Bowl Game - End of Season Game or the Beginning of Next Year?

[Livingat45north]

A lot of coaches treat their Bowl game as the start of the next season, giving redshirts and backups a chance to play. I remember Spurrier being all in on that. He found the loop-hole in the rules back then where he'd play redshirts in Florida's bowl games. Because the game happened in the new year, playing them wouldn't count as losing a year's eligibility. It was his way of giving those players their one chance of game time during that season. Of course now you can play a red-shirt in up to four games. If you're PJ, do you play your starters to the max to ensure you get the win, or do you sub a lot and let others get bowl playing time? Personally, I'd let whoever doesn't want to play not play (meaning have them focus on getting into the NFL), but other than that I'd go for the win. Getting the win is a big carryover throughout the off season, and getting players in the NFL is a big win for the program overall.

 

[fmlizard]

End of season game. This is definitely the 2019 team's game and for some the last chance to wear the M (or Goldy's head or whatever). We should honor that by being in the present.

However, we've seen how winning the last few bowls has helped buoy optimism throughout the offseason. People last year talked about how GT was a throwaway game because it was the Quick Lane Bowl, but the next 8 months were a lot sunnier around here than they would have been with a downer loss to follow up the Axe win.

 

[gopherbadgerman]

I consider it end of season game. But it should help for next year

 

[short ornery norwegian]

this will be the last Game the Gophers play for almost 9 months.
A bowl game win sends you into the off-season on a good note.
A bowl game loss sends you into the off-season on a sour note.
This is the final game of the season. Yes, it allows some advance work for 2020 with the younger players, but it is still the final game of the season.

 

[Veritas]

A lot of coaches treat their Bowl game as the start of the next season, giving redshirts and backups a chance to play. I remember Spurrier being all in on that. He found the loop-hole in the rules back then where he'd play redshirts in Florida's bowl games. Because the game happened in the new year, playing them wouldn't count as losing a year's eligibility. It was his way of giving those players their one chance of game time during that season. Of course now you can play a red-shirt in up to four games. If you're PJ, do you play your starters to the max to ensure you get the win, or do you sub a lot and let others get bowl playing time? Personally, I'd let whoever doesn't want to play not play (meaning have them focus on getting into the NFL), but other than that I'd go for the win. Getting the win is a big carryover throughout the off season, and getting players in the NFL is a big win for the program overall.

If our season ends with a loss our overall record will be 10-3, the same record we had under Mason in 2003. At least I would not have to read any of that "best season (team?) since 1905" balony any more.

 

[1983]

little bit of both. let it fly and experiment some. see what happens.

 

[GringaGopher]

Agree. I remember going to our bowl game against Missouri when we played very conservative right before the half. The seniors were upset and imploring to be aggressive. Let's get creative.