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Do bowl games matter?

7,749 Views | 99 Replies | Last: 1 mo ago by TyperWoods
BTHOB-98
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I don't care about a bowl game unless we are in the playoffs. Here is my question. Do bowl games matter to you?…and why?
vander54
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S
They are just fun to watch. Too many variables to expect more than that.
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Iraq2xVeteran
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AG
Non-CFB Bowl games are for pride and entertainment. With too many variables, it's unrealistic to expect much more than that.
jt16
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If you play a game, you want to win. Every single time.
dabo man
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Depends on the school/situation. For the bigger schools in a major conference, they don't mean much. If you're Army or Ohio (or Sam Houston), hell yes they matter.
vander54
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jt16 said:

If you play a game, you want to win. Every single time.


Of course but way too many variables to expect much from them unless in the playoffs.
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Bill Superman
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PanzerAggie06
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No. But here's the rub, they never really did.

Unless you were playing in a bowl that determined the NC back in the day they were what they are today. End of the year scrimmages that were about having a chance to play a team you wouldn't normally play in, in most cases, a fun place to have a good weekend.
Nosmo
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After his post game presser, it appears Elko think's they matter.
vander54
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Nosmo said:

After his post game presser, it appears Elko think's they matter.


I hope they do to him but even scrimages matter to him
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PanzerAggie06
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Nosmo said:

After his post game presser, it appears Elko think's they matter.


Well, this is true so I suppose saying they don't matter was a bit premature. They can matter in todays age to a coach who realizes in the era of having to produce almost instantaneously each win and lose will be counted for or against you. Elko's seat is far from hot but losing to USC, especially in the manner he did, definitely didn't cool things down and silence the critics.
greg.w.h
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They were exhibition games. They were given extra value when tracking HC record in roughly the late 80s, iirc.

I think they are returned to their original value except for the historic hangover of expectations but lack the certainty of participation by draftable seniors and opt outs.

That puts more emphasis on the season which already has grown significantly in value due to the expanded playoff. But the value of an exhibition game is playing for fun and to make memories.
fightinag
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All about the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Jugstore Cowboy
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BTHOB-98 said:

I don't care about a bowl game unless we are in the playoffs. Here is my question. Do bowl games matter to you?…and why?
It's football. I like football. The game has no more and no less impact on my life than it ever did at any point in time.

How many hand-wringing posts do we need on this topic? Watch or don't watch.

W
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the bowl game this year was a battle of coaching staffs

since both teams suffered attrition / opt outs / transfers after the end of the regular season

the game showed which coaching staff could adjust and scheme with the players they had left
aggiedad7
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W said:

the bowl game this year was a battle of coaching staffs

since both teams suffered attrition / opt outs / transfers after the end of the regular season

the game showed which coaching staff could adjust and scheme with the players they had left
It was important reps for Reed. He needs all the game reps he can get. Every game has teachable moments.
one safe place
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Depends whether you win or lose. Win, yes they matter, lose, no they don't matter, they are a scrimmage.

But if they don't matter, to save on travel costs and such, should just skip the bowl game and have another Maroon & White game.
alvtimes
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practice practice practice…. someone portals or opt out, the back up/nxt yrs starters get reps.
Sq 17
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Yes they matter
I think RC once said the first play of a defensive series is the punt
Similarly the first game of next year's season is this years bowl game.

Pre season ranking matter 9-4 with a bowl win looks better than 8-5 and a loss
TheDecadeSapling
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The actual bowl games don't matter for anything other than entertainment value and reps. What's actually important is the extra practices.
Give me the guy who shoots for excellence and fails over the guy who shoots for mediocrity and succeeds.
rootube
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It's another football game where the Aggies play so I'm watching it but they sure have been devalued.
Onionman
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People saying they don't matter unless we are in the playoffs are full of BS. It goes on our record and saying they don't matter after we lose is loser's talk.

Realistically, I think A&M will make the playoffs once in a while but 90% of the time they won't be in the playoffs and/or will be realistically knocked out earlier in the season. So people saying they don't matter unless its the playoffs are basically saying the majority of games don't really matter.
dixichkn
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They are what they are. An extra scrimmage. Practice for some up and comers. POTENTIAL momentum builder for the following season if you look really good. But that's about it
vander54
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Onionman said:

People saying they don't matter unless we are in the playoffs are full of BS. It goes on our record and saying they don't matter after we lose is loser's talk.

Realistically, I think A&M will make the playoffs once in a while but 90% of the time they won't be in the playoffs and/or will be realistically knocked out earlier in the season. So people saying they don't matter unless its the playoffs are basically saying the majority of games don't really matter.



What if we said they don't really matter before the loss?

In the end they don't matter too much. Way too many variables in play and doesn't always give a true representation of your team.

A win is always nice and a loss always sucks but that doesnt mean the games matter. Yes the game goes on your record but does it impact the next year not really. Records only matter for bragging rights.

Also if the bowl results dictate your coaches future there was already doubt anyways.
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JustisWalkert
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Sq 17 said:

Yes they matter
I think RC once said the first play of a defensive series is the punt
Similarly the first game of next year's season is this years bowl game.

Pre season ranking matter 9-4 with a bowl win looks better than 8-5 and a loss
Well, that's bad news
Nosmo
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The OP question in the title was, "Do bowl games matter?", not "Do bowl games matter to you?" as in the text. So two different issues.

Last year it didn't appear to matter to Elko, from his response. And it wasn't his product on the field.

This year his post game pressers were more intense by the end of November….note defending his culture comments.

After the bowl game loss, he was severely dissatisfied.

Appeared more angry than anything in previous pressers.

If we had won 31-14, would anything different transpire during the off season?

I don't know. But any loss goes on your historical record, is media talking points, and recruiting ammunition, at least.

Losses also leave a bad taste in most people's (that donate and/or care) mouths for the off season.

Now, no games really "matter", once you are eliminated from the playoffs for fans opportunity to experience playoffs.

But every game contributes to player's and coach's futures.

I hate to lose anything...so they matter to me too.
Kellso
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TCU, Oregon, Texas A&M.

25 years ago two of these schools were roughly at the same level. TCU was way behind Oregon and A&M.

TCU and Oregon have become New Money National Powers that have both played for the National Title by consistently winning Bowl Games.

I think the A&M football program lost momentum in the RC years by continually losing the nationally televised bowl game to the big time out of state opponent. Whether it was UCLA, Florida St, Notre Dame...etc it seemed like A&M football always came up short in the big game.
Panama Red
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TCU is not a national power. Not even close.

vander54
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TCU made it because they bought their starters. They took a risk and it worked for them. Since then they went 5-7 the year after the NC appearance and 9-4 in a much weaker Big 12.

They are FAR from a national power
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Kellso
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Panama Red said:

TCU is not a national power. Not even close.


Since 2000 TCU has:

13 Seasons of 10 or more victories
7 different Conference Titles in 4 different conferences (WAC, MWC, Conference USA, BIGXII)
CFP National Semi Final win against Michigan
CFP National Title Finalist in 2022

They also help run The University of Texas out of the BIGXII by winning 8 out of 12 against the Horns while in the BIGXII.

TCU has been one of the more successful college football programs of the 21st Century.

The TCU Horn Frogs have finished the season ranked in the top 10 in 8 different seasons since 2000.
That means that on average TCU is finishing in the top 10 in one in every three football seasons.
Duckhook
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Aside from the National Championship games, no more or no less than they ever did.

I'm a college football fan. I watch some of a lot of the bowl games.

More college football > less college football.
TJaggie14
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Unless you're participating in the playoff bowls then they do not matter.

