The transfer portal, NIL, and opting out have destroyed the bowl games, as evidenced by the Missouri/OSU game and the upcoming Georgia blowout of FSU.

Too bad. I liked college football.

On Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 12:06:24 AM UTC-5, Eric Ramon wrote:
> The transfer portal, NIL, and opting out have destroyed the bowl games, as evidenced by the Missouri/OSU game and the upcoming Georgia blowout of FSU.
>
> Too bad. I liked college football.

You have to avoid the games that are just outside the CFP. I mean, the wild Gator Bowl finish was fun. The Pop Tarts Bowl with the edible mascot was fun.

On 12/30/2023 12:06 AM, Eric Ramon wrote:
> The transfer portal, NIL, and opting out have destroyed the bowl games, as evidenced by the Missouri/OSU game and the upcoming Georgia blowout of FSU.
>
> Too bad. I liked college football.

+1

--
"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In
practice, there is."

On Friday, December 29, 2023 at 11:06:24 PM UTC-6, Eric Ramon wrote:
> The transfer portal, NIL, and opting out have destroyed the bowl games, as evidenced by the Missouri/OSU game and the upcoming Georgia blowout of FSU.
>
> Too bad. I liked college football.

I think I'll like the bowel season better in 2024/25 when 6 of them will be meaningful due to the expanded playoofs.

While they're at it, move the transfer porthole until after the final Championship game, so we have relatively complete squads for said meaningful bowel games.

On Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 8:07:30 AM UTC-8, unclejr wrote:
> On Friday, December 29, 2023 at 11:06:24 PM UTC-6, Eric Ramon wrote:
> > The transfer portal, NIL, and opting out have destroyed the bowl games, as evidenced by the Missouri/OSU game and the upcoming Georgia blowout of FSU.
> >
> > Too bad. I liked college football.
> I think I'll like the bowel season better in 2024/25 when 6 of them will be meaningful due to the expanded playoofs.
>
> While they're at it, move the transfer porthole until after the final Championship game, so we have relatively complete squads for said meaningful bowel games.

the only way to read your post is to reply to it, since that message at the top makes it impossible to scroll down. Agree about the porthole.

On Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 3:49:05 PM UTC-6, Eric Ramon wrote:
> On Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 8:07:30 AM UTC-8, unclejr wrote:
> > On Friday, December 29, 2023 at 11:06:24 PM UTC-6, Eric Ramon wrote:
> > > The transfer portal, NIL, and opting out have destroyed the bowl games, as evidenced by the Missouri/OSU game and the upcoming Georgia blowout of FSU.
> > >
> > > Too bad. I liked college football.
> > I think I'll like the bowel season better in 2024/25 when 6 of them will be meaningful due to the expanded playoofs.
> >
> > While they're at it, move the transfer porthole until after the final Championship game, so we have relatively complete squads for said meaningful bowel games.
> the only way to read your post is to reply to it, since that message at the top makes it impossible to scroll down. Agree about the porthole.

Google Groups is broken, man.

On Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 6:14:42 PM UTC-5, unclejr wrote:
> On Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 3:49:05 PM UTC-6, Eric Ramon wrote:
> > On Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 8:07:30 AM UTC-8, unclejr wrote:
> > > On Friday, December 29, 2023 at 11:06:24 PM UTC-6, Eric Ramon wrote:
> > > > The transfer portal, NIL, and opting out have destroyed the bowl games, as evidenced by the Missouri/OSU game and the upcoming Georgia blowout of FSU.
> > > >
> > > > Too bad. I liked college football.
> > > I think I'll like the bowel season better in 2024/25 when 6 of them will be meaningful due to the expanded playoofs.
> > >
> > > While they're at it, move the transfer porthole until after the final Championship game, so we have relatively complete squads for said meaningful bowel games.
> > the only way to read your post is to reply to it, since that message at the top makes it impossible to scroll down. Agree about the porthole.
> Google Groups is broken, man.

Ever since that note about shutting down USENET from Google Groups went up, I can't even read Google Groups on my phone.

On Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 9:52:57 PM UTC-6, JGibson wrote:
> On Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 6:14:42 PM UTC-5, unclejr wrote:
> > On Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 3:49:05 PM UTC-6, Eric Ramon wrote:
> > > On Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 8:07:30 AM UTC-8, unclejr wrote:
> > > > On Friday, December 29, 2023 at 11:06:24 PM UTC-6, Eric Ramon wrote:
> > > > > The transfer portal, NIL, and opting out have destroyed the bowl games, as evidenced by the Missouri/OSU game and the upcoming Georgia blowout of FSU.
> > > > >
> > > > > Too bad. I liked college football.
> > > > I think I'll like the bowel season better in 2024/25 when 6 of them will be meaningful due to the expanded playoofs.
> > > >
> > > > While they're at it, move the transfer porthole until after the final Championship game, so we have relatively complete squads for said meaningful bowel games.
> > > the only way to read your post is to reply to it, since that message at the top makes it impossible to scroll down. Agree about the porthole.
> > Google Groups is broken, man.
> Ever since that note about shutting down USENET from Google Groups went up, I can't even read Google Groups on my phone.
Yeah, you have to select "desktop site" then zoom in.

On 12/30/2023 11:07 AM, unclejr wrote:
> On Friday, December 29, 2023 at 11:06:24 PM UTC-6, Eric Ramon wrote:
>> The transfer portal, NIL, and opting out have destroyed the bowl games, as evidenced by the Missouri/OSU game and the upcoming Georgia blowout of FSU.
>>
>> Too bad. I liked college football.
>
> I think I'll like the bowel season better in 2024/25 when 6 of them will be meaningful due to the expanded playoofs.
>
> While they're at it, move the transfer porthole until after the final Championship game, so we have relatively complete squads for said meaningful bowel games.

Need to do more than that. Some sort of penalty for the players who sit
out either due to the portal or the NFL draft. Maybe write somethin into
scholarship papers or NIL agreements.

What not an issue 15-20 years ago. ALL of the bowl games should be
meaningful.

--
"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In
practice, there is."

On 12/30/2023 10:52 PM, JGibson wrote:
> On Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 6:14:42 PM UTC-5, unclejr wrote:
>> On Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 3:49:05 PM UTC-6, Eric Ramon wrote:
>>> On Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 8:07:30 AM UTC-8, unclejr wrote:
>>>> On Friday, December 29, 2023 at 11:06:24 PM UTC-6, Eric Ramon wrote:
>>>>> The transfer portal, NIL, and opting out have destroyed the bowl games, as evidenced by the Missouri/OSU game and the upcoming Georgia blowout of FSU.
>>>>>
>>>>> Too bad. I liked college football.
>>>> I think I'll like the bowel season better in 2024/25 when 6 of them will be meaningful due to the expanded playoofs.
>>>>
>>>> While they're at it, move the transfer porthole until after the final Championship game, so we have relatively complete squads for said meaningful bowel games.
>>> the only way to read your post is to reply to it, since that message at the top makes it impossible to scroll down. Agree about the porthole.
>> Google Groups is broken, man.
>
> Ever since that note about shutting down USENET from Google Groups went up, I can't even read Google Groups on my phone.

If I read the groups on my phone it would just add to the amount of time
I already waste.

--
"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In
practice, there is."

On Sunday, December 31, 2023 at 9:12:49 PM UTC-8, RoddyMcCorley wrote:

> What not an issue 15-20 years ago. ALL of the bowl games should be
> meaningful.

The reason it wasn't formerly an issue is that there are just way too damn many of them now.

Mike

On Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 12:06:24 AM UTC-5, Eric Ramon wrote:
> The transfer portal, NIL, and opting out have destroyed the bowl games, as evidenced by the Missouri/OSU game and the upcoming Georgia blowout of FSU.
>
> Too bad. I liked college football.

Bowl games should be broken and thrown into the scrap heap. They are an anachronism from a bygone era. They started
out as post season exhibitions with no real meaning and were a reward for teams that had outstanding season. They have
become college football's version of participation trophies. You used to have to win 8 or 9 games in 10 or 11 game seasons
to get invited to one. Now, in some years, teams with 7 losses have gotten invites.

