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(07-16-2019 09:11 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  Military Bowl
Armed Forces Bowl/Hawaii Bowl
Fenway Bowl (To be named later)

Four selections annually from any of the following:
Birmingham
Gasparilla
First Responders
Boca Raton Bowl
Frisco Bowl
Cure Bowl
Myrtle Beach Bowl
New Mexico Bowl

https://theamerican.org/news/2019/7/16/f...ineup.aspx

The revenue is up slightly with these bowl agreements, but I think we'll be playing fewer games against the P5.

Perhaps The Birmingham Bowl will move to the new UAB Stadium especially after UAB replaces UConn. The Military Bowl is decent. The idea of attending a Fenway Bowl in December gives me chills. The other bowls are trash.

(07-16-2019 10:18 AM)cinbinsportsfan Wrote:  

(07-16-2019 10:08 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(07-16-2019 10:05 AM)Bruce Monnin Wrote:  Basically, Access bowl or nothing.

Pretty much. There are 2-3 opportunities to get a 6-6 P5 team, but most of the games will be against CUSA and SBC opponents. A little disappointed the conference could not secure the Quick Lanes Bowl in Detroit vs. a B10 opponent. Seemed like that was going to happen but for whatever reason it fell through. Would have been an easy travel game for us. Not so sure what a bowl game in New Mexico does for anyone in the conference, including the Texas schools.

Honestly, that might be for the best.

If UC didn't make the Access Bowl, there's a good chance they'd be slotted for that game due to the fact that Cincinnati is the closest AAC team and Bearcats fans have a history of travelling well. And I'd much rather get the the coaches and players get a trip to Annapolis, Boston, etc. out of a successful season than Detroit. Plus, a chance for coaches to recruit new areas and whatnot.

I disagree. As far as fans and recruiting, a bowl game in Detroit is a very nice fit. Granted the weather will likely be very subpar, but it's not like the team and fans can't have a very good time for a few days in Detroit and/or Windsor. I'm not saying I want it every year, but I'm sure it would still be a memorable trip for all involved.

(07-17-2019 02:37 PM)Bearhawkeye Wrote:  

(07-16-2019 10:18 AM)cinbinsportsfan Wrote:  

(07-16-2019 10:08 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(07-16-2019 10:05 AM)Bruce Monnin Wrote:  Basically, Access bowl or nothing.

Pretty much. There are 2-3 opportunities to get a 6-6 P5 team, but most of the games will be against CUSA and SBC opponents. A little disappointed the conference could not secure the Quick Lanes Bowl in Detroit vs. a B10 opponent. Seemed like that was going to happen but for whatever reason it fell through. Would have been an easy travel game for us. Not so sure what a bowl game in New Mexico does for anyone in the conference, including the Texas schools.

Honestly, that might be for the best.

If UC didn't make the Access Bowl, there's a good chance they'd be slotted for that game due to the fact that Cincinnati is the closest AAC team and Bearcats fans have a history of travelling well. And I'd much rather get the the coaches and players get a trip to Annapolis, Boston, etc. out of a successful season than Detroit. Plus, a chance for coaches to recruit new areas and whatnot.

I disagree. As far as fans and recruiting, a bowl game in Detroit is a very nice fit. Granted the weather will likely be very subpar, but it's not like the team and fans can't have a very good time for a few days in Detroit and/or Windsor. I'm not saying I want it every year, but I'm sure it would still be a memorable trip for all involved.

I remember two UC trips to a Detroit-based Bowl--back in the days of the Silverdome. Our fans turned out; it's a short drive and inexpensive trip for a family wanting a bowl experience. We had a good time.

The weather--well it's not Pasadena. But, we've been in dreadful cold in Birmingham and Charlotte too so unless you can get to the west coast or a tropical climate it's a risk for many of the December venues.

So I'd take Detroit as part of the rotation, especially with a B10 opponent.

So, a tertiary question this all raises is: "What is the purpose of being a member of a conference?"

The answer to that question, of course, is that being a member of a conference is supposed to be mutually beneficial: the member school is supposed to benefit the Conference, the Conference is supposed to benefit the member school.

