BobcatAttack.com - For Fans of Ohio University Sports

Welcome Guest!
Create an Account

site search

where to watch

about us

advertise with us

help

BobcatAttack.com Message Board

Ohio Football

Topic: RE: The Chase for Bowl Eligibility

Topic: RE: The Chase for Bowl Eligibility

Author

Message

mf279801
General User

Member Since: 8/6/2010
Location: Newark, DE
Post Count: 2,452

Status: Offline

RE: The Chase for Bowl Eligibility

Posted: 11/9/2014 2:14:04 PM

Victory wrote:

We would be watching the last weekend hoping every 5-6 team loses.

Nothing new there for me

bobcat28
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: United States
Post Count: 795

Status: Offline

RE: The Chase for Bowl Eligibility

Posted: 11/9/2014 3:14:39 PM

There were some favorable outcomes which helped us yesterday. 6-6 is looking a little more promising for a bowl. Definitely not a lock though. Florida over South Carolina would help us next week.

Last Edited: 11/9/2014 3:15:41 PM by bobcat28

Deciduous Forest Cat
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Ohio
Post Count: 4,302

Status: Offline

RE: The Chase for Bowl Eligibility

Posted: 11/9/2014 3:24:45 PM

Is anyone here actually excited about the prospect of going to a bowl at 6-6? I can't say I am in the least. I don't think anyone who goes 6-6 deserves a bowl, so it would be hypocritical to say I want Ohio to go at 6-6. If we win out, which means beating a division leader in NIU and at least going 7-5, then I think we've earned it. If we go 6-6, I think the best thing that could happen is missing a bowl. The streak really means nothing to me. Having a good season or at least a winning season that deserves a bowl means something.

OUs LONG Driver
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Copley, OH
Post Count: 653

Status: Offline

RE: The Chase for Bowl Eligibility

Posted: 11/9/2014 3:40:07 PM

It's a recruiting tool if nothing else. Not to mention additional practices for a young team.

Does any team at 6-6 deserve a postseason opportunity? Probably not, but if the opportunity presents itself, I'll be glad if we get one.

If we finish this year 7-5 I'll actually be pleasantly surprised. It's not what I hope for long term, but in a year where it was obvious we would be down, I'll take it and hope we can build on it for next year.

Alan Swank
General User

Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,022

Status: Offline

RE: The Chase for Bowl Eligibility

Posted: 11/9/2014 5:15:52 PM

OUs LONG Driver wrote:

Recruiting tool? Five bowls so far - where are the recruits? Additional practices? We've had those for five years and where are we today? If you keep repeating the same things enough times you'll believe them to be true. Once you get past about 10 or 15 of these bowls, they are virtually meaningless tourism ventures.

Campus Flow
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Alexandria, VA
Post Count: 4,952

Status: Offline

RE: The Chase for Bowl Eligibility

Posted: 11/9/2014 5:40:30 PM

Alan Swank wrote:

OUs LONG Driver wrote:

Remember its HS Juniors that are looking at where they will play and its those players who know about 5 straight bowl games. The guys coming in 2015 knew about back 2 back bowl wins and the guys in 2014 knew we won the Potato Bowl. It may be why the last couple of Ohio classes have been Solich's strongest. This is a down season for the program and we are still 5-5. We finish 6-6 or 7-5 we've got a good chance at winning that bowl against a lousy CUSA team.

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086

Alan Swank
General User

Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,022

Status: Offline

RE: The Chase for Bowl Eligibility

Posted: 11/9/2014 5:49:08 PM

Uncle Wes wrote:

Alan Swank wrote:

OUs LONG Driver wrote:

Like I said Wes, repeat it enough and you'll believe to be true. The post season opportunity funds fee could be used for better purposes.

Campus Flow
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Alexandria, VA
Post Count: 4,952

Status: Offline

RE: The Chase for Bowl Eligibility

Posted: 11/9/2014 5:49:09 PM

Victory wrote:

I'm doing a bit of probability calculations this morning with some predictive computer rankings. I get that 58 is the most probable number of teams with 7 or more wins. The most probable number of eligible teams is 77 with 78 just a hair more probable than 76.

This is a list of teams with a better than 50/50 chance of eligibility but with 6-6 being the most likely eligible record.

