How Important do you guys think the bowl game is?

[Rudy89]

I was curious as to how my fellow posters felt about the bowl game. Since we know we are not going to be going to the BCS how important is our bowl going to be to you? Do you look at it as a championship game and a must win game? Do you look at it as nothing more than a tool for extra practices and experience for younger players is more important than the result? Do you look at it as just a fun way to end the season and a cool way to reward our boys for working hard all year with some cool swag and a trip to a nice location in the winter? Do you feel that it is a combination?

When I was younger I always thought any bowl game was like a championship and was the most important game of the year. As I got older and now especially when some games arent even given names that sound respectable and theyre just giant advertisments that feeling has changed and I look at our rivalry games as being more important than bowls with the exception of BCS games. This year while I would love for some of the great players to go out holding a trophy and as a winner but I'm excited about Hendrix more than likely getting some 1st team reps but what do you all think and how do you look at our upcoming bowl game?

 

[ShamrockOnHelmet]

The bowls are just exhibition games. Its important for the extra practices and prep for next year. They are cool to go to because the parties are usually solid. But they are not meaningful in any real way to me. The only ones that really matter to me are the BCS title game, the Orange and Rose Bowls. Not so much the Fiesta, I remember when it was an upstart bowl, and the Cotton was much more prestigious.

 

[BeauBenken]

Winning a bowl game is always important. A 9-4 ND team will get more love from a 2013 recruit than a 8-4 or 8-5 ND team.

 

[aubeirish]

We need to get as much experience we can get for next year... 15 practices and one more game go a long way.

 

[pkt77242]

Winning a bowl game is always important. A 9-4 ND team will get more love from a 2013 recruit than a 8-4 or 8-5 ND team.

^This. Really important to recruits.

 

[philipm31]

The bowls are just exhibition games. Its important for the extra practices and prep for next year. They are cool to go to because the parties are usually solid. But they are not meaningful in any real way to me. The only ones that really matter to me are the BCS title game, the Orange and Rose Bowls. Not so much the Fiesta, I remember when it was an upstart bowl, and the Cotton was much more prestigious.

Last time that ND won a National Title was in the Fiesta Bowl, so it holds a special place in my heart.

As does the Sugar Bowl, because I got to see Dr. Lou outsmart the HBC in NOLA in the "Cheerios Bowl".

So, yeah, the BCS bowls mean everything, especially to an independent team like ND. I would like to win the bowl game, but I am not going to stress about it too much.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

15 practices is 15 practices... And some of those are set aside for the younger guys to exclusively showcase their abilities.... I'll take it.

 

[BGIF]

I was curious as to how my fellow posters felt about the bowl game. Since we know we are not going to be going to the BCS how important is our bowl going to be to you? Do you look at it as a championship game and a must win game? Do you look at it as nothing more than a tool for extra practices and experience for younger players is more important than the result? Do you look at it as just a fun way to end the season and a cool way to reward our boys for working hard all year with some cool swag and a trip to a nice location in the winter? Do you feel that it is a combination?

When I was younger I always thought any bowl game was like a championship and was the most important game of the year. As I got older and now especially when some games arent even given names that sound respectable and theyre just giant advertisments that feeling has changed and I look at our rivalry games as being more important than bowls with the exception of BCS games. This year while I would love for some of the great players to go out holding a trophy and as a winner but I'm excited about Hendrix more than likely getting some 1st team reps but what do you all think and how do you look at our upcoming bowl game?

The bowls are first and foremost about making money for the Chambers of Commerce and more recently for the participants. Up until the early 60's they were exhibition games. The Final Polls were taken at the end of the regular season.

If you don't go to win, stay home.

A win is important to the develop of this team.

If Hendricks is truly The Man, he and the others get 15 practices to work on timing and decisions and 4 quarters to mature. No need to wait until Spring Ball.

A win is important in the battle with UM for All-Time Winningest Percentage Team.

To Floyd and the others departing it's a chance to go out a winner.

To recruiting it's an uptick.

To the instant gratification fans it will be one more opportunity to bitch regardless of the outcome. Something for everybody.