What does this have to do with the Bowl line-up? Well, are these bowls "better" than UC could wrangle on their own? Maybe...Maybe... But the answer is not so clear cut these days. Indeed, our main "hope" is that, if we cannot secure the NY6 bid, that UC would "get picked" to fill another conference's empty bid. If we end up falling into the AAC mash-up, we are looking, by-and-large, at games that UC probably could get on their own.

I'm not arguing that the bowl schedule is the reason UC should ditch the AAC, but I'm looking at the bowl line up and saying, "I can't find a compelling reason why we should stay in the AAC..." here.

(07-17-2019 02:58 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(07-17-2019 02:37 PM)Bearhawkeye Wrote:  

(07-16-2019 10:18 AM)cinbinsportsfan Wrote:  

(07-16-2019 10:08 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(07-16-2019 10:05 AM)Bruce Monnin Wrote:  Basically, Access bowl or nothing.

Pretty much. There are 2-3 opportunities to get a 6-6 P5 team, but most of the games will be against CUSA and SBC opponents. A little disappointed the conference could not secure the Quick Lanes Bowl in Detroit vs. a B10 opponent. Seemed like that was going to happen but for whatever reason it fell through. Would have been an easy travel game for us. Not so sure what a bowl game in New Mexico does for anyone in the conference, including the Texas schools.

Honestly, that might be for the best.

If UC didn't make the Access Bowl, there's a good chance they'd be slotted for that game due to the fact that Cincinnati is the closest AAC team and Bearcats fans have a history of travelling well. And I'd much rather get the the coaches and players get a trip to Annapolis, Boston, etc. out of a successful season than Detroit. Plus, a chance for coaches to recruit new areas and whatnot.

I disagree. As far as fans and recruiting, a bowl game in Detroit is a very nice fit. Granted the weather will likely be very subpar, but it's not like the team and fans can't have a very good time for a few days in Detroit and/or Windsor. I'm not saying I want it every year, but I'm sure it would still be a memorable trip for all involved.

I remember two UC trips to a Detroit-based Bowl--back in the days of the Silverdome. Our fans turned out; it's a short drive and inexpensive trip for a family wanting a bowl experience. We had a good time.

The weather--well it's not Pasadena. But, we've been in dreadful cold in Birmingham and Charlotte too so unless you can get to the west coast or a tropical climate it's a risk for many of the December venues.

So I'd take Detroit as part of the rotation, especially with a B10 opponent.

I mean, I get that sentiment. I just personally prefer a bowl trip to a location a bit farther away that gives the fans, staff, and players a chance to experience a place that's not particularly close. And it's one of those locations where, due to proximity, I feel like UC could get slotted there most years.

(07-17-2019 02:58 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(07-17-2019 02:37 PM)Bearhawkeye Wrote:  

(07-16-2019 10:18 AM)cinbinsportsfan Wrote:  

(07-16-2019 10:08 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(07-16-2019 10:05 AM)Bruce Monnin Wrote:  Basically, Access bowl or nothing.

Pretty much. There are 2-3 opportunities to get a 6-6 P5 team, but most of the games will be against CUSA and SBC opponents. A little disappointed the conference could not secure the Quick Lanes Bowl in Detroit vs. a B10 opponent. Seemed like that was going to happen but for whatever reason it fell through. Would have been an easy travel game for us. Not so sure what a bowl game in New Mexico does for anyone in the conference, including the Texas schools.

Honestly, that might be for the best.

If UC didn't make the Access Bowl, there's a good chance they'd be slotted for that game due to the fact that Cincinnati is the closest AAC team and Bearcats fans have a history of travelling well. And I'd much rather get the the coaches and players get a trip to Annapolis, Boston, etc. out of a successful season than Detroit. Plus, a chance for coaches to recruit new areas and whatnot.

I disagree. As far as fans and recruiting, a bowl game in Detroit is a very nice fit. Granted the weather will likely be very subpar, but it's not like the team and fans can't have a very good time for a few days in Detroit and/or Windsor. I'm not saying I want it every year, but I'm sure it would still be a memorable trip for all involved.

I remember two UC trips to a Detroit-based Bowl--back in the days of the Silverdome. Our fans turned out; it's a short drive and inexpensive trip for a family wanting a bowl experience. We had a good time.

