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CMAC not playing in Sun Bowl?!? - Printable Version

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Re: CMAC not playing in Sun Bowl?!? - Embo - 12-19-2016

(12-19-2016, 09:53 AM)CrazedZooChimp link Wrote:I wonder if Stanford is going to get requests for refunds from angry fans who bought tickets expecting to see Mac play in his last game...

Refunds, nope.

My streak of consecutive bowl games, which started with the 2009 Sun Bowl, will come to an end.  My hospital schedule is made two to three months in advance, and I rolled the dice and asked for Dec 31 to Jan 2 off, which I was granted (my colleagues who do the scheduling know my obsession).  I have to work overnight on Dec 29 and knew the Sun Bowl was out.  (It's a little too late to ask people to switch their holiday plans now). 

Regarding CMac - I was in a similar position in 2009.  Eager to see our first bowl game in what seemed forever (thank you Buddy and Wlat), as well as the Andrew/Toby combo, I ordered my tickets and booked my flight online.  It was literally 15 minutes later that I saw the thread - "Is Andrew not playing?" - and learned of the injury.  There was no backing out of my flight at this point (one leg was not Southwest).  I now have some justification this year in not going.  I hope those who do go have fun, but not only is there no CMac, there is no Band, and no brunch SAA tailgate party (which was really nice in 2009.)

Re: CMAC not playing in Sun Bowl?!? - Embo - 12-19-2016

(12-19-2016, 09:53 AM)CrazedZooChimp link Wrote:I wonder if Stanford is going to get requests for refunds from angry fans who bought tickets expecting to see Mac play in his last game...

Refunds, nope.

My streak of consecutive bowl games, which started with the 2009 Sun Bowl, will come to an end.  My hospital schedule is made two to three months in advance, and I rolled the dice and asked for Dec 31 to Jan 2 off, which I was granted (my colleagues who do the scheduling know my obsession).  I have to work overnight on Dec 29 and knew the Sun Bowl was out.  (It's a little too late to ask people to switch their holiday plans now). 

Regarding CMac - I was in a similar position in 2009.  Eager to see our first bowl game in what seemed forever (thank you Buddy and Wlat), as well as the Andrew/Toby combo, I ordered my tickets and booked my flight online.  It was literally 15 minutes later that I saw the thread - "Is Andrew not playing?" - and learned of the injury.  There was no backing out of my flight at this point (one leg was not Southwest).  I now have some justification this year in not going.  I hope those who do go have fun, but not only is there no CMac, there is no Band, and no brunch SAA tailgate party (which was really nice in 2009.)

Re: CMAC not playing in Sun Bowl?!? - Ronnietrader - 12-19-2016

He would have played with the primary (only) goal of avoiding injury.  Wouldn't have been his best effort in theory.  That being said, very disappointed in his decision.

Re: CMAC not playing in Sun Bowl?!? - Ronnietrader - 12-19-2016

He would have played with the primary (only) goal of avoiding injury.  Wouldn't have been his best effort in theory.  That being said, very disappointed in his decision.

Re: CMAC not playing in Sun Bowl?!? - Row80Critic - 12-19-2016

Wild horses couldn't keep me away from the game now.  The guys who suit-up deserve it.

Re: CMAC not playing in Sun Bowl?!? - Row80Critic - 12-19-2016

Wild horses couldn't keep me away from the game now.  The guys who suit-up deserve it.

Re: CMAC not playing in Sun Bowl?!? - shade - 12-19-2016

I was conflicted on watching the game vs. enjoying a good ski day.  Looks like the decision has been made.

I think this is a poor decision on CMac's part however, I do wish him the best of luck in the NFL.

Re: CMAC not playing in Sun Bowl?!? - shade - 12-19-2016

I was conflicted on watching the game vs. enjoying a good ski day.  Looks like the decision has been made.

I think this is a poor decision on CMac's part however, I do wish him the best of luck in the NFL.

Re: CMAC not playing in Sun Bowl?!? - Farm93 - 12-19-2016

Why is this shocking to many?  He is an RB, so odds of getting injured in a way that would impact the draft status are much higher than QB.

I would think many coaches would love to play in a bowl game that only featured players that would return for the next season.  Let the seniors attend and cheer on the next crew.  Imagine if the bowl game didn't count toward eligibility, then all of those that redshirted could play.  Then those bowl games might actually be meaningful.

I watched the first bowl games this weekend and the commentators went on and on about how attending these bowl games is such a treat for the young men as they get to see other parts of the USA they wouldn't get to see if they were not on the football team.  It was all too much to believe, as most of these young men will be able to go to Las Vegas or New Orleans with relative ease at any other point in their lives.

The bowl games and those senior bowl type experiences used to mean a lot when not all of the schools had great "tape".  Now that almost every D1 game is televised the bowl games don't really provide that value now.  Get dinged in the Sun Bowl then run a 4.61 40 in the combine and his draft status falls rapidly.  Go to the combine and run a 4.48 40 and he moves right up to the top.

