But the question is why did the various teams decline a bowl invitation? Unworthiness is probably not the reason. For example, Missouri declined the 2015 bowl because they were searching for a new coach and felt the 15 extra practices would not be valuable. Keep in mind that teams often lose money by going to a bowl.
I don’t recall the ND '71 decline–please provide a link because by '71 ND had shaken off its “we’re students first” attitude and was in full bowl acceptance mode. Still in 1996 18th ranked ND declined an Independence bowl invitation, not because it felt it was unworthy but because it felt that the Independence Bowl and the probable opponent would be beneath it. 1996 was a great year for bowl games.
Buffalo’s refusal was because it had two black players that would not be allowed to play in Florida…segregation.
My point is that teams have declined bowl games in the past, but the reasons rarely, if ever, had to do with generosity or financial magnanimity.
When the priority of business is providing a good service and product before making money, the money naturally comes after the fact. When it is the other way around, all about making money, the product and service tend to become crappy.
How do you feel about the products and service you are getting from your average business today? There are too many bowl games and for the most part they have become less interesting and crappy.
Who wants to watch Alabama and Clemson play for a “national championship” for the 4th or 5th year in a row now? I’m not interested in watching the NFL farm teams go at it again… it is uninteresting.
Well at least you know why it’s all about the money now.
Agreed. I remember BYU being disappointed after hearing that an 11th ranked BYU team would be facing an unranked Indiana squad in the Holiday Bowl. But in its defense, if I recall correctly, the complaint stemmed from wanting to show that BYU deserved more respect and wanted the opportunity to show it by playing and defeating a top-20 opponent.
Exactly! And that’s a pride issue when they think they are too good to play anyone in a bowl game. The wrong kind of pride. And, it didn’t help their other sports not accepting the money. And, possibly other departments. And, not their missionary work either. The “no coach” excuse is a poor one too.
I’d still like to know who is greedy today and why they feel their is greed? Where is the evidence? Capitalism is dependent upon what the market will bear.
1984, I think BYU was offered (I doubt it) to go to Orange Bowl or was it Sugar Bowl? But BYU agreed to stick with the contract to play the Holiday Bowl (HB). HB did asked either Oklahoma or Washington to play at HB but they went after to play each other for the NC at the Orange Bowl AND THE $$$$. Yep, GREED!
You mean “greed” existed in the good old days I think it was also lofty pride puffed up. It was great to see the AP and other coaches vote BYU as National Champions and put the elite in their place.
The contract with the HB, as with others, has a clause in it to allow teams out in that sort of situations. It was still nice to see BYU with some class but the other school programs would have better benefited from going to the Orange Bowl.
We were ranked in the top 10 that year. I remember watching it with my dad who was visiting from Southern California. I was ready to get up and go out on to the balcony and sing the fight song as the bells would ring and the song piped loudly across campus. And then, that muffed 35 yard field goal. Ugggg!!! How embarrassing!
I remember the field goal being shorter than 35 yards. It seems to me it was just slightly longer than an extra point. and that kicker had been pretty reliable for several years. If I remember right BYU had the ball inside the 10 yard line and they played it safe trying to run down the clock and set up the fieId goal and leave no time on the clock. That kicker had been good for a couple of years and I think his name was Brent Johnson if I remember right. The kick wasn’t blocked he just shanked it. Too bad his last kick cost BYU an undefeated season and a final spot in the top 10. BYU should have aggressively gone for the TD. You should never put things in the hands of a kicker if you can avoid it. Go for the TD and then kick the field goal. They should have won by at least 2 TDs anyway. They were far better than Indiana. The winning touchdown was scored when BYU punted and a bunch of BYU players stood around waiting for the ball to roll to a stop and before they could down it the Indiana return man scooped it up and ran about 70 yards for a TD. Wilson also threw a couple of interceptions. BYU moved the ball up and down the field and won all the stats except the one that counted 38-37 I believe it was.
That game is real bad memory for me almost 40 years later. Too bad somebody brought it up. The 1979 Holiday Bowl. It ranks up there with the UTEP loss in 1985.
I hate it when someone bring this back to my head. My first year at BYU 1979 and yes that last game at the Holiday Bowl and that last play the kicker shank it. We should have won it and 13-0 and maybe top 5.
Well, let hope I won’t hear it again on this post. And oh yes that UTEP loss at ElPaso. Was it true they were spying on our defense so they could score every series? I wonder.
The only field goal Brent Johnson missed all year. BTW, if any of you who were there remember: It rained that night. Before the game my family went out to dinner and then my dad went and bought some garbage bags at a local store. I was embarassed because I knew what they were for.
When the rain started, he took out a garbage bag and used it as a poncho. After a while I decided the garbage bag was better than getting wet. Then he passed the remaining bags to some nearby fans. Good memory. My dad passed away 12 years ago, but I have a lot of good memories of how much he enjoyed BYU sports even though he was not LDS.
I remember before that we had broken into the Top 10 in the rankings. And, when Indiana was picked, everyone was mad that we got Indiana. So, I don’t remember the name of the artist that drew in the school newspaper, but he did a great one. He had the Top 10 teams all in a room having dinner. Everyone in the room was huge and muscular adults. BYU was highlighted inside the room. Outside the room there was this little boy looking in with “Indiana” written on his uniform. The captions said, “When I grow up, I want to be just like them.” I think I may still have that somewhere. He had some really great cartoons over the years. I think he was hired by the Salt Lake Tribune.
ARO: One reason for all of the extra bowls these days is because the NCAA has split Division I football into three levels. At the elite level the big money and the eyes of the country are on the playoff teams and P-5 conference teams that just missed the four team playoff from conferences like the SEC, ACC, PAC-12, Big 10 (14) and the Big 12(little ten). Next comes the little guys like the G-5’s and one team that is at the top of G-5 like UCF or Boise State, and a while ago Western Michigan, etc. These teams get the lesser crumbs, but at a level more than the bottom conferences like the Sun Belt, MWC, MAC, Conf USA, and the AAC. They get to play in the less lesser bowls like the Potato, New Mexico, and some Indy’s (except for elite Notre Dame). Other such bowls include the Cure, Las Vegas, Camelia, NO, Boca Raton, Gasparilla, Bahamas, Birm, Armed Forces, Dollar Gen, Hawaii, 1st Resp. (Old Cotton Bowl), Quick Lane, Cheez It, Ind., Pinstripe, Music City, Belk, Ariz, Mil, Some bowls include strictly p-5 also rans, and then the New Yera’s Six. Like Graverman says, many of these bowls are like the participation medals or trophies for kids in sports tese days. Too me it is like the segregated Jim Crow days with the elites like the P-5’s and Notre Dames of the world. The NCAA could care less. It’s all about $$$$$ and big vs. little time exposure. Also everybody gets some money, just some get more, some get less.
I’m too young to remember it personally, but my dad told me about it. It also, unfortunately, gave Lee Corso a victory over BYU.
In more recent times, do you guys remember Bronco kicking a field goal right away after a big gain put us on the BSU 9 with a minute left? Mitch (or Matt) Payne shanked the chip shot, and we blew an excellent chance to beat BSU on their home field. I was yelling for them to try to score a touchdown, and kick it only if necessary. Obviously, you don’t want to turn the ball over when you have a chip shot, but with a minute left?
Nothing good comes of it when you kick it early when you don’t have to yet.
I think it was also lofty pride puffed up. It was great to see the AP and other coaches vote BYU as National Champions and put the elite in their place.