Why fly when it's such a short drive?
Pregame: Illinois vs Mississippi State, Monday, January 2nd, 11:00am CT, ESPN2
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Sounds like a great bonding opportunity with any friends or family that travel with you (at least the ones that survive lol).
the national
- the Front Range
My wife would say, "That is sooo nice!" But, she still wouldn't do it.I have a December birthday. I told my wife Illinois will be playing in the Reliaquest Bowl in Tampa on January 2.
When I woke up from my Sunday nap, she told me she had booked a flight and bought tickets to the game, and then wished me a "Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas."
I think I might be one of the lucky ones.
I have been having this debate with family members for years. I really don't like it when players skip their last bowl game. It bothers me from a team game attitude perspective. I bothers me from a the perspective of ending that journey prematurely. It bothers me from them not giving their last for the coaches, teammates, and the school that gave them so much in pursuit of their goal. It bothers me as a fan I feel cheated. This may be a stretch, but it makes me wonder about their character. I certainly understand the business, career, and security perspective. Maybe it is just the way I think about life. I don't really believe that I am an old dude that can't accept change. I know I am NOT like that and I am certain my kids would support that. Maybe if I had ever been in their shoes if would think differently, but I don't think so. My wife once said out loud at a neighborhood party, "Why do you think that way?". And 2 of my neighbor friends replied, "Because, he is a man of principles!".
One of my brothers-in-law said if the game doesn't mean playing for a NC, he accepts it. I understand it, but I don't agree. Just curious, how does everyone feel about players skipping bowl games?
redwingillini11
- North Aurora
The price for a 6 am flight there and a 10 pm flight home plus game ticket isn't outrageous. But personally this probably isn't the year to break the bank on such a luxury. I'll just have to support the team from home with the volume turned down.
Beat Mississippi State!
Beat Mississippi State!
blackdog
- Champaign
Me and my GF spent 28 hours driving to South Carolina and back. Seemed to have been a good experience because when the bowl was announced I was expecting to watch from home and she started looking at plane tickets. Tampa here we come!
SampsonRelpenk
- Carbondale, IL
You laid out your position thoughtfully, but I'm of the opposite mind. Bowl games are fundamentally exhibitions, celebrating the end of a good season. As much as I'd love to see Devon Witherspoon out there terrorizing an entire half of the field in orange and blue one more time, I don't feel these players owe me or anyone else anything at this point.
For many of these kids, this is the only opportunity they will ever have to make life changing money for their family. You could easily make a case that sitting out IS the principled decision in a sport that chews you up and spits you out for profit.
Bowl games outside of playoff and NY6 are good for 2 things, extra practices and recruiting. That's what coches get out of them. So I have no problem if a kid that's going to the league sits out meaningless bowls. By this point they aren't really going to improve their draft stock in one game.
this is an awesome opportunity for Illinois and its fitting that we'll be going up against the Pirate Mike Leach in the Buccaneers stadium in sunny Tampa Bay, Florida. We might as well take advantage of the the extra practice time, get some recruiting in, hopefully our guys get to take in some sunshine and of course win this bowl game.
Looking forward to it
Looking forward to it
Don't know how to say it other than how you did. It's a 100% financial decision which makes perfect sense in that context. And sucks in every other context.
It hurts most to teams at our level, I think. Lower-level bowls / schools have very few going pro so not an issue. Top-level bowls / schools just bring up the next 5-star and keep on chugging along. At our level, and especially Illinois in 2022, we have a huge drop-off between 1st and 2nd string.
I think the bowl games are not long for this world. The advent of the 12 team playoff could be the death knell. That will yield 11 at least somewhat meaningful games. As for the others, most games already have empty stadiums and limited TV viewership. Now that many players are regarding them as a risk and not a reward, why would the TV networks and fans continue to pay for what is becoming a glorified spring game?
I am staying on St Pete Beach and catching the shuttle to and from the stadium. Shake and bake.
For those of you who have not been to the Tampa Bay area recently there has been a boom in number of bars and restaurants in downtown St Petersburg., about a 40 minute ride to the stadium.
For those of you who have not been to the Tampa Bay area recently there has been a boom in number of bars and restaurants in downtown St Petersburg., about a 40 minute ride to the stadium.
redwingillini11
- North Aurora
Because commercials for a college football game pay better than commercials for a rerun of SportsCenter.
