I've got a friend who wants to go to WVu. I'd like to see USC in the Coliseum. I went to the Rose last year knowing it might be the last one that is a traditional rose bowl. I did the Peach partially because M-Benz is considered the "Cadillac" of football stadiums (sorry, couldn't resist). I think regular season games may be the way to go with the new playoff format. I really don't want to go see PSu play in a bowl if a) it isn't the CFP and b) 75 of the 85 kids are going to sit out.
If you took PSU -4.5 you were duped big time and lighter in the wallet.
... right...or, that you committed to spending $1,000+ and by the time the game rolls around you've got as much chance as Liberty against Oregon.
As someone that bets a lot (too much probably) I'm well-aware for bowl games that people won't be playing and I won't know that until right before kickoff. 10-15 years ago bowl season was very active for me. Now I stay away from 99% of those games. If I do bet it's usually over/under.
Yep, I’m betting ( pun intended) , that Vegas is pissed. — Ironically, this may be why it gets fixed sooner rather than later.
Yep. Vegas pissed. Bookies pissed. Bowl committees pissed. Host cities pissed. Tourist promotion committees passed. Merchants pissed. Airlines pissed.
Must have been before the game because they showed Olu talking to the OL on the bench at some point in the game after we had lost all momentum, so sometime in the 2nd half, and Olu was still in pads.
You're welcome to your opinions. Just know that if Franklin were to do what you suggest under the current culture and rules of CFB, his recruiting rankings would plummet and we'd be fielding a team of 3 star talent, at best. Today over half of our players were 4 and 5 star recruits. The way the sport is currently set up the coaches essentially have to kiss the collective asses of the recruits and players, or the program will suffer. The players hold all the cards right now, they are getting paid and have the leverage to leave at any time, all while making no firm commitments to their respective schools and football programs. It's a completely one-sided arrangement right now and needs to change. I'm not against paying players and letting them transfer, but there has to be structure, time windows, contracts, etc. or the sport completely falls apart long term as the kids chase whatever benefits them the most individually. The players probably love these changes and don't care about sustainability because they will be long gone from CFP before the impact to the sport is realized.
Unfortunately you are right. These elite players and recruits (4 and 5 stars) hold all the cards. Makes me sick that everyone needs to kiss their ass and the whole system is now ridiculously in their favor. If Franklin would make them play and not opt out they would first make it a PR nightmare for him by claiming he has no concern for their future then they would poison the recruiting pipeline.
They won't do that because of the academic calendar. Transfers have to be all set up at their new schools in time for the start of the spring semester, because we pretend like they are still regular students. The academic calendar is an item that I view as completely fixed, so all timings for football games, transfers, LOI day, etc. have to revolve around that.
It’s been that way. No change in my mind in the lower bowls. They are all for families, locals, and made for TV. Occasionally, fans will travel to a warm-weather destination for the holidays and make a vacation out of it.
The upper decks for both the Citrus and whatever the old Outback Bowl in Tampa is appeared to be pretty much empty.
We have a chairman of the board as a head coach, not an x's and o's guy and it shows at the wrong times.
Love the Cadillac reference.
Yeah like these guys are real students. You could make them finish the academic year at their current school and start in the summer at the new school. Yep they would need to miss the Spring ball at the new school but that is the rule. They also can't announce their intention until after the NC game so they need to play with their current team until that date. They could drop out of their current school, too late to enroll in the new school but use their NIL money to hire their own trainer and train until the summer. These guys have everything tailored made for them, make them think twice before just bolting wherever. I forgot, these guys need to get to the other school and start there for the 2nd semester academic year due to the new school having a better academic major than their current school. LOL.
Yep, don't want to stay near the USC campus. Santa Monica could be a good call.Love the Cadillac reference.
I've been to USC a few times but never for a game. My son looked at it and then ended up renting a room in a fraternity house for a summer internship at Sony/Epic.
The campus is great and The Colesium parking lot is huge, but you'll be better to stay in more of a fun area and then Uber to the game. DTLA isn't far, but the surrounding area is not like most college towns. There is light rail that runs to Culver City so maybe stay in Venice or Santa Monica and take the train.
2 of my guys are now "Yes" votes for USC- I'm preferring hedging my bets for my options #2 or #3 or a combo thereof.
A work colleague played for WVU and he loved his visit to Happy Valley last year. Maybe I can work out a trade w him- I take him to PSU vs OSU in exchange for him taking me to WVU. He is younger than me and a big dude- and from what I'm told it may be better to be in Morgantown with a Hoopie!
My one buddy just retired and is very hyped to travel.....but his budgetary restraints are pretty much non existent. It is fun to shop and plan. I don't mind having to stick to a budget. It keeps me married and eliminates arguments. I went to the 94 Rose Bowl- which is my only PSU Bowl game. Doubt there will he another.
