Yes, even if that means Detroit.
As an economic model, the college bowl system is up there with the Shoe Event Horizon (only less logical).
It now seems like a secondary cottage industry for pundits and commenters now exists to complain about the volume of bowls. More noise that eventually sounds like so much static.
I’ve long since stopped being bothered by the whole issue of bowls and the overwhelming volume. People show up to them. We watch them. The beat goes on.
Even when it comes to Pitt, given their 6-6 record — again. I’m at a point where I can’t get worked up over where they Panthers go for their bowl. At least they are going. At least they get the extra practices.
It’s not like Pitt deserves some nice bowl game after their regular season performances. In fact most of the outrage the last couple of years has been that teams just as undeserving have gotten incrementally better bowl bids. To the point where there is resentment at not getting the “Beef O’Brady Bowl” or something like that. And of course, repeated visits to Birmingham.
With that out of the way, I’m not concerned at the slightest possibility that Pitt gets left out of the bowls because there might actually be more qualified teams than bowls.
Pitt’s going. It won’t be a great bowl, but they are going.
Even as things stand, it seems unlikely that Pitt will get one of the ACC’s bowl spots. The league has a rule that bowls selecting may not reach more than one win down in conference standings. For example, at 3-5, Pitt could be picked ahead of any 4-4 teams, but not any 5-3 teams.
Because of this rule, the Panthers can be selected no higher than seventh in the bowl selection, and geographic placements of other teams (for instance, North Carolina going to the Belk Bowl in Charlotte, N.C.) make it likely that they will be searching for a non-ACC bowl spot.
The final ACC pick is the Military Bowl in Annapolis, Md., but executive director Steve Beck told The Washington Post this week that if faced with the likely choice between Pitt, Maryland and Syracuse, the bowl likely would go with the Terrapins.
Most projections have the Panthers going to the Little Caesar’s Bowl Dec. 26 in Detroit. The bowl will not be able to fill its Big Ten spot, and executive director Ken Hoffman said he expects Pitt and Syracuse to be the teams still available after the ACC’s selection process.
A bowl game in Dallas is also a possibility.
Why do people criticize the large number of bowl games? Bowls are a reward for the players hard work and perseverance. Plus the the extra practices (it has helped Pitt?
couldn’t help myself had to take a shot). Nevertheless the
players receive gifts, get to play one last college FB game,
and we the fans get to watch our favorite team (and begin to
think about next year). Yeah would love to be in a more prestiges bowl but no more matter participating is better than
Staying at home.
Though they should let the teams that don’t play a bowl game have the extra practices that teams get with a bowl game….seems the teams that need the practices the most for the next year (losing teams) don’t get to have them.
A lot of sites have syracuse in the beef o brady bowl and us in the detroit bowl but why do the orange get the warm weather bowl and us the cold
bombed out city.
but as you say at least no birmingham.
Frankcan, Syracuse fans are associated with Snowbirds- older people who fly down south for the winter- so Beef O Brady’s in Florida believes they will probably sell more tickets. I don’t think it’s worth finding numbers to back it up, but I’m inclined to agree with them.
I’m a Pitt fan first but I’m also a college football fan. I enjoy having a college football game on every night from about the third week of December through the first week of January. Maybe this has diminished a LITTLE bit because with expanded network coverage, college football can now be found every week during the regular season on Wednesday nights, Thursday nights, Friday nights and then all day Saturday. But I guess the bowls are a little bit different because it’s kind of a three-week last hurrah for the season.
Plus, college football is one of the things I think ESPN still does very well, so I’ve always liked their Bowl Week presentations.
No complaints here at all, to be honest. Besides, it’s just going to get bigger, especially as ESPN Events continues to drive the boat on this as a producer of ever more of these smaller-tier games.
as mutch as i hate detroit at lest it is a indoor field and the players wont have to play in the cold.
if truth be told they might rather play there then the pinstripe in NY which is out door and will be cold and snowy ,
NY is better for the fans more to do but bad for the players at least on game day.
You wouldn’t like Detroit. It’s a little LESS than average.
Tyler Ferguson… the next Tom Savage?
The idea of Bowls being SPECIAL goes back to BC (Before Cable).
Personally, don’t see any problem with a team such as Pitt going to a Bowl, whatever or wherever it is.
It’s a reward for the team, the students and the fans.
As for Pitt… reportedly, the ACC is leaning toward sending Maryland to the Military Bowl. I get it.
But anyone who was at the Navy Game knows that Pitt Faithful had a surprisingly good showing on Game Day in Annapolis.
That would leave plenty o teams for the Bowl Games. Everyone could have their fun and there would still be some quality games and a champion with less controversy.
Pizza Bowl…..it is in Motown. However
kids get to play in an NFL dome stadium..
…not bad. Also contrary to some of the
comments lots of things to see and great
places to eat. Doubt they will spend too
much time in the center city. Go Pitt.
Also obvious that the PG writers are pro
PSU. Note very little written about the ACC
in general. Sam Werner’s coverage of Pitt
is very weak (in my opinion). Lastly Zeise
is all over Pitt BB but other sports writers
just go negavity on the schedule.
I think you need to add “entertaining” to “competitive.” Do not forget the very competitive 2008 Sun Bowl when Pitt fell to Oregon State 3-0.
The Steelers and others have won the Superbowl after all away games. If I am number 8 and I have a chance to beat number 1 in their stadium, I am happy to have the opportunity. Especially if I am Northern Illinois or Boise St. If I am the number two team from the SEC, I am not afraid to go to Ohio State or anywhere for that matter.
You will always have controversy, but it would be better to give eight teams a chance on the field.
I would prefer 16 teams, but then you would really damage the bowls.
It will never be perfect, but you would have seven games really worth watching with something on the line. The champion would not be a fluke, having won three games. More teams have a real chance.
You also could have a real Cinderella.
They are paid a college education and room and board,$60,000-$120,000.
UNC fans stood and sang Sweet Caroline
and had fun doing it. Heinz Field will rock
when the product warrants it.
Rember the BBVA put 50k in the stands
last year ( mostly Ole Miss people). Fans
enjoy these games despite the comments
made by the curmudgeon Ron Cook has to
say. Go Pitt!
If Pitt goes there again, all the seniors should be awarded a “Minor in Civil Rights Studies” from the University to go with their stated majors.
Boston College is thinking of going to the heart of dallas bowl maybe.
Notre Dame wants a warm weather bowl.
if they both do that that would put us in the independence bowl in shreveport and orange in the pinstripe hey it could happen.
Great!!!
Love Shreveport. I lived 90 minutes away in East Texas. Still have a brother & other relatives there. back in the old days (1974-1987) used to take dates to Shreveport. Hopefully, a PITT bowl, family visit & gambling.
it would be independence bowl for pitt no cold detroit bowl hey it could happen.
Why doesn’t Pittsburgh have a bowl game?
Given the # of bowl games it wouldn’t be a bad location for mid tier Big 10 school (eastern ones of that conference) vs a northern ACC school…
They could even get ND on year like this instead of NYC.
I do think there is a very real chance we end up in St. Petersburg at the Beef O Brady – unless there is something going on behind the scenes that I don’t know about.
Technically we could also get an invite the Pointsettia bowl but I think that’s probably unrealistic.
All that being said, at least Detroit is an easy drive from Pittsburgh. I’d hate to see us get hammered by Ball State though…
i dont know if we can beat Auburn.