The weather--well it's not Pasadena. But, we've been in dreadful cold in Birmingham and Charlotte too so unless you can get to the west coast or a tropical climate it's a risk for many of the December venues.

So I'd take Detroit as part of the rotation, especially with a B10 opponent.

The weather in Birmingham was decent enough to tailgate until it turned cold in the 4th Quarter of Ben Mauk overcoming USM. I suppose you were not there or your memory is bad. Charlotte (Belk) was similar.

I’d like the top 2-3 bowls to be better, but beyond that does the 5th team from the conference really deserve better? Does it help the conference for them to get pounded in a better game? The AAC didn’t exactly dominate last years bowl slate.

(07-17-2019 02:37 PM)Bearhawkeye Wrote:  I disagree. As far as fans and recruiting, a bowl game in Detroit is a very nice fit. Granted the weather will likely be very subpar, but it's not like the team and fans can't have a very good time for a few days in Detroit and/or Windsor. I'm not saying I want it every year, but I'm sure it would still be a memorable trip for all involved.

I was at the 2 Cincinnati Motor City Bowl games ---- my brother actually met his first wife at the 2001 game against Toledo. In a round-about way, that was responsible for me becoming a Bearcats fan myself.

I recall UC having fairly good attendance for those games. The 2001 game: it was VERY cold that Saturday afternoon. But, hey, it's December in the upper Midwest.

I agree with you that a Detroit Bowl game would have been good for both (1) the AAC and (2) Cincinnati. Now, Cincinnati wouldn't want to play there every year. So just ask that part of the agreement is "each individual AAC team can play there a maximum of 2 times over the 6 years." That seems like a reasonable request.

Memphis played in a Motor City Bowl once and brought a very good crowd (I was at that game also).

If, as part of the 6-year rotation, the Detroit Bowl got (1-2) Cincinnati twice, (3) Memphis once, (4) Temple once, (5) Navy once, and (6) random other AAC team once ----- I think that would have been a good deal for the Bowl and the conference.

IMO, not getting the Detroit Bowl was a big missed opportunity for the AAC.

(07-17-2019 09:34 PM)Nittany_Bearcat Wrote:  

(07-17-2019 02:37 PM)Bearhawkeye Wrote:  I disagree. As far as fans and recruiting, a bowl game in Detroit is a very nice fit. Granted the weather will likely be very subpar, but it's not like the team and fans can't have a very good time for a few days in Detroit and/or Windsor. I'm not saying I want it every year, but I'm sure it would still be a memorable trip for all involved.

I was at the 2 Cincinnati Motor City Bowl games ---- my brother actually met his first wife at the 2001 game against Toledo. In a round-about way, that was responsible for me becoming a Bearcats fan myself.

I recall UC having fairly good attendance for those games. The 2001 game: it was VERY cold that Saturday afternoon. But, hey, it's December in the upper Midwest.

I agree with you that a Detroit Bowl game would have been good for both (1) the AAC and (2) Cincinnati. Now, Cincinnati wouldn't want to play there every year. So just ask that part of the agreement is "each individual AAC team can play there a maximum of 2 times over the 6 years." That seems like a reasonable request.

Memphis played in a Motor City Bowl once and brought a very good crowd (I was at that game also).

If, as part of the 6-year rotation, the Detroit Bowl got (1-2) Cincinnati twice, (3) Memphis once, (4) Temple once, (5) Navy once, and (6) random other AAC team once ----- I think that would have been a good deal for the Bowl and the conference.

IMO, not getting the Detroit Bowl was a big missed opportunity for the AAC.

^^^^
This!

(07-16-2019 12:55 PM)Cat-Man Wrote:  I wouldn't blame CLF one bit for leaving if he gets the offer for bigger and better things. Knowing these bowls are most likely my end of season reward for going 11-1 or 10-2 has to be depressing.

Yes. It's depressing.

Think about the contrast vs. 2011-2013. The Bearcats won 9 regular season games those years. 9-3 got them trips to either Memphis or Charlotte (solid mid-tier Bowls), along with an SEC or ACC opponent.

There's a pretty clear (and depressing) trajectory in terms of UC Bowl appearances:

(1) The Minter Years. 2 Motor City Bowls, 1 Boise Bowl, 1 New Orleans Bowl. Games against the MAC, Big West or Sun Belt. But that was still great! UC simply appearing in a Bowl game was great in itself.

