http://espn.go.com/college-football/stor...pn-request

The CFP tells ESPN that they won't move the Semifinals to Saturday January 2 this year. They say that the "first consideration for our group is the prominence we put on taking back New Year's Eve and New Year's Day,"

My two cents - the CFP wants more $ to change the dates. Not going to move them for free.

I don't think its about the $$$. Its about at least keeping some tradition to have the big games on NYE and NYD. Anyway, I like that the CFP is not giving to all the whims of ESPN.

(02-06-2015 10:10 AM)orangefan Wrote:  http://espn.go.com/college-football/stor...pn-request

The CFP tells ESPN that they won't move the Semifinals to Saturday January 2 this year. They say that the "first consideration for our group is the prominence we put on taking back New Year's Eve and New Year's Day,"

My two cents - the CFP wants more $ to change the dates. Not going to move them for free.

When ESPN signed the playoff contract over a year ago...they knew the exact dates of NYE/NYD for the length of the entire contract.

ESPN wants to move the NYE games to Saturday to increase viewership...so they can charge more for ads.

Give credit to those in charge of the playoffs for holding firm in not switching dates just so ESPN can earn millions $$$ more.

ESPN tried to pull the wool over the CFP for their own benefit, without giving one extra dime to CFP.

ESPN just got caught.

(02-06-2015 10:12 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  I don't think its about the $$$. Its about at least keeping some tradition to have the big games on NYE and NYD. Anyway, I like that the CFP is not giving to all the whims of ESPN.

I don't think big games on New Year's Eve have ever been a tradition.

(02-06-2015 10:36 AM)ken d Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 10:12 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  I don't think its about the $$$. Its about at least keeping some tradition to have the big games on NYE and NYD. Anyway, I like that the CFP is not giving to all the whims of ESPN.

I don't think big games on New Year's Eve have ever been a tradition.

They have before. Its just been awhile, since they had them. NYD was always the big day, but I remember some NYE games of past that were some good higher profile bowls played.

I agree this isn't about money (short term money anyway). The CFP could have gotten more money from the state with different days. The reason they went the way they did was that they wanted the old New Years feel back. The BCS was spread apart. This might have helped individual games on a short term basis, but the feeling of an event was gone. Their idea here is put them together on the two days and make it feel like a huge college football event that pushes interest long term even if is not the best short term.

I do not know that they are right (with the New Years Eve part anyway), but I understand the thinking.

(02-06-2015 10:37 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  They have before. Its just been awhile, since they had them. NYD was always the big day, but I remember some NYE games of past that were some good higher profile bowls played.

The Holiday Bowl used to be like that, no?

(02-06-2015 10:44 AM)ohio1317 Wrote:  I agree this isn't about money (short term money anyway). The CFP could have gotten more money from the state with different days. The reason they went the way they did was that they wanted the old New Years feel back. The BCS was spread apart. This might have helped individual games on a short term basis, but the feeling of an event was gone. Their idea here is put them together on the two days and make it feel like a huge college football event that pushes interest long term even if is not the best short term.

I do not know that they are right (with the New Years Eve part anyway), but I understand the thinking.

There thinking is right...screw ESPN. They knew what the deal was when they signed the contract, with their double dealing self's. This time it's ok to bite the hand that feeds you.

(02-06-2015 10:53 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 10:37 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  They have before. Its just been awhile, since they had them. NYD was always the big day, but I remember some NYE games of past that were some good higher profile bowls played.

The Holiday Bowl used to be like that, no?

don't think so. Think Holiday Bowl was always 29th or 30th.

(02-06-2015 10:58 AM)stever20 Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 10:53 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 10:37 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  They have before. Its just been awhile, since they had them. NYD was always the big day, but I remember some NYE games of past that were some good higher profile bowls played.

The Holiday Bowl used to be like that, no?

don't think so. Think Holiday Bowl was always 29th or 30th.

