Bowl game viewership went down overall ... with all the cancellations, and bowl parades cancelled, I can see why majority of casual viewers were turned off.

(01-13-2021 07:19 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(01-13-2021 06:09 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  IMO, the main reason for the tanking rating was playing the game the day after a weekend of NFL playoff games. All of the sports world focus and chatter on Monday was on those games. Sucked the oxygen out of the room.

Well there was a lot of political news too sucking the air out of everything.

I am a very political person, but political news has never interfered with my sports viewing, they are separate realms. It's not like I'm going to skip a football game to watch CNN or FOX talking heads bloviate on covid-19 statistics or whatever Trump was up to today, LOL.

(01-13-2021 11:22 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(01-13-2021 07:19 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(01-13-2021 06:09 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  IMO, the main reason for the tanking rating was playing the game the day after a weekend of NFL playoff games. All of the sports world focus and chatter on Monday was on those games. Sucked the oxygen out of the room.

Well there was a lot of political news too sucking the air out of everything.

I am a very political person, but political news has never interfered with my sports viewing, they are separate realms. It's not like I'm going to skip a football game to watch CNN or FOX talking heads bloviate on covid-19 statistics or whatever Trump was up to today, LOL.

I'm just saying it was a distraction from the promotions. I didn't hear a thing outside ESPN about the title game. Normally the mouse would be promoting it everywhere they could.

(01-13-2021 07:21 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  

(01-13-2021 03:07 PM)RUScarlets Wrote:  There wasn't a marquee QB featured in these games. I don't think Lawrence would have made a difference due to the saturation of Clemson. I also agree that they have to get off Monday night. I was so crapped out with football and all the NFL head coaching firings coming out the following Monday that I forgot the title game was happening until deep into the 1st half. I tuned into ESPN Gamecast and the score was already out of hand. Didn't watch a minute of it aside from highlights of Smith.

Really? Fields is projected top 5 in the NFL Draft.

And let's not forget Mac Jones was a Heisman finalist. It was a pretty darn good tandem of QBs.

(01-14-2021 04:10 AM)AllTideUp Wrote:  

(01-13-2021 07:21 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  

(01-13-2021 03:07 PM)RUScarlets Wrote:  There wasn't a marquee QB featured in these games. I don't think Lawrence would have made a difference due to the saturation of Clemson. I also agree that they have to get off Monday night. I was so crapped out with football and all the NFL head coaching firings coming out the following Monday that I forgot the title game was happening until deep into the 1st half. I tuned into ESPN Gamecast and the score was already out of hand. Didn't watch a minute of it aside from highlights of Smith.

Really? Fields is projected top 5 in the NFL Draft.

And let's not forget Mac Jones was a Heisman finalist. It was a pretty darn good tandem of QBs.

Yes, the "unknown QB" argument doesn't make sense. These two were not as well-known as Trevor Lawrence and Joe Burrow last year, but they were close. Fields has been touted for the Heisman since last year, and while Jones was initially unknown, that changed dramatically and swiftly as he racked up numbers.

IMO, since the NFL ratings also tanked, we have to look at reasons that do not apply to college football alone to understand the CFP title game ratings. Yes, everyone with an ax to grind about the current structure of college football wants to seize on them to push their point, but the evidence doesn't suggest any such linkages.

(01-14-2021 09:15 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(01-14-2021 04:10 AM)AllTideUp Wrote:  

(01-13-2021 07:21 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  

(01-13-2021 03:07 PM)RUScarlets Wrote:  There wasn't a marquee QB featured in these games. I don't think Lawrence would have made a difference due to the saturation of Clemson. I also agree that they have to get off Monday night. I was so crapped out with football and all the NFL head coaching firings coming out the following Monday that I forgot the title game was happening until deep into the 1st half. I tuned into ESPN Gamecast and the score was already out of hand. Didn't watch a minute of it aside from highlights of Smith.

Really? Fields is projected top 5 in the NFL Draft.

And let's not forget Mac Jones was a Heisman finalist. It was a pretty darn good tandem of QBs.

