It’s Official; Gophers play New Mexico in Rate Bowl

[Cmich Gopher]

Yikes, does anyone moderate this board??

My ignore button has never had such a workout!

 

[BilldGopher]

I think the point that keeps getting overlooked is people treat the bowls like a meritocracy. They are at their core large marketing and advertising campaigns. There is some correlation to records and past performance (merit), but trying to split hairs over this bowl vs. that bowl is pointless. They want butts in seats and feet on the sidewalks. Other than passing through the airport a few times, I've never spent time in Phoenix, and I'm looking forward to it. Charlotte was cold.

Yes it was. The Billds packed a whole suitcase with warm gameday stuff and it was still very nippy. The stadium had a pretty strong breeze that added to the windchill factor. Still a fun time but Orlando and Tampa certainly were better.

 

[STPGopher]

I think the point that keeps getting overlooked is people treat the bowls like a meritocracy. They are at their core large marketing and advertising campaigns. There is some correlation to records and past performance (merit), but trying to split hairs over this bowl vs. that bowl is pointless. They want butts in seats and feet on the sidewalks. Other than passing through the airport a few times, I've never spent time in Phoenix, and I'm looking forward to it. Charlotte was cold.

Thankful that the mezzanine was heated. Still a fun game.

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

I think the point that keeps getting overlooked is people treat the bowls like a meritocracy. They are at their core large marketing and advertising campaigns. There is some correlation to records and past performance (merit), but trying to split hairs over this bowl vs. that bowl is pointless. They want butts in seats and feet on the sidewalks. Other than passing through the airport a few times, I've never spent time in Phoenix, and I'm looking forward to it. Charlotte was cold.

That hurricane wind that kicked in just before the gates opened was BRUTAL.

 

[USAF]

I give up. You're right. The organizers would have no reason to assume a bigger turnout for Nebraska. They would just guess.

I cant understand why this is so difficult for you to understand.
Yes...the Las Vegas Bowl people likely think Nebraska will travel better than the Gophers. They're almost certainly correct, BTW.
It's also true They don't care about the reasons why. They're not interested in possible reasons. In fact, they don't give a shit.

 

[GopherMenace]

Big DINK energy coming from ESPN

 

[swede2]

I must not be understanding something. Didn't Nebraska get invited while many GHers felt the Gophers were more deserving? Could the reason be that sponsors expect more Nebraska fans than the Gophers would bring? What might influence that expectation is the understanding that Nebraska is a college sport market with an undivided fan base whole the Gophers play in a pro market that splits fan's loyalty and thus attention.

I think what influences the decision to send Nebby to a better bowl is that their fans in fact travel better than ours, it's not merely an expectation. The bowl organizers don't need to hypothesize why Gopher fans don't travel. They don't care if it's pro sports, or Delta gouging Twin City travelers, or Nordic insularity that keeps Gopher fans home. That's the point. The Gophers don't travel and the team isn't attractive for television. The reason why doesn't concern bowl organizers.