General Bowl Games Conversation

[The Artist Formerly Known as PhormerPhrog]

So weird to have the Fiesta Bowel start so early.

 

[The Artist Formerly Known as PhormerPhrog]

Pokes are gonna get throttled.

 

[FrogUltimate]

Pokes are gonna get throttled.

Have to get rid of Sanders. He’s just horrendous

 

[PurpleBlood87]

The Fiesta Bowl field doesn't look good.

 

[Sweat Equity]

The Fiesta Bowl field doesn't look good.

Neither do the stands.

 

[PurpleBlood87]

Neither do the stands.

I thought that also. TCU-BSU Fiesta Bowl was packed.

 

[PurpleBlood87]

Can't believe they didn't review that OSU catch.

 

[LisaLT]

So weird to have the Fiesta Bowel start so early.

I normally have a fiesta bowel every morning

 

[LisaLT]

Bad kicker. Bad.

 

[Prime BEEF]

What's the solution? Maybe there isn't one.

Everyone seems to think we need more teams in the playoffs so they are more "inclusive" but that would result in more rematches than ever (like the NFL), and I guess you have no interest in watching teams that have already played each other. Maybe they could just pick different teams every year regardless of how well they do during the season just so we have new blood in the playoffs.

Just tuned into ESPN and Herbstreit and the rest of the panel were discussing the issues of college football and how games don't seem to matter anymore (four OSU starters sitting out the Rose Bowl). They didn't have any answers either but they clearly realize the sport pretty much sucks now, even though they are getting paid a crap ton of money to cover it.

The problem is that the non-CFP bowls don’t matter anymore. Cats out of the bag now. When you add ESD causing a coaching carousel during the middle of the season and the no sit-out transfer situation to that….you get what you get.

It’s not hard to fix. Pretty obvious to me.

- get rid of ESD
- only allow graduates immediate transfer rights (this would also add emphasis to graduating)
- reduce the number of bowl games down from 41 to 20. And make 8 wins the requirement for bowl eligibility

Getting a bowl invite would now mean more, the number of coaches leaving during the season is drastically reduced, and the number of players talking to other teams during the season is almost completely gone. Do these 3 things and the college football world is back on track. Even with the NIL issues.

 

[PurpleBlood87]

Try Martin isn't helping Sanders out.

 

[Wexahu]

The problem is that the non-CFP bowls don’t matter anymore. Cats out of the bag now. When you add ESD causing a coaching carousel during the middle of the season and the no sit-out transfer situation to that….you get what you get.

It’s not hard to fix. Pretty obvious to me.

- get rid of ESD
- only allow graduates immediate transfer rights (this would also add emphasis to graduating)
- reduce the number of bowl games down from 41 to 20. And make 8 wins the requirement for bowl eligibility

Getting a bowl invite would now mean more, the number of coaches leaving during the season is drastically reduced, and the number of players talking to other teams during the season is almost completely gone. Do these 3 things and the college football world is back on track. Even with the NIL issues.

I agree, except I wouldn't exempt graduates from not being able to freely transfer. If you've already graduated and you want to keep playing football, play for the program that recruited you and helped you along the way toward graduation.

 

[TooColdU]

these refs are scheissing terrible. Of course Notre Dame is on the right side of these calls

 

[TooColdU]

Every player in this fiesta bowl gets a PS5. Not bad

 

[Wexahu]

So, in the case of Cincy, it is a disparity of talent. How does that explain Michigan? They come from the B1G. Won the B1G as a matter of fact, beating the tar out of Mighty tOSU. Can't plead disparity of talent there now can we...

Are there other factors beyond the disposition of "talent" that come into play when the whistle blows? Methinks there are. This does not discount the "talent" angle at all, but as has been seen over and over again what a kid does in H.S. rarely translates into the same dominance in College. And, while teams like Florida are full of the very best talent, that talent is often wasted pointlessly. Every now and again, the stars align for a Program where the chance variables come together and they do wonderful things. But, it rarely lasts.

Alabama has achieved dominance through many avenues. Talent is most certainly one, but the proper evaluation of talent is key, as is the channeling of that talent in a fruitful direction through discipline and attrition. Managing to produce one Championship team over a 15 year span is a monumental achievement. Producing a slew of them, and being in the mix of all the others, is unprecedented. Saban has intelligently, and ruthlessly, removed many of the variables that could cause a lack of focus in his team. He stresses Old School fundamentals, and is merciless in seeing that his high standards of discipline, poise, and attention to detail are followed, not just among players but among his Staff as well.