Texas-El Paso
Tennessee
Temple
Brigham Young
Penn State
Stanford
South Alabama
Texas State
North Carolina State
California
Rutgers
San Diego State
Akron
Ohio
Alabama-Birmingham
Virginia Tech
Western Kentucky
Texas
Michigan

It depends on what bowls with what contracts end up free but I'm guessing tht without looking at that part of it but with just looking at the way these things have worked in the past I'd think Ohio, Akron, Texas State and South Alabama are the most likely not to get picked. 6-6 would be putting your bowl chances on a razor's edge. We would be watching the last weekend hoping every 5-6 team loses.

Again its not a shoot out among 6-6 teams for the final spot. It comes down to contracts and what conference is placing a lot of schools in the CFP. If the opening is to play a CUSA school in Dallas they aren't going to select WKU over us for that opening. A lot of bowls like us over a local team because of the overnight stays and our name. Bumped Toledo out for a bowl game last year. Akron finishes with the same record they have no chance with a 10,000 average.

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086

OUs LONG Driver
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Copley, OH
Post Count: 653

Status: Offline

RE: The Chase for Bowl Eligibility

Posted: 11/9/2014 5:50:07 PM

Alan, we all know your problem with the Bowl games are the funds spent on them, it's OK to repeat that. I look forward to your post about the financials after it's all settled. Believe it or not I agree the funds spent on these bowls are crazy, but we play at a level of football where it's part of the game. It's in the budget. Get over it, it's not going to change.

If we keep this discussion strictly about football, going to a bowl game can be nothing but a positive. If we didn't have those extra practices I'd say we'd be worse off than we are now. Our goal (maybe not yours) is to field the best team possible. Getting practice reps and live reps helps improve the team. With such a small class of Seniors outgoing I'd say this is the most important year yet to have those extra practices.

It's a story that can be told to recruits and their parents just like anything else positive. It adds to our "sales portfolio" like the indoor practice facility, the new academic center, etc. Also, I'm in the camp with L.C. who believes the two most recently signed classes are the best two we've seen. As Wes pointed out, the longer the streak the more impressive and therefore the better a sales point it becomes.

EDIT: You got your dig in about the funds before I even put up my reply. Well done.

Last Edited: 11/9/2014 5:51:02 PM by OUs LONG Driver

Campus Flow
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Alexandria, VA
Post Count: 4,952

Status: Offline

RE: The Chase for Bowl Eligibility

Posted: 11/9/2014 5:52:59 PM

Alan Swank wrote:

Uncle Wes wrote:

Alan Swank wrote:

OUs LONG Driver wrote:

Like I said Wes, repeat it enough and you'll believe to be true. The post season opportunity funds fee could be used for better purposes.

The MAC gives each school bowling 400k. The post season opportunity funds fill in the remaining 75k-100k gap in costs. Its like getting 2 free dinners at The Palm and leaving a tip. Of course you will still do it.

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086

Campus Flow
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Alexandria, VA
Post Count: 4,952

Status: Offline

RE: The Chase for Bowl Eligibility

Posted: 11/9/2014 6:08:07 PM

OUs LONG Driver wrote:

It's a story that can be told to recruits and their parents just like anything else positive. It adds to our "sales portfolio" like the indoor practice facility, the new academic center, etc. Also, I'm in the camp with L.C. who believes the two most recently signed classes are the best two we've seen. As Wes pointed out, the longer the streak the more impressive and therefore the better a sales point it becomes.

The IPF and academic center are first rate facilities for the MAC. The only other school that has both at their stadium is NIU. NIU doesn't have the tower we do either so we'll have the best facilities in the MAC soon. We've picked up a couple of 3 star recruits over Cincinnati this year from Florida. I see Ohio building a Florida pipeline with success as an elite G5 school. Its the consistency these players see. When is the last time this program pulled worse than 4-8? The school has a great campus that is easy to get around and it offers everything academic wise.

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086

L.C.
General User

Member Since: 8/31/2005
Location: United States
Post Count: 10,064

Status: Offline

RE: The Chase for Bowl Eligibility

Posted: 11/9/2014 8:24:34 PM

Alan Swank wrote:

...If you keep repeating the same things enough times you'll believe them to be true. Once you get past about 10 or 15 of these bowls, they are virtually meaningless tourism ventures.

Or, is it that even if you repeat the truth often enough, those that that prefer if it isn't true will continue to believe it isn't true?

Seriously, Alan, obviously these bowls wouldn't exist if there wasn't a reason for them. The cities host them for two reasons. First, they promote visitors for the event itself. Secondly, they allow the city to promote itself, as a tourism destination. When you watch a bowl game, watch how often the city is mentioned, and all the things there are to do there. That isn't an accident. That's the city at work, advertising itself.

As for why the schools want to go, there are several reasons, which you can deny if you want. First, as covered by other posters, it is definitely a recruiting tool. The one thing we do know is that Ohio's recruiting classes have improved in recent years. To what should we attribute that? Bowl games? Better recruiting effort by coaches? The IPF? I have no way to know the correct split, but I believe all are factors.

Next, there are the extra practices. In years like last year, where the team is mostly Seniors, that is probably a marginal benefit. In years like this year, when virtually the whole team will return the following year, it is likely that the benefit is much greater.

Finally there is the advertising angle. We have debated why schools even play football in the first place. The best answer seems to be that football is an effective way of promoting awareness on a nationwide basis, and that it attracts new students, and promotes a closer relationship with alums. If that is the primary reason for having football in the first place, then getting to bowl games are certainly of value. While a Wednesday night appearance on ESPNU is of some value, many, many more people will hear Ohio's name mentioned repeatedly in connection to some obscure bowl, and many many more people will watch the bowl, than will ever be exposed to Ohio on ESPNU.

My guess is that if Ohio wanted to buy an advertising that is as effective as the many name mentions they get in connection with the bowl games, and the free ads that they get, placed within the bowl game, the cost would run several millions of dollars.

Finally, let's talk about general giving to the University. I believe if you go back and look, you'll find that giving to the university is higher in years that follow athletic successes, such as bowl games or BBall appearances in the Big dance. When you combine all these benefits, it seems implausible to argue that they are not of value, or "not worth it".

OUs LONG Driver wrote:

Last Edited: 11/9/2014 8:31:34 PM by L.C.

�We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.� ― Epictetus

Alan Swank
General User

Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,022

Status: Offline

RE: The Chase for Bowl Eligibility

Posted: 11/9/2014 8:58:11 PM

I guess I don't buy the extra practices reason. Those practices are devoted to beating a specific opponent that most likely we'll never see again unlike preseason practices and spring practices that are devoted to fundamentals and skill development. I'm really not sure how these practices in December will carry over to the following fall. No way to quantify that. Now when we were on quarters and all the guys had to think about was football and the bowl game, I guess I might have been able to buy that. But with semesters you're messing with classes and finals.

Last Edited: 11/9/2014 9:02:11 PM by Alan Swank

Pataskala
General User

Member Since: 7/8/2010
Location: At least six feet away from anybody else
Post Count: 9,152

Status: Offline

RE: The Chase for Bowl Eligibility

Posted: 11/9/2014 8:59:57 PM

No matter the bowl -- obscure or major -- it's difficult for teams to break even. I read somewhere that Florida St barely broke even, or lost money, going to either the Orange Bowl two years ago or the BCSNCG last year. And NIU made a quarter million from its Orange Bowl trip, but only because the MAC bought up some of NIU's ticket allowance. http://www.huskiewire.com/articles/2013/04/24/82285421/in...

So for damn near everybody, the benefit in bowls is not so much the money but the exposure.

We will get by.
We will get by.
We will get by.
We will survive.

OhioCatFan
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 14,016

Status: Offline

RE: The Chase for Bowl Eligibility

Posted: 11/10/2014 12:07:06 AM

That was oh so generous of the MAC, since they pocketed $8 million from the Orange Bowl. I wondered where all the rest of the money went?

The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."

Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org

OhioCatFan
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 14,016

Status: Offline

RE: The Chase for Bowl Eligibility

Posted: 11/10/2014 12:10:03 AM

OhioCatFan wrote:

That was oh so generous of the MAC, since they pocketed $8 million from the Orange Bowl. I wondered where all the rest of the money went?

http://www.hustlebelt.com/2013/4/25/4265518/northern-illi...

catfan28
General User

Member Since: 6/11/2011
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 1,503

Status: Offline

RE: The Chase for Bowl Eligibility

Posted: 11/10/2014 12:47:08 AM

I've been told by several AD staffers that this season will be a virtual lock to MAKE $$ on a bowl game if we go. Payout is up to 500K add in ticket sales of 30-40K and you're in the black for almost all locations. Told the only exception may be Bahamas with a far higher cost (including expedited passports).

Monroe Slavin
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Oxnard, CA
Post Count: 9,121

Status: Offline

RE: The Chase for Bowl Eligibility

Posted: 11/10/2014 2:49:58 AM

Swank, Alan--You can clearly see the benefit of five straight years of extra practice sessions in the quality of ball we've played over the last two and a half years. Combine that with the great recruiting, another by product of five bowls in a row, and the world class coaching and you can see why we are nationally ranked and a lock to win the MAC title.

Where's the band?!
WHERE"S THE BAND?!

DesignspiritUSA.com
The Pets On The Go Collection of pet gear travel bags
The Holiday Tote Bigg Bagg Collection--over-sized, reversible, extra pockets; now love carrying packages as much as you love shopping!

Mark Lembright '85
General User

Member Since: 8/22/2010
Location: Highland Heights, OH
Post Count: 2,447

Status: Offline

RE: The Chase for Bowl Eligibility

Posted: 11/10/2014 10:03:13 AM

Uncle Wes wrote:

OUs LONG Driver wrote:

Yeah, I would take Akron's football facilities over Ohio's in a heartbeat.

OhioCatFan
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 14,016

Status: Offline

RE: The Chase for Bowl Eligibility

Posted: 11/10/2014 11:03:22 AM

Monroe Slavin wrote:

Sarcasm gets you nowhere on this board. I know this from experience.

GoCats105
General User

Member Since: 1/31/2006
Location: Seattle, WA
Post Count: 6,910

Status: Offline

RE: The Chase for Bowl Eligibility

Posted: 11/10/2014 12:00:17 PM

catfan28 wrote:

What makes you think there will be 30-40K in ticket sales regardless of the opponent/location? Unless you're talking $ and not bodies.

Last Edited: 11/10/2014 12:00:41 PM by GoCats105

Alan Swank
General User

Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,022

Status: Offline

RE: The Chase for Bowl Eligibility

Posted: 11/10/2014 1:09:54 PM

GoCats105 wrote:

catfan28 wrote:

What makes you think there will be 30-40K in ticket sales regardless of the opponent/location? Unless you're talking $ and not bodies.

With advent and popularity of "sympathy sales" 30 to 40K should be fairly easy.

Paul Graham
General User

Member Since: 1/18/2005
Location: The Plains, OH
Post Count: 1,424

Status: Offline

RE: The Chase for Bowl Eligibility

Posted: 11/10/2014 1:27:58 PM

Uncle Wes wrote:

OUs LONG Driver wrote:

Did you copy and paste this from a 2011 post when we all thought this might happen? We can't even compete for the MAC East, the worst division in college football.

Last Edited: 11/10/2014 1:28:39 PM by Paul Graham

catfan28
General User

Member Since: 6/11/2011
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 1,503

Status: Offline

RE: The Chase for Bowl Eligibility

Posted: 11/10/2014 4:15:18 PM

GoCats105 wrote:

What makes you think there will be 30-40K in ticket sales regardless of the opponent/location? Unless you're talking $ and not bodies.

I'm talking $$$. Bodies are meaningless for a bowl game. IIRC, we've had about 35K in sales the last few bowls - most of it donation tickets for children - but $$ nevertheless.

catfan28
General User

Member Since: 6/11/2011
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 1,503

Status: Offline

RE: The Chase for Bowl Eligibility

Posted: 11/10/2014 4:16:14 PM

Alan Swank wrote:

With advent and popularity of "sympathy sales" 30 to 40K should be fairly easy.

What is a sympathy sale??

Showing Replies:	51 - 75 of 271 Posts
Jump to Page:	< Previous 1 \| 2 \| 3 \| 4 \| 5 \| 6 \| 7 \| 8 \| 9 \| 10 \| 11 Next >

View Other 'Ohio Football' Topics

There are 137 Active Visitors on BobcatAttack.com

136 Guests
1 Registered User:
	OUcat

There are no other users looking at this page.