Why did Wisconsin get Las Vegas over us???

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Gophergrandpa said:
This is a great article. Acknowledges that we got the short end of the stick this year, but points out that the very system we are complaining about now is the same system that has, in recent years, got us to some bowls that were better than we deserved, based on our record.

Also enforces the super-obvious-point: that beyond the most special bowls, there are no bowl entitlements. Among equal tier teams, bowls have every right to weigh economic prospects (e.g., Purdue to the Music City Bowl). These are independent bowls which, subject to some discretion they have bargained away to the B1G, can do whatever they feel like.

And it finishes with the super-super obvious point: you aren’t complaining from solid ground when you lose to BG and IL, and finish unranked. That isn’t the performance that earns you a mythical entitlement.

We already had a great bowl-type game this year … against Wisconsin. Having a another bowl game in Phoenix against a good WV team is icing on the cake for me. If folks want to top their cake with sour grapes instead of icing, it’s their right. But it is an odd choice.
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100% agree with everything you said.

I would just question calling WV a good team.
 

discochris said:
No. But as a fan, I want to see this program move up to the next level, where we are winning championships. I feel too many people in this fanbase are happy with 7-8 win seasons.
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Most fans aren't happy, but not going to burn the place down over it. To most fans there is not difference in going to bowls outside of NYD.

There are all kinds of fans and opinions. Here are 14 that I would say I hear more than "I'm happy with 7-8 wins."

Fan1: We didn't make the CFP
Fan2: We didn't win the Big Ten
Fan3: We didn't win the West
Fan4: We didn't beat Iowa
Fan5: We lost to Illinois and Bowling Green
Fan6: We had a bunch of Injuries and still won 8 games
Fan7: Fleck recognized a change is needed at OC
Fan8: Fleck has the 3rd best Gopher record in history through 45 games
Fan9: Fleck is 19-10 in the B1G since hiring Rossi at DC
Fan10: MN is 19-6 over the last two seasons not affected by COVID
Fan11: We're building a good program and are close to breaking through.
Fan12: Fleck is going to leave
Fan13: Fleck isn't for me
Fan14: We have basically the same record at WI over the Last 4 years.
 


Ski U Mah Gopher said:
They finished the season going 4-2 including a win over Iowa St. Plus they have a win over Va Tech.
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It's likely to be a close game, so in that way they're a good challenge. Their best win is against 7-5 ISU (let's stop treating ISU like a top 15 team...they're not). Their only other win against a bowl eligible team was the aforementioned 6-6 VT. They scratched and clawed to wins over Texas and Kansas to get bowl eligible themselves at 6-6. They're an average FBS team. At full strength, Minnesota should win. In a bowl game with opt-outs and varying levels of motivation, who knows.
 

Hey, suggest that interested parties listen to the new episode of "Gopher Gridiron Radio."

Lot of good info on the OC situation, the bowl game, and a long segment on the State of the Program, with a detailed review of personnel on O and D.

but - specifically to the bowl game - one of the guests (couldn't tell who was who just from the voices) said that "some people" close to the program are saying that the Gophers - including Fleck - preferred Arizona and 'may have' indicated they were not interested in some of the other available sites.

that puts a new spin on the "we were passed over" discussion if the Gophers indicated a preference behind the scenes.
 


Boomtime said:
100% agree with everything you said.

I would just question calling WV a good team.
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I come from the respect-your-opponent school of thought. It seems that in football, as in life, you lose a lot of battles against opponents that you underestimated or failed to give due respect. WV beat some good teams this year. We would be proud of the Gophers if they beat Texas. WV beat Texas on the same weekend we were handling on Indiana. WV also beat Iowa State and TCU, and missed beating Oklahoma by 3 points. WV is not a great team, but it is good. Better than Illinois, I think, and light years better than Bowling Green.
 

Gophergrandpa said:
I come from the respect-your-opponent school of thought. It seems that in football, as in life, you lose a lot of battles against opponents that you underestimated or failed to give due respect. WV beat some good teams this year. We would be proud of the Gophers if they beat Texas. WV beat Texas on the same weekend we were handling on Indiana. WV also beat Iowa State and TCU, and missed beating Oklahoma by 3 points. WV is not a great team, but it is good. Better than Illinois, I think, and light years better than Bowling Green.
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At first when I saw WV's record of 6-6 I thought they might be a weaker opponent. But after looking at their schedule I am not sure they're really that far off from where we are.
 

discochris said:
No. But as a fan, I want to see this program move up to the next level, where we are winning championships. I feel too many people in this fanbase are happy with 7-8 win seasons.
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Just because he isnt raging over how this played out and is going to choose to enjoy the game doesn't mean he doesnt want more. That is such lazy thinking. We are capable of having two (or more!) independent thoughts about the exact same team and season.
 

short ornery norwegian said:
Hey, suggest that interested parties listen to the new episode of "Gopher Gridiron Radio."

Lot of good info on the OC situation, the bowl game, and a long segment on the State of the Program, with a detailed review of personnel on O and D.

but - specifically to the bowl game - one of the guests (couldn't tell who was who just from the voices) said that "some people" close to the program are saying that the Gophers - including Fleck - preferred Arizona and 'may have' indicated they were not interested in some of the other available sites.

that puts a new spin on the "we were passed over" discussion if the Gophers indicated a preference behind the scenes.
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That wouldn't shock me. I think they definitely preferred AZ to NY or Nashville. Think they would have been happy with AZ, Vegas or Florida.

I hate the late start time, though. I'm usually drunk and in bed by that time (Eastern time). Seems logical you wouldn't put an East coast and Midwest team on as latest game of the day.
 



short ornery norwegian said:
but - specifically to the bowl game - one of the guests (couldn't tell who was who just from the voices) said that "some people" close to the program are saying that the Gophers - including Fleck - preferred Arizona and 'may have' indicated they were not interested in some of the other available sites.
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I'm assuming that it was preferred over Detroilet and NYC. I'd be very surprised if they preferred Phoenix over the Music City Bowl or Vegas.
 

short ornery norwegian said:
Hey, suggest that interested parties listen to the new episode of "Gopher Gridiron Radio."

Lot of good info on the OC situation, the bowl game, and a long segment on the State of the Program, with a detailed review of personnel on O and D.

but - specifically to the bowl game - one of the guests (couldn't tell who was who just from the voices) said that "some people" close to the program are saying that the Gophers - including Fleck - preferred Arizona and 'may have' indicated they were not interested in some of the other available sites.

that puts a new spin on the "we were passed over" discussion if the Gophers indicated a preference behind the scenes.
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There are a lot of Minnesotans who have relocated to Arizona or who winter there. Potential source of fans for the game who don’t have “to travel.” 🤷🏼‍♂️
 

stocker08 said:
I'm assuming that it was preferred over Detroilet and NYC. I'd be very surprised if they preferred Phoenix over the Music City Bowl or Vegas.
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Perhaps ahead of Nashville, which is nothingville, with no MN expat community.

Definitely would have preferred Vegas, IIAM
 

Perhaps we have some big boosters in the wings in Phoenix who will be at the game.
 











GopherGod said:
The gophers have no big boosters, which is problem compared to other Big Ten schools.
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This is true. I've said before I wish we had a sugar daddy that would pass out bags of cash like many SEC schools.
 



discochris said:
Many times. It's become very expensive.
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Maybe so, but Nashville isn't "as much a party town" as Las Vegas, which was the original claim.

No rational person would make that claim.
 

USAF said:
Maybe so, but Nashville isn't "as much a party town" as Las Vegas, which was the original claim.

No rational person would make that claim.
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IALTO, you said: Nashville, which is nothingville
 


Word said:
I have been to both Vegas and Nashville in the last 5 years.
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I'm wondering if he still thinks Vegas is the home of $2.99 steak and lobster, and all you can eat buffets at the Riviera, when in reality, it's now the place for selective night clubs and thousand dollar bottle service.
 

discochris said:
I'm wondering if he still thinks Vegas is the home of $2.99 steak and lobster, and all you can eat buffets at the Riviera, when in reality, it's now the place for selective night clubs and thousand dollar bottle service.
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I spend time in Vegas every year.

The claim that Nashville and Vegas are "equal party towns" is preposterous.
 

USAF said:
I spend time in Vegas every year.

The claim that Nashville and Vegas are "equal party towns" is preposterous.
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They are different, that's for sure. Vegas is bigger, more expensive, and has gambling. Nashville is geared toward live music (most of it really good, and I don't even like country). If you just mean Vegas is bigger, sure, it has the advantage. Otherwise I'd say Nashville is every bit as much of a party town, if not more so. I do like Vegas too. The architecture is amazing and there are some great restaurants and shows.

You should give Nashville a try. You may enjoy yourself.
 
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