Meaningless (bowl) games...

[Pickle_Rick]

Peter King, writer for NBC sports writes this about the game 15 years ago between the NY Giants, and the New England Parriots. The Patriots were undefeated going into the last game of the season, and were playing for a perfect record. The Giants on the other hand already had the position clenched in the playoffs. A win or a loss meant absolutely nothing to them. Of course the conventional wisdom is you rest your starters. What the Giants decided to do lead to one of the great games in the NFL, and paved their way to winning the Superbowl.

King tells it much better...https://voxday.net/2022/12/26/when-there-is-nothing-to-play-for/

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

It sure did not look meaningless to New Mexico St today after they won. They were celebrating like.....like.....well like it WAS a meaningful bowl game for them! Just have to question any fan that thinks ANY game is meaningless. Just start watching the teams that win their bowl games after the games are over and tell me it means nothing.

 

[mrschwump]

It sure did not look meaningless to New Mexico St today after they won. They were celebrating like.....like.....well like it WAS a meaningful bowl game for them! Just have to question any fan that thinks ANY game is meaningless. Just start watching the teams that win their bowl games after the games are over and tell me it means nothing.

+1.

 

[NCPurplecat]

January 8 Colts vs. Texans defines meaningless... or even worse losing for better draft position. Bowl games are now for the younger players who want to play vs. The older players leaving. It is the start of the new season vs.
S the end of the old season which is a new way of looking at the bowl games. The team with the yoind guys thay step up will win. I think UK a QB will emerge.

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

Bo Nix commenting after Oregon won their bowl game by a point. Was proud that all his teammates played and stuck together. Said all it would take was one player to skip the game and it could have trickled down to two or three following the first one to opt out. Proud of the way his team kept fighting throughout the game. Shows how much the game meant to Oregon, it was no meaningless bowl to them. Will be a shame if our team barely loses knowing that those three guys sitting out could have been the difference in winning. Hopefully it doesn't play out that way for the sake of our dedicated players, coaches and fans.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Bo Nix commenting after Oregon won their bowl game by a point. Was proud that all his teammates played and stuck together. Said all it would take was one player to skip the game and it could have trickled down to two or three following the first one to opt out. Proud of the way his team kept fighting throughout the game. Shows how much the game meant to Oregon, it was no meaningless bowl to them. Will be a shame if our team barely loses knowing that those three guys sitting out could have been the difference in winning. Hopefully it doesn't play out that way for the sake of our dedicated players, coaches and fans.

Is this the first year UK has had players opt out? I know it sucks because UGA has had their share do it, but one man opting out is giving opportunity to another.

 

[WildcatofNati]

Is this the first year UK has had players opt out? I know it sucks because UGA has had their share do it, but one man opting out is giving opportunity to another.

Yes, although two years ago, we had a player opt out late in the season, but, before the regular season was over.

 

[mrschwump]

Is this the first year UK has had players opt out? I know it sucks because UGA has had their share do it, but one man opting out is giving opportunity to another.

That's true, great chance for some young guys. Problem is QB looks to be a true freshman who's never taken a snap in a college game but who could be pretty good in time while RBs replacing Rodriquez are really not P5 calibre. But throw them out there and see what they can do. UK's defensive focus better be good if they want to have a chance.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

That's true, great chance for some young guys. Problem is QB looks to be a true freshman who's never taken a snap in a college game but who could be pretty good in time while RBs replacing Rodriquez are really not P5 calibre. But throw them out there and see what they can do. UK's defensive focus better be good if they want to have a chance.

Yeah QB is different, but you never know until he gets his chance.

 

[WildcatofNati]

I posted this on another thread so sorry if I'm being repetitive but bowls are meaningless when they stop counting as part of a final record, when the final polls start happening BEFORE bowls, and coaches can no longer be fired after losing a bowl game.

 

[Kybluedude]

Never ever played a game that I thought was completely meaningless.
Always tried my best.
I think people who say that lack a bit of pride and passion. Played against and played with a few but that wasn’t me and I found it difficult to understand but to each their own.

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

Anybody watch the OK and FL ST game? Players were playing like a national championship was on the line. Coaches totally into it. Fans going berserk. Whole lot of people wanted to win that game in the worst way. Nice to see.

 

[CatPatrick13]

Not meaningless to me at all. If you don’t enjoy watching football during bowl season…

 

[NCPurplecat]

CHEEZIT Bowl games were good this year and last. Clemson FSU and Oklahoma played and played hard. A lot of good players. Hope Music City is a good game with a UK win.

 

[Girthang]

Peter King, writer for NBC sports writes this about the game 15 years ago between the NY Giants, and the New England Parriots. The Patriots were undefeated going into the last game of the season, and were playing for a perfect record. The Giants on the other hand already had the position clenched in the playoffs. A win or a loss meant absolutely nothing to them. Of course the conventional wisdom is you rest your starters. What the Giants decided to do lead to one of the great games in the NFL, and paved their way to winning the Superbowl.

King tells it much better...https://voxday.net/2022/12/26/when-there-is-nothing-to-play-for/

I dislike the Giants as a franchise (same for the Pats), but those were great football games. Back when I used to watch the entire playoffs regardless of who was playing.

NO.such.thing.as.a.meaningless.football.game. When you love football...

 

[UKBrassowTipIN]

The way I look at it, is outside of the playoff and major New year bowls...the rest are really you get 15 practices and then get to try some of that stuff in live action.

You see a lot of first time, or trick plays in bowls

 

[Girthang]

Anybody watch the OK and FL ST game? Players were playing like a national championship was on the line. Coaches totally into it. Fans going berserk. Whole lot of people wanted to win that game in the worst way. Nice to see.