80's and 90's: Most 12/31 bowls were Chick-Fil-A, Bluebonnet. Sun Bowl, Alamo Bowl and quite a few times the Gator with some Sugar Bowls play on that date before 1998 and the BCS era.
Oh, and the Copper which became the Fiesta bowl.

I just don't think a history of playing some higher profile bowls on NYE justifies forcing the two highest profile "bowls" onto NYE, especially when there's a perfect opening on 1/2. But we've known for decades college football is run by rubes.

(02-06-2015 11:50 AM)justinslot Wrote:  I just don't think a history of playing some higher profile bowls on NYE justifies forcing the two highest profile "bowls" onto NYE, especially when there's a perfect opening on 1/2. But we've known for decades college football is run by rubes.

Except that it only is a plus this next year. The other years playing on 1/2 means more folks are at work-and given they're playing both SF on the same day, that means starting at 5pm et, that's a non-starter.. If anything, what ESPN is wanting is much more of a short term solution, and the CFP folks are looking a whole lot more down the road.

I agree this is long term looking (whether it's correct or not). Clearly this next year Saturday would be a better day, but the idea is to firmly establish this for the long term and they are willing to take a short term hit. I'm not entirely sold New Years Eve will ever be what they want it to be, but there's logic in it.

(02-06-2015 12:39 PM)ohio1317 Wrote:  I agree this is long term looking (whether it's correct or not). Clearly this next year Saturday would be a better day, but the idea is to firmly establish this for the long term and they are willing to take a short term hit. I'm not entirely sold New Years Eve will ever be what they want it to be, but there's logic in it.

It will never be equivalent to a New Year's Day bowl, but it will help cement having NYE's having great bowl games as I mentioned in a previous post. After a couple more years, it'll be more ingrained in the college fb fan psyche.
While many people are saying people still have to work on NYE, there are quite a few that aren't.

I'm not as frustrated by the "NYE is a bad time to show must-see games" argument as I am with the reality of spending two entire days in front of the TV. With the length of the typical CFB game being about 3:15...and media time in between the premiere games (about 15-30 minutes)...and the total number of marquee games (3 games on NYE, 3 on NYD), the reality is that it's about 11 hours of football on back-to-back days. That's just unrealistic for major CFB fans...and it's absurd for casual fans.

Don't get me wrong--I hated the BCS spreading out its four games over four straight nights. I like the consolidation overall...I just think they're overdoing it.

Bingeing on NYD was a great American tradition...great childhood memories!...but two days of that feels like overkill.

Put two of the New Year's Six on NYE (5pm EST and 8:30pm EST)...the Rose and Sugar on NYE (along with 3-4 other strong bowls...and--in years when the Rose/Sugar are NOT semifinals--make two of the New Year's Six on Jan 2 the semifinals.

2 on NYE (non-semifinals)...6-7 on NYD...2 on day after NYD (semifinals if not Rose/Sugar).

(02-06-2015 11:24 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  80's and 90's: Most 12/31 bowls were Chick-Fil-A, Bluebonnet. Sun Bowl, Alamo Bowl and quite a few times the Gator with some Sugar Bowls play on that date before 1998 and the BCS era.
Oh, and the Copper which became the Fiesta bowl.

Copper Bowl became the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl and is now the Cactus Bowl. It started in the late 80's. It replaced the Fiesta at Sun Devil Stadium when the Fiesta moved to University of Phoenix Stadium.

Fiesta Bowl began in 1971 and is obviously still around today.

(02-06-2015 02:21 PM)allthatyoucantleavebehind Wrote:  I'm not as frustrated by the "NYE is a bad time to show must-see games" argument as I am with the reality of spending two entire days in front of the TV. With the length of the typical CFB game being about 3:15...and media time in between the premiere games (about 15-30 minutes)...and the total number of marquee games (3 games on NYE, 3 on NYD), the reality is that it's about 11 hours of football on back-to-back days. That's just unrealistic for major CFB fans...and it's absurd for casual fans.

Don't get me wrong--I hated the BCS spreading out its four games over four straight nights. I like the consolidation overall...I just think they're overdoing it.