(2) 2003-2007, the rise. 1 Fort Worth Bowl, 1 International Bowl, 1 Birmingham Bowl. Games against the MAC or C-USA. Not the big leagues, but a couple games were tied in with the Big East and it did feel like a step-up in Bowl quality vs. the previous Bowls.

(3) 2008-2009. Trips to Miami and New Orleans. THE big leagues!

(4) 2010-2013. The aforementioned Charlotte and Memphis Bowls. Solid rewards for a 9-3 team. Respectable ACC and SEC foes.

(5) 2014-2018. 2 Military Bowls and 1 Hawaii Bowl. Bluntly, a step down in quality from Charlotte and Memphis. Those Military Bowls were with 9- and 10-win teams also. Travelling to Hawaii on Christmas Eve is logistically impossible for nearly all UC fans.

(6) 2019-2025. ???

I worry about Cincinnati's future if it is tethered to the AAC beyond 2025. But UC can't force an invite to a Power 5 conference either. Hopefully it works out.

(07-17-2019 11:04 PM)Nittany_Bearcat Wrote:  

(07-16-2019 12:55 PM)Cat-Man Wrote:  I wouldn't blame CLF one bit for leaving if he gets the offer for bigger and better things. Knowing these bowls are most likely my end of season reward for going 11-1 or 10-2 has to be depressing.

Yes. It's depressing.

Think about the contrast vs. 2011-2013. The Bearcats won 9 regular season games those years. 9-3 got them trips to either Memphis or Charlotte (solid mid-tier Bowls), along with an SEC or ACC opponent.

There's a pretty clear (and depressing) trajectory in terms of UC Bowl appearances:

(1) The Minter Years. 2 Motor City Bowls, 1 Boise Bowl, 1 New Orleans Bowl. Games against the MAC, Big West or Sun Belt. But that was still great! UC simply appearing in a Bowl game was great in itself.

(2) 2003-2007, the rise. 1 Fort Worth Bowl, 1 International Bowl, 1 Birmingham Bowl. Games against the MAC or C-USA. Not the big leagues, but a couple games were tied in with the Big East and it did feel like a step-up in Bowl quality vs. the previous Bowls.

(3) 2008-2009. Trips to Miami and New Orleans. THE big leagues!

(4) 2010-2013. The aforementioned Charlotte and Memphis Bowls. Solid rewards for a 9-3 team. Respectable ACC and SEC foes.

(5) 2014-2018. 2 Military Bowls and 1 Hawaii Bowl. Bluntly, a step down in quality from Charlotte and Memphis. Those Military Bowls were with 9- and 10-win teams also. Travelling to Hawaii on Christmas Eve is logistically impossible for nearly all UC fans.

(6) 2019-2025. ???

I worry about Cincinnati's future if it is tethered to the AAC beyond 2025. But UC can't force an invite to a Power 5 conference either. Hopefully it works out.

I think we are to going to see changes made to playoff and potential realignment that benefits Cincinnati. If often discussed move to 8 playoff teams includes one G5 spot that is a game changer. If Oklahoma and Texas move on that also changes things in a positive way.

Bowl games are odd. We complain about playing G5 teams in bowls yet want Cincinnati to taken seriously. The top teams in the Mountain West, MAC, C-USA, and Sun Belt would are probably better than every mid pack power conference team.

(07-17-2019 03:29 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  So, a tertiary question this all raises is: "What is the purpose of being a member of a conference?"

The answer to that question, of course, is that being a member of a conference is supposed to be mutually beneficial: the member school is supposed to benefit the Conference, the Conference is supposed to benefit the member school.

What does this have to do with the Bowl line-up? Well, are these bowls "better" than UC could wrangle on their own? Maybe...Maybe... But the answer is not so clear cut these days. Indeed, our main "hope" is that, if we cannot secure the NY6 bid, that UC would "get picked" to fill another conference's empty bid. If we end up falling into the AAC mash-up, we are looking, by-and-large, at games that UC probably could get on their own.

