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I posted a comment on the Conference board under the topic of a new bowl game being added. Comment #51.
Exact words were-RE: Potential new bowl in Tucson vs MWC

Bowl games have become the equivalent of getting a gold star in grade school just because you tried.

Today I read in the Pilot Molinaro's comment about more Bowl games being added. "... they become like trophies for participation".

I was going to say great minds think alike, but knowing the consensus on this board about Molinaro I think I'll skip that remark.

But... does make you wonder.

(04-03-2015 08:01 AM)Old Dominion Wrote:  I posted a comment on the Conference board under the topic of a new bowl game being added. Comment #51.
Exact words were-RE: Potential new bowl in Tucson vs MWC

Bowl games have become the equivalent of getting a gold star in grade school just because you tried.

Today I read in the Pilot Molinaro's comment about more Bowl games being added. "... they become like trophies for participation".

I was going to say great minds think alike, but knowing the consensus on this board about Molinaro I think I'll skip that remark.

But... does make you wonder.

To be fair to Molinaro, even if he doesn't deserve it, I've seen this comparison for bowl games in several places.

(04-03-2015 08:06 AM)ODUDrunkard13 Wrote:  

(04-03-2015 08:01 AM)Old Dominion Wrote:  I posted a comment on the Conference board under the topic of a new bowl game being added. Comment #51.
Exact words were-RE: Potential new bowl in Tucson vs MWC

Bowl games have become the equivalent of getting a gold star in grade school just because you tried.

Today I read in the Pilot Molinaro's comment about more Bowl games being added. "... they become like trophies for participation".

I was going to say great minds think alike, but knowing the consensus on this board about Molinaro I think I'll skip that remark.

But... does make you wonder.

To be fair to Molinaro, even if he doesn't deserve it, I've seen this comparison for bowl games in several places.

Plus, he pretty much hates everything about college football in general. AND, before you good folks jump on me for saying that you should know he told me that himself.

Sorry, but bowl games are simply a consolation prize. This is why I prefer basketball... at least you get a chance at knocking off some big boys even if you don't take home the trophy... and it can happen on any given day. If we played Kentucky in basketball 100 times, I think we'd win a couple. If we played Alabama in football 100 times, I am pretty confident we'd lose all 100. I also wouldn't have felt any greater sense of accomplishment last year had we played someone like San Jose State in a bottom tiered bowl game, other than getting to watch TH play one more time, than I did simply finishing 6-6. I love the game of football and will certainly continue to follow ODU and attend as many games as possible, but unless you are a high level P5, college football just isn't college basketball.

I've talked to Molinaro about this and his point would be when you look at all of the corruption (UNC), the lengths schools go to protect their football fiefdoms (Penn State) and some of the "characters" involved at the highest levels (Saban, Switzer in the day, Pete Carroll, fill in your own blanks) what's to love about it? So many schools take kids unprepared to do college work, whisk them through school, and if they don't make the pros they're screwed to deal with life.

It's the only reason I wish we still were in FCS; I think that level is cleaner. That and the chance to win a national title, even if no one seems to care

Exactly.
Give me basketball any day.
PS. I happen to like Molinaro.

There is always the shot at being a Boise State. Then again, they were able to pretty much control the entire upper Rockies recruiting where as we have to overcome UVA, VT, ECU, and WVU just for our own area code.

(04-03-2015 08:14 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  Sorry, but bowl games are simply a consolation prize. This is why I prefer basketball... at least you get a chance at knocking off some big boys even if you don't take home the trophy... and it can happen on any given day. If we played Kentucky in basketball 100 times, I think we'd win a couple. If we played Alabama in football 100 times, I am pretty confident we'd lose all 100. I also wouldn't have felt any greater sense of accomplishment last year had we played someone like San Jose State in a bottom tiered bowl game, other than getting to watch TH play one more time, than I did simply finishing 6-6. I love the game of football and will certainly continue to follow ODU and attend as many games as possible, but unless you are a high level P5, college football just isn't college basketball.

I love both college basketball and college football, even on the level at which we compete. ODU football will get it's shot to knock off some pretty highly thought of teams like NC St., and VT. No, there is not a 68 team tournament that will crown the ultimate champion in college football, and there never will be. I suppose that in thet way college basketball is more democratic than college football, however, for me, as a fan of a non-P5 program, I don't make it all about winning the National Championship, because if I did I think being a fan would get pretty frustrating.

As for college bowls being nothing more than a participation award, to me that is being a bit harsh on the people it matters to most, the players. I have never played team football, so I don't really understand how much effort the guys put forth in the off-season, on the field, and in the classroom, but I'm sure it's more difficult than I can omagine. IMO if they are rewarded with a bowl appearance, no matter how insignificant it might seem to any fan, or reporter, it represents a meaningful accomplishment to them, and those who have supported their efforts through the years, and is a crowning achievement in most of their careers.

I just don't understand why so many people try to compare college football with college basketball. Aside from both being team sports the two are nothing alike in almost any aspect.