FWIW - Luck didn't play in the Sun Bowl either.  At the time his finger injury was the reason, but if the Sun Bowl were the Super Bowl I am guessing he would have played.  Luck and the program decided it was best for him to skip the Sun Bowl for his long term career prospects, so not that different really.



Re: CMAC not playing in Sun Bowl?!? - Farm93 - 12-19-2016

Why is this shocking to many?  He is an RB, so odds of getting injured in a way that would impact the draft status are much higher than QB.

I would think many coaches would love to play in a bowl game that only featured players that would return for the next season.  Let the seniors attend and cheer on the next crew.  Imagine if the bowl game didn't count toward eligibility, then all of those that redshirted could play.  Then those bowl games might actually be meaningful.

I watched the first bowl games this weekend and the commentators went on and on about how attending these bowl games is such a treat for the young men as they get to see other parts of the USA they wouldn't get to see if they were not on the football team.  It was all too much to believe, as most of these young men will be able to go to Las Vegas or New Orleans with relative ease at any other point in their lives.

The bowl games and those senior bowl type experiences used to mean a lot when not all of the schools had great "tape".  Now that almost every D1 game is televised the bowl games don't really provide that value now.  Get dinged in the Sun Bowl then run a 4.61 40 in the combine and his draft status falls rapidly.  Go to the combine and run a 4.48 40 and he moves right up to the top.

FWIW - Luck didn't play in the Sun Bowl either.  At the time his finger injury was the reason, but if the Sun Bowl were the Super Bowl I am guessing he would have played.  Luck and the program decided it was best for him to skip the Sun Bowl for his long term career prospects, so not that different really.



Re: CMAC not playing in Sun Bowl?!? - JohnR34231 - 12-19-2016

(12-19-2016, 10:04 AM)CTcard link Wrote:I at least sort of take issue with all the comments that this is a meaningless, exhibition game.

I don't see why it is any more meaningless than most of the team's games. They keep score, Stanford's final record for the season will end up at either 9-4 or 10-3, a fair number of people will watch the game (at least on TV, more than most of our games), any stats count in the record book, etc., etc.

If only games working toward either a national or conference championship count, then Stanford hasn't played a meaningful game by the mathematics since UW beat ןɐɔ and WSU beat Arizona on November 5; and more realistically any game post-Colorado. Personally, I kind of like that the season kept going after that.


On the other hand, it is pretty clear that is not the opinion of McCaffrey and thus I would suspect at least some fraction of the team. So - what do I know?

Yeah, if you are going to take that philosophy, the Rose Bowl last year was a meaningless game. We had already won the conference championship, and we weren't going to win the national championship no matter what happened, so why play it?

Re: CMAC not playing in Sun Bowl?!? - JohnR34231 - 12-19-2016

(12-19-2016, 10:04 AM)CTcard link Wrote:I at least sort of take issue with all the comments that this is a meaningless, exhibition game.

I don't see why it is any more meaningless than most of the team's games. They keep score, Stanford's final record for the season will end up at either 9-4 or 10-3, a fair number of people will watch the game (at least on TV, more than most of our games), any stats count in the record book, etc., etc.

If only games working toward either a national or conference championship count, then Stanford hasn't played a meaningful game by the mathematics since UW beat ןɐɔ and WSU beat Arizona on November 5; and more realistically any game post-Colorado. Personally, I kind of like that the season kept going after that.


On the other hand, it is pretty clear that is not the opinion of McCaffrey and thus I would suspect at least some fraction of the team. So - what do I know?

Yeah, if you are going to take that philosophy, the Rose Bowl last year was a meaningless game. We had already won the conference championship, and we weren't going to win the national championship no matter what happened, so why play it?

Re: CMAC not playing in Sun Bowl?!? - 81alum - 12-19-2016

I sincerely HOPE that this is simply a way to allow him to recover from some nagging injury that Christian hopes will not derail his professional career.  To support that view, we know he had something like that going on earlier this season.  Since Shaw is so guarded about what injury information he shares, we can't really know, and Christian would of course not want to admit to any physical ailment that might cost his draft stock.  So that is the best construction we can put on this.

But if this is something else--purely a precautionary move, then I would be deeply disappointed.  It is one thing to abandon a year of eligibility to go pro--and even that I abhor but accept--but to start abandoning individual games?  This lets down the fans and the team, and is deceptive besides, given that it was announced after the bowl selection.  The Sun Bowl must be furious--not that that particular factor matters much to me.  But it would mark one more data point in the steady erosion of the student-athlete model, where professionalism triumphs in ever increasing ways over ideals that Stanford has sought to uphold.  It is the fact that Stanford athletes have been different from those at other football powerhouses that has made me a fan of Stanford sports.  Luck coming back to graduate was an affirmation of that premise.  CMac bailing out prior to graduating, and now even prior to finishing a season, has just the opposite effect for me.