There was a time bowl games had no bearing on what used to be called a MYTHICAL national championship. The final polls
were take prior to the bowl games. When #1 Texas played #2 Navy in the 1964 Cotton Bowl, the national championship had
been decided in both polls. A Navy upset win wouldn't have changed that. Over the years, bowl games became de facto
playoff games. We went through the Bowl Alliance, to the Bowl Coalition, to the BCS in an attempt to get the #1 an #2 teams
to play each other in a bowl game for the national championship. Meanwhile the minor bowls proliferated to the point now
that they are no longer significant. Players opt out of them. Coaches opt out if they have taken a new job. Stadiums are half
filled and most are only watched by fans of the two participating teams. As far as I'm concerned, now that we are going to
a 12 team playoff, they ought to scrap the rest of these worthless bowl games.

On Monday, January 1, 2024 at 12:12:49 AM UTC-5, RoddyMcCorley wrote:
> On 12/30/2023 11:07 AM, unclejr wrote:
> > On Friday, December 29, 2023 at 11:06:24 PM UTC-6, Eric Ramon wrote:
> >> The transfer portal, NIL, and opting out have destroyed the bowl games, as evidenced by the Missouri/OSU game and the upcoming Georgia blowout of FSU.
> >>
> >> Too bad. I liked college football.
> >
> > I think I'll like the bowel season better in 2024/25 when 6 of them will be meaningful due to the expanded playoofs.
> >
> > While they're at it, move the transfer porthole until after the final Championship game, so we have relatively complete squads for said meaningful bowel games.
> Need to do more than that. Some sort of penalty for the players who sit
> out either due to the portal or the NFL draft. Maybe write somethin into
> scholarship papers or NIL agreements.
>
> What not an issue 15-20 years ago. ALL of the bowl games should be
> meaningful.
> --
How can you blame the players when money is driving ALL decisions in college football. Conferences are being realigned
destroying long time rivalries, all to maximize TV revenue. Players are given scholarships on a year to year basis. They have
every right to opt out or enter the transfer portal for a bag of cash. The schools are in a money grab so why shouldn't the
players be?

On Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 7:59:38 PM UTC-5, JE Corbett wrote:
> On Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 12:06:24 AM UTC-5, Eric Ramon wrote:
> > The transfer portal, NIL, and opting out have destroyed the bowl games, as evidenced by the Missouri/OSU game and the upcoming Georgia blowout of FSU.
> >
> > Too bad. I liked college football.
> Bowl games should be broken and thrown into the scrap heap. They are an anachronism from a bygone era. They started
> out as post season exhibitions with no real meaning and were a reward for teams that had outstanding season. They have
> become college football's version of participation trophies. You used to have to win 8 or 9 games in 10 or 11 game seasons
> to get invited to one. Now, in some years, teams with 7 losses have gotten invites.
>
> There was a time bowl games had no bearing on what used to be called a MYTHICAL national championship. The final polls
> were take prior to the bowl games. When #1 Texas played #2 Navy in the 1964 Cotton Bowl, the national championship had
> been decided in both polls. A Navy upset win wouldn't have changed that. Over the years, bowl games became de facto
> playoff games. We went through the Bowl Alliance, to the Bowl Coalition, to the BCS in an attempt to get the #1 an #2 teams
> to play each other in a bowl game for the national championship. Meanwhile the minor bowls proliferated to the point now
> that they are no longer significant. Players opt out of them. Coaches opt out if they have taken a new job. Stadiums are half
> filled and most are only watched by fans of the two participating teams. As far as I'm concerned, now that we are going to
> a 12 team playoff, they ought to scrap the rest of these worthless bowl games.

Say what you will about the games outside the top, they are still the highest rated sports viewing option for the week between Christmas and New Year's Day. On 12/27, the top four sporting events for viewing were the Duke's Mayo Bowl, the Holiday Bowl, the Texas Bowl, and the Military Bowl with far higher audiences than NHL, NBA, or soccer games, or anything else ESPN put on (Holiday Bowl was on Fox). ESPN is still going to like this programming, as it brings in higher ratings than anything else they are going to show..