(04-03-2015 08:33 AM)jumpshooter Wrote:  I've talked to Molinaro about this and his point would be when you look at all of the corruption (UNC), the lengths schools go to protect their football fiefdoms (Penn State) and some of the "characters" involved at the highest levels (Saban, Switzer in the day, Pete Carroll, fill in your own blanks) what's to love about it? So many schools take kids unprepared to do college work, whisk them through school, and if they don't make the pros they're screwed to deal with life.

It's the only reason I wish we still were in FCS; I think that level is cleaner. That and the chance to win a national title, even if no one seems to care

That's only a hand full of bad apples! Not all schools function that way, as ODU is an FBS school that is so clean in fact, whether you are the best wide receiver or not, if you cannot obey team rules, your a$$ is gone! Ask all the kids that got kicked off the team and I'm sure BW was called a dick for letting a three star recruit go. If someone's going to be a crook, whether they play FBS, FCS or Division 3, they will be a crook! I'm sure FCS schools have done dirty things as well, but since they are FCS schools, we don't hear about them. I think this zero tolerance policy will have a great return, because it will attract students who won't do stupid things, that may compromise the universities growing reputation. I love the fact ODU went FBS as it generates more money for the school, so Big Blue can put on his tool belt and build better facilities and hire and keep highly intelligent professors/scientisits/etc, that in turn will deliver a product to society that will do big things! I like the vision that Broderick has and I am a firm believer that in the near future, ODU will be as "good" a school as VT and Virginia. I hate when people say "Oh, he went to ODU."

I compare football with basketball when I see people bash the NIT, CBI and CIT. For me, the college football bowl games are equivalent.

Yes I enjoy both. I love basketball more but because its basketball more so than anything else.

(04-03-2015 09:01 AM)paintedblue2 Wrote:  

(04-03-2015 08:14 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  Sorry, but bowl games are simply a consolation prize. This is why I prefer basketball... at least you get a chance at knocking off some big boys even if you don't take home the trophy... and it can happen on any given day. If we played Kentucky in basketball 100 times, I think we'd win a couple. If we played Alabama in football 100 times, I am pretty confident we'd lose all 100. I also wouldn't have felt any greater sense of accomplishment last year had we played someone like San Jose State in a bottom tiered bowl game, other than getting to watch TH play one more time, than I did simply finishing 6-6. I love the game of football and will certainly continue to follow ODU and attend as many games as possible, but unless you are a high level P5, college football just isn't college basketball.

I love both college basketball and college football, even on the level at which we compete. ODU football will get it's shot to knock off some pretty highly thought of teams like NC St., and VT. No, there is not a 68 team tournament that will crown the ultimate champion in college football, and there never will be. I suppose that in thet way college basketball is more democratic than college football, however, for me, as a fan of a non-P5 program, I don't make it all about winning the National Championship, because if I did I think being a fan would get pretty frustrating.

As for college bowls being nothing more than a participation award, to me that is being a bit harsh on the people it matters to most, the players. I have never played team football, so I don't really understand how much effort the guys put forth in the off-season, on the field, and in the classroom, but I'm sure it's more difficult than I can omagine. IMO if they are rewarded with a bowl appearance, no matter how insignificant it might seem to any fan, or reporter, it represents a meaningful accomplishment to them, and those who have supported their efforts through the years, and is a crowning achievement in most of their careers.

I just don't understand why so many people try to compare college football with college basketball. Aside from both being team sports the two are nothing alike in almost any aspect.

I just like college basketball better, it is a personal preference. Tournament aside and ODU aside, it is more competitive with enough parity to make every game potentially interesting. That said, I do enjoy ODU football and look forward to football season, but you can't beat having a top 50 basketball team, in my personal opinion.

(04-03-2015 08:33 AM)jumpshooter Wrote:  I've talked to Molinaro about this and his point would be when you look at all of the corruption (UNC), the lengths schools go to protect their football fiefdoms (Penn State) and some of the "characters" involved at the highest levels (Saban, Switzer in the day, Pete Carroll, fill in your own blanks) what's to love about it? So many schools take kids unprepared to do college work, whisk them through school, and if they don't make the pros they're screwed to deal with life.

It's the only reason I wish we still were in FCS; I think that level is cleaner. That and the chance to win a national title, even if no one seems to care

I agree and yet I'm stuck in a moral dilemma. All of the corruption in sports notwithstanding, I absolutely love it. Sports, just like politics and corporate greed, are all reflections of the society at large. I have an easier time getting all indignant around politicians, hypocritical religious leaders and corporate thieves than I do cheating coaches. Wish I were more principled but I'm not. I admit though my conscious was a little cleaner when we played FCS.

My attention span is significant enough where I have time for both.

You think a life-long sports columnist wrote about watered-down bowls because of your post? More like two Captain Obviouses.

What's with all the Bowl Game angst? To me, it's a bonus away game against a (hopefully) comparable opponent. Ignore it if you don't like it.

Sheez.

(04-03-2015 09:56 AM)djnva Wrote:  My attention span is significant enough where I have time for both.

Me too, but when given a "this or that" choice football will always come out the winner.

But why are we dividing ourselves? I think some sports that ODU sponsors are colossal wastes of time and I could not be dragged to them, but I'm always happy when we win them.