I'm not arguing that the bowl schedule is the reason UC should ditch the AAC, but I'm looking at the bowl line up and saying, "I can't find a compelling reason why we should stay in the AAC..." here.

There is no doubt UC is one of a hand full of programs whose revenue from the conference and bowl situation is not any better than it was 7 years ago. The dilemma is that there is nothing we can do about it. The P5 is not happening; the Indy/BE model will not happen for a variety of reasons; and going to another G5 conference would destroy our revenue sports. The powers that be has us by the short hairs.

(07-17-2019 11:04 PM)Nittany_Bearcat Wrote:  

(07-16-2019 12:55 PM)Cat-Man Wrote:  I wouldn't blame CLF one bit for leaving if he gets the offer for bigger and better things. Knowing these bowls are most likely my end of season reward for going 11-1 or 10-2 has to be depressing.

Yes. It's depressing.

Think about the contrast vs. 2011-2013. The Bearcats won 9 regular season games those years. 9-3 got them trips to either Memphis or Charlotte (solid mid-tier Bowls), along with an SEC or ACC opponent.

There's a pretty clear (and depressing) trajectory in terms of UC Bowl appearances:

(1) The Minter Years. 2 Motor City Bowls, 1 Boise Bowl, 1 New Orleans Bowl. Games against the MAC, Big West or Sun Belt. But that was still great! UC simply appearing in a Bowl game was great in itself.

(2) 2003-2007, the rise. 1 Fort Worth Bowl, 1 International Bowl, 1 Birmingham Bowl. Games against the MAC or C-USA. Not the big leagues, but a couple games were tied in with the Big East and it did feel like a step-up in Bowl quality vs. the previous Bowls.

(3) 2008-2009. Trips to Miami and New Orleans. THE big leagues!

(4) 2010-2013. The aforementioned Charlotte and Memphis Bowls. Solid rewards for a 9-3 team. Respectable ACC and SEC foes.

(5) 2014-2018. 2 Military Bowls and 1 Hawaii Bowl. Bluntly, a step down in quality from Charlotte and Memphis. Those Military Bowls were with 9- and 10-win teams also. Travelling to Hawaii on Christmas Eve is logistically impossible for nearly all UC fans.

(6) 2019-2025. ???

I worry about Cincinnati's future if it is tethered to the AAC beyond 2025. But UC can't force an invite to a Power 5 conference either. Hopefully it works out.

Great timeline about UC's rising (and falling) bowl fortunes. Looking at 2014-2018 too, those bowl performances were so poor under Tubs that last year's win over VT felt like a breakthrough. And others noticed with UC rising to the final Top 25.

While I'm not thrilled with the AAC bowl lineup, I still believe our brand and strong fan travel reputation are bigger factors than some here realize. A mid-tier bowl lacking a P5 fulfillment will call upon the Bearcats. Three of our last four AAC bowl games have been matchups with P5 opponents, despite lackluster performances by UC on the field during that period prior to last year.

(07-17-2019 05:28 PM)doss2 Wrote:  

(07-17-2019 02:58 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(07-17-2019 02:37 PM)Bearhawkeye Wrote:  

(07-16-2019 10:18 AM)cinbinsportsfan Wrote:  

(07-16-2019 10:08 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  Pretty much. There are 2-3 opportunities to get a 6-6 P5 team, but most of the games will be against CUSA and SBC opponents. A little disappointed the conference could not secure the Quick Lanes Bowl in Detroit vs. a B10 opponent. Seemed like that was going to happen but for whatever reason it fell through. Would have been an easy travel game for us. Not so sure what a bowl game in New Mexico does for anyone in the conference, including the Texas schools.

Honestly, that might be for the best.

If UC didn't make the Access Bowl, there's a good chance they'd be slotted for that game due to the fact that Cincinnati is the closest AAC team and Bearcats fans have a history of travelling well. And I'd much rather get the the coaches and players get a trip to Annapolis, Boston, etc. out of a successful season than Detroit. Plus, a chance for coaches to recruit new areas and whatnot.

I disagree. As far as fans and recruiting, a bowl game in Detroit is a very nice fit. Granted the weather will likely be very subpar, but it's not like the team and fans can't have a very good time for a few days in Detroit and/or Windsor. I'm not saying I want it every year, but I'm sure it would still be a memorable trip for all involved.