I echo the sentiment that this is not a "meaningless exhibition game."  It is the culmination of a season.  To say it is meaningless is to say that the only thing that matters is making the national playoffs.  Games like the Sun Bowl used to be a rare treat for Stanford fans.  I'm happy that we now regularly aspire to more--but it would be an act of privileged arrogance to disdain a final celebratory game and a last chance to play with teammates. 

But all that I say tentatively, since we do not and cannot know what might lie behind CMac's decisions.  Perhaps one day we will.  Right now I am left with disappointment and a diminished enthusiasm for college football.

Re: CMAC not playing in Sun Bowl?!? - 81alum - 12-19-2016

I sincerely HOPE that this is simply a way to allow him to recover from some nagging injury that Christian hopes will not derail his professional career.  To support that view, we know he had something like that going on earlier this season.  Since Shaw is so guarded about what injury information he shares, we can't really know, and Christian would of course not want to admit to any physical ailment that might cost his draft stock.  So that is the best construction we can put on this.

But if this is something else--purely a precautionary move, then I would be deeply disappointed.  It is one thing to abandon a year of eligibility to go pro--and even that I abhor but accept--but to start abandoning individual games?  This lets down the fans and the team, and is deceptive besides, given that it was announced after the bowl selection.  The Sun Bowl must be furious--not that that particular factor matters much to me.  But it would mark one more data point in the steady erosion of the student-athlete model, where professionalism triumphs in ever increasing ways over ideals that Stanford has sought to uphold.  It is the fact that Stanford athletes have been different from those at other football powerhouses that has made me a fan of Stanford sports.  Luck coming back to graduate was an affirmation of that premise.  CMac bailing out prior to graduating, and now even prior to finishing a season, has just the opposite effect for me.

I echo the sentiment that this is not a "meaningless exhibition game."  It is the culmination of a season.  To say it is meaningless is to say that the only thing that matters is making the national playoffs.  Games like the Sun Bowl used to be a rare treat for Stanford fans.  I'm happy that we now regularly aspire to more--but it would be an act of privileged arrogance to disdain a final celebratory game and a last chance to play with teammates. 

But all that I say tentatively, since we do not and cannot know what might lie behind CMac's decisions.  Perhaps one day we will.  Right now I am left with disappointment and a diminished enthusiasm for college football.

Re: CMAC not playing in Sun Bowl?!? - Phogge - 12-19-2016

The best example is Plunk. Poor parents, why not cash out and help them a year sooner?

But no, in an interview I shot with Murph present he said he was coming back to beat SC AND to keep playing with his pals who he said were worth more than the early money.

A man amongst boys and a man to be respected throughout his life.

As someone who played an NCAA sport for three varsity seasons I think McCaffrey is quitting on his teammates. I hope McFadden gets some of his carries.

On the bright side for next season Scarlett will get valuable playing time.

Re: CMAC not playing in Sun Bowl?!? - Phogge - 12-19-2016

The best example is Plunk. Poor parents, why not cash out and help them a year sooner?

But no, in an interview I shot with Murph present he said he was coming back to beat SC AND to keep playing with his pals who he said were worth more than the early money.

A man amongst boys and a man to be respected throughout his life.

As someone who played an NCAA sport for three varsity seasons I think McCaffrey is quitting on his teammates. I hope McFadden gets some of his carries.

On the bright side for next season Scarlett will get valuable playing time.

Re: CMAC not playing in Sun Bowl?!? - 76lsjumb - 12-19-2016

"It was the best of times; it was the worst of times..."

Two NCAA championships within six days; no CMAC at the Sun Bowl and WBB tanks it against Tennessee within two days.

Not to worry about the Sun Bowl, though.  I expect the announcement shortly that a star running back from a local high school has been selected to replace CMAC for the game...

Re: CMAC not playing in Sun Bowl?!? - 76lsjumb - 12-19-2016

"It was the best of times; it was the worst of times..."

Two NCAA championships within six days; no CMAC at the Sun Bowl and WBB tanks it against Tennessee within two days.

Not to worry about the Sun Bowl, though.  I expect the announcement shortly that a star running back from a local high school has been selected to replace CMAC for the game...

Re: CMAC not playing in Sun Bowl?!? - 2006alum - 12-19-2016

(12-19-2016, 10:33 AM)76lsjumb link Wrote:"It was the best of times; it was the worst of times..."

Two NCAA championships within six days; no CMAC at the Sun Bowl and WBB tanks it against Tennessee within two days.
If I had to pick two of the four, I'd take the championships and lose CMAC and the WBB game. Keeps our streak alive, puts us in position to win the Capital One Cup, and is more way more important in the long run!

Re: CMAC not playing in Sun Bowl?!? - 2006alum - 12-19-2016

(12-19-2016, 10:33 AM)76lsjumb link Wrote:"It was the best of times; it was the worst of times..."

Two NCAA championships within six days; no CMAC at the Sun Bowl and WBB tanks it against Tennessee within two days.
If I had to pick two of the four, I'd take the championships and lose CMAC and the WBB game. Keeps our streak alive, puts us in position to win the Capital One Cup, and is more way more important in the long run!