Nobody remembers who won last yrs Houston Muffler Bowl, and no one is going to remember who won this yrs Las Vegas bowl.

With NIL and the transfer portal, you can't even use your teams bowl performance for any indication on next season.
Mike Elko isn't going to take the podium in August 2025 a week before our first game and say "thank God we played in the Las Vegas bowl, we really saw some great development that is going to make an impact."

These "lesser" bowls should be about having fun. Look to the Pop Tart bowl for instance. It's silly, and dumb, and a lot of fun which is what college football should be about.

In these lesser bowl games coaches should pull out all the stops. Go for it on every 4th down, run all the crazy trick plays, fake punts, and go for 2 ever time.
beerad12man
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Please. they aren't even close to a national power. Why did you go back to 2000? Who cares what they did in the mountain west? That's even worse than us riding the success in a better SWC.

We are talking national power. No credible person lists what someone did in the mountain west back in 2011 to show someone is a national power.

In their time in P5/P4 conferences, they have less wins than A&M since 2012. They have more losses than A&M. They have finished ranked 4 times in 13 years with this year possibly being their 5th. They have won 10 games 4 times in 13 years. They seem to have had 4 great seasons, one good season, 8 bad seasons in the last 13 years with 7 losing conference records. Also more than A&M in the sec (A&M has had 2). TCU in the sec the last 13 years? I'm guessing about 9 losing records in the sec.

They are a good program who has had two higher highs (but also more downs) than A&M. I'd say 4 very strong years compared to A&M only having 2 during this stretch. But no way a reasonable person can argue a national power.

We would have likely beat them 8-9 of the last 13 years.
Kellso
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beerad12man said:

Please. they aren't even close to a national power. Why did you go back to 2000? Who cares what they did in the mountain west? That's even worse than us riding the success in a better SWC.

We are talking national power. No credible person lists what someone did in the mountain west back in 2011 to show someone is a national power.

In their time in P5/P4 conferences, they have less wins than A&M since 2012. They have more losses than A&M. They have finished ranked 4 times in 13 years with this year possibly being their 5th. They have won 10 games 4 times in 13 years. They seem to have had 4 great seasons, one good season, 8 bad seasons in the last 13 years with 7 losing conference records. Also more than A&M in the sec (A&M has had 2). TCU in the sec the last 13 years? I'm guessing about 9 losing records in the sec.

They are a good program who has had two higher highs (but also more downs) than A&M. I'd say 4 very strong years compared to A&M only having 2 during this stretch. But no way a reasonable person can argue a national power.

We would have likely beat them 8-9 of the last 13 years.

The problem with all this is that A&M has almost no accomplishments in the same time period. I went back to 2000 because I'm only comparing these programs in the 21st Century.

Kids that are in junior high and high school, and that will be tomorrows 5 star recruits are too young to remember or care what A&M accomplished in the 1980's and 1990's.

People under 30 years old that have been watching college football for the past 25 years have witnessed TCU's rebirth into a National Power.

TCU has done this by consistently winning their bowl games including the Rose Bowl, Peach Bowl and Fiesta Bowl. They have won all three of these major bowl games.

We all know that A&M has played a tougher schedule during this same time frame....but I'm gonna play devils advocate........who cares?

Who cares if School A plays a tougher schedule if they have nothing to show for it?
No conference titles
No CFP Appearance's
No National Title appearances.

TCU has finished in the top 5 in 3 different seasons (2010, 2014, 2022) over the past 15 seasons.
If TCU would have won the 2022 National Title we would all have to put some respect on their name.

It wouldn't surprise me in the next 10 years to see TCU, Baylor or Houston get in the CFP and have a legit shot at the Natty.
The SEC has tougher competition than the BIGXII.
Panama Red
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Thanks for all those words to confirm that TCU is not a national power.


They have had a great little run. But don't try to oversell what it was. TCU being better than we have been for X period of time does not make them a national power. It just means we haven't done much of anything.
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