Will Iowa fans travel this year to minor bowl game?

HaydenHawk56

HaydenHawk56

Well-Known Member
This is something I'm curious to see. Where does the excitement factor lie in the face of all the failed expectations this year? Will fans vote with their dollars?

I don't remember, but in 97, was their still a good turnout for that bowl game mishap?
 
HaydenHawk56 said:
This is something I'm curious to see. Where does the excitement factor lie in the face of all the failed expectations this year? Will fans vote with their dollars?

I don't remember, but in 97, was their still a good turnout for that bowl game mishap?
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I don't believe we'll have a good turnout this year no matter where we end up now.

I traveled down to El Paso for the Sun Bowl in 97' - poor turnout and poor effort by the team.

I think this season is even a bigger disappointment than 97' and that says a lot.
 
In 2005, Iowa finished 5-3 in the league,narrowly losing to Michigan and NW (missing two short fgs that cost us a big ten title) and fans still went down to the Alamo Bowl to play Texas.

I think it will be off a bit,but fans have budgeted for the Rose Bowl and will still want to go to Florida....not so sure about Arizona. I suspect in the end, 12k or more fans will travel,which is enough to keep Iowa's repuatation among the bowl officials.
 
JHHawk said:
In 2005, Iowa finished 5-3 in the league,narrowly losing to Michigan and NW (missing two short fgs that cost us a big ten title) and fans still went down to the Alamo Bowl to play Texas.

I think it will be off a bit,but fans have budgeted for the Rose Bowl and will still want to go to Florida....not so sure about Arizona. I suspect in the end, 12k or more fans will travel,which is enough to keep Iowa's repuatation among the bowl officials.
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Just a correction the 05 season took us to the Outback for a rematch with Florida. It was the meltdown in 06 that took us to the Alamo.
 
and throw in the fact that bowl games actually end up costing University money....this could be a bad year to go bowling.

Read the Sports Illustrated article about the BCS and how it controls everything, including how they'll never got to a playoff. Basically the bowl execs don't want to lose money
 
JHHawk said:
In 2005, Iowa finished 5-3 in the league,narrowly losing to Michigan and NW (missing two short fgs that cost us a big ten title) and fans still went down to the Alamo Bowl to play Texas...
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That was also against Texas. That is more exciting than playing someone like Mississippi State (Outback Bowl) or Baylor (Insight Bowl). An Iowa/MSU or Iowa/Baylor bowl game provides zero buzz outside the two fan bases. Not sure that even excites some of the fan base enough to spend the $$$ to see a mediocre match-up.
 
'95 Sun Bowl 15000 to 20000 people traveled remember talking to several of them everyone said they had a great time.

'97 Sun bowl 8000 to 12000 people traveled......No buzz, team played`flat.


A 3 loss hawk team I thought you could get 10-15000 to travel maybe upwards of 20000 depending on the opponent. The NW loss hurt badly.

Now i am thinking 8-12000 will travel, a big name opponent would help a little.

Time removed from the regular season maybe those numbers go up to 10-15000 which would be really good considering.
 
Iowa fans may not travel as heavily as we have in past years, but we'll still travel better than most teams- and that's why Iowa fans are awesome. As another poster mentioned, we traveled 20k to the Alamo for a similar-tier bowl, and that won't be hard to pull to Jax IMO.
 
I have been to last 5 bowl games . Would go to either Outback or Insight. Love Clearwater and Tampa. Never been to Insight. Jacksonville just does not hve any appeal to me. I am trying to find some. Wish Big 10 was still affiliated with Alamo. Love Riverwalk and SA.
 
StatelineHawk said:
I have been to last 5 bowl games . Would go to either Outback or Insight. Love Clearwater and Tampa. Never been to Insight. Jacksonville just does not hve any appeal to me. I am trying to find some. Wish Big 10 was still affiliated with Alamo. Love Riverwalk and SA.
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I wasn't a fan of getting rid of the Alamo only because the bowl we picked up is another SEC opponent. I would have liked to see a bowl tie in with a mid to upper place Pac 10 team.
 
JHHawk said:
I stand corrected,but Iowa fans will follow the team to wherever...just watch.
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Only time will tell, but my prediction is an epically bad turnout. People had planned on a BCS level Bowl and the reality is nowhere near that. Why spend the money or the energy for something universally seen as a complete letdown? Its kind of like expecting a Mercedes or Lexus only to find out they are all sold out, but you are offered that new 65K Hyundai. Terrible alternative. I was not going to be able to travel regardless, but 5 of my friends were planning on going. They have decided against it now.

It also would not shock me to see the team sleepwalk through the game. Its just very hard for fans and players to get their "game faces" on, so to speak, for the Gator Bowl in light of this year's expectations. I am not putting the coaches in that category since they are getting paid more than presidents and CEO's, but yet still failed to properly utilize this extremely talented team. I will expect the same level of ineptitude during the bowl game and especially with about 5 minutes left in the 4th qtr.
 
In my opinion there is nothing more fun than a bowl trip. A big name opponent definately adds to the ambiance but it's not a deal killer either way. At this point I'm hoping for the Outback against Alabama but I'll go to the Gator too. Can't make the Insight because Dec. 28 is too close to Christmas. I was "saving" to go to the Rose, so at this point a lower tier bowl seems like a bargain. I, for one, am looking forward to it.
 
The Outback is not a minor bowl game. Last year, those people who wanted to get an early football fix on New Year's Day were treated to a great matchup between Northwestern and Auburn that came right down to the wire.
 
okeefe4prez said:
The Outback is not a minor bowl game. Last year, those people who wanted to get an early football fix on New Year's Day were treated to a great matchup between Northwestern and Auburn that came right down to the wire.
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Florida, Alabama or maybe Arkansas I'm with you......Mississippi state, S. carolina not so much.
 
If they get into the Outback, a lot of people will go. Tampa is a lot of fun and any game against an SEC team it was fun to watch.
 
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