Bowl opponent musings

[MrCraig]

More than the player's mindset, the way I've seen many Mountaineers talk about UAB is disrespectful to their fans. Sure, on paper, App should spank UAB, but UAB isn't some garbage team. They've been successful since they restarted their program. A lot more successful than UNC-Concord or South Alabama. Y'all are going to look really dumb if App gets beat, God forbid.

What has been said to disrespect their fans? All I've seen (and yes, posted about) is how inflated their record is, they've beaten bad teams, 1 win against a team with winning record, but nothing that I would consider disrespectful to their fans...

Would you not feel disrespected if we were playing a different, "bigger and better" opponent, and all their fans on social media were upset that they were playing us? Saying stuff like, "well their record is really inflated. The Sun Belt is a trash conference, and the two P5 wins they have were against garbage teams. They lost a game to a bad Georgia Southern team. If we have to play a G5 team, I wish we could play a good one." Do you not think that's disrespectful to the team and the fans that have devoted every Satuday to supporting them?

[Mjohn1988]

As one of our former coaches said, “bowl games are about who wants to be there”. I just hope our fan base and the media haven’t and don’t talk our guys out of wanting to be there.

[NeersBy90]

More than the player's mindset, the way I've seen many Mountaineers talk about UAB is disrespectful to their fans. Sure, on paper, App should spank UAB, but UAB isn't some garbage team. They've been successful since they restarted their program. A lot more successful than UNC-Concord or South Alabama. Y'all are going to look really dumb if App gets beat, God forbid.

What has been said to disrespect their fans? All I've seen (and yes, posted about) is how inflated their record is, they've beaten bad teams, 1 win against a team with winning record, but nothing that I would consider disrespectful to their fans...

Would you not feel disrespected if we were playing a different, "bigger and better" opponent, and all their fans on social media were upset that they were playing us? Saying stuff like, "well their record is really inflated. The Sun Belt is a trash conference, and the two P5 wins they have were against garbage teams. They lost a game to a bad Georgia Southern team. If we have to play a G5 team, I wish we could play a good one." Do you not think that's disrespectful to the team and the fans that have devoted every Satuday to supporting them?

People have said things like our P5 wins are against bad teams, and we lost to a bad Ga Southern team, and I don't feel disrespected. I may fire back at them but thats all part of being a fan. I think we have 4 quality wins.

I'm not in the business of blowing smoke. I'm also not overly concerned with how their fan base feels about my opinions. I would tell their fans to toughen up, if what I have said offends them. I do believe their record is inflated and I don't believe they have a real quality win. I am upset that we didn't get a P5 bowl opponent.

I don't view that as being disrespectful.

[AppState89]

As one of our former coaches said, “bowl games are about who wants to be there”. I just hope our fan base and the media haven’t and don’t talk our guys out of wanting to be there.

I can promise you they want to be there. They are so ready to play.

[hotrod2001]

Nobody has seemed to mention this, but this game is going to be the Clark Bowl

Shawn Clark v. Bill Clark for battle of Clark Supremacy

[AppStateNews]

I can guarantee our boys are more focused on this game to give it to Clark as his first game as head coach. Our player leaders understand the importance of this game for the program. And that is why keeping this hire in the family was so important. Unless you've been in the family, you just don't get it.

[AppSt12]

I think its completely fair to expect more when you go 12-1. But that being said a return trip to the same bowl (when it's not a playoff or NY6) is the real bummer. UAB is 9-4 and Conference USA runner up. They are likely the 5th best opponent we played this year. Also it's a 1st time match up which is good to continue to spread our brand across the country, even if it's just a new city or new subset fans.

[AppOrange]

[Mjohn1988]

I think its completely fair to expect more when you go 12-1. But that being said a return trip to the same bowl (when it's not a playoff or NY6) is the real bummer. UAB is 9-4 and Conference USA runner up. They are likely the 5th best opponent we played this year. Also it's a 1st time match up which is good to continue to spread our brand across the country, even if it's just a new city or new subset fans.

As long as the Sunbelt ties remain the same this is realistically the best bowl game we can be in unless we get the access bowl. Funny, last year we wanted this game. A year later we all seem to think it’s below us. I couldn’t agree more that the belt needs to get some better tie ins to our bowl games. NOLA needs to be tied to at worst the USAA champ. It really needs to be tied to an AAC opponent.

[HighPointApp]

95DCFAE8-920F-4410-BA01-98DB865F7016.jpeg

LMAO

[WVAPPeer]

I have not read one word saying that any of us think the NO Bowl "is below us" - That is absurd

[bigdaddyg]

The article today on the ESPN college football page that breaks down the bowl games by least to most entertaining (obviously purely subjective) does have some interesting takes on our bowl and the Belk bowl. Also interesting is that the Belk is ranked just above the R&L Carriers.

[NeersBy90]

I think its completely fair to expect more when you go 12-1. But that being said a return trip to the same bowl (when it's not a playoff or NY6) is the real bummer. UAB is 9-4 and Conference USA runner up. They are likely the 5th best opponent we played this year. Also it's a 1st time match up which is good to continue to spread our brand across the country, even if it's just a new city or new subset fans.