Yes, the "unknown QB" argument doesn't make sense. These two were not as well-known as Trevor Lawrence and Joe Burrow last year, but they were close. Fields has been touted for the Heisman since last year, and while Jones was initially unknown, that changed dramatically and swiftly as he racked up numbers.

IMO, since the NFL ratings also tanked, we have to look at reasons that do not apply to college football alone to understand the CFP title game ratings. Yes, everyone with an ax to grind about the current structure of college football wants to seize on them to push their point, but the evidence doesn't suggest any such linkages.

You just don't want to admit it.

Title game LOWER than semi-finals. That is a huge red flag.

(01-14-2021 09:52 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(01-14-2021 09:15 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(01-14-2021 04:10 AM)AllTideUp Wrote:  

(01-13-2021 07:21 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  

(01-13-2021 03:07 PM)RUScarlets Wrote:  There wasn't a marquee QB featured in these games. I don't think Lawrence would have made a difference due to the saturation of Clemson. I also agree that they have to get off Monday night. I was so crapped out with football and all the NFL head coaching firings coming out the following Monday that I forgot the title game was happening until deep into the 1st half. I tuned into ESPN Gamecast and the score was already out of hand. Didn't watch a minute of it aside from highlights of Smith.

Really? Fields is projected top 5 in the NFL Draft.

And let's not forget Mac Jones was a Heisman finalist. It was a pretty darn good tandem of QBs.

Yes, the "unknown QB" argument doesn't make sense. These two were not as well-known as Trevor Lawrence and Joe Burrow last year, but they were close. Fields has been touted for the Heisman since last year, and while Jones was initially unknown, that changed dramatically and swiftly as he racked up numbers.

IMO, since the NFL ratings also tanked, we have to look at reasons that do not apply to college football alone to understand the CFP title game ratings. Yes, everyone with an ax to grind about the current structure of college football wants to seize on them to push their point, but the evidence doesn't suggest any such linkages.

You just don't want to admit it.

Title game LOWER than semi-finals. That is a huge red flag.

Problem is, the NFL playoff ratings were in the tank too. That suggests something else, something beyond the details of college football, was at work.

Maybe it was indeed politics? But it wasn't something specific to CFB.

8-Team Playoff here we come! The Alabama dynasty is hurting ratings but I really hope Texas A&M takes down the juggernaut. Also with an 8-Team Playoff there is a chance to get upsets which can change these match-up's.

One way to keep more on scholarship yet increase parity.

Single Platoon football with a Varsity Team playing a conference/national schedule and a JV Team that plays a regional schedule (Bus as much as possible).

(01-14-2021 04:52 PM)TexanMark Wrote:  One way to keep more on scholarship yet increase parity.

I just don't see parity as a problem. College football has always been about elites and have-nots. Been that way for 100 years. Very little turnover and churn with regards to that.

If anyone is worried about dominance going forward, forget about Alabama and think about Clemson and Ohio State. Saban is 70, he will be winding down soon enough one way or the other. Clemson and Ohio State have young coaches who could be fielding dominant teams for the next 20 years.

Dominance is the way of the world, but things get churned up from time to time.

(01-13-2021 10:31 AM)ArmyBlazer Wrote:  A lot of yall have given potential reasons for the decline and potential solutions more adequately than I probably could, so I'll just echo some of the prevailing sentiments.

I didn't really watch any of the playoffs. It's not because I'm an alum/fan of a G5 school either. I love college football and I've always consumed as much of it as I could. I didn't watch because it's boring now. This is still entertainment and the predictability of it takes away all the fun. It sucks knowing exactly how the season will play out before it even starts. I'm starting to gravitate more towards the NFL now because at least there's some excitement during their playoffs.

Also, a late kickoff on a work night doesn't help.

I'll also add that I agree that everything should be taken with a grain of salt due to the pandemic. However, my point about how boring CFB is becoming still stands.

This. College football has gotten so dull and predictable, it’s almost hard for me to root for UAB anymore because, what’s the point? They’re never going to get a chance to do anything special on a national scale. I still support the team since it’s my Alma mater, but between the predictability and idiot t-shirt fans telling me my team sucks, my enthusiasm for college football is at an all time low. I’ve gone all-in on the NFL the past 5 years or so, and I don’t think I’ll ever watch another college football game that doesn’t involve UAB. Plus, it frees up my Saturdays outside of those 3 hours.