Absolutely

 

[Soupbean]

Anybody watch the OK and FL ST game? Players were playing like a national championship was on the line. Coaches totally into it. Fans going berserk. Whole lot of people wanted to win that game in the worst way. Nice to see.

Yeah fun game to watch. I made the comment to the folks I was sitting with that these games remind me of the basketball conference play in games in some of the lower conferences. They are always a lot of fun to watch because the teams are so in to it

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

Could have another new bowl close by. Cincinnati Ohio looking to add the Chili Bowl to all the hoopla.

 

[WildcatofNati]

I'm watching a meaningless bowl game between Notre Dame and South Carolina right now. It has been one of the better games I've watched all year, and these guys on both teams are playing their asses off. The crowd is quite animated and on the sidelines, both coaches seem pretty into it as well.

 

[Pickle_Rick]

Me too. Absolutely tears me up we lost to these mooks. I can't pull for ND or Scar, so just letting it entertain me.

 

[bigbluedon]

Anybody watch the OK and FL ST game? Players were playing like a national championship was on the line. Coaches totally into it. Fans going berserk. Whole lot of people wanted to win that game in the worst way. Nice to see.

Fabulous game.

 

[bigbluedon]

The bowl games are very exciting this year. Not meaningless to me at all. Now I don’t give a shit about Levis but very disappointed that CR opted out. These guys are just quitting on their team.

 

[Thecycle27]

It means something to the players. Games are fun. They get cool stuff. While attendance may not be great people sure like watching on TV. That is all that matters these days.

 

[The-Hack]

67,383 attended the meaningless game (TS/Gator Bowl) between Norte Dame and South Carolina.

One of the best I’ve seen this year.

 

[STL_Cat]

The UCLA-Pitt game yesterday was a classic. GREAT game, back and forth all the way till the end. Some wild drama in there too where all UCLA had to do was get 1 yard and it would have sealed the game.

 

[The-Hack]

I posted this on another thread so sorry if I'm being repetitive but bowls are meaningless when they stop counting as part of a final record, when the final polls start happening BEFORE bowls, and coaches can no longer be fired after losing a bowl game.

True.

But ironically, this means the bowls used to be meaningless, as the polls came out before Bowl season, until, what, 1960?

 

[Sawnee Cat]

I dispute the "meaningless" label. It is the holiday season and the schools involved enjoy it and see it as a reward for the season. Maybe some of the players opt out and don't care but football fans like me enjoy bowl games and look forward to ending the season against a quality opponent from another conference.

I remember decade after decade without a bowl game and it wasn't any fun.

 

[STL_Cat]

I dispute the "meaningless" label. It is the holiday season and the schools involved enjoy it and see it as a reward for the season. Maybe some of the players opt out and don't care but football fans like me enjoy bowl games and look forward to ending the season against a quality opponent from another conference.

I remember decade after decade without a bowl game and it wasn't any fun.

Agreed! It goes all over me when I see Kentucky fans especially call bowl games meaningless. These games matter, as they should. You play to win the game!

I understand that bowl games are easier to make these days. I really do. But don't we have the longest active streak of bowl wins right now? Music City Bowl or not this is a chance to add to that number. I'd like to. I used to get pretty psyched about the MCB. I know it's not the bowl we were hoping for this year, but it still means something to this fan.

 

[Girthang]

True.

But ironically, this means the bowls used to be meaningless, as the polls came out before Bowl season, until, what, 1960?

Exactly. They've always been "meaningless" to the ones that never cared for them nor loved football.

They've always been a very important part of college sports to those who love and play/played football.

It's the same as a team making the nba playoffs to someone who doesn't care about the NBA. "If they aren't playing in the conference or NBA finals, who cares? They're all just meaningless games..." to those who won't watch them.

 

[Girthang]

I dispute the "meaningless" label. It is the holiday season and the schools involved enjoy it and see it as a reward for the season. Maybe some of the players opt out and don't care but football fans like me enjoy bowl games and look forward to ending the season against a quality opponent from another conference.

I remember decade after decade without a bowl game and it wasn't any fun.

Nailed it!

This is the last time some of these guys will put on their uniform with this squad. The last time they'll fight together. It's that bonus after the last home game when you said goodbye to your turf. This is for the UK football fans and players to get to see and cheer for their favorite players in the world one last time.

No UK football fan would say it has no meaning. If someone is just a casual UK fan, sure, I could see them saying it had no meaning, but saying it doesn't make it so. It's like saying 3:30am doesn't exist because you've never seen it.

 

[STL_Cat]

Nailed it!

This is the last time some of these guys will put on their uniform with this squad. The last time they'll fight together. It's that bonus after the last home game when you said goodbye to your turf. This is for the UK football fans and players to get to see and cheer for their favorite players in the world one last time.

No UK football fan would say it has no meaning. If someone is just a casual UK fan, sure, I could see them saying it had no meaning, but saying it doesn't make it so. It's like saying 3:30am doesn't exist because you've never seen it.

My 8 year old last year became the biggest UK football fan in the world and absolutely fell in love with Wandale Robinson. BEFORE the bowl game Wandale was my little guy's favorite player in the world. Imagine how my guy felt about Wandale after that final drive against Iowa in the Citrus Bowl. This is what sports are all about!

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

Just heard Jacques Jones talking about the bowl game. Said something about no opting out, that he loves Kentucky and wants to be out there. He said the pro's are no guarantee and he is excited to be on the field this last time and try and get the win.

 

[WildcatofNati]

True.

But ironically, this means the bowls used to be meaningless, as the polls came out before Bowl season, until, what, 1960?

Sort of. Our win against Oklahoma in 1950 gave us an arguable claim to a national title- decades later.