And if there's a 100 participation trophies for going 6-6, so what? I'd rather have that than what I had in 1982 as a fan of a team that went 10-1 and was shut out of the postseason completely. If you don't want to watch these meaningless games, you don't have to, but enough people do that I don't think they are going anywhere.

On Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 4:59:38 PM UTC-8, JE Corbett wrote:

> Bowl games should be broken and thrown into the scrap heap. They are an anachronism from a bygone era. They started
> out as post season exhibitions with no real meaning and were a reward for teams that had outstanding season. They have
> become college football's version of participation trophies. You used to have to win 8 or 9 games in 10 or 11 game seasons
> to get invited to one. Now, in some years, teams with 7 losses have gotten invites.
>
> There was a time bowl games had no bearing on what used to be called a MYTHICAL national championship. The final polls
> were take prior to the bowl games. When #1 Texas played #2 Navy in the 1964 Cotton Bowl, the national championship had
> been decided in both polls. A Navy upset win wouldn't have changed that. Over the years, bowl games became de facto
> playoff games. We went through the Bowl Alliance, to the Bowl Coalition, to the BCS in an attempt to get the #1 an #2 teams
> to play each other in a bowl game for the national championship. Meanwhile the minor bowls proliferated to the point now
> that they are no longer significant. Players opt out of them. Coaches opt out if they have taken a new job. Stadiums are half
> filled and most are only watched by fans of the two participating teams. As far as I'm concerned, now that we are going to
> a 12 team playoff, they ought to scrap the rest of these worthless bowl games.

I'll agree with scrapping useless bowls.

Mike

On Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at 8:28:15 AM UTC-5, JGibson wrote:
> On Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 7:59:38 PM UTC-5, JE Corbett wrote:
> > On Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 12:06:24 AM UTC-5, Eric Ramon wrote:
> > > The transfer portal, NIL, and opting out have destroyed the bowl games, as evidenced by the Missouri/OSU game and the upcoming Georgia blowout of FSU.
> > >
> > > Too bad. I liked college football.
> > Bowl games should be broken and thrown into the scrap heap. They are an anachronism from a bygone era. They started
> > out as post season exhibitions with no real meaning and were a reward for teams that had outstanding season. They have
> > become college football's version of participation trophies. You used to have to win 8 or 9 games in 10 or 11 game seasons
> > to get invited to one. Now, in some years, teams with 7 losses have gotten invites.
> >
> > There was a time bowl games had no bearing on what used to be called a MYTHICAL national championship. The final polls
> > were take prior to the bowl games. When #1 Texas played #2 Navy in the 1964 Cotton Bowl, the national championship had
> > been decided in both polls. A Navy upset win wouldn't have changed that.. Over the years, bowl games became de facto
> > playoff games. We went through the Bowl Alliance, to the Bowl Coalition, to the BCS in an attempt to get the #1 an #2 teams
> > to play each other in a bowl game for the national championship. Meanwhile the minor bowls proliferated to the point now
> > that they are no longer significant. Players opt out of them. Coaches opt out if they have taken a new job. Stadiums are half
> > filled and most are only watched by fans of the two participating teams.. As far as I'm concerned, now that we are going to
> > a 12 team playoff, they ought to scrap the rest of these worthless bowl games.
> Say what you will about the games outside the top, they are still the highest rated sports viewing option for the week between Christmas and New Year's Day. On 12/27, the top four sporting events for viewing were the Duke's Mayo Bowl, the Holiday Bowl, the Texas Bowl, and the Military Bowl with far higher audiences than NHL, NBA, or soccer games, or anything else ESPN put on (Holiday Bowl was on Fox). ESPN is still going to like this programming, as it brings in higher ratings than anything else they are going to show..
>
> And if there's a 100 participation trophies for going 6-6, so what? I'd rather have that than what I had in 1982 as a fan of a team that went 10-1 and was shut out of the postseason completely. If you don't want to watch these meaningless games, you don't have to, but enough people do that I don't think they are going anywhere.

