3 whopping days since the last reply in this thread, and it was by me
![:\](https://bluelight.org/xf/BL_Images/Orig_Emoji/wrygrin.gif "wry grin :\")
/stands-up
Hi, I'm TLB and I'm a NCAAF junkie
/waves-to-all
I'm doing my best not to hog up this thread, so I'm scrounging for anything to raise the discussion here. Hell, I've churned thought the blogs on ESPN for the other conferences looking for topics to bring up. I mean, there's been no real buzz about any of the bowl games, and even the awards ceremonies haven't been brought up regarding even the Heisman. I mean, there's some media noise trying to misconstrue Tebow's comments, but overall .... crickets
Looks like the Pac10 is pretty much
stuck with 2nd tier bowl games other than the champ going to the BCS:
To be fair, the league has improved its bowl lineup in recent years with the creation of, and partnerships with, the Emerald and Poinsettia bowls. And seven tie-ins for a 10-team league is perfectly respectable.
But there’s still a big hole: The lack of a second January bowl to accompany the Rose.
There have been discussions in the past about moving the Holiday, but bowl and conferences officials ultimately decided that would be counterproductive.
Their reasoning: If the Holiday were to move to Jan. 1, it would have to start at 10 or 11 a.m. to finish before the start of the Rose Bowl. At that time of day, it would be competing with a handful of Florida bowls. But by staying on Dec. 27, the Holiday has a broadcast window all to itself.
“I hear the Jan. 1 thing frequently,’ Muldoon said, “and it’s so 1970s.”
The current Pac-10 bowl lineup will remain in place for several more years. When the league renegotiates its contracts, it might try to cut a deal with the Alamo Bowl.
It sounds great for the Pac-10: a fun city (San Antonio) in a nice facility (Alamodome) against a major conference (Big 12).
The only question is, would the Alamo want the Pac-10?
There is a basic part of this - Pac10 fans don't have the attraction to travel to TX or FL for bowl games, so why invite them? It's equally obvious that the Big10+1 and other teams in the North and MW are excited by the opportunity to get some fun'n'sun over new years. That is, except for
OSU fans (historically some of the best travelled fans):
Buckeye fan Janice Paudicz has been to three bowl games in Phoenix, including the national-title games in January 2007 and January 2003.
She won't be in Arizona, however, when No. 10 Ohio State plays No. 3 Texas.
"When they announced (the destination), my husband and I just looked at each other. It was, 'Do you want to go there again? No, I don't, either.'
...
What's more, he added, OSU's blowout losses in recent bowl games -- to Louisiana State last season and Florida the season before -- could be giving fans pause.
"Some customers said they just don't want to pay to see the Buckeyes get killed again."
Still another drawback, Matthews said, is timing: Jan. 5 is the Monday after the end of the traditional Christmas school holiday.
You can point to Buckeye fans being 'spoiled' or 'burned out', and you can point to the economy if you wish. Hell, you could even point to the 'school schedule', but I doubt that holds water because they've had no trouble travelling those days the past 2 yrs
But the fans are down in general, it appears. And does it really feel that OSU's recent losses have soured the image of the Big10+1? Does it really feel (to people outside that region) that PSU suffered in the polls because of the conference image? Hell, they got a lot of bowl invites, and while they are pegged as underdogs in a lot of them they at least got there - several of them being Jan 1 games.
Heh, any thoughts on the recent coaching changes, like
ISU losing their coach to Auburn:
Congrats to Gene Chizik for landing the Auburn job. Never has a five-win resume and a 10-game losing streak spread over two college seasons been so well-received. Love Chizik
Good times ahead for AU, indeed. Another morsel to kick about from that same link:
You think Texas is going to tear up Ohio State? Still not sure here. Depends entirely on whether the Buckeyes want to be in Arizona yet again. I do think Will Muschamp will put the clamps on Terrelle Pryor, who ranks 95th nationally in total offense. Over/under for Pryor completions should be about 10. Or fewer.
Yeah, that writer is based in TX, but do you think this Big12 'all offense, no defense' conference representative in this matchup will be able to shut down the freshman? Or will he still slide and glide his way to a win? I still feel OSU is way overmatched in this game. And while the hack on the Big12 is their defense, I still see TX having a solid one to put up against OSU. Here's a question - OSU failed against UF's spread'n'shred, failed against LSU's riverboat gambler....are they going to be able to even stay on the field with the high powered offense they will face? It's not your Big10+1 game of 3yds and a cloud of dust, this is a REAL offense. Can the OSU defense live up to the game, and actually get any sacks on this QB?
Speaking of Big10+1 matchups...any thoughts on MSU vs UGA? All the writeups are on the 2 running backs, and rightfully so - but nobody says much about MSU's defense....should they? Or is it not really much to talk about? There's some thought of Ringer wanting to go out on a big win (he mentioned something like 3 TDs, 200 yds rushing, 25+ carries)....but then there is the question of UGA's defense being decent and good enough to keep him in check...if they show up. No real talk on what Knowshon will hope to do, or any even whiff of comment about MSU's chances of shutting down Stafford or Moreno
Let's take the
other Big10+1 team of PSU and their matchup with USC. All I can find in the news is stuff about Pete Carroll's recent interview on CBS with 60 minutes (didn't catch it) and Joe Pa trying like hell to get back on the sidelines. There was a blurb about the backup QB for PSU transferring, and Joe Pa essentially telling him 'leave now, you will be a distraction' ... so does that help or hurt PSU at all. I mean, there
is still a game to be played....you know, the "Grandaddy of them All?" Or has it lost it's luster after it's teams had to settle for the :gasp: Rose Bowl, instead of the NC? Does this mark the beginning of the end for the old fart ... I mean, Grandaddy ... such that it will finally let go of it's roadblock on moving towards a more playoff like system?
So, how about it? Pac10 bowl woes? Big10+1 chances in bowl matchups? Any comment on how there was a struggle to get enough teams to qualify for bowl games, and overall we're left with a real 'eehhhhh' feeling about this season? Is it a reflection of the economy, or of a sub-par NCAAF season? I mean, yeah, we don't get any games until this weekend, and even then we're watching crap bowls for awhile, but we can still talk right? Or is it me? My breath? My deodorant? C'mon, talk to me. Please! Hell, I'll even go with faris' link on a pick'em. We've got time to have a competition for a custom title or just a pick'em for the helluvit. Anyone? Buehler? .... Buehler???
If you want a game at the horseshoe, make your climate habitable in january.