 

[GreatGolson]

for a brand new qb (hendrix) those 15 practices make all the difference, he needs thise 1st team reps, idk why, but seeing his flashes (the td drive, the escaped sack, rushing, accuracy ect) made me really excited, i hope we get to play the criminoles in the champs bowl, consider it Hendrix's arrival party

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Bowl games set the tone for the entire off-season. A win boosts recruiting and gives us momentum that we carry into Spring camp.

 

[RallySonsOfND]

Going 9-4 after an 8-5 season shows progress.

Even though some of us see the progress made regardless.

 

[GBdomer]

HTCI i was as big as a Rees fan as you. I am glad you switched sides.

 

[EifertPower]

Had we beaten Stanford last night I wouldn't have felt it was that important, but since we lost i do see it as very important for a variety of reasons:

1. Some of us had loftier expectations for this season but 8-4 with a bowl win is definitely visible improvement seen by everyone in the nation. And this came when we had a horrific start to the season at 0-2, lost to a terrible South Florida team, and never really knew or trusted our QB the whole season and the QB position was our biggest weakness on offense. Plus, the fact that assuming we play either Clemson, VA tech, Florida State, Virginia, or Georgia Tech, i believe any of these teams are a better opponent than Miami was last year. So its a better bowl, a better opponent, and a better win.

2. I don't think we'll lose any recruits and we could gain some with a nice win and a 9-4 season.

3. Bowl games carry a lot of weight for the next season's preseason Top 25. If we lose, we will not start of the year ranked in the Top 25. If we win then i'm pretty sure we will.

 

[irishtrain]

Not very important/9-4/8-5 not much difference. They wil beat an inferior team and lose to a team that is better. Its that simple. Bowl games today are just a chance to get more practice. Hopefully its more practice for Hendrix. Who remembers a bowl game unless its a big one against an opponent that is highly regarded. This program has taken one small step ahead in atttitude but they still need players. The depth is killing them or lack of it. I cant put my finger on it as I am not close to the program but from a distance something seems to be lacking. The way the played the first half on offense against Stanford to me is just unacceptable. As I said I'm not that close to the program and just a subway alum who sees this team as no more than a top 30 in the nation. For me thats just not good enough and once again its a long year to some type of improvement.

 

[Long Time Irish]

The bowls are first and foremost about making money for the Chambers of Commerce and more recently for the participants. Up until the early 60's they were exhibition games. The Final Polls were taken at the end of the regular season.

If you don't go to win, stay home.

A win is important to the develop of this team.

If Hendricks is truly The Man, he and the others get 15 practices to work on timing and decisions and 4 quarters to mature. No need to wait until Spring Ball.

A win is important in the battle with UM for All-Time Winningest Percentage Team.

To Floyd and the others departing it's a chance to go out a winner.

To recruiting it's an uptick.

To the instant gratification fans it will be one more opportunity to bitch regardless of the outcome. Something for everybody.

I agree with all your points, but really agree with the last point...especially after reading the board today...lol...Great Post!!!

 

[DillonHall]

The bowl practices are important, but I don't think the outcome of the game itself is that crucial to the development of the program.

 

[jason_h537]

Very important!!!!

-Gives the team 15 extra practices

-Allows you to play a nationally televised game against a big name opponent you do not usually play

-One more chance to make a last impression

-Recruiting tool

-A bridge to next season

-A reward to the players for a hard fought season

 

[Wolverine1997]

BCS Bowls are the ones that are really important. Second-tier bowls like the Capital One (Citrus), Sun Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Chicken-Fil-A Bowl (Peach) etc are cool because they have tradition, and most of the bowls I listed feature "Conference A #2 vs Conference B #2" match-ups that are indicators of where your program is at on a more national level.

The ****-*** bowls like the Pizza Bowl, Godaddy.com Bowl, Car Care Bowl and plenty others are just exhibitions that don't mean diddly, because most of the teams in those are mediocre and sometimes barely bowl-eligible. The only real positives from the ****-*** bowls are you get 15 practices and a chance to send the seniors out on a good note as 2011 (Insert ****-*** Bowl Name Here) Champions!