Bingeing on NYD was a great American tradition...great childhood memories!...but two days of that feels like overkill.

Put two of the New Year's Six on NYE (5pm EST and 8:30pm EST)...the Rose and Sugar on NYE (along with 3-4 other strong bowls...and--in years when the Rose/Sugar are NOT semifinals--make two of the New Year's Six on Jan 2 the semifinals.

2 on NYE (non-semifinals)...6-7 on NYD...2 on day after NYD (semifinals if not Rose/Sugar).

I just don't think that's a starter. Most folks are back to work on the 2nd. Why have what would have to be a 5pm et start(2 pm et) on Jan 2? That's idiotic.

(02-06-2015 02:46 PM)BatonRougeEscapee Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 11:24 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  80's and 90's: Most 12/31 bowls were Chick-Fil-A, Bluebonnet. Sun Bowl, Alamo Bowl and quite a few times the Gator with some Sugar Bowls play on that date before 1998 and the BCS era.
Oh, and the Copper which became the Fiesta bowl.

Copper Bowl became the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl and is now the Cactus Bowl. It started in the late 80's. It replaced the Fiesta at Sun Devil Stadium when the Fiesta moved to University of Phoenix Stadium.

Fiesta Bowl began in 1971 and is obviously still around today.

may bad. read the history wrong. thanks for the correction.

(02-06-2015 10:37 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 10:36 AM)ken d Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 10:12 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  I don't think its about the $$$. Its about at least keeping some tradition to have the big games on NYE and NYD. Anyway, I like that the CFP is not giving to all the whims of ESPN.

I don't think big games on New Year's Eve have ever been a tradition.

They have before. Its just been awhile, since they had them. NYD was always the big day, but I remember some NYE games of past that were some good higher profile bowls played.

But not at noon and 4pm.

The issue over moving the semifinal games to January 2 comes up clearly only once during the 12 year CFP cycle. It would clearly be a better day than Thursday, 12/31. If the move was made, on New Year's Eve non-semi final game could still be played to include it as a major bowl day.

During the 12 year cycle, NYD falls on Friday only one other time, but it is a year when the Rose and Sugar are scheduled to host the Semis. It may still be useful to move 2 or 3 of the NYE games to Saturday in that year.

I note that twice during the cycle, the NYE games will have to be moved off 12/31 because it is a Sunday, with those games undoubtedly moved to the earlier Saturday date, 12/30.

Here are the days of the week that NYE and NYD fall during the remainder of the CFP cycle, and when the Semis are scheduled to be played during those years.

January 1, 2016 falls on a Friday. Semis are scheduled for Thursday, 12/31/15. Saturday 1/2/16 is open and available.

January 1, 2017 falls on a Sunday, moving the NYD games to Monday, 1/2/17. Semis will be on Saturday 12/31/16.

January 1, 2018 falls on a Monday. Semis will be on that day. 12/31/17 falls on a Sunday. The NYE games will presumably be played on Saturday, 12/30/17.

January 1, 2019 falls on a Tuesday. Semis will be on Monday, 12/31/18.

January 1, 2020 falls on a Wednesday. Semis will be on Tuesday, 12/31/19.

January 1, 2021 falls on a Friday. Semis will be on that date. Saturday 1/2/21 may be open and available for non-semifinal games.

January 1, 2022 falls on a Saturday. Semis are scheduled for Friday, 12/31/21.

January 1, 2023 falls on a Sunday, moving the NYD games to Monday, 1/2/23. Same situation as 1/1/17. Semis will be on Saturday 12/31/22.

January 1, 2024 falls on a Monday. Same situation as 1/1/18. Semis will be on that day. 12/31/23 falls on a Sunday. The NYE games will presumably be played on Saturday, 12/30/23.

January 1, 2025 falls on a Wednesday. Semis will be on Tuesday, 12/31/24.

January 1, 2026 falls on a Thursday. Semis are scheduled for Wednesday, 12/31/25. Friday 1/2/26 or Saturday, 1/3/26 may be available.