Jake Butt and Future Bowl Games

[HuckFinn]

I can only say that kids in that position should do what they darn well please.

 

[IndianaHawk]

I'm all for the top programs skipping bowl games entirely if they aren't in the playoff or games like the Rose Bowl. If you really have 5-10 senior draft prospects on the team, don't go play in the Foster Farms Bowl. Pack it in and go recruit.

And tell those you are recruiting that you don't play in bowl games?

 

[phdsvp]

And tell those you are recruiting that you don't play in bowl games?

For those kinds of programs, you don't care about the opinions of such recruits. Either they want to play with the best, or they can go to the MAC and play on ESPN8 in some nameless bowl every year. Alabama, USC, Michigan...they don't need to play in any second-tier bowl from now until the end of time. Heck, the best recruits would probably be MORE likely to go there if they thought their program was keeping their NFL prospects in mind.

 

[Seth53]

Used to be a bowl game was a big deal and a reward for a good season. No longer.

It's playoff or bust. If I was a draftable player and my team was going to play in some dog bowl game, or even a 'bigger' bowl game I'd sit. Too bad, you've given your all for 4-5 years and helped your team do its part to make a bowl game.

Time then to look out for yourself. Selfish? probably. Smart? Undeniable.

 

[IAHAWK1982]

I like the idea, but we're still only looking at about 16 teams.

So that's four more games added to the season for teams making it to the championship game. Talk about increasing the risk for injury.

 

[hawkdrummer1]

So that's four more games added to the season for teams making it to the championship game. Talk about increasing the risk for injury.

Yep. And one has to assume that the best teams are more likely to have many of the best (as in high draft pick) players.
Life is not without risk and football certainly is not without risk. That's why players have the option to buy insurance policies against injuries. It's still an imperfect solution, but one that's available, including the ability for players to borrow against their future draft value to pay for it.

 

[Hawknigh]

For those of you who are saying that schools should skip participating at all in the lower bowls and just do recruiting, I beg to differ. I think the coaches love the opportunity to have another month of practice with the team. And bowl games, even lower ones, are great venues for recruiting.

 

[HawkeyeGunner]

Lets be honest nobody with a record below 8-4 should be in a bowl. I agree we don't need all the bottom feeder bowls and is Detroit really where you want to go spend you New Years? Use some of the Armed Forces bowls and such for the non P5 leagues.

I'm not in favor of kids punking out on the rest of their team and I've said as much in the past, but if this sort of thing hurts the current bowl system and leads to the elimination of the Music City/Foster Farms/Pinstripe/Vagisil bottom feeder bowl games then I'm all for it. A 6-6 team should not be playing in in the post season.[/QUOTE

 

[docholihawk]

I'm not in favor of kids punking out on the rest of their team and I've said as much in the past, but if this sort of thing hurts the current bowl system and leads to the elimination of the Music City/Foster Farms/Pinstripe/Vagisil bottom feeder bowl games then I'm all for it. A 6-6 team should not be playing in in the post season.

You realize of course that taking away bottom feeder bowls ruins the dreams of Cyclone fans of ever reaching a bowl again. As for myself I think 8 wins should be the required number of wins to go to a bowl. An 8 win season in the 80's seemed more special than our 8 win season last year.

 

[NCHawker]

I've read and analyzed all the points of view and have decided...

 

[Basabe101]

It didn't hurt Fournette or McCaffery as far as draft position. I don't think GM's care. Maybe if they sat out a playoff game, but any of the other bowl games, I think they could care less if the player sits out the game.