I remember two UC trips to a Detroit-based Bowl--back in the days of the Silverdome. Our fans turned out; it's a short drive and inexpensive trip for a family wanting a bowl experience. We had a good time.

The weather--well it's not Pasadena. But, we've been in dreadful cold in Birmingham and Charlotte too so unless you can get to the west coast or a tropical climate it's a risk for many of the December venues.

So I'd take Detroit as part of the rotation, especially with a B10 opponent.

The weather in Birmingham was decent enough to tailgate until it turned cold in the 4th Quarter of Ben Mauk overcoming USM. I suppose you were not there or your memory is bad. Charlotte (Belk) was similar.

Maybe because I was in the cheap seats in Charlotte conditions were different than you experienced.

We were layered up and still experienced a steady wind that dropped the chill factor that night to a very uncomfortable level. Birmingham was a day game, but just a damp chill as I recall. Certainly not the sunny south in either case for me.

Alternately, I think we all have good memories from Memphis as we caught some unseasonably warm, sunny weather that afternoon for the Liberty Bowl.

(07-18-2019 07:04 AM)bearcatlawjd2 Wrote:  

(07-17-2019 11:04 PM)Nittany_Bearcat Wrote:  

(07-16-2019 12:55 PM)Cat-Man Wrote:  I wouldn't blame CLF one bit for leaving if he gets the offer for bigger and better things. Knowing these bowls are most likely my end of season reward for going 11-1 or 10-2 has to be depressing.

Yes. It's depressing.

Think about the contrast vs. 2011-2013. The Bearcats won 9 regular season games those years. 9-3 got them trips to either Memphis or Charlotte (solid mid-tier Bowls), along with an SEC or ACC opponent.

There's a pretty clear (and depressing) trajectory in terms of UC Bowl appearances:

(1) The Minter Years. 2 Motor City Bowls, 1 Boise Bowl, 1 New Orleans Bowl. Games against the MAC, Big West or Sun Belt. But that was still great! UC simply appearing in a Bowl game was great in itself.

(2) 2003-2007, the rise. 1 Fort Worth Bowl, 1 International Bowl, 1 Birmingham Bowl. Games against the MAC or C-USA. Not the big leagues, but a couple games were tied in with the Big East and it did feel like a step-up in Bowl quality vs. the previous Bowls.

(3) 2008-2009. Trips to Miami and New Orleans. THE big leagues!

(4) 2010-2013. The aforementioned Charlotte and Memphis Bowls. Solid rewards for a 9-3 team. Respectable ACC and SEC foes.

(5) 2014-2018. 2 Military Bowls and 1 Hawaii Bowl. Bluntly, a step down in quality from Charlotte and Memphis. Those Military Bowls were with 9- and 10-win teams also. Travelling to Hawaii on Christmas Eve is logistically impossible for nearly all UC fans.

(6) 2019-2025. ???

I worry about Cincinnati's future if it is tethered to the AAC beyond 2025. But UC can't force an invite to a Power 5 conference either. Hopefully it works out.

I think we are to going to see changes made to playoff and potential realignment that benefits Cincinnati. If often discussed move to 8 playoff teams includes one G5 spot that is a game changer. If Oklahoma and Texas move on that also changes things in a positive way.

Bowl games are odd. We complain about playing G5 teams in bowls yet want Cincinnati to taken seriously. The top teams in the Mountain West, MAC, C-USA, and Sun Belt would are probably better than every mid pack power conference team.

This is the vicious nature of college football today. A middle-to-bottom tier P5 schools view UC the same way that we view a Sun Belt school. They have nothing to gain and everything to lose by playing UC; and UC is in the same boat when we play a school from the MAC/CUSA/Sunbelt/MWC. I blame ESPN really for all this hierarchization. In many ways anything below the P5 is akin to the "Untouchable" caste.

(07-18-2019 07:59 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(07-17-2019 05:28 PM)doss2 Wrote:  

(07-17-2019 02:58 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(07-17-2019 02:37 PM)Bearhawkeye Wrote:  

(07-16-2019 10:18 AM)cinbinsportsfan Wrote:  Honestly, that might be for the best.