(01-14-2021 11:25 PM)Blazer4Life14 Wrote:  

(01-13-2021 10:31 AM)ArmyBlazer Wrote:  A lot of yall have given potential reasons for the decline and potential solutions more adequately than I probably could, so I'll just echo some of the prevailing sentiments.

I didn't really watch any of the playoffs. It's not because I'm an alum/fan of a G5 school either. I love college football and I've always consumed as much of it as I could. I didn't watch because it's boring now. This is still entertainment and the predictability of it takes away all the fun. It sucks knowing exactly how the season will play out before it even starts. I'm starting to gravitate more towards the NFL now because at least there's some excitement during their playoffs.

Also, a late kickoff on a work night doesn't help.

I'll also add that I agree that everything should be taken with a grain of salt due to the pandemic. However, my point about how boring CFB is becoming still stands.

This. College football has gotten so dull and predictable, it’s almost hard for me to root for UAB anymore because, what’s the point? They’re never going to get a chance to do anything special on a national scale. I still support the team since it’s my Alma mater, but between the predictability and idiot t-shirt fans telling me my team sucks, my enthusiasm for college football is at an all time low. I’ve gone all-in on the NFL the past 5 years or so, and I don’t think I’ll ever watch another college football game that doesn’t involve UAB. Plus, it frees up my Saturdays outside of those 3 hours.

Has gotten predictable? Or has always been like this for fans of G5 schools?

Teams like UTEP and UAB have never had a seat at the table. Our teams have never competed for national titles or even access bowls.

(01-14-2021 11:25 PM)Blazer4Life14 Wrote:  

(01-13-2021 10:31 AM)ArmyBlazer Wrote:  A lot of yall have given potential reasons for the decline and potential solutions more adequately than I probably could, so I'll just echo some of the prevailing sentiments.

I didn't really watch any of the playoffs. It's not because I'm an alum/fan of a G5 school either. I love college football and I've always consumed as much of it as I could. I didn't watch because it's boring now. This is still entertainment and the predictability of it takes away all the fun. It sucks knowing exactly how the season will play out before it even starts. I'm starting to gravitate more towards the NFL now because at least there's some excitement during their playoffs.

Also, a late kickoff on a work night doesn't help.

I'll also add that I agree that everything should be taken with a grain of salt due to the pandemic. However, my point about how boring CFB is becoming still stands.

This. College football has gotten so dull and predictable, it’s almost hard for me to root for UAB anymore because, what’s the point? They’re never going to get a chance to do anything special on a national scale. I still support the team since it’s my Alma mater, but between the predictability and idiot t-shirt fans telling me my team sucks, my enthusiasm for college football is at an all time low. I’ve gone all-in on the NFL the past 5 years or so, and I don’t think I’ll ever watch another college football game that doesn’t involve UAB. Plus, it frees up my Saturdays outside of those 3 hours.

I'm about in the same boat. I'll always keep up with UAB because that's home and I'll nominally keep up with Tennessee because I'm a masochist, but that's it now.

It's funny that you mention getting snide remarks from sidewalk alumni fans. Those are actually the only ones that have ever given me grief about being a UAB fan (it's been rare, though). My friends/family that are alums of P5 schools have generally totally understood why I would want to cheer for my alma mater.

(01-14-2021 11:25 PM)Blazer4Life14 Wrote:  

(01-13-2021 10:31 AM)ArmyBlazer Wrote:  A lot of yall have given potential reasons for the decline and potential solutions more adequately than I probably could, so I'll just echo some of the prevailing sentiments.

I didn't really watch any of the playoffs. It's not because I'm an alum/fan of a G5 school either. I love college football and I've always consumed as much of it as I could. I didn't watch because it's boring now. This is still entertainment and the predictability of it takes away all the fun. It sucks knowing exactly how the season will play out before it even starts. I'm starting to gravitate more towards the NFL now because at least there's some excitement during their playoffs.

