. I like football.
L.C.
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Posted: 4/8/2015 4:04 PM
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OU_Country wrote:expand_more
Who watches all of these bowl games between 6-6 or 7-5 teams? Alumni and fans of those specific programs, and almost no one else.....

Which brings me back to my question "Who is harmed?" If no one is watching, the city loses (because they don't get tourists), and the network loses. When you look at who has been responsible for creating all these extra games, you find that it's the cities, and the networks. If they are being harmed, they certainly aren't acting like it.

My reaction to this news is something along the lines of: "What? Why would you create more silly bowls? Well, if you want to, go ahead. I don't know why you are doing it, but whatever makes you happy. Create as many as you want to."
UpSan Bobcat
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Posted: 4/9/2015 9:50 AM
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L.C. wrote:expand_more
Who watches all of these bowl games between 6-6 or 7-5 teams? Alumni and fans of those specific programs, and almost no one else.....

Which brings me back to my question "Who is harmed?" If no one is watching, the city loses (because they don't get tourists), and the network loses. When you look at who has been responsible for creating all these extra games, you find that it's the cities, and the networks. If they are being harmed, they certainly aren't acting like it.

My reaction to this news is something along the lines of: "What? Why would you create more silly bowls? Well, if you want to, go ahead. I don't know why you are doing it, but whatever makes you happy. Create as many as you want to."
I don't even think the city loses unless they are investing something into the bowl. Otherwise, if even a few thousand people show up, it creates a little bit of extra commerce and the city wins. The network probably doesn't lose because alternative programming would bring even lower ratings. There's really nothing to lose in these games and that's why more of them keep popping up.
Deciduous Forest Cat
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Posted: 4/9/2015 9:58 AM
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When you consider what a waste of real estate most football stadiums are 350 days of the year, cities might as well hold events there as often as possible.
C Money
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Posted: 4/9/2015 10:03 AM
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Why are we objecting to more football?

B/c it's a money losing proposition for the teams? Then let's scrap all college athletics, because except for the extreme upper echelon college athletics IS a money losing proposition. Go full Steve Hays.

B/c of health and safety concerns? Then let's scrap college football. And the half dozen or so women's sports that are financially carried by college football.

B/c the holidays are a busy time already and this just takes up more of it? Then check your priorities. And you know what my family does at the holidays? Argue about football. I can get a fight started just by uttering the words "Marvin Lewis." It's fun.

More football > Less football.
Last Edited: 4/9/2015 10:05:22 AM by C Money
Monroe Slavin
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Posted: 4/9/2015 10:12 AM
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Deciduous Forest Cat wrote:expand_more
When you consider what a waste of real estate most football stadiums are 350 days of the year, cities might as well hold events there as often as possible.
Consider economics. This only works if the revenues exceed the variable costs.

The assumption that any event works is not very thoughtful.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 4/9/2015 10:47 AM
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C Money wrote:expand_more
. . . . And you know what my family does at the holidays? Argue about football. I can get a fight started just by uttering the words "Marvin Lewis." It's fun.
You remind me of my wife's uncle who will saying anything -- whether or not he believes it -- in order to start an argument at family gatherings. Then he sits back and enjoys the ride! ;-)
Athens
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Posted: 4/9/2015 10:32 PM
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OU_Country wrote:expand_more
This kind of reminds me of the so called one and done rule. Just like there is no law stating anyone has to go to college for a year, those who watch bowl games also have a choice. If an athlete doesn't want to go to school , don't go. If you don't want to watch the bowl games, don't watch.
Who watches all of these bowl games between 6-6 or 7-5 teams? Alumni and fans of those specific programs, and almost no one else. Maybe if you live in Little Rock, you'd go if you aren't a fan of either playing team. No Ohio fan is driving to Little Rock to watch a MAC team (not Ohio) play a Sunbelt team, and just a few will actually turn the TV on for such a game.
In the bowls its the unusual pairings that make it interesting. An example using OHIO is when we played Southern Miss and East Carolina in bowl games, two schools we normally would not put on the schedule. Oregon vs. Florida State was different last year. Programs across the country vary in the type of athlete they recruit. Some are titled toward a more academic athlete type and others are loaded with physical specimens. Programs have a unique character to them. Its no different than college basketball where Wisconsin is completely different than Duke and caliber of athlete varies by conference.
L.C.
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Posted: 4/10/2015 9:10 AM
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Uncle Wes wrote:expand_more
In the bowls its the unusual pairings that make it interesting. ...

That's always been one of the great benefits of bowls. In the regular season you get some early games between conferences, and then for the bulk of the season the teams are locked up playing conference games. Is the Big Ten better than the SEC? Is the MAC better than CUSA? We're left to ponder that, with no basis for comparison. Then, at the end of the season come the bowls games, which help to answer that (and stir up further debate for the off-season).
Last Edited: 4/10/2015 9:11:11 AM by L.C.
Pataskala
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Posted: 4/10/2015 10:36 AM
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Bowl games used to be -- and theoretically still are supposed to be -- a reward for a good season. When a 5-7 team, or even a 6-6 team, is "rewarded" with a bowl slot, that means we're rewarding mediocrity, or worse. Most 1A teams play a 1AA team, which is usually a guaranteed win, so a 6-6 team likely only went 5-6 vs 1A opponents.

Getting fan interest in these games can be tough. It depends on the schools and where/when they are. ECU (7-5) played Florida (6-5) in the Birmingham Bowl at noon on 1/3 (a Saturday) and got 30,000 to show up in the 70,000 seat stadium. The day before, 56,000 showed up for Iowa (7-5) vs Tenn (6-6) in Jacksonville. Schools from G5 conferences with teams finishing 6-6 or worse likely will have a tougher time selling tickets.
L.C.
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Posted: 4/10/2015 11:25 AM
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Pataskala wrote:expand_more
Bowl games used to be -- and theoretically still are supposed to be -- a reward for a good season. ...

They may still pay lip service to that, but it was never more than an argument of convenience. Bowls exist for the money, and for no other reason. Bowls are not created for the altruistic reason of rewarding teams. Cities and networks create them to bring tourists and to sell ads. If they could sell enough ads to make the games profitable, there would be 64 bowls, and every team would go, regardless of record.
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