FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[ExTartanPlayer]

Does anyone else think the "bowl season" has gotten completely out of hand?

Catching up on this thread... a good indicator that there are too many bowls is that for at least the past two years, there have been concerns that they'll have more bowl slots than bowl-eligible teams... and that is with the relatively low six-win hurdle.

It won't go to a higher number because of the dollars involved, so their idea of "reform" is for the conferences to share the tie-ins to break up the monotony of always going to the whocares.com bowl, or whatever bowl your conference has a tie-in with.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-football/news/20130110/college-football-bowl-system-changes/?sct=uk_t11_a7

We kvetch about the limited number of Pool C slots available but I wouldn't trade systems with D1 in a million years