Running bowl thread

Exactly - add ten to the total for the Pac-10 and see where they rank since, instead of adding a fourth non-conference game to play Charleston Southern, the conference voted to play a real round robin.

 

The Pac-10 does schedule relatively well, I will happily concede. But there's plenty of patsies to go around there, as well, not to mention everyone gets to play Washington State, which actually managed to go the entire season without ever leading in regulation.

 

desk, I think it was you who said Florida makes $3 million for a home game against Team X (I can't remember if it's a non-con like Charleston or whatever, but it's not important).

Why can't someone who has the cash to burn pay off some schlump of a team Florida plays and tell them to scram, and pay some schlump Boise plays and tell them to scram (basically paying Florida the $3 million it would've made against Team X), and then set up a game a la Oklahoma-BYU.

BYU paid its way into the game against Okie. Look what happened; and no, we're not using the excuse that Bradford got hurt. Injuries are part of the game. BYU knocked him out, BYU won the game.

At this point it's pointless to continue arguing this BCS facade. I mean, c'mon, who doesn't want to see Boise v. TCU for the second year in a row and 3rd time in 7 years? Those Fiesta think-tankers put a lot of thought into why this game will attract the millions and millions of viewers because they're both undefeated. Yeah, boy. I'm tuning in just because of that.

Anyway, we go back and forth about scheduling. If BYU can buy a team off the schedule for a chance to play Oklahoma, for all intents and purposes, in Oklahoma territory, then Florida can buy a patsie off its schedule, as can Boise, and schedule a season-opening game somewhere in the middle.

 

Agreed. Boise's got plenty of cash.

I do get frustrated with the idea -- and I'm not saying you're doing this -- that it's Florida's responsibility, and that it must be Florida standing in the way.

People say where's the incentive for Florida, but I counter that where's the incentive for Boise? They've played one tough game this year and gotten rewarded with a BCS bowl. If they play Florida, then yeah, maybe they get a shot at the title. But if they lose, even once, then it's back to the Poinsettia Bowl.

So forgive me if I don't necessarily buy the Boise line that 'oh, no one will play us, so we're gonna sit over here and pretend to pout.'

 

What am I making up?

 

I'm beyond the pissed-offed-ness (making that word up) about the system. Fuck, it is what it is, and ain't a thing we can do about it ... right now.

So, as for a scheduled game ... it's not even about "Florida's incentive" because I think there's more pressure on Boise to not just hang with Florida, but beat Florida -- because Boise has thumped its chest loud enough for America to hear. Any expectations from the game are squarely on Boise's shoulders. We know what Boise wants in terms of scheduling. Florida just has to show up and play. Boise has to show up and win. Huge difference.

You're right about this, too: Florida has zero to prove. But it's not about "proving" anything. It's really just about playing a football game. Florida shouldn't think it is above anybody. I don't think less of Florida. I wouldn't have this newfound respect for Florida if they said, OK, we'll play Boise.

It's more of wanting to see big-time schools' sense of adventure. Fresno, Boise, TCU ... they have plenty of that adventurous spirit. Fresno could easily schedule Eastern Michigan for a season-ending game. Instead, they schedule a game in Champagne. (And I'm wondering if that game was scheduled 2 years ago after Illinois won the Big 10; again, Fresno shouldn't be punished because Illinois reverted back to shit status since then.)

 

The idea of patsy non-con schedules, or at least the idea that they're any more prevalent in the major conferences than in the WAC and MWC.

 

But I'm suuuurrrreeee if WAC schools like Boise or Mountain West Schools like BYU, TCU or Utah called SEC schools to arrange non-conference games, they'd all be running out to play them...... :

 

How much of it is about saving face, though?

Is it easier for the SEC uberfans to accept a loss to Washington or USC or Stanford, because at least it's the Pac 10, than it is to accept a loss to Boise or TCU?

I think it's a fair question.

 

I never said they were more prevalent in major conferences than in the WAC or the MWC. Not once. Break out the jump to conclusions mat often?

Since you like the SEC so much:
Florida: Charleston Southern, Troy, FIU, lone exception 6-6 FSU
Alabama: Chattanooga, North Texas, FIU, lone exception Virginia Tech
Georgia: a clear exception to the rule with OK State, ASU and Geo Tech (Tenn Tech aside)
Auburn: La Tech, Ball State, Furman, lone exception West Virginia
Tennessee: Western KY, Ohio (although was MAC contender), Memphis, lone exception UCLA
Ole Miss: Memphis, SE Louisiana, UAB, NAU
LSU: Washington, UL-Lafayette, Tulane, La Tech
Arkansas: Missouri State, E Michigan, Troy and Texas A&M
S. Carolina: FAU, NC State, SC State, lone exception rival Clemson
Kentucky: Miami Ohio, Louisville, UL-Monroe, E. Ky
Vandy: W. Carolina, Rice, Army, lone exception Ga. Tech
Miss State: Jackson State, Middle Tennessee, exceptions Houston and Ga. Tech

Aside from Georgia I have no idea where my perception came from.
That's a list of world beaters.

 

This was your original question: What better matchups could have happened for both TCU and Boise that would have been feasable within the framework of the bowl structure and the pecking order for picking teams this season?

And I answered it. Not based on ticket sales, not based on conspiracy theories, but on "what better matchups" could the BCS have provided within the framework of the bowl structure and the pecking order for picking teams. And I think those two games do provide better matchups. The only difference from what happened Sunday would have been the last and second-to-last picks.

Seeing TCU and Boise State play in a bowl for the third time in seven years comes off a little stale compared to what we might have gotten with TCU-Cincy and Florida-Boise State.

 

Memphis is a rivalry game for Ole Miss. It's a way to get recruiting exposure in that city for Tennessee, which is six hours away.

And just how is NC State not a credible non-conference game for South Carolina?