Thanks to those replying to the question about players skipping bowl games or not. I reread my question and feared it could be read as a condemnation, but honestly it wasn't. I completely understand the life changing opportunity. I understand everybody has to balance their decision making thoughtfully. I never would get angry with that player. In hindsight everyone has to remember why they did what what they did in life. If I ever catch myself thinking, "I wish I had done that instead" I remind myself, "But then THIS wouldn't have happened". I absolutely respect their decisions, just as I hope people try to understand mine.
I think I look at it as a person with such love of playing sports. Like most of us, even the most remote thoughts of playing sports professionally ended at a very young age. Fortunately, like many, I had other options and loves. I just remember playing football, basketball, and baseball and whether it was a good or bad team, season, or game, or no matter what the score was, I just wanted to keep playing. Therefore, I wish they wouldn't skip the bowl games for their sake.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
As others have mentioned, unless you are playing for national title, these bowl games are glorified exhibition games.
The extra practices for players playing on team next year and recruiting are important for making bowl game.
If a player is going to declare for draft, there is very little upside to playing bowl game. There is greater risk for long term injuries. So from a cost/benefit analysis, they should sit out bowl game.
While it hurts for fans, it is good for the player and program for them to get drafted in a high round. It helps with our recruiting to say we developed a first round pick, etc.
Also the younger players that will be with team next year get valuable playing time. So I am perfectly fine with a player sitting out bowl game.
The Sprouting Divot
Invisible and Bulletproof
- Miracle Mile
This should be baked into the equation and should be paid for by some combination of the bowl, the NCAA, and the school.
Yeah, sitting out the bowl game is an interesting situation. I generally agree with the view that players should feel free to protect themselves and their future, rather than risking it all for a bowl game. But then one might argue that playing the last regular season game is too big a risk as well. For example, Spoon could have skipped the NW game; why risk it? So where does one draw the line. Is it worth playing the second half of the season? As soon as some decent stats are locked in, why not just sit out.
I think bowl games are still pretty important to the fan base, in most situations. Especially for Illini fans. Like others have said, I'm going to be pretty sad if our best DB isn't out there to shut down the Pirate's air raid attack. It means so much to us as fans, to the team, and even to the conference.
I think bowl games are still pretty important to the fan base, in most situations. Especially for Illini fans. Like others have said, I'm going to be pretty sad if our best DB isn't out there to shut down the Pirate's air raid attack. It means so much to us as fans, to the team, and even to the conference.
My bowl wish list:
1) PLEASE Mike Leech say funny ridiculous things that make us laugh and bring more attention to the bowl.
2) Illini coachs are in every possible living room of recruits they can get in Tampa for some of that "Florida Speed"
3) BB convince our NFL bound players to play. "PLAYAH GONNA PLAY"
4) No one gets hurt
5) We win a great bowl
1) PLEASE Mike Leech say funny ridiculous things that make us laugh and bring more attention to the bowl.
2) Illini coachs are in every possible living room of recruits they can get in Tampa for some of that "Florida Speed"
3) BB convince our NFL bound players to play. "PLAYAH GONNA PLAY"
4) No one gets hurt
5) We win a great bowl
If you aren't a guaranteed 1st round pick, play every dang game. Nothing improves your stock more imo, than consistently good play.
In my mind, the main difference is that the bowl game is potentially 1 month+ from the last game of the regular season. You go from a weekly routine to having to stay in the same mentality through the holidays. Letting yourself slip even a little can increase the chance for injuries.
I'm a little sympathetic to the fan base thing, but no one but the most hardcore of fans reference "bowl wins" as part of a coaches or a team's overall resume (outside of the CFP + NY6 bowls, of course). When the season ends, if you're a top 3ish round player, your combine stats and showcase games/practices are likely more important than your performance in this last game. And "measureables" require a little different training regimes than actual games.
I dunno, I guess I'd also rather go to a sweet 16 basketball game (anywhere in the country) vs a non-NY6 bowl game...
I think another aspect of this is the level of competition in this bowl game. We played a very weak schedule for a P5 school, I think having another quality opponent gives fringe day 2/3 guys a huge opportunity to add to their film.
Example, Sydney. Not sure where he’s projected but he comes to play again against a pretty darn good miss st offense and now you could see a couple teams taking a chance on him in a higher round.
Yet, unless you are a big donor you aren't guaranteed tickets if you go that way and you won't know for several days if you will get them:
Everyone who request tickets will be notified by Sunday,
December 11th at 5:00pm to confirm if their request has been fulfilled.
Submitting a ticket request does not guarantee an order.
Should demand exceed supply for any price level, the order will be fulfilled at the next available price.
The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics reserves the right to reduce or cancel any order.
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