...If you keep repeating the same things enough times you'll believe them to be true. Once you get past about 10 or 15 of these bowls, they are virtually meaningless tourism ventures.
Or, is it that even if you repeat the truth often enough, those that that prefer if it isn't true will continue to believe it isn't true?
Seriously, Alan, obviously these bowls wouldn't exist if there wasn't a reason for them. The cities host them for two reasons. First, they promote visitors for the event itself. Secondly, they allow the city to promote itself, as a tourism destination. When you watch a bowl game, watch how often the city is mentioned, and all the things there are to do there. That isn't an accident. That's the city at work, advertising itself.
As for why the schools want to go, there are several reasons, which you can deny if you want. First, as covered by other posters, it is definitely a recruiting tool. The one thing we do know is that Ohio's recruiting classes have improved in recent years. To what should we attribute that? Bowl games? Better recruiting effort by coaches? The IPF? I have no way to know the correct split, but I believe all are factors.
Next, there are the extra practices. In years like last year, where the team is mostly Seniors, that is probably a marginal benefit. In years like this year, when virtually the whole team will return the following year, it is likely that the benefit is much greater.
Finally there is the advertising angle. We have debated why schools even play football in the first place. The best answer seems to be that football is an effective way of promoting awareness on a nationwide basis, and that it attracts new students, and promotes a closer relationship with alums. If that is the primary reason for having football in the first place, then getting to bowl games are certainly of value. While a Wednesday night appearance on ESPNU is of some value, many, many more people will hear Ohio's name mentioned repeatedly in connection to some obscure bowl, and many many more people will watch the bowl, than will ever be exposed to Ohio on ESPNU.
My guess is that if Ohio wanted to buy an advertising that is as effective as the many name mentions they get in connection with the bowl games, and the free ads that they get, placed within the bowl game, the cost would run several millions of dollars.
Finally, let's talk about general giving to the University. I believe if you go back and look, you'll find that giving to the university is higher in years that follow athletic successes, such as bowl games or BBall appearances in the Big dance. When you combine all these benefits, it seems implausible to argue that they are not of value, or "not worth it".
Alan, we all know your problem with the Bowl games are the funds spent on them, it's OK to repeat that. I look forward to your post about the financials after it's all settled. Believe it or not I agree the funds spent on these bowls are crazy, but we play at a level of football where it's part of the game. It's in the budget. Get over it, it's not going to change.
If we keep this discussion strictly about football, going to a bowl game can be nothing but a positive. If we didn't have those extra practices I'd say we'd be worse off than we are now. Our goal (maybe not yours) is to field the best team possible. Getting practice reps and live reps helps improve the team. With such a small class of Seniors outgoing I'd say this is the most important year yet to have those extra practices.
It's a story that can be told to recruits and their parents just like anything else positive. It adds to our "sales portfolio" like the indoor practice facility, the new academic center, etc. Also, I'm in the camp with L.C. who believes the two most recently signed classes are the best two we've seen. As Wes pointed out, the longer the streak the more impressive and therefore the better a sales point it becomes.
EDIT: You got your dig in about the funds before I even put up my reply. Well done.
+1
Last Edited: 11/9/2014 8:31:34 PM by L.C.