Also, a late kickoff on a work night doesn't help.

I'll also add that I agree that everything should be taken with a grain of salt due to the pandemic. However, my point about how boring CFB is becoming still stands.

This. College football has gotten so dull and predictable, it’s almost hard for me to root for UAB anymore because, what’s the point? They’re never going to get a chance to do anything special on a national scale.

You mean like they had back in the 1990s?

Oh wait a minute ....

(01-14-2021 11:33 PM)PicksUp Wrote:  Has gotten predictable? Or has always been like this for fans of G5 schools?

Teams like UTEP and UAB have never had a seat at the table. Our teams have never competed for national titles or even access bowls.

Yes, this attitude baffles me. In the pre-BCS era, not only did G5-type schools not have more of a chance to gain some shine on a national scale, they had considerably LESS chance to do so.

These days, a school like UAB can play all of their games on national TV and then if they have a measly 6-6 record usually do the same in a bowl game. And if they had a great season and go 12-0, quite possible play in an NY6 bowl game. That's all very real right now.

In 1994, a school like UAB would have been absolutely invisible. No televised games, virtually no chance at a bowl game unless winning 8 or more games, and absolutely zero chance at an NY6 bowl, all while being paid nothing.

In 2000, UAB went 7-4 and did not play in a bowl. Last year, in 2019, two CUSA teams that went 6-6 played in bowls.

There has *never* been a better time to be a UAB-type program than ... right now, and yet never has there been more whining.

(01-15-2021 01:04 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(01-14-2021 11:33 PM)PicksUp Wrote:  Has gotten predictable? Or has always been like this for fans of G5 schools?

Teams like UTEP and UAB have never had a seat at the table. Our teams have never competed for national titles or even access bowls.

Yes, this attitude baffles me. In the pre-BCS era, not only did G5-type schools not have more of a chance to gain some shine on a national scale, they had considerably LESS chance to do so.

These days, a school like UAB can play all of their games on national TV and then if they have a measly 6-6 record usually do the same in a bowl game. And if they had a great season and go 12-0, quite possible play in an NY6 bowl game. That's all very real right now.

In 1994, a school like UAB would have been absolutely invisible. No televised games, virtually no chance at a bowl game unless winning 8 or more games, and absolutely zero chance at an NY6 bowl, all while being paid nothing.

In 2000, UAB went 7-4 and did not play in a bowl. Last year, in 2019, two CUSA teams that went 6-6 played in bowls.

There has *never* been a better time to be a UAB-type program than ... right now, and yet never has there been more whining.

to a socialist like you a free market capitalist would indeed be baffling to you

(01-15-2021 01:04 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(01-14-2021 11:33 PM)PicksUp Wrote:  Has gotten predictable? Or has always been like this for fans of G5 schools?

Teams like UTEP and UAB have never had a seat at the table. Our teams have never competed for national titles or even access bowls.

Yes, this attitude baffles me. In the pre-BCS era, not only did G5-type schools not have more of a chance to gain some shine on a national scale, they had considerably LESS chance to do so.

These days, a school like UAB can play all of their games on national TV and then if they have a measly 6-6 record usually do the same in a bowl game. And if they had a great season and go 12-0, quite possible play in an NY6 bowl game. That's all very real right now.

In 1994, a school like UAB would have been absolutely invisible. No televised games, virtually no chance at a bowl game unless winning 8 or more games, and absolutely zero chance at an NY6 bowl, all while being paid nothing.

In 2000, UAB went 7-4 and did not play in a bowl. Last year, in 2019, two CUSA teams that went 6-6 played in bowls.

There has *never* been a better time to be a UAB-type program than ... right now, and yet never has there been more whining.

to a socialist like you a free market capitalist would indeed be baffling to you

(01-15-2021 06:08 PM)JHS55 Wrote:  

(01-15-2021 01:04 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(01-14-2021 11:33 PM)PicksUp Wrote:  Has gotten predictable? Or has always been like this for fans of G5 schools?

Teams like UTEP and UAB have never had a seat at the table. Our teams have never competed for national titles or even access bowls.

Yes, this attitude baffles me. In the pre-BCS era, not only did G5-type schools not have more of a chance to gain some shine on a national scale, they had considerably LESS chance to do so.

These days, a school like UAB can play all of their games on national TV and then if they have a measly 6-6 record usually do the same in a bowl game. And if they had a great season and go 12-0, quite possible play in an NY6 bowl game. That's all very real right now.

In 1994, a school like UAB would have been absolutely invisible. No televised games, virtually no chance at a bowl game unless winning 8 or more games, and absolutely zero chance at an NY6 bowl, all while being paid nothing.

In 2000, UAB went 7-4 and did not play in a bowl. Last year, in 2019, two CUSA teams that went 6-6 played in bowls.

There has *never* been a better time to be a UAB-type program than ... right now, and yet never has there been more whining.

to a socialist like you a free market capitalist would indeed be baffling to you

This comment made so little sense that you felt the need to make it twice?

(01-15-2021 06:08 PM)JHS55 Wrote:  

(01-15-2021 01:04 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(01-14-2021 11:33 PM)PicksUp Wrote:  Has gotten predictable? Or has always been like this for fans of G5 schools?

Teams like UTEP and UAB have never had a seat at the table. Our teams have never competed for national titles or even access bowls.

Yes, this attitude baffles me. In the pre-BCS era, not only did G5-type schools not have more of a chance to gain some shine on a national scale, they had considerably LESS chance to do so.

These days, a school like UAB can play all of their games on national TV and then if they have a measly 6-6 record usually do the same in a bowl game. And if they had a great season and go 12-0, quite possible play in an NY6 bowl game. That's all very real right now.

In 1994, a school like UAB would have been absolutely invisible. No televised games, virtually no chance at a bowl game unless winning 8 or more games, and absolutely zero chance at an NY6 bowl, all while being paid nothing.

In 2000, UAB went 7-4 and did not play in a bowl. Last year, in 2019, two CUSA teams that went 6-6 played in bowls.

There has *never* been a better time to be a UAB-type program than ... right now, and yet never has there been more whining.

to a socialist like you a free market capitalist would indeed be baffling to you

Commies and socialists want fairness and a have a “trophy for everyone” mentality. More teams in the playoff is socialist.

(01-15-2021 08:13 PM)PicksUp Wrote:  

(01-15-2021 06:08 PM)JHS55 Wrote:  

(01-15-2021 01:04 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(01-14-2021 11:33 PM)PicksUp Wrote:  Has gotten predictable? Or has always been like this for fans of G5 schools?

Teams like UTEP and UAB have never had a seat at the table. Our teams have never competed for national titles or even access bowls.

Yes, this attitude baffles me. In the pre-BCS era, not only did G5-type schools not have more of a chance to gain some shine on a national scale, they had considerably LESS chance to do so.

These days, a school like UAB can play all of their games on national TV and then if they have a measly 6-6 record usually do the same in a bowl game. And if they had a great season and go 12-0, quite possible play in an NY6 bowl game. That's all very real right now.

In 1994, a school like UAB would have been absolutely invisible. No televised games, virtually no chance at a bowl game unless winning 8 or more games, and absolutely zero chance at an NY6 bowl, all while being paid nothing.

In 2000, UAB went 7-4 and did not play in a bowl. Last year, in 2019, two CUSA teams that went 6-6 played in bowls.

There has *never* been a better time to be a UAB-type program than ... right now, and yet never has there been more whining.

to a socialist like you a free market capitalist would indeed be baffling to you

Commies and socialists want fairness and a have a “trophy for everyone” mentality. More teams in the playoff is socialist.

Can we count on you to give back your social security and Medicare?

Very little is denser than the head of economic Libertarian who thinks working markets just magically exist and regulate themselves. It takes a number of teams to play football. You need to agree on the rules. You need to have fans. Fans need to know what to expect. In a capitalstic model there would only be about 8-12 college football programs playing P-5 football.

Alabama football exists because Bama has other schools to play and some of those schools fans think they can win the game. The economic and political education in this country is horrible.