Gophers vs West Virginia in Guaranteed Rate Bowl

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Some guy said:
We were placed in Arizona so the conference sells more tickets in Arizona and Nashville

simple as that. It wasn’t a Passover
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How many more tickets would you estimate are sold because of this arrangement? I'd guess 5 - 10k max. Almost nobody is going to that game in Phoenix regardless of who's there, and Tennessee fans are going to buy 95% of those Music City Bowl tickets regardless of which B1G team was there. PU likely has just as many snowbirds in AZ as Minnesota does. I'm honestly fine with PU ending up where they did, but I'll continue being bitter about MN getting bumped all the way down the pecking order. Sorry. You won't change my mind on this.

Edit to add I'll try not to be obnoxious about this, but I'm just super disappointed. People who post here frequently know I'm not usually bitter. I was almost certainly traveling to Tampa or Nashville and 50/50 on Vegas and NYC, so going from that level of excitement to the absolute worst B1G bowl slot was just tough for me. Sorry.
 




GopherLady said:
Press release from the U:

The University of Minnesota football team has accepted an invitation to compete in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl on Dec. 28, 2021, in Phoenix, Ariz. The Gophers, who went 8-4 in the regular season and 6-3 in the Big Ten, will face West Virginia from the Big 12. This will be the first-ever meeting between the Gophers and Mountaineers. West Virginia finished the season with a 6-6 record and was 4-5 in conference play.

The Guaranteed Rate Bowl will be the 22nd bowl game all-time for Minnesota and it will also be the third bowl game for the Gophers under head coach P.J. Fleck. Minnesota defeated Auburn in the 2020 Outback Bowl and Georgia Tech in the 2018 Quick Lane Bowl under Fleck’s leadership.

“It’s a tremendous honor to compete in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl against West Virginia,” said Fleck. “Our team is excited to head to Phoenix, which is one of the most beautiful places in the country, and we look forward to facing a very talented West Virginia team. They are extremely well-coached and this game will be a terrific challenge for us. We are thankful to Guaranteed Rate, Executive Director Mike Nealy, Chairman of the Board Patrick Barkley, the Fiesta Bowl Organization and all the Yellow Jackets for inviting us. We look forward to representing the state of Minnesota on Dec. 28 in sunny Phoenix.”

Minnesota is 31-15-1 all-time against teams from the Big 12 and last faced a Big 12 opponent in 2015 when it hosted TCU. Minnesota most recently played a Big 12 opponent in a bowl game in 2012 when the Gophers faced Texas Tech in the 2012 Meineke Car Care Bowl.

The Gophers, who have won four straight bowl games, will be playing in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl for the fourth time. Minnesota previously competed in the bowl game in 2009, 2008 and 2006 when it was known as the Insight Bowl.
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Fleck is really sugar coating this.

But it IS a good opportunity for a 9-4 record and a fifth straight bowl win.
 

stocker08 said:
Fleck is really sugar coating this.

But it IS a good opportunity for a 9-4 record and a fifth straight bowl win.
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What else is he supposed to say publicly? It is what it is. He can light people up behind the scenes if he wants but have to put a good spin on it and then go down there and take care of business.
 

#2Gopher said:
Well don't go then. Your moniker looks boring as well.
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What does my moniker have to do with anything? I didn't plan on going but I'll still cheer them on. Weird that you had to reply that...
 






MNVCGUY said:
What else is he supposed to say publicly? It is what it is. He can light people up behind the scenes if he wants but have to put a good spin on it and then go down there and take care of business.
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Obviously there is no benefit to disrespecting your opponent......but this HAS to be disappointing for Fleck and the team. There isn't anything wrong with questioning the selection process when your team was effectively dropped in the pecking order by three games....and you play a team with two less wins. If nothing else....maybe it affords you the benefit in subsequent years.
 





Spin it all you want. The Gophers are in a disrespectful relationship with the Big 10. When you accept the disrespect, it will not change. The quote by PJ is a victim thanking abuser.
 

GopherLady said:
For about a grand, you get a 2 night stay and ticket to the game, lol ->

Two-Night Land-Only | Gophers Fan Travel | Official Minnesota Travel Packages, Gophers Bowl Travel

gophersfantravel.com gophersfantravel.com
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Almost nobody is traveling to this game. This was about capturing snowbirds and transplants already in Phx...and so be it. I don't know how many people would've traveled to Tampa, Nashville, Vegas, or NYC, but I hope the conference is happy and it works out well.
 



Guaranteed Rate Bowl was formally known at different times as the Cheez-It Bowl, Cactus Bowl, and also Insight Bowl. It's also the same Bowl in which the Gophers lost to Texas Tech, Kansas, and Iowa State. ​

 
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MGGopher said:
How many more tickets would you estimate are sold because of this arrangement? I'd guess 5 - 10k max. Almost nobody is going to that game in Phoenix regardless of who's there, and Tennessee fans are going to buy 95% of those Music City Bowl tickets regardless of which B1G team was there. PU likely has just as many snowbirds in AZ as Minnesota does. I'm honestly fine with PU ending up where they did, but I'll continue being bitter about MN getting bumped all the way down the pecking order. Sorry. You won't change my mind on this.

Edit to add I'll try not to be obnoxious about this, but I'm just super disappointed. People who post here frequently know I'm not usually bitter. I was almost certainly traveling to Tampa or Nashville and 50/50 on Vegas and NYC, so going from that level of excitement to the absolute worst B1G bowl slot was just tough for me. Sorry.
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You think Phoenix is worse than outdoors in New York in December? You’re nuts
 

corcorangopher said:
Spin it all you want. The Gophers are in a disrespectful relationship with the Big 10. When you accept the disrespect, it will not change. The quote by PJ is a victim thanking abuser.
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Yes, absolutely. His statement should have read “Fuck you, Kevin Warren and all the sleazeballs at Guranteed Rate. Arizona is waterless shithole and we aren’t going to play there. My team will be in Tampa demanding to play the Razorbacks.”
 



If you have a few days or a week to bum around Sun Country flies to Palm Springs, LA, OC, San Diego. Easy drive over.

Alternatively Las Vegas or Salt Lake City and drive through Red Rock Country - Eg Moab and environs, Grand Canyon, Lake Powell or Lake Mead (what’s left). There is a schit ton of stuff to see and do in this part of the country although Phoenix itself is just OK. Guys doing the in and out red eye thing are probably less enthused.
 

Stuff said:

Guaranteed Rate Bowl was formally known at different times as the Cheeze-It bowl, Cactus Bowl, and also Insight Bowl. Its also the same Bowl in which the Gophers lost to Texas Tech, Kansas, and Iowa State. ​

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I'd say Minnesota had records commensurate with this bowl in prior years (.500 or slightly better). Such an odd placement.
 


MNGopher23 said:
What does my moniker have to do with anything? I didn't plan on going but I'll still cheer them on. Weird that you had to reply that...
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Just replying to your negative report. Can't you be positive for a change. Not weird at all.
 

FormerFatOL said:
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I'd say Minnesota had records commensurate with this bowl in prior years (.500 or slightly better). Such an odd placement.
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Well the bowl doesn’t have the same name, nor the same stadium location…nor is it the same decade

So even if it’s the same organizing body I’m not sure 2009 is that comparable to 2021
 

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