How do I explain it? Georgia is a better team and Michigan had a bad day.

Back to my NFL analogy. Those 5 teams that get all the top draft picks every year wouldn't win every game for reasons that you point out (because obviously the best team doesn't always win every game), but I think one of those 5 teams would win the Super Bowl every single year. And the bigger the stakes in a sport of emotion like football, the less chance the undermanned underdog has of winning.

Can you remember the last big upset in the college football playoffs or even the prior BCS championship game era in which a real underdog won a game? Like a Michigan State, Washington, Cincinnati type situation when they were playing a true heavyweight for all the marbles? It just doesn't happen. Sure, Utah can knock off Alabama in a Sugar Bowl or Boise State can beat OU in a Fiesta Bowl where one team might not be all-in (which also happens occasionally over the course of a 12-game season for reasons you point out....mainly you can catch a team sleeping) but it doesn't seem to ever happen in the biggest of games.

 

[Zubaz]

Can you remember the last big upset in the college football playoffs or even the prior BCS championship game era in which a real underdog won a game? Like a Michigan State, Washington, Cincinnati type situation when they were playing a true heavyweight for all the marbles? It just doesn't happen. Sure, Utah can knock off Alabama in a Sugar Bowl or Boise State can beat OU in a Fiesta Bowl where one team might not be all-in (which also happens occasionally over the course of a 12-game season for reasons you point out....mainly you can catch a team sleeping) but it doesn't seem to ever happen in the biggest of games.

I mean, Clemson has sure gone on a run, and it would be pretty crazy to label them a blue blood. They were definitely viewed in that "Michigan State / Washington" category before they started winning national titles.

And you see how this is a circular argument, right? When you label any team that wins as a big time heavyweight, don't invite G5 or lower P5 teams to the biggest of the big games, and then any game that they do get invited to is labeled as "not important" or something that the other big name team "doesn't want to be in", then any win is discarded and no big win is possible.

 

[Wexahu]

I mean, Clemson has sure gone on a run, and it would be pretty crazy to label them a blue blood. They were definitely viewed in that "Michigan State / Washington" category before they started winning national titles.

And you see how this is a circular argument, right? When you label any team that wins as a big time heavyweight, don't invite G5 or lower P5 teams to the biggest of the big games, and then any game that they do get invited to is labeled as "not important" or something that the other big name team "doesn't want to be in", then any win is discarded and no big win is possible.

I do get that to a degree. But in the case of Clemson, they started reeling in great classes once Dabo got settled in there.....much better than Washington or Michigan State have ever done. Clemson wasn't playing with short decks during their run of CFP appearances. And while they aren't a true blue blood like some others, they do have a solid football history, not to mention a huge stadium that they regularly fill or come close to filling. In some ways (not the stadium and attendance) they are like Miami of the 80's and early 90's.

I'd say in the CFP era, the real "outsiders" have been Washington, Michigan State, and Cincinnati.......as in teams that made it but didn't really do it with what you'd call elite talent throughout the roster. They made it the way Brewingfrog described...some good, experienced talent, good coaching, luck on the injury front, favorable schedule, yada yada yada. And none of the three were really even competitive in the CFP games when both teams are pretty clearly evenly motivated, or at least you'd assume so. 89-13 scoring margin. I know, small sample size. But I'm not sure that changes all that much tbh.

 

[The Artist Formerly Known as PhormerPhrog]

I normally have a fiesta bowel every morning

You know the rules...

 

[Prime BEEF]

I agree, except I wouldn't exempt graduates from not being able to freely transfer. If you've already graduated and you want to keep playing football, play for the program that recruited you and helped you along the way toward graduation.

I meant only graduates could immediately transfer. All others would have to sit a year. Maybe an exception for athletes whose HC leaves for another school

EDIT: whoops just reread your post. You want them to sit out a year as well.

 

[Wexahu]

I meant only graduates could immediately transfer. All others would have to sit a year. Maybe an exception for athletes whose HC leaves for another school

I know. I'm saying if you transfer you sit a year, no exceptions. Doesn't matter if you've graduated or if your coach leaves. Too many loopholes involved with that. What if your coach quits or retires? What if he's fired? What if he's about to get fired and technically "quits" and then takes another job? Are their different rules for each situation?

Kids should choose carefully what SCHOOL they want to attend among the schools that are recruiting them (most have many, many choices), and then stick it out with that school. If they find out they made a mistake they can go wherever they want, just can't play their sport for a year. Very simple, and fair.