It's always good for the conference to have a good bowl record, but it's better if you have a place in the playoffs. Something the B12 didn't have ..AGAIN.
A good bowl season alters perceptions and has a positive carry over effect for next year just as a poor bowl performance has a negative impact. Don't think people will be gushing over the quality of the B10 even if several of its teams start next season hot while B12 teams and ACC teams who come out of the gate fast will be given more respect nationally.
I don't think the non-champion team from the Big Ten will be invited next season. To me these guys on the selection panel are supposed to be the experts but it was obvious by watching the last 3 or 4 games of the season that Ohio State had some serious flaws. To elevate the Buckeyes over Penn State was a function of minds made up with new evidence ignored.
I think fans definitely like to have the bowl win, and I do think it can have some positive impact on the following season and recruiting. But not always, I doubt if the blowout by Clemson of Ohio State has any impact on next year or on recruiting, the same for Washington. Penn State however probably does get a boost from the way they finished the season. I doubt that Michigan though is impacted by losing 3 out of their last 4 games, the fans know that Harbaugh has already done good things and this was pretty much just some growing pains. SEC teams definitely aren't impacted one way or the other, they all function in the most talent rich region of the country and those kids want to play in the SEC so they will always have a lot of teams highly ranked in recruiting.
Are you seriously making a big deal about the committee choosing OSU when PSU just gave up 52 to three loss USC? They might have given up 100 to Clemson... :roll:
I tell you what, that 3 loss USC team was a very good team by the end of the year, clearly a top 10 team. It took them the month of Sept to sort things out but after that they were really, really good.
Hoke's last recruiting class and Harbaugh's first class were pretty meh which means that H will be compelled to plug in a lot of young players to replace all of the players we lose to graduation. Next year will be a bumpy ride but should be really good after that with talent and depth.
Hey Terry, it was nice that the enterprising research staff at NDNation was kind enough to point out that since 2000 Texas has won as many Rose Bowl games as the Big 10. Between sponsoring billboard and newspaper ads re Kelly, figured the posters might be too distracted from tire fires in nearby territory. :lol:
Clemson can't score when the opposing team is moving the ball and scoring at will itself. Not saying that Penn State would have beaten Clemson but chances are very good the game would have been one hell of a lot more entertaining.
No kidding, pretty much every day over there all that is talked about is firing Kelly and the AD Jack Swarbrick, with occasional forays in the the pain of others.
Oh Dave, you kooky kid,,, You just ignore whatever you want and champion the sliver of sunshine as proof of SEC dominance. You guys had a mediocre year, deal with it. The fact that you're so excited about beating Iowa should offer yourself a reality check. Just face it. The SEC was Bama and then no one this year. As for Rape State, they wound up proving that they belonged in the playoffs. I think in future seasons, this one will be mentioned as a reason to take the conference champ over a team that's not the conference champ.
I just think the narrrative for the Ohio State vs Penn State argument was just too powerful for the committee. Many thought Ohio State was the best B1G team last year, but they were upset in a very close game by Michigan State. So what happens last year.... Mich State gets clocked 38-0, while Ohio State looks likes Champions vs the Irish in the Fiesta bowl. Making pretty much everybody say that Ohio State in spite of the upset loss to MSU was still the best team in the B1G and should have been in the playoffs. So this year, same senario. Ohio State a top 5 team all year has the upset vs Penn State a team that didn't really look all that good up till that game. So the committee not wanting to miss on who was really the best B1G school went with the conventional wisdom. It was Ohio State. Next year if the same circumstances happen, they will go with the B12 Champion!!
This is what I'm saying here.... and you two agree. Narrative or not the signs were there to not take Ohio State over head to head winner and conference champ Penn St. but those signs were just ignored. Corey I said that since Friday in the best bowl games the SEC did pretty well.... winning several games easily. If Bama does beat Clemson again it's another statement for the SEC. Do not mistake UF smoking Iowa in the Outback as suddenly providing meaningful evidence for UF being a great team.... I'm damn sure not saying that.... not with that offense we trot out there.
Dude, It's the fact that you have to parse it at all, or even attempt to parse it , that makes it so laughable. Just take the dose. Kes and I long ago embraced this season as a mediocre one for the Pac12 We have a ton of young teams, with young talent and a bit of coaching turnover (or new coaches) setting themselves up. You can't just say 'we're pretty average to bad this year in the bowl games.' You have to pick a date and make yourself look better than you are. In 2017, the Pac12 is undefeated! Ridiculous, right? It's true but still ridiculous. Both of our conferences finished at .500 and the ACC had the King's year. It doesn't hurt to actually admit it. Hoo-yaah, you beat Iowa. The one team with a worse offense than you guys. How'd you far against other good teams like Florida State??
Florida State? There you go touting the Gators again on my behalf. I think I've been abundantly clear all year that I do not consider UF to be a great team by any stretch and some days not even a good team. The SEC? Agreed overall average performance at 6-6 in the bowls this year but well accounted for in the better bowls with some solid wns and still with the conference champion playing for the national title once again. Many conferences could do worse. Many teams could do worse... you and I both know of a few. :wink: UF played for it's conference championship.... won it's bowl game against a ranked Big Ten team decisively and will most likely finish in the top 15 of the rankings. I've seen much worse from the Gators.....
Well thank God the Sugar Bowl is now somehow a lesser bowl to the Outback. I still have no idea how you had 12 teams go bowling.
I don't think that statement implies perfection. Since Friday the result was 5 wins vs. 2 losses for the SEC... A 5-2 conference record New Year's weekend is always a good showing. But not perfect.... :wink: