09-02-2012, 08:06 AM
For many of those closer games the motivation and perspective differences explain so much.
The difference between a 3 & 4 star talent going to a big program and 2 star talent going to a non-AQ school is not really that significant. That true talent gap has probably been shrinking for some time now.
The big program hosts seem to view the games as a way to work out a few things before the all important conference season begins. The players are excited about starting, but know they will be facing a weak OOC opponent. And the big time coach is concerned about the hypothetical upset, but is much more concerned about revealing too much of the playbook to future conference opponents and keeping key players healthy.
The bitter 2 star filled team has a very different agenda. For many, they will not play in front of 70-100K fans again, even if they get to a bowl game. THIS then is the biggest game of the year for them. They want to show the world that they were really 3 or 4 star talent and were overlooked. In some cases, the desire to prove their worth may even include situations with the staff on the big program sideline. If the 2 star athlete scores a touchdown in this game, that highlight will be on ESPN. And IF the team wins they will get far more press than they would after winning in a pre-Christmas bowl game. Oh, and the coach? If the coach wins, or gets close, then he can begin planning to take his current $250K-$500K salary up to $1.25+ million in the next year or two.
So while the big program is literally trying not to overlook their first opponent, the little program has likely seen this as a very important opportunity for several months. And yet, for the best teams their home field advantage and elite NFL talent should still carry the day. Those big programs that barely escaped were probably not in the BCS bowl mix. (Stanford) And those that lost are probably going to see another little program team in a pre-Christmas bowl game. (UCB).
The difference between a 3 & 4 star talent going to a big program and 2 star talent going to a non-AQ school is not really that significant. That true talent gap has probably been shrinking for some time now.
The big program hosts seem to view the games as a way to work out a few things before the all important conference season begins. The players are excited about starting, but know they will be facing a weak OOC opponent. And the big time coach is concerned about the hypothetical upset, but is much more concerned about revealing too much of the playbook to future conference opponents and keeping key players healthy.
The bitter 2 star filled team has a very different agenda. For many, they will not play in front of 70-100K fans again, even if they get to a bowl game. THIS then is the biggest game of the year for them. They want to show the world that they were really 3 or 4 star talent and were overlooked. In some cases, the desire to prove their worth may even include situations with the staff on the big program sideline. If the 2 star athlete scores a touchdown in this game, that highlight will be on ESPN. And IF the team wins they will get far more press than they would after winning in a pre-Christmas bowl game. Oh, and the coach? If the coach wins, or gets close, then he can begin planning to take his current $250K-$500K salary up to $1.25+ million in the next year or two.
So while the big program is literally trying not to overlook their first opponent, the little program has likely seen this as a very important opportunity for several months. And yet, for the best teams their home field advantage and elite NFL talent should still carry the day. Those big programs that barely escaped were probably not in the BCS bowl mix. (Stanford) And those that lost are probably going to see another little program team in a pre-Christmas bowl game. (UCB).