This is just my opinion though.

I haven't been keeping up with you guys and the bowl situation, are you going to the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando? That's what I've been reading on here recently.

 

[GBdomer]

BCS Bowls are the ones that are really important. Second-tier bowls like the Capital One (Citrus), Sun Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Chicken-Fil-A Bowl (Peach) etc are cool because they have tradition, and most of the bowls I listed feature "Conference A #2 vs Conference B #2" match-ups that are indicators of where your program is at on a more national level.

The ****-*** bowls like the Pizza Bowl, Godaddy.com Bowl, Car Care Bowl and plenty others are just exhibitions that don't mean diddly, because most of the teams in those are mediocre and sometimes barely bowl-eligible. The only real positives from the ****-*** bowls are you get 15 practices and a chance to send the seniors out on a good note as 2011 (Insert ****-*** Bowl Name Here) Champions!

This is just my opinion though.

I haven't been keeping up with you guys and the bowl situation, are you going to the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando? That's what I've been reading on here recently.

Ya prob. playing Clemson now.

 

[IrishLax]

Ya prob. playing Clemson now.

You think if VT beats Clemson that FSU goes to Chick-Fil-A over Clemson? I really think we end up playing FSU.

 

[GBdomer]

You think if VT beats Clemson that FSU goes to Chick-Fil-A over Clemson? I really think we end up playing FSU.

It will be one of those two.

 

[Wolverine1997]

Ya prob. playing Clemson now.

Interesting matchup. Boyd & Sammy Watkins vs Teo and the ND defense.

FSU is LOL. I remember how ridiculously overrated they were to start the year.

 

[North Buffalo Irish]

I think Clemson's offense would hang 35-40 points on our defense, and it would be very difficult for our offense to match that production. I think we could slug it out with FSU, even if their defense is much better than Clemson's.

 

[GBdomer]

Interesting matchup. Boyd & Sammy Watkins vs Teo and the ND defense.

FSU is LOL. I remember how ridiculously overrated they were to start the year.

So were we. It would be the preseason national champions going head to head.

 

[IrishLax]

I think Clemson's offense would hang 35-40 points on our defense, and it would be very difficult for our offense to match that production. I think we could slug it out with FSU, even if their defense is much better than Clemson's.

You clearly have not actually watched them play in the second half of the season. Absolutely shut down by NC State, South Carolina, and Georgia Tech... and shut down by Wake for a solid 3 quarters. I'd much rather play them than FSU. FSU at least has a defense.

 

[Wolverine1997]

Both of the ESPN bowl projection guys got ND-FSU in the Champs Sports Bowl.

One of them also has ohio against the ohio university bobcats in......the PIZZA BOWL! LOL.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

“@darrenrovell: Michigan drops to #16 in the BCS. At-large bid not automatic.”

Please please please


EDIT:
Nevermind, UGA MSU and Wisconsin are all right in front. 2 of the 3 will lose, letting UM slide right into 14.

 

[Wolverine1997]

Did anyone really believe the BCS was going to solve the, "multiple national champions" issues that went on for decades?

When the playoffs do come, the future generations of college football fans are going to read CFB history books and think we're all insane for letting computers tell us who is ranked where and all that.

 

[IrishLax]

“@darrenrovell: Michigan drops to #16 in the BCS. At-large bid not automatic.”

Please please please


EDIT:
Nevermind, UGA MSU and Wisconsin are all right in front. 2 of the 3 will lose, letting UM slide right into 14.

That's not guaranteed AND Baylor could jump them with a victory over Texas (by some crazy measure, Texas is ranked #22 right now). Baylor's schedule this year was about 10x harder than Michigan's.

 

[DillonHall]

“@darrenrovell: Michigan drops to #16 in the BCS. At-large bid not automatic.”

Please please please


EDIT:
Nevermind, UGA MSU and Wisconsin are all right in front. 2 of the 3 will lose, letting UM slide right into 14.

How dumb is it that making it to a conference championship game can ruin someone's chance to reach the BCS?