Checking out a couple of message boards over the last week...

[blue-boy]

it's amazing to me that some folks think that some of the bowl games are meaningless. I'm not speaking of those of the "small school/small program" types, I'm sure fans of those schools are happy to share in the moment but I read on sites that some M fans thought that our game w/ FSU was totally meaningless. "If you can't play in the BCS, screw it." The GBMWolverine blog had some bad blood going on there for awhile...some anti-Harbaugh/Staff stuff, don't measure up to the "Urb, Nick and Dabo" crowd. Gives a different meaning to fanatics IMHO.

Obviously the Final 4 matter though neither game was very exciting but the way our game went and the Rose Bowl was unbelievable, as were others. Yes, there were some bad matchups and blowouts but there were some damn good games. Maybe part of the "meaningly" expression comes with the idea of so many games. I probably watched less of the games overall but yet the week between Christmas/New Year, I was home and saw quite a bit of football. (I am ready for a break though...not sure if M basketball and hockey will be the answer, sigh. Anyway some great performances by teams and individuals, something to look forward to.

 

[Duo]

it's amazing to me that some folks think that some of the bowl games are meaningless. I'm not speaking of those of the "small school/small program" types, I'm sure fans of those schools are happy to share in the moment but I read on sites that some M fans thought that our game w/ FSU was totally meaningless. "If you can't play in the BCS, screw it." The GBMWolverine blog had some bad blood going on there for awhile...some anti-Harbaugh/Staff stuff, don't measure up to the "Urb, Nick and Dabo" crowd. Gives a different meaning to fanatics IMHO.

Obviously the Final 4 matter though neither game was very exciting but the way our game went and the Rose Bowl was unbelievable, as were others. Yes, there were some bad matchups and blowouts but there were some damn good games. Maybe part of the "meaningly" expression comes with the idea of so many games. I probably watched less of the games overall but yet the week between Christmas/New Year, I was home and saw quite a bit of football. (I am ready for a break though...not sure if M basketball and hockey will be the answer, sigh. Anyway some great performances by teams and individuals, something to look forward to.

Blue Boy..........

A few reasons why Bowl Games are important:

Teams get extra practices.

TV exposure. More people tuned in to watch the OB than either one of the playoff games!

Think of all the recruits, fans and donors all across the nation that watched our game on TV

Recruits go to the games. FSU and UM both recruit the State of Florida and especially South Florida and the stands were full of recruits.

AND............the games themselves. This year the best bowl game bar none was the Orange Bowl. Thrilling all the way down to the last final few seconds.

If I'm a big time donor that's where I want to contribute money. If I'm a big time recruit those are the schools I'd like to play for. And for all the players it's an extra incentive to play even harder than ever before.

And BTW, the people saying that bowl games are meaningless are inevitably the losers!

 

[blue-boy]

Blue Boy..........

A few reasons why Bowl Games are important:

Teams get extra practices.

TV exposure. More people tuned in to watch the OB than either one of the playoff games!

Think of all the recruits, fans and donors all across the nation that watched our game on TV

Recruits go to the games. FSU and UM both recruit the State of Florida and especially South Florida and the stands were full of recruits.

AND............the games themselves. This year the best bowl game bar none was the Orange Bowl. Thrilling all the way down to the last final few seconds.

If I'm a big time donor that's where I want to contribute money. If I'm a big time recruit those are the schools I'd like to play for. And for all the players it's an extra incentive to play even harder than ever before.

And BTW, the people saying that bowl games are meaningless are inevitably the losers!

Amen Bud....can't imagine not watching your favorite team in a bowl, no matter what bowl or the team. That's why you're a fan. The extra practice time will pay off for the young bloods trying to prove their worth, timing between the QB and receivers and the cohesiveness with the o-line. Areas where Michigan needs to work on.

You don't get many chances to play other great teams from other conferences, FSU vs M, Clemson VS OSU, SC vs PSU...they don't get much better than that. Just some great football to be had...it was great!

 

[michnittlion]

More people tuned in to watch the OB than either one of the playoff games!

FWIW, the Orange Bowl did very good numbers (11.7M viewers, more than any regular season game outside of Michigan/Ohio State). But it was not even close to either the Fiesta (19.2M viewers) or Peach Bowl (19.3M viewers).

Overall, the Orange Bowl was 4th highest in viewers among all the 40 Bowl games. The Rose came in 3rd at 16M viewers, which was still less than OSU/Michigan.

A few reasons why Bowl Games are important:

Teams get extra practices.

Recruits go to the games. FSU and UM both recruit the State of Florida and especially South Florida and the stands were full of recruits.

I agree with these reasons. I would add "meaningfulness of the game to the fan base" as well --- although that will vary from game-to-game.

I went to the Boston College/Maryland game at Ford Field, Motor City Bowl. Both were 6-6. But that game still meant something to the BC fanbase and the team: they had a very disappointing 2015 and weren't expecting much in 2016 either. But they over-achieved at 6-6 and even a Motor City Bowl was seen as a reward. The team played more energetic and loose against Maryland, which seemed to be going through the motions.

Maryland played more like "ugh ... the Motor City Bowl. And we've already been to Michigan once this year, and that game sucked for us." Ultimately, it showed in the result (BC won).