On Saturday after the game I took down my PSU flag and brought in the 2 State garden flags by my grill for Winter- but it always is football season.
We'll see what pans out. That is part of the joy of attending a school like PSU.
I went to the Guaranteed Rate Bowl and Fiesta Bowls. Both were VERY lightly attended.
Really, the Fiesta Bowl was an awful game with Liberty and Oregon. Crazy bad. I think college football just kind of flushed this year knowing next year will have 11 games. We'll have four play-in games at the higher-ranked team's stadium. (this year, we would have played at tOSU). Then we'll have the Fiesta, Peach, Rose, and Sugar for the quarterfinals. Cotton and Orange for the Semifinals. With the championship being played in Houston.
This is a good post, but I believe that CJF has been here long enough for us to know that he is what he is. He ain’t changing at this point. The ceiling has been reached with him.
Agree. Playoff expansion came just in time for the NY6 games. Four of the six were getting screwed every year in this model by a combination of matchups and opt outs. And this year was the low point- led by the FSU debacle and Liberty getting in.
That I believe is the largest concern of many. Was yurchik ineffective, or was he handcuffed with a sub optimal qb
He was in uniform and was one of the players that lead them onto the field out of the tunnel.
Yep. One thing I've noticed is motivation. I look at tOSU, for example. They simply didn't want to be there. They wanted to be in the playoff. Lots of guys left others simply didn't care. Missouri, on the other hand, was happy to be in a NYD6 to get an opportunity to show their talents. So they showed up and played hard. Ole Miss was the same. They wanted to be in the Peach but PSU didn't want to be there. Not everyone, but clearly we were down six or so kids. That had to permeate through the team. In the end, you have to be motivated. Not thinking about if they should go into the portal or how to optimize NIL isn't the where your head needs to be going up against a good opponent.
Motivation is instilled by the coach. Maybe Franklin is too nice. I liked coach Bob's method better. If you don't expect loyalty and punish disloyalty, you will never get it. Wanna bet the guys who opted out are still using team facilities. Make all scholarships legal contracts. When you quit participating, all team services and payments are terminated. Rent accrues on your dormitory. You buy your own meals. You are locked out of all AD scholarship facilities. College football needs a major wakeup call, starting with the vastly overpaid coaching staff.
I lightly followed the buzz leading up to the Peach Bowl but naively figured the Vegas line would sort out any significant changes.
As an old-schooler, I agree. But with the portal and NIL, we are seeing a shift from a coaching-led sport to a player-led sport. If the player doesn't like the coach or program, they just leave. we are now seeing kids in their third program who think nothing of playing for a new program every year. we also have to keep in mind that these are kids who often don't get great guidance from parents, friends, and
Yep. Betters still haven't figured out that the NFL is not the same as college football. CJF has become uber secretive with even the closest insiders not knowing who will play until hours before the game. One of two things happened. A) CJF knew a ton of kids wouldn't play but wanted Ole Miss to be in the dark or B) CJF was surprised shortly before the game that players were not going to play. It is probably a combination of both A and B.
Great post. As far as what is happening today with the game..and stating the obvious money has changed everything. From players opting out to protect their future to Coaches /Bowl organizations trying to keep hyping Bowls to keep viewership , ticket sales and advertisers overall happy..its a money game. But...something needs to be done as many of the fans..will slowly lose interest in the game we have always loved. A lot has been said about Franklin as well...I'm not sure where I stand with him. He does try and give everyone the best picture possible of what's happening with the program..its his job..and seems to be doing things the right way ie graduation , players staying out of trouble , sportsmanship etc. But even with a new extended 12 team playoff..winning a Natty will be increasingly difficult ..no matter who your coach is. Washington has almost defied all odds but..they were able to get an elite QB who turned their program around. Oregon did the same. And its taken Michigan a while but...they have found their answer. I guess what I'm getting to..is that again money and resources have changed the game forever...and expecting a Natty for the Lions may not be in our future until we find a few players who are true game changers..certainly on the offensive side of the ball...I will not be going to any Bowl games again..too much money spent watching while knowing full team is not playing...like in the old days going to a Bulls game...knowing Jordan and Pippen were not playing...
All of our suggestions, holding back of donations, good intentions and bowl travel boycotts may not have the Washington lobbying impact that casinos losing money based onlack of information may have.
Certainly lots of issues to deal with but viewership is at all-time highs. Even the crap bowl games are drawing viewers. So the results are still good even with all of these issues.
True, but if you can't commit to the boundaries of a contract, I'ld rather work with less talented but more committed kids. IMHO for every self centered kid who does not want to commit, you have someone just as talented who wants a team where team mates can be counted on.
well, the contract is to get a 'ship to play. If the kid no longer needs the 'ship, he doesn't have to play. My company pays me for work I did, not work I am going to do. These kids hold all the cards.
