[JohnR34231]

[quote author=terry link=topic=16336.msg183904#msg183904 date=1483039530]

Before the bowl schedule was announced, I asked a Stanford player which bowl he wanted. He said that he and his buddies were hoping for the Las Vegas Bowl, largely because it was played a week before Christmas.

Believable preference.

I continue to suspect that if programs (coaches & players) were given an option to have as many practices as the bowl bound teams between December and February even if they didn't attend a bowl game, many would take the bowl-free option.  Since most schools lose money going to the lower tier bowls, I wouldn't be shocked if most administrations would quickly take the bowl-free path too.

Almost wish the NCAA would give that a try for a year or two.  At a minimum it would thin out the bowl herd a bit as the risk of getting rejected by multiple programs might scare away some of these towns looking for a cheap way to boost tourism.
[/quote]

Actually I had two sons who played in bowl games and were quite happy to do it (at least they never complained). So maybe that's why I'm perhaps a little less skeptical about the player willingness to participate in the games than some here.

[JohnR34231]

[quote author=terry link=topic=16336.msg183904#msg183904 date=1483039530]

Before the bowl schedule was announced, I asked a Stanford player which bowl he wanted. He said that he and his buddies were hoping for the Las Vegas Bowl, largely because it was played a week before Christmas.

Believable preference.

I continue to suspect that if programs (coaches & players) were given an option to have as many practices as the bowl bound teams between December and February even if they didn't attend a bowl game, many would take the bowl-free option.  Since most schools lose money going to the lower tier bowls, I wouldn't be shocked if most administrations would quickly take the bowl-free path too.

Almost wish the NCAA would give that a try for a year or two.  At a minimum it would thin out the bowl herd a bit as the risk of getting rejected by multiple programs might scare away some of these towns looking for a cheap way to boost tourism.
[/quote]

Actually I had two sons who played in bowl games and were quite happy to do it (at least they never complained). So maybe that's why I'm perhaps a little less skeptical about the player willingness to participate in the games than some here.