As long as the Sunbelt ties remain the same this is realistically the best bowl game we can be in unless we get the access bowl. Funny, last year we wanted this game. A year later we all seem to think it’s below us. I couldn’t agree more that the belt needs to get some better tie ins to our bowl games. NOLA needs to be tied to at worst the USAA champ. It really needs to be tied to an AAC opponent.

Last year we wanted it because we had lost 2 games and the NY6 wasn't up for grabs, we also didn't have the dangling carrot that was this years Belk Bowl tease. I don't think people are hung up on the bowl itself, its the opponent. Like you said, it would be nice if it were an AAC team.

I would like to think that the 4 remaining G5 Champs could get paired in bowl games (ignoring the top G5 champ that obviously goes to the NY6). That's incredibly Utopian and will more than likely never happen but one can dream...

[Mjohn1988]

I think its completely fair to expect more when you go 12-1. But that being said a return trip to the same bowl (when it's not a playoff or NY6) is the real bummer. UAB is 9-4 and Conference USA runner up. They are likely the 5th best opponent we played this year. Also it's a 1st time match up which is good to continue to spread our brand across the country, even if it's just a new city or new subset fans.

As long as the Sunbelt ties remain the same this is realistically the best bowl game we can be in unless we get the access bowl. Funny, last year we wanted this game. A year later we all seem to think it’s below us. I couldn’t agree more that the belt needs to get some better tie ins to our bowl games. NOLA needs to be tied to at worst the USAA champ. It really needs to be tied to an AAC opponent.

Last year we wanted it because we had lost 2 games and the NY6 wasn't up for grabs, we also didn't have the dangling carrot that was this years Belk Bowl tease. I don't think people are hung up on the bowl itself, its the opponent. Like you said, it would be nice if it were an AAC team.

I would like to think that the 4 remaining G5 Champs could get paired in bowl games (ignoring the top G5 champ that obviously goes to the NY6). That's incredibly Utopian and will more than likely never happen but one can dream...

I agree with you about the Belk Bowl, that situation created most of the disappointment. I love your suggestion about having the G5 champs meet in bowl games. That would be awesome and should happen.

[NeersBy90]

I think its completely fair to expect more when you go 12-1. But that being said a return trip to the same bowl (when it's not a playoff or NY6) is the real bummer. UAB is 9-4 and Conference USA runner up. They are likely the 5th best opponent we played this year. Also it's a 1st time match up which is good to continue to spread our brand across the country, even if it's just a new city or new subset fans.

As long as the Sunbelt ties remain the same this is realistically the best bowl game we can be in unless we get the access bowl. Funny, last year we wanted this game. A year later we all seem to think it’s below us. I couldn’t agree more that the belt needs to get some better tie ins to our bowl games. NOLA needs to be tied to at worst the USAA champ. It really needs to be tied to an AAC opponent.

Last year we wanted it because we had lost 2 games and the NY6 wasn't up for grabs, we also didn't have the dangling carrot that was this years Belk Bowl tease. I don't think people are hung up on the bowl itself, its the opponent. Like you said, it would be nice if it were an AAC team.

I would like to think that the 4 remaining G5 Champs could get paired in bowl games (ignoring the top G5 champ that obviously goes to the NY6). That's incredibly Utopian and will more than likely never happen but one can dream...

I agree with you about the Belk Bowl, that situation created most of the disappointment. I love your suggestion about having the G5 champs meet in bowl games. That would be awesome and should happen.

I think it would be awesome too. If nothing else it could set expectations for the NY6 bid the following year. It would also allow the top G5 programs to see how they stack up with one another. It may indirectly improve recruiting for conferences like us, the MAC and CUSA because those bowls would be bigger than most we all get currently.

[spacemonkey]

Wasn’t long ago that people were whining that we may not get the NOLA bowl as the champion. Whiners gonna whine.

[NeersBy90]

Wasn’t long ago that people were whining that we may not get the NOLA bowl as the champion. Whiners gonna whine.

The air must be thin up there... it’s okay to want more, ya know?

[spacemonkey]

Wasn’t long ago that people were whining that we may not get the NOLA bowl as the champion. Whiners gonna whine.

The air must be thin up there... it’s okay to want more, ya know?

It is also OK to control what you can control and do it in style. We have a great showcase for these seniors.

[spacemonkey]

We also signed a contract that was in our best interest when we signed it.

[NeersBy90]

Wasn’t long ago that people were whining that we may not get the NOLA bowl as the champion. Whiners gonna whine.

The air must be thin up there... it’s okay to want more, ya know?

It is also OK to control what you can control and do it in style. We have a great showcase for these seniors.

I’m not disputing that, I’m as proud of these seniors as I’ve ever been about a senior class coming through our program, but frankly I’m tired of being told it’s whining or to be happy with Nola and UAB when we were so close to so much more. We could’ve (and I would argue) and should’ve had a better showcase for our seniors. These seniors deserved more in my opinion.