Gophers vs West Virginia in Guaranteed Rate Bowl

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Gophers1992 said:
We've laid one egg against a MAC team. Personally I view it as more of a fluke than a trend.
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I mean....we also let Miami of Ohio pull back to within one point in the fourth quarter. Only won by five.
 




FormerFatOL said:
So, the video shows Chase Field getting converted to a football field. I'm not familiar with it. I assume the roof would be closed since it's a night game in late December. Daytime with it open would have been nice. It sounds like the field was converted from grass to turf recently (boo) which probably allows it to be more easily converted to football. It looks like a nice ballpark from this.

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Chase Field is grass. ("Bobsod" ... A bermudagrass hybrid specifically designed for "Bank One Ballpark," which was the original name of the Diamondback's ballpark.)

I'd be surprised if they close the roof for the game. Typically somewhere in mid 40s overnight in Phoenix that time of year. Kickoff should still be in the 60s.


They lay turf over the grass for this game so as not to tear up the grass.
 
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Replacement Gopher said:
Could have flown to London and watched an EPL for the same price.
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The more I think about this, the more I think you made the wrong choice.

You could have caught Norwich at Crystal Palace on the 28th or Brighton at Chelsea on the 29th (not too far from Heathrow).

Kick it up for the club lounge access prior to the flights so you are proper before the flight. What would be the more memorable experience? A Tuesday 10:15 EST college football game against WV, or when you and your family went to London to watch a freaking football game?

I dunno man, don’t play for field goals by running 8 straight times at the end of the half against Iowa and/or don’t kick field goals from their 2 while I’m hearing about how we haven’t had the lead against them in 250+ minutes and I’ll re-examine.
 

Replacement Gopher said:
The more I think about this, the more I think you made the wrong choice.

You could have caught Norwich at Crystal Palace on the 28th or Brighton at Chelsea on the 29th (not too far from Heathrow).

Kick it up for the club lounge access prior to the flights so you are proper before the flight. What would be the more memorable experience?
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A SOCCER game would be the correct choice??!?

One step below watching paint dry, FFS.

I wouldn't do that if they paid ME $3500 to sit through an intercontinental flight followed by A SOCCER game.
 


Gophers1992 said:
IMO letting off the gas too much in the second half =/= laying an egg
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We let them right back into the game. This was a 6-6 Miami of Ohio team. With a bounce in the wrong direction....we could have very well lost this game just like the BG game. That's laying an egg, imo.
 




If I go, I will be staying at my sister's place in Paradise Valley.
 






listened to new episode of "Gopher Gridiron Radio."

one of the hosts (not sure who was who) said that people connected to the program have suggested that the Gophers preferred Arizona over some of the other possible locations. I believe the exact quote was that the Gophers 'may have' declined an invitation to another site because they preferred Arizona over the other available options.

apparently, the weather and alumni in the area were reasons to like Arizona as a destination.
 

short ornery norwegian said:
listened to new episode of "Gopher Gridiron Radio."

one of the hosts (not sure who was who) said that people connected to the program have suggested that the Gophers preferred Arizona over some of the other possible locations. I believe the exact quote was that the Gophers 'may have' declined an invitation to another site because they preferred Arizona over the other available options.

apparently, the weather and alumni in the area were reasons to like Arizona as a destination.
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I wouldn't doubt that.
 

MGGopher said:
Two things:
  1. Appreciate the article. Rational and well-written. I agree with and appreciate the reminder that the new "system" has benefitted MN twice now -- and probably will in the future. But it failed this year. This year's "process" harkened back to the 2000s when bowls took whoever they wanted and routinely skipped teams like MN who are perceived as not traveling. The author saying "the suits are predictable" explains it, but doesn't make it right.
  2. I listened to a little more of the GG podcast at lunch and Burns intimated he's heard whispers that MN preferred Phoenix over a "couple destinations" (probably Nashville and NYC) and made that known to bowl reps. He couldn't confirm this, but he's heard it enough that he put it out there. I'm not sure how to feel about that.
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Although I wouldn't feel that way, I can understand why some would prefer Phoenix over Nashville or NYC. What I don't understand is why an 8-4 team would prefer a bowl with a 6-6 team that starts at 9:15 Central Time. Other than die hards, second shifters, late night bar flies, insomniacs, and some travelers staying at West Coast hotels, who is going to watch it on TV? The game also caps off a day with 5 bowls. People might be bowled out for the day by then.
 

USAF said:
Chase Field is grass. ("Bobsod" ... A bermudagrass hybrid specifically designed for "Bank One Ballpark," which was the original name of the Diamondback's ballpark.)

I'd be surprised if they close the roof for the game. Typically somewhere in mid 40s overnight in Phoenix that time of year. Kickoff should still be in the 60s.


They lay turf over the grass for this game so as not to tear up the grass.
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According to the bowl's website, the roof will be open for the pregame program and then closed for the game. They warn you that evening temps could drop into the 40s and that, while there is a roof, there is no heat.
 


cjbfbp said:
Although I wouldn't feel that way, I can understand why some would prefer Phoenix over Nashville or NYC. What I don't understand is why an 8-4 team would prefer a bowl with a 6-6 team that starts at 9:15 Central Time. Other than die hards, second shifters, late night bar flies, insomniacs, and some travelers staying at West Coast hotels, who is going to watch it on TV? The game also caps off a day with 5 bowls. People might be bowled out for the day by then.
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6-6 West Virginia
8-4 Arizona state but pac 12 is probably the 6th or 7th best conference this year
6-6 Va tech
7-5 Tennessee

They’re all mediocre opponents

In terms of name Arizona state is probably least sexy of the 3


at the end of the day.
The Outback bowl is a second tier bowl.
All the others are third tier.
 

cjbfbp said:
Although I wouldn't feel that way, I can understand why some would prefer Phoenix over Nashville or NYC. What I don't understand is why an 8-4 team would prefer a bowl with a 6-6 team that starts at 9:15 Central Time. Other than die hards, second shifters, late night bar flies, insomniacs, and some travelers staying at West Coast hotels, who is going to watch it on TV? The game also caps off a day with 5 bowls. People might be bowled out for the day by then.
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I am going to guess TV ratings is very low on the list of things considered when weighing one site against another.
 

discochris said:
Do most of the people here go to bed at 8:00 after getting the early bird special for dinner? God forbid anyone stay up until midnight to watch the game.
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But it is on a weeknight......gotta get our beauty rest.... :). It is a late start but it is Gopher football, so I will be watching.
 

discochris said:
Do most of the people here go to bed at 8:00 after getting the early bird special for dinner? God forbid anyone stay up until midnight to watch the game.
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I think it would end after midnight - maybe 12:30 (our time). I will watch it but I'm among the die hards even though I'm older. But, I'd say plenty of people who might watch it otherwise but have to be at work at 9 AM or earlier the next day won't watch all of it.
 

The only thing I was most bummed about is because of the date of the game I cannot go. My boss is off that week. When the rumor was the Outback bowl, I thought I was going to go so I had myself save locations to stay and was looking at flights. When the Outback rumor ended up getting to look less and less likely the disappointment and reality set in that I would be home instead of staying somewhere warm for 2 to 3 days. The overall cost suck for Phoenix but I could have made it work with my back up for any other game but Phoenix on that date 12/28, which sucks because I have friends or family in the Phoenix area that I could have stayed with. If it would have been Thursday or Friday, or over the New Years weekend I could have made it work.
 

Some guy said:
The difference between 4-4 (which they have selected before) and 4-5 is they went 1-2 against the big ten west instead of 1-1

and they played one fewer cupcake

“they’ve never taken a under .500 big ten team” is a true claim. But this isn’t the worst team they’ve ever taken. It is pretty much the same kind of team they took when they took 4-4 teams befoee
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Pretty much. Except a losing record.
 

It's disappointing, but nothing we can do about it, so not much point in getting upset about it. Bring on West Virginia! I'll try to stay up late enough on a work day to watch.
 



Some guy said:
Yeah. It makes a lot of sense, especially since once the Outback wasn’t the deal our admin literally asked for Arizona
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You literally have no idea if "our admin" asked for Arizona.
 

highwayman said:
Read and rethink.

Read also and ponder more.
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I genuinely appreciate the attempts to explain the process and keep folks level-headed, but these read as a little pedantic to me. We're not children over here. Most of us understand how bowl placement works. We know WHY bowl committees elevate 7-5 (4-5) PSU to the Outback Bowl over 3 teams that won 8 (6) games. Doesn't mean we need to agree. As a fan I'd like MN to get the biggest stage possible in bowl season. I want them to play a marquee opponent with a good record at a convenient time when the largest possible audience can watch. I'd like the team to have the chance at a national ranking if they win. I'd like them to a have a fair shot to continue building a reputation for traveling to desirable games rather than perpetuating the self-fulfilling prophecy that they don't travel because they're often assigned to low-tier bowl games against mediocre teams. I'm less upset today than I was yesterday, but I'm still irritated.
 

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