If UC didn't make the Access Bowl, there's a good chance they'd be slotted for that game due to the fact that Cincinnati is the closest AAC team and Bearcats fans have a history of travelling well. And I'd much rather get the the coaches and players get a trip to Annapolis, Boston, etc. out of a successful season than Detroit. Plus, a chance for coaches to recruit new areas and whatnot.

I disagree. As far as fans and recruiting, a bowl game in Detroit is a very nice fit. Granted the weather will likely be very subpar, but it's not like the team and fans can't have a very good time for a few days in Detroit and/or Windsor. I'm not saying I want it every year, but I'm sure it would still be a memorable trip for all involved.

I remember two UC trips to a Detroit-based Bowl--back in the days of the Silverdome. Our fans turned out; it's a short drive and inexpensive trip for a family wanting a bowl experience. We had a good time.

The weather--well it's not Pasadena. But, we've been in dreadful cold in Birmingham and Charlotte too so unless you can get to the west coast or a tropical climate it's a risk for many of the December venues.

So I'd take Detroit as part of the rotation, especially with a B10 opponent.

The weather in Birmingham was decent enough to tailgate until it turned cold in the 4th Quarter of Ben Mauk overcoming USM. I suppose you were not there or your memory is bad. Charlotte (Belk) was similar.

Maybe because I was in the cheap seats in Charlotte conditions were different than you experienced.

We were layered up and still experienced a steady wind that dropped the chill factor that night to a very uncomfortable level. Birmingham was a day game, but just a damp chill as I recall. Certainly not the sunny south in either case for me.

Alternately, I think we all have good memories from Memphis as we caught some unseasonably warm, sunny weather that afternoon for the Liberty Bowl.

Memphis was quite nice that 12/31 day and taking out SEC Vandy was sweet.

(07-17-2019 06:51 PM)cincy7718 Wrote:  I’d like the top 2-3 bowls to be better, but beyond that does the 5th team from the conference really deserve better? Does it help the conference for them to get pounded in a better game? The AAC didn’t exactly dominate last years bowl slate.

Right. It's not realistic that the AAC will go five deep in quality bowls, but it's a real problem that it doesn't go 2-3 deep (assuming that the #1 AAC team will usually be in the access bowl). At least Aresco seems to recognize this, and is working on it.

(07-18-2019 08:34 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(07-18-2019 07:04 AM)bearcatlawjd2 Wrote:  

(07-17-2019 11:04 PM)Nittany_Bearcat Wrote:  

(07-16-2019 12:55 PM)Cat-Man Wrote:  I wouldn't blame CLF one bit for leaving if he gets the offer for bigger and better things. Knowing these bowls are most likely my end of season reward for going 11-1 or 10-2 has to be depressing.

Yes. It's depressing.

Think about the contrast vs. 2011-2013. The Bearcats won 9 regular season games those years. 9-3 got them trips to either Memphis or Charlotte (solid mid-tier Bowls), along with an SEC or ACC opponent.

There's a pretty clear (and depressing) trajectory in terms of UC Bowl appearances:

(1) The Minter Years. 2 Motor City Bowls, 1 Boise Bowl, 1 New Orleans Bowl. Games against the MAC, Big West or Sun Belt. But that was still great! UC simply appearing in a Bowl game was great in itself.

(2) 2003-2007, the rise. 1 Fort Worth Bowl, 1 International Bowl, 1 Birmingham Bowl. Games against the MAC or C-USA. Not the big leagues, but a couple games were tied in with the Big East and it did feel like a step-up in Bowl quality vs. the previous Bowls.

(3) 2008-2009. Trips to Miami and New Orleans. THE big leagues!

(4) 2010-2013. The aforementioned Charlotte and Memphis Bowls. Solid rewards for a 9-3 team. Respectable ACC and SEC foes.

(5) 2014-2018. 2 Military Bowls and 1 Hawaii Bowl. Bluntly, a step down in quality from Charlotte and Memphis. Those Military Bowls were with 9- and 10-win teams also. Travelling to Hawaii on Christmas Eve is logistically impossible for nearly all UC fans.

(6) 2019-2025. ???

I worry about Cincinnati's future if it is tethered to the AAC beyond 2025. But UC can't force an invite to a Power 5 conference either. Hopefully it works out.

