Not sure why UC was chosen to go to Hawaii. It looks like UCONN is going to Cure bowl to play Cal. If that is true I don't get why they go and UC has to play a MW team in Hawaii. UC would have taken a ton more folks to Florida while I am not sure UCONN will take anybody. Plus UC beat UCONN in there season match up. Very few UC fans will make the trip to Hawaii. To me this is crazy

Your players will LOVE this bowl. A week in Hawaii for free. Terrible for fans (try getting a last minute to Hawaii at Christmas)

Better golf courses and weather in Hawaii

(12-05-2015 08:09 PM)Pony94 Wrote:  Your players will LOVE this bowl. A week in Hawaii for free. Terrible for fans (try getting a last minute to Hawaii at Christmas)

Don't you mean ... "your head coach will LOVE this bowl." ? I am sure the players will too ...

(12-05-2015 08:11 PM)bearcatmill Wrote:  

(12-05-2015 08:09 PM)Pony94 Wrote:  Your players will LOVE this bowl. A week in Hawaii for free. Terrible for fans (try getting a last minute to Hawaii at Christmas)

Don't you mean ... "your head coach will LOVE this bowl." ? I am sure the players will too ...

I think that semi answers your question. I think the staff and probably players decided that they wanted to go to Hawaii.

Not only is it closer and easier to travel to, but the payout is higher. The Hawaii Bowl pay $750k while the Cure Bowl will pay $1.35m. To top it off the location is great for recruiting and all of the Families of the FL kids on the roster can make it to the game.

The only thing I can think of is the bowl was supposed to be AAC vs Sunbelt. UC might have jumped the gun thinking they were going to get a lesser opponent.

I should add though I am kind of glad not to play in Orlando. I think our fanbase would travel poorly this year given how the season has panned out.

"A gift to the players and coaches for our successful 7-5 season and 6th best record in the American Conference...I bring you..."

"Football Poolcation!"

I remember being in the Bahamas last year when the players for that game all arrived. Somehow, as I rode the lazy river in Atlantis with them, I got the feeling that they didn't really care about the upcoming game.

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Jared Goff would shred our defense, maybe this was a "pick one we can win" bowl...which is damning if true as well.

(12-05-2015 08:59 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  Jared Goff would shred our defense, maybe this was a "pick one we can win" bowl...which is damning if true as well.

I did not realize we could pick our own bowl. When did this start?

(12-05-2015 09:02 PM)rtaylor Wrote:  

(12-05-2015 08:59 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  Jared Goff would shred our defense, maybe this was a "pick one we can win" bowl...which is damning if true as well.

I did not realize we could pick our own bowl. When did this start?

Well, if you get multiple invites, which is what the OP implies, thenntheyd have a choice.

(12-05-2015 08:53 PM)Cataclysmo Wrote:  I remember being in the Bahamas last year when the players for that game all arrived. Somehow, as I rode the lazy river in Atlantis with them, I got the feeling that they didn't really care about the upcoming game.

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I kind of felt that way as I encountered half of our starting D spilling out of a bar on Bourbon St. at 2:30 in the morning the night before the Sugar Bowl. I'm kicking myself for not cashing in on that game.

Since the only bowl that matters, outside the CFP, is the New Year's Day Bowl game, then the players might as well go to the nicest location available.

As many on here know, I spend maximum time in Hawai'i, but even I am not even thinking about going this time of year. Everything there will be crazy at Christmas time.

As far as Iam concern it looks like the athletic department don't care about the fans. They should want to give fans a chance to support the team in a location that won't cost so much. I for one am disappointed in the selection. I would go to Florida in a heart beat but the AD won't give the fans that opportunity. Too bad. This is a terrible decision for the football program.

Remember bowl selection is a process.

Houston's win today puts them in the Fiesta or Peach Bowl. Going into this week this was likely outcome.
The next five teams in the American all have winning records: Memphis, Navy, USF, Temple, and Cincinnati. Unless there is a backup agreement that takes priority those schools fill in the Military, Birmingham, Hawaii, Miami Beach, and St. Pete. Navy this season is contracted to the Military.
The Cure Bowl and Boca Bowl pick after the first group picks.
6-6 teams are selected after teams with 7 wins or more.

Houston -New Years Six
USF- Miami Beach (probably wanted a Florida school in their conference's own bowl game in Florida)
Navy-Military

That leaves Memphis, Temple and Cincinnati. Good chance that Memphis is going to Birmingham and that Temple will stay on the east coast to play in Florida Bowl. Cincinnati makes perfect sense for Hawaii, good TV name, fan base likely was not going to travel in a down year but that doesn't matter because the locals do. Once again this is an ESPN primetime game likely against an upper tier Mountain West team which is my view is better than an 6-6 power five team or any C-USA, Sun Belt, or MAC squad.

There is close to a 30 year tradition of playing a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day bowl in Hawaii. The current version of the Bowl is not as valued as the old Aloha Bowl but Notre Dame, Boise State, Oregon State, Arizona State, Fresno State, ECU, and Houston have all played in Hawaii Bowl since its debut in 2002.

What makes anyone think UC picked the Hawaii Bowl. More likely the conference made sure UC went to the bowl with the least payout.

(12-05-2015 11:46 PM)Bruce Monnin Wrote:  What makes anyone think UC picked the Hawaii Bowl. More likely the conference made sure UC went to the bowl with the least payout.

Payout doesn't matter since the conference pools the money.

I'd rather play a MWC team than any other G5 that's for sure.

I'd also rather play an upper MWC team than a Duke, Vandy, or Wash St. (ie low end P5).