I understand if you hate the system used to pick bowl games, but I don't understand all of the hate for playing Memphis. I have seen and heard a lot of statements like they stink, no win situation, nothing to gain, etc.
Why? LSU played UCF last year in a NY6... Seems they are just fine. Alabama played Utah in 2008 and lost. Oklahoma played Boise State in 2009 and lost. Neither program was injured in any way from those losses. In fact, Bama won their first NC in 15 years the next season.
What exactly did we "gain" from beating Washington in the Fiesta Bowl that we will not gain if we beat Memphis in the Cotton Bowl? What exactly will we lose if Memphis beats us that will be different from losing to USC in the Rose Bowl?
We are not in any danger of losing anything due to the loss. Many big programs, in fact 2 perrenial CFP teams have lost to smaller conference opponents and didn't suffer any fall from grace.
It is a major bowl game, and it raises the profile of the team just being in it. Being talked about. It is also a major opportunity to recruit Texas a bit more. Who cares what team we are playing, just being in a NY6 is the whole point.
We have gotten pretty arrogant pretty quick 😐Ā
Not so many years ago we just wanted the toilet bowl for the extra practice.
I'd still like to feel like this administration can get a team to play its best at a bowl.Ā Paterno had his guys ready and so far we really haven't impressed in bowl games have we?Ā It is not a reward, it is a game and all games are to be played to win.
Get a chip on the shoulder.
Any team, any place, any time.Ā
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I think the coaches and the players better take Memphis seriously.Ā This team is not good enough to win by just showing up!Ā I'm sure Memphis would like to win and will try their darn'est to do just that.Ā As a die hard fan, I'm not going to bad mouth the match up or cry about what might have been.Ā If we blow them out (which I hope we do!), then I may indulge in questioning why we didn't get more respect in the whole bowl selection process.Ā Until then, I'll just look forward to the game and rooting for the Lions on bowl day!Ā
Agree UL. Ā Maybe if we didn't have to play a second half { :)) } or could adjust play or get a secondary that believes it can actually does stop 3rd downs and get an offense that has fire and imagination we might be on our way. I don't think we have reached the point where we have demonstrated anyone is beneath us in a bowl game.
We have gotten pretty arrogant pretty quick 😐Ā
Not so many years ago we just wanted the toilet bowl for the extra practice.
I'd still like to feel like this administration can get a team to play its best at a bowl.Ā Paterno had his guys ready and so far we really haven't impressed in bowl games have we?Ā It is not a reward, it is a game and all games are to be played to win.
Get a chip on the shoulder.
Can or Can't??Ā I am a believer you meant to say can't.Ā JoePa always had his team fired up and ready to play, and his bowl victory record speaks for itself.Ā Lets hope Franklin and Team want this win, I mean really want it, like OSU wants to beat Meatchicken.Ā Saw an interview with Fields after that game and he said his team just wanted it more, in fact, they were already working on how to beat MI next year, just the next day.
You're right about JoePa, BOB!Ā IMO there is no better bowl coach and he did it the right way.
I donāt think anybody is saying Memphis is beneath any team in the way yāall are saying it. Iām saying Memphis isnāt a powerhouse team like Alabama a d Auburn and I think the cotton bowl should be left for the big dawgs if the cotton bowl wants to keep relevant. Memphis is a great football team for the conference they play in but letās be honest if they played in the ACC they would win 3 games a year most years but that doesnāt mean they canāt beat an ACC team. Memphis just canāt take the pounding every week playing a ACC schedule and the ACC is garbage right now. We better come ready to play or we could get licked but if we come ready to play weāll beat āem as bad as James Franklin wants to.
I donāt think anybody is saying Memphis is beneath any team in the way yāall are saying it. Iām saying Memphis isnāt a powerhouse team like Alabama a d Auburn and I think the cotton bowl should be left for the big dawgs if the cotton bowl wants to keep relevant. Memphis is a great football team for the conference they play in but letās be honest if they played in the ACC they would win 3 games a year most years but that doesnāt mean they canāt beat an ACC team. Memphis just canāt take the pounding every week playing a ACC schedule and the ACC is garbage right now. We better come ready to play or we could get licked but if we come ready to play weāll beat āem as bad as James Franklin wants to.
Utah was a Mountain West Conference team, and they've been to the conference championship of the Pac-12 the past 2 years.
So don't be too quick to say that teams from lesser conferences would only win 3 games in a major conference.
I donāt think anybody is saying Memphis is beneath any team in the way yāall are saying it. Iām saying Memphis isnāt a powerhouse team like Alabama a d Auburn and I think the cotton bowl should be left for the big dawgs if the cotton bowl wants to keep relevant. Memphis is a great football team for the conference they play in but letās be honest if they played in the ACC they would win 3 games a year most years but that doesnāt mean they canāt beat an ACC team. Memphis just canāt take the pounding every week playing a ACC schedule and the ACC is garbage right now. We better come ready to play or we could get licked but if we come ready to play weāll beat āem as bad as James Franklin wants to.
SOUTHERN SOUTHERN SOUTHERN SOUTHERN SOUTHERN, how many conversations have we had about anything after if or but is BULL CRAP??????
Then you post: We better come ready to play or we could get licked but if we come ready to play weāll beat āem as bad as James Franklin wants to.
Well on paper ....
If you were Memphis could you be happier with the selection?Ā Big name program ranked above you with an apparent weakness on defense that matches your strength on offense (defensive backfield vs passing attack).Ā Memphis must still figure out how to protect the QB long enough and I have to believe the line matchup is in our favor.
For Memphis to win is has to be a combination of the worst parts of the MN and Rutgers games.Ā But Vegas and Saragin see it as relatively close.
I haven't seen any statistical analysis but I suspect bowl games are less predictable than regular season games.Ā More of a mental aspect, maybe the perception it is a reward with less incentive to win.Ā Maybe the time off.Ā History suggests Joe was good at getting teams ready for a bowl.Ā Jury is out on Franklin.
Looks like Brown, Menet, Slade and Matos are questionable for bowl game due to injury or discipline.Ā Ā
I agree, bowl games are very unpredictable.Ā They kind of remind meĀ of the opening game of the season.Ā You can look at a match up on paper, but really no way of telling what team will show up!
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The best part of bowl games are:
1. Extra practices
2. Playing in a prestigious bowl game
3. Going to an area you haven't been in a while helps recruiting.
I love the bowl games watching different conferences go up against each other. Clemson and Ohio st should be a great game but I just donāt know about Clemson itās hard to judge how good they are because of how bad the ACC was this year. I think LSU wins over Oklahoma but I believe the game might Ā be closer than what most people think. Minnesota and Auburn will be interesting and so will Alabama and Michigan. Bowl season is always fun for me.