Follow up:

https://www.outkick.com/college-football-bowl-games-rating-college-basketball/

When the Cure Bowl between Miami (OH) and Appalachian State draws more than college basketball game between Kansas and Indiana, then you know that ESPN does not want to give up its bowl programming.

On Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at 11:21:09 AM UTC-5, JGibson wrote:
> On Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at 8:28:15 AM UTC-5, JGibson wrote:
> > On Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 7:59:38 PM UTC-5, JE Corbett wrote:
> > > On Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 12:06:24 AM UTC-5, Eric Ramon wrote:
> > > > The transfer portal, NIL, and opting out have destroyed the bowl games, as evidenced by the Missouri/OSU game and the upcoming Georgia blowout of FSU.
> > > >
> > > > Too bad. I liked college football.
> > > Bowl games should be broken and thrown into the scrap heap. They are an anachronism from a bygone era. They started
> > > out as post season exhibitions with no real meaning and were a reward for teams that had outstanding season. They have
> > > become college football's version of participation trophies. You used to have to win 8 or 9 games in 10 or 11 game seasons
> > > to get invited to one. Now, in some years, teams with 7 losses have gotten invites.
> > >
> > > There was a time bowl games had no bearing on what used to be called a MYTHICAL national championship. The final polls
> > > were take prior to the bowl games. When #1 Texas played #2 Navy in the 1964 Cotton Bowl, the national championship had
> > > been decided in both polls. A Navy upset win wouldn't have changed that. Over the years, bowl games became de facto
> > > playoff games. We went through the Bowl Alliance, to the Bowl Coalition, to the BCS in an attempt to get the #1 an #2 teams
> > > to play each other in a bowl game for the national championship. Meanwhile the minor bowls proliferated to the point now
> > > that they are no longer significant. Players opt out of them. Coaches opt out if they have taken a new job. Stadiums are half
> > > filled and most are only watched by fans of the two participating teams. As far as I'm concerned, now that we are going to
> > > a 12 team playoff, they ought to scrap the rest of these worthless bowl games.
> > Say what you will about the games outside the top, they are still the highest rated sports viewing option for the week between Christmas and New Year's Day. On 12/27, the top four sporting events for viewing were the Duke's Mayo Bowl, the Holiday Bowl, the Texas Bowl, and the Military Bowl with far higher audiences than NHL, NBA, or soccer games, or anything else ESPN put on (Holiday Bowl was on Fox). ESPN is still going to like this programming, as it brings in higher ratings than anything else they are going to show.
> >
> > And if there's a 100 participation trophies for going 6-6, so what? I'd rather have that than what I had in 1982 as a fan of a team that went 10-1 and was shut out of the postseason completely. If you don't want to watch these meaningless games, you don't have to, but enough people do that I don't think they are going anywhere.
> Follow up:
>
> https://www.outkick.com/college-football-bowl-games-rating-college-basketball/
>
> When the Cure Bowl between Miami (OH) and Appalachian State draws more than college basketball game between Kansas and Indiana, then you know that ESPN does not want to give up its bowl programming.

Further follow up. Here's the whole list for that day, led by NFL games but then followed by mediocre bowls and the Kentucky / UNC basketball game:

https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2023/12/saturday-12-16-sports-ratings-nfl-tripleheader-college-basketball-bowl-games-fcs/

On 1/3/2024 10:23 AM, Michael Falkner wrote:
> On Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 4:59:38 PM UTC-8, JE Corbett wrote:
>
>> Bowl games should be broken and thrown into the scrap heap. They are an anachronism from a bygone era. They started

>
> I'll agree with scrapping useless bowls.
>
> Mike

Not if you're an alumnus or just a rabid FB fan.

There probably are too many bowls and they should be a reward for a good
season. But as others have pointed out, they do make money and attract
viewership.

My beef is with all of the opt outs. That needs to be fixed by coaches
and athletic directors, not by the NCAA.

--
"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In
practice, there is."