Team with losing record in bowl game?

[ArgoRavi]

I was just watching some of the Sun Bowl and noticed that Georgia Tech's record coming into this game is 6-7. I can't ever recall a team with a losing record getting to play in a bowl game. Can anyone else recall such an event? How did this come to be?

[argolio]

Happened last year with UCLA -- they both lost in conference championship games, and both only got to play in those games because schools with better records were on probation. Losers of conference championship games are contractually obligated to receive a bowl bid, and no school is going to turn down another game and the 15 extra practices that come with it.

I read something a few months ago that this loophole is supposed to close in a year or two, but don't quote me. The NCAA bowl system is so convoluted that Matt Dunnigan's school, Louisiana Tech, was squeezed out of the bowls despite winning 9 games and having a very prolific offense.

[shayman]

Happened last year with UCLA -- they both lost in conference championship games, and both only got to play in those games because schools with better records were on probation. Losers of conference championship games are contractually obligated to receive a bowl bid, and no school is going to turn down another game and the 15 extra practices that come with it.

I read something a few months ago that this loophole is supposed to close in a year or two, but don't quote me. The NCAA bowl system is so convoluted that Matt Dunnigan's school, Louisiana Tech, was squeezed out of the bowls despite winning 9 games and having a very prolific offense.

Another way to read it is "Louisiana Tech actually turned down a bowl invitation despite going 9-3." Supposedly they were offered the Independence Bowl but decided to wait for a better offer, which never came. What a system

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...tech-bowl-snub

[matchuk]

i dont mind watching ncaa football, but the 100 bowl games they have is quite annoying...

[1argoholic]

Love it!! You get to see teams in many cases that don't get much coverage during the year. When you take into account how many NCAA teams play football there really isn't too many bowl games. I don't worry about the system, I just enjoy the games.

[294life]

Clowney's hit in the Outback bowl already a candidate for hit of the year.

[matchuk]

Love it!! You get to see teams in many cases that don't get much coverage during the year. When you take into account how many NCAA teams play football there really isn't too many bowl games. I don't worry about the system, I just enjoy the games.

i hear ya...i still watch anyways, but a little caesers bowl, chick-fila bowl, wild wing bowl? gimme a break

[1argoholic]

It's become all about the sponsers. The historic Peach Bowl is now named for a bad restaurant or something. Big money drives big time college ball and yet only one or two schools actually make a profit for their schools. Michigan is one. I saw a special on college football.

[ArgoRavi]

It's become all about the sponsers. The historic Peach Bowl is now named for a bad restaurant or something. Big money drives big time college ball and yet only one or two schools actually make a profit for their schools. Michigan is one. I saw a special on college football.

Only one or two schools actually make a profit off of football? I find that very hard to believe as football tends to be the major source of income for so many American universities.

[294life]

Only one or two schools actually make a profit off of football? I find that very hard to believe as football tends to be the major source of income for so many American universities.

What 1argo said I've heard before. Football programs are expensive to run and most universities would gladly do without.

[argolio]

What 1argo said I've heard before. Football programs are expensive to run and most universities would gladly do without.

If they would gladly do without, then most of them would.

I think every school in the five biggest conferences (PAC-12, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC and ACC) makes money, and in some cases quite a lot. Most of the rest are probably somewhere around break-even, but those schools also have smaller budgets. Those schools also tend to by play more road games against larger schools as a way of balancing their books.

Where schools sometimes lose some money is when they go to a minor bowl game. The bowl payout doesn't always cover travel and accommodation.

[1argoholic]

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50135410n Ok so I was a bit off with my memory of the story but here it is. I think you'll be surprised how few NCAA athletic departments actually make money. This is worth the 12 odd minutes of viewing plus my team is the main focus. If you haven't been to Ann Arbor it's a football must. There is nothing like Ann Arbor on a Football Saturday.

[294life]

My dad went to Ann Arbor before coming to TO for the 100th GC. Safe to say he was impressed.

Louisville with the upset of the year last night.

[1argoholic]

Being a big Wolverine fan I though Clowny's hit was helmet to helmet. He one amazing player to watch though. That Louisville upset of Florida was fun to watch.

[argolio]

That type of helmet/facemask to helmet contact should always be legal.

[Rids]

Another way to read it is "Louisiana Tech actually turned down a bowl invitation despite going 9-3." Supposedly they were offered the Independence Bowl but decided to wait for a better offer, which never came. What a system

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...tech-bowl-snub

Louisiana Tech turned down 3 Bowl offers because of the guaranteed money that was part of the deal.

When the schools accept the Bowl bid they are on the hook for an allotment of tickets for the game. They are given the minimum amount they can sell them for and then expected to sell their full share or lose out on their Bowl money. So while Louisiana Tech was waiting for the 2 Bowls they felt were the best fits for them financially they by-passed several games they could've been part of. (they were waiting for the Alamo Bowl and the New Orleans Bowl but both passed on them)