Cotton Bowl, Gator Bowl Interested in the Irish
The Biscuit
F.
They’re serious and that means we’re looking less and less likely to fall to the Sun Bowl and whatever mediocre opponent it draws. That is, unless we somehow figure out a way to lose to Syracuse (not unpossible this year), and fall to 6-6 and the Sun Bowl for sure. But, that’d be unacceptable to me and therefore it will not happen. So yeah, 7-5 looks very likely (and who called that WAY back in the summer? yep, that’s right boy-eeeeee!) and therefore the Cotton and Gator remain interested.
“At 7-5, they’re still Notre Dame. We’ve never taken a five-loss team in our history, so there would be a lot of discussion,” Catlett [the Gator Bowl dude] said. “But I think with a victory over Syracuse this week Notre Dame is still very high on our list.”
F.
Why “F”?
I don’t want to play a tougher bowl game than is absolutely necessary.
Is that weak? Probably. But screw it.
I don’t care. I want that freaking monkey off our collective backs. I want the 9-game bowl losing streak to be GONE. Just so no one can freaking bring it up anymore! Sick of hearing about it, sick of people whining about it.
“But you should expect more from Notre Dame Football! Why are your expectations so low?????” They’re not low forever. They’re tempered THIS season, because I know the abyss from whence this team is crawling, and I know we’re not there yet. Many (especially delusional ND fans that spend their time picking our replacements for Weis when HE’S NOT GOING ANYWHERE) think we should be winning NC’s now. I’m not one of those unrealistic people. This is realism folks, straight up the gut.
The main reason that ND is 0-fer in the last nine bowl games is that in recent history (~last 5-6 appearances) ND has been placed in super high profile bowls not because of the quality of the team, but because of the draw. Now, I can’t complain about getting into the bowls. They provide experience and exposure for the kids and the program, and dollars for our students. But, in the end, we end up getting out-matched because of the team’s draw - ND fans are rabid and they come in droves to fill hotels and buy beers and merchandise and all that. I get it, but it screws us when it comes to getting ‘fair’ match-ups. It’s extremely rare that ND ends up in a bowl game against a team that they simply look like they’ll beat up on paper. OSU and LSU in the last 2 BCS games are prime examples of this. On paper, we were way out-matched. On the scoreboard, this proved to be the case.
This year, I want to be under-matched. I want to play the lowest level of acceptable competition and get a W. Again, I admit this is a “weak” stance, but I’d prefer to just get that streak ended. It’s not noble, it’s not inspiring, but it’s incredibly pragmatic. And in a year where we’ve been up and down and all over, where we’ll end up 6-6 worst and 8-4 best (with a miracle) and are likely 7-5, I am fine with a nice, acceptable W from the Sun Bowl over a loss in some ‘better’ bowl game. I don’t need the streak to end in a fancy BCS or New Year’s Day bowl. I don’t need it to end in dramatic fashion for a NC in 2 years. It can end in a bowl held in March for all I care, I just want it to end. MAC competition? Awesome. MWC? Fine with me. But the Cotton and Gator will bring stiffer competition, and with the ups and downs of the Irish offense this year, you never know what you’re gonna get (ain’t that right Forrest?).
Yep!
And that makes a higher tier game, even against a weak ACC opponent in the Gator, dangerous. Let’s just take the Sun, get up against a mediocre opponent (which is a perfect matchup for a sometimes-great-looking sometimes-sad-looking ND team which = mediocre), and get a notch in the W column for the first time in 10 bowl games, eh? Who’s with me?
Anyone?
cricket.
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10 Comments
Agree with your sentiment about wanting to get the monkey off of the back vs playing in the more glamorous (?) Gator Bowl. However, I haven’t been paying too much attention to the ACC, but it is possible that we could get to play Miami in the Gator.
It sucks to admit it, but I’m with you. I’m so sick of this garbage that you know EsPN loOOOOVEs to bring up ad nauseum. The other garbage I hate is the “the last time the Cowboys won a playoff game” BS. Nevermind that the Cowboys were ATROCIOUS for a 5 year period there and have only BEEN in 4 playoff games since the ‘99 season. Ugh. I digress…get us the Sun Bowl. I’d rather go to El Paso and watch us whip up UNM or Air Force or some scrub than go up against OU in the Cotton bowl and get our ass spanked again.
I actually think the Sun Bowl woud be just as difficult as the Gator Bowl. Anyone realize if Oregon State doesn’t make the Rose Bowl theycould fall to the Sun? Any bowl with tie-ins doesn’t have to take the confrence team in that order. So the 4th Pac 10 team doesn’t mean 4th place, it means the 4th choice. All of those options would be just as tough as ACC 2nd choice… anyone thinking the gator is going to jump at FSU vs ND?? They didn’t look all that impressive against BC either. UNC and BC don’t travel well so we don’t have to worry about a rematch. Bring on the Gator Bowl!
Mark, you’re right in that the Sun doesn’t guarantee a softer opponent, but it does make one more likely given pecking order. We could set up nicely, or be screwed, in any, but I like the odds at Sun better.
WHere is this information/rumor that the Cotton Bowl might be interested in ND? That sounds like a bit of a tall tale if ever I heard one. The Big12 and the SEC are likely to have two teams each in the BCS games. THat means the Cotton would most likely be getting the odd man out of the TT/UT/OU contenders and either LSU or UGA from the SEC. Exactly which one of those teams do you think they are going to pass up to take ND?
It just isn’t a real possibility.
However, why on earth would ND be afraid of an ACC team in the Gator? Wouldn’t ND like its chances against either FSU or UM? Take teh Gator bid if it comes your way if not, enjoy the border…and try not to get shot.
I am with you on this. I want to get through the Christmas break with a win for the Irish in a bowl and another World Junior Hockey title for Canada. These two things would make the best of the rest of a dreary, wet, British Columbia, winter. I do not want to have to wait for flippin’ September 09 for another Irish win.
Phocio, read the linked ESPN article in the post. They have 2 quotes from the head of the Cotton Bowl selection committee. I’d say it’s a pretty good source. I’d also say that the Cotton Bowl is less likely given how things look like they MAY shake out, but it’s certainly a possibility. Gator is most likely, I still want the Sun.
Biscuit,
Agree 100% with one caviot. It’s about matchups against teams that play to our strengths. I think we match up a little bit better to ACC opponents. I really want to play a lesser opponent and as you said-Get this monkey off our back. There is one other reason: This team (I believe) is poised for very good things in 2009 & beyond. I would like them to have a winning attitude or DNA if you will, for playoff/critical games. This is missing. Lets get it corrected this year-not worry about it next year. - Good posting.
No worries now. I hope Haywood get’s hired by UW.
If Hawaii beats Washington State, they will qualify for the Hawaii Bowl. It has a 6th place Pac-10 tie in but I don’t think the pac can deliver 6 bowl qualify teams. Hawaii is lame. The WAC is lame this year. Break your bowl losing streak in Aloha land.
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