I think we are to going to see changes made to playoff and potential realignment that benefits Cincinnati. If often discussed move to 8 playoff teams includes one G5 spot that is a game changer. If Oklahoma and Texas move on that also changes things in a positive way.

Bowl games are odd. We complain about playing G5 teams in bowls yet want Cincinnati to taken seriously. [b]The top teams in the Mountain West, MAC, C-USA, and Sun Belt would are probably better than every mid pack power conference team.[/b]

This is the vicious nature of college football today. A middle-to-bottom tier P5 schools view UC the same way that we view a Sun Belt school. They have nothing to gain and everything to lose by playing UC; and UC is in the same boat when we play a school from the MAC/CUSA/Sunbelt/MWC. I blame ESPN really for all this hierarchization. In many ways anything below the P5 is akin to the "Untouchable" caste.

Probably true, but beating a 6-6 Va Tech gets you more prestige points nationally than beating a 10-2 Marshall. It is what it is.

It's stupid, sure, but it is what it is.

(07-18-2019 12:38 PM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  

(07-18-2019 08:34 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(07-18-2019 07:04 AM)bearcatlawjd2 Wrote:  

(07-17-2019 11:04 PM)Nittany_Bearcat Wrote:  

(07-16-2019 12:55 PM)Cat-Man Wrote:  I wouldn't blame CLF one bit for leaving if he gets the offer for bigger and better things. Knowing these bowls are most likely my end of season reward for going 11-1 or 10-2 has to be depressing.

Yes. It's depressing.

Think about the contrast vs. 2011-2013. The Bearcats won 9 regular season games those years. 9-3 got them trips to either Memphis or Charlotte (solid mid-tier Bowls), along with an SEC or ACC opponent.

There's a pretty clear (and depressing) trajectory in terms of UC Bowl appearances:

(1) The Minter Years. 2 Motor City Bowls, 1 Boise Bowl, 1 New Orleans Bowl. Games against the MAC, Big West or Sun Belt. But that was still great! UC simply appearing in a Bowl game was great in itself.

(2) 2003-2007, the rise. 1 Fort Worth Bowl, 1 International Bowl, 1 Birmingham Bowl. Games against the MAC or C-USA. Not the big leagues, but a couple games were tied in with the Big East and it did feel like a step-up in Bowl quality vs. the previous Bowls.

(3) 2008-2009. Trips to Miami and New Orleans. THE big leagues!

(4) 2010-2013. The aforementioned Charlotte and Memphis Bowls. Solid rewards for a 9-3 team. Respectable ACC and SEC foes.

(5) 2014-2018. 2 Military Bowls and 1 Hawaii Bowl. Bluntly, a step down in quality from Charlotte and Memphis. Those Military Bowls were with 9- and 10-win teams also. Travelling to Hawaii on Christmas Eve is logistically impossible for nearly all UC fans.

(6) 2019-2025. ???

I worry about Cincinnati's future if it is tethered to the AAC beyond 2025. But UC can't force an invite to a Power 5 conference either. Hopefully it works out.

I think we are to going to see changes made to playoff and potential realignment that benefits Cincinnati. If often discussed move to 8 playoff teams includes one G5 spot that is a game changer. If Oklahoma and Texas move on that also changes things in a positive way.

Bowl games are odd. We complain about playing G5 teams in bowls yet want Cincinnati to taken seriously. [b]The top teams in the Mountain West, MAC, C-USA, and Sun Belt would are probably better than every mid pack power conference team.[/b]

This is the vicious nature of college football today. A middle-to-bottom tier P5 schools view UC the same way that we view a Sun Belt school. They have nothing to gain and everything to lose by playing UC; and UC is in the same boat when we play a school from the MAC/CUSA/Sunbelt/MWC. I blame ESPN really for all this hierarchization. In many ways anything below the P5 is akin to the "Untouchable" caste.

Probably true, but beating a 6-6 Va Tech gets you more prestige points nationally than beating a 10-2 Marshall. It is what it is.

It's stupid, sure, but it is what it is.

Nothing stupid about it. That 6-6 VT squad is probably the better team over a 10-2 Marshall that likely lost the only two meaningful games on the schedule.