So I'm really disappointed with the way most bowls have devolved into meaningless exhibitions that players skip or don't take seriously. As fans we have to wait all season to see compelling OOC match ups (because heaven forbid you play someone tough on the road and give up a home game against South Central Tech School for the Deaf) only to see half hearted, unmotivated efforts where the HC and most of the staff are too busy prepping their resumes to prep their game plan.

I think the answer is moving the bowls to the preseason as kickoff games. Eligibility is based on how you finish the season the year prior. If you are 5-7 you aren't entitled to start a week early and play an extra game. This gives teams the opportunity to make a statement early.

Eliminating the post season paves the way for a bigger better playoff. You could still have playoff games in places like the Rose Bowl, Jerry World, Super Dome, Mercedes Benz, etc and call them by those names (probably quarter final and semi finals) to preserve tradition.

(12-01-2017 04:24 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  So I'm really disappointed with the way most bowls have devolved into meaningless exhibitions that players skip or don't take seriously. As fans we have to wait all season to see compelling OOC match ups (because heaven forbid you play someone tough on the road and give up a home game against South Central Tech School for the Deaf) only to see half hearted, unmotivated efforts where the HC and most of the staff are too busy prepping their resumes to prep their game plan.

I think the answer is moving the bowls to the preseason as kickoff games. Eligibility is based on how you finish the season the year prior. If you are 5-7 you aren't entitled to start a week early and play an extra game. This gives teams the opportunity to make a statement early.

Eliminating the post season paves the way for a bigger better playoff. You could still have playoff games in places like the Rose Bowl, Jerry World, Super Dome, Mercedes Benz, etc and call them by those names (probably quarter final and semi finals) to preserve tradition.

Real smart move to give an advantage in the new year based on the previous year's record. I'm sorry, but I'm not buying. As watered down as the bowls may have become, this idea does not seem like an improvement.

There use to be Pre Season kickoffs but the schools went to a 12 game schedule for all teams.

(12-01-2017 04:24 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  So I'm really disappointed with the way most bowls have devolved into meaningless exhibitions that players skip or don't take seriously. As fans we have to wait all season to see compelling OOC match ups (because heaven forbid you play someone tough on the road and give up a home game against South Central Tech School for the Deaf) only to see half hearted, unmotivated efforts where the HC and most of the staff are too busy prepping their resumes to prep their game plan.

I think the answer is moving the bowls to the preseason as kickoff games.

First, I love bowl season, always have. The two and a half weeks from around December 17th when the first rinky-dink bowl kicks off to the national title game is just about the most fun football time of the year. Why on earth would we want to lose that?

Second, motivations? Sure, one or two NFL draft picks might skip a bowl game, but the teams involved are usually VERY motivated. Too many times to count, I've seen 6-6 teams that win the Frisco Bowl or the Boca Raton Bowl dump gatorade on their coach and caper around at the final whistle like they just won the Super Bowl.

The notion that the teams don't care who wins a bowl game is just plain wrong. In contrast, they seem to care far more than they do about your normal mid-season game.

I agree with Vadis, bowl season is a great time of year. Sure, some stinker teams show up and get blown out, but it’s a time to preview next season or to cap off a great year.

Why would you not want to score big time points with scouts by going out there against top competition and putting up top notch numbers? Everyone is guaranteed to be drafted now?

I can understand a McCaffrey type (even though he had a massive Bowl game) or someone who is guaranteed 1st round but doesn't want to risk it, but besides that, every player but a handful has to put up a solid stat line to gain draft positioning.