Is it just me?  Or are other bobcatattackers less enthused about this year's bowl season than in years past?

For starters, let me say that I am delighted that Ohio has won another 9 games with a chance for 10.  But in a sign of increased performance along with increased expectations, I am less excited about Ohio's playing in a bowl this year than in year's past.  Two reasons, I think: Hangover from painful loss in Detroit and bowl in distant Boise. 

Certainly I'll tune in to watch the Cats take on the Aggies, but other bowl matchups might have me taking more long walks on the nearby nature trail instead or remaining glued to the tube.  I think my lack of zest results from matchups including 11 teams that stand at 6-6 and one at 6-7. 

6-6 Florida against 6-6 OSU - ugh.  6-6 Illinois (coach fired) against 6-7 UCLA (coach fired).  Make that a double ugh.

Heck, even the "national title" game pitting LSU against an opponent that didn't even win its division and who played earlier to a 9-6 finish doesn't get my pulse pounding.  BTW, if that 9-6 game had been played by any two teams not ranked 1 and 2, I believe the announcers would have been bemoaning a boring affair. 

The matchup I am most looking forward to: Stanford  vs Oklahoma State. 

 

Great thread Mike.  We must think alike as I was going to start a similar thread.  It just doesn't "feel" right. I've always been geeked out the week before OUr bowl games...starting with the Tangerine back in the 60's. Sure the party at Doc's house is on.....wings and drinks for all.....most wearing the green but all cheerin for the Cats....but some of the things you mentioned and other things that have crossed my mind could be causing the Bowl Blahs as you call them:



THE BLUE FIELD

I've watched a few games played on this field and have had sort of a migraine effect. I got the same thing from watching a few of the World Cup soccer matches a few years ago and all those friggin Vuvuzelas.....the worst sound I've ever heard.



THE HANGOVER FROM DETROIT

This one shouldn't be there since we played so great most of the game. I guess it was the way we lost it and the fact that the ball never seems to bounce OUr way in the post season.



THE HERSHEY SQUIRTS

That was so bizzare. It wasn't bizzare that he said it or what he said.....just bizzare that people and the media acted like it was the Xavier/Cincy brawl or the Angels signing Pujols or the National League MVP getting caught with PED's in his system.  He was talkin about the frikkin weather.....should I get poed when people say Chillicothe stinks because of Mead Paper?  


I'm not sure....maybe I'll feel better later.....I'll let you know.

Hopefully the bottom line is simply that I'm happy that we're in a bowl game and that we can finally get a win.

We got hosered on the bowl selection?  I'm not sure.  Different results in 2010 vs. kents (leading to an opp in the MACC) and Troy along with this year's Beefs, Ball State and NIU and maybe things are different.

I suppose I could afford a trip to Boise if I didn't buy the books I need for next quarter.. On the real, I believe 90% of students will be watching because it's on the ESPN main-spot. At least we have that. Thumbs up for more national exposure. 

Frankly, I think it's the perfect bowl for us given our situation. We just blew a big lead in the MAC title game.  No matter where we were chosen to go, no one would be making the trip - or at least a small fraction of the attendees from past bowl trips.  Therefore, we need a bowl where we are guaranteed not to lose money given our very limited ticket sales. Boise fits that bill perfectly.  All of us can watch it on TV.  Frank and staff can boast about another bowl in recruiting calls/visits.  And we don't give the academic opposition another opportunity to fire a P.R. missile at us - one that most assuredly would get picked up in the Dispatch.

I'd like to think Jim Schaus and the MAC leadership thought it through just as I have.  If so, I would be pleased.

I believe there is considerable apathy for the game Mike, but don't think that is out of line with seasons past, and it would actually be nice to see the analytics that Ted sees to determine the migration of user traffic to BB from FB year over year.  This is almost certainly amplified by the great start of hoops this year, but in general the fact that Ohio has always proven to be a BB first institution/fan base.

And just in general, this program has not turned the corner on FB, so I would expect Attackers to fall in line with that trend.  From my first half vantage point at the MACC, excluding the 110 you could not have filled two lower bowl sections in Ford with Ohio fans if you made them fill all empties on each side of the aisle on the 50, so clearly we have a long ways to go for significant interest and fan support of/in the program.  We didn't sell 1,000 tickets, so that tells you something right there.

But personally speaking I am pretty excited for the game for several reasons, not including the fact that I will gbe going to the game, in large part due to a serendipitous vacation to San Diego this week making the trip easier to rationalize.  The story line I see as compelling:

1. Both teams could easily be 12-1 and 11-1 respectively with one play going in each other's favor during the regular season.  Therefore it will be interesting to see if our men fall into the trap of believing that 9-4 should easily trump 7-5.
2. Can we really get amped up for a game that doesn't include the gimmick of wearing black jerseys?  Without them, we have played better than our opponents for the most part, but only turn in stellar efforts while wearing black.
3. Home Field  Disadvantage-  Logan is close, and USU will be jamming the stadium, so how do we react to that.
4. MACC Hangover- Can we stop feeling sorry for ourself enough to treat this game seriously, because if we don't, USU will kick our butts.
5. Do we have a staffer to get these guys geeked up in general- Miami's coach did a masterful job of pumping up the Redhawks last year in the post season, so it's time to prove that we have that presence on our staff.
6. Taking advantage of the recruitiing benefits of playing early in bowl season- This game gives us a great jump start on the recruiting trail v Mobile, so with Boeckman heading to greener pastures and others like Doeren and Addazio rumored to be hot commoditites, can the staff really deliver on the 2012 class.

I still think that a playoff system will make all bowls that are not part of the playoff system irrelevant.  A playoff system will kill the bowls in 3-4 years.

It's like when the Academy Awards used to be held on a week night (Monday night?).  Now they are on Sunday nights.  The show went from being (at least in Southern CA) a hallmark special evening during the middle of the week to just another awards show on Sunday night.

Academy Awards ?



Oh Munny Hunny, you've done it again....

Mike,

Unlike our previous ventures to Ford Field, this time produced a game in which we were so tantalizingly close to the MACC that mentally we were already making travel arrangements to Mobile. Then it happened ...

Certainly not to be overlooked in this is NIU's MACC game history. Lordy, NIU fans know exactly what we are feeling! Not just last year's stunning loss to Fiami when the Huskies went into the game ranked #24 in the country, but what about that loss to Akron in 2005?! 

If we want some company in OUr time of misery, we should befriend someone from NIU!

I probably used the wrong word.  Extinct.  I don't think that attendance and fan interest will be sufficient to allow for the survival of 'outside' bowls if a playoff system is instituted.  Be careful lest you get what you wish for.

I concur about the basketball team. They are looking better each game and have a legit chance of contending for a MAC title. I don't think it will be another one of those teams than finds ways to lose inexplicably on the road against lower tier MAC West competition. OHIO has a serious chance at winning its first MAC East division title in basketball and with the way the MAC tourney is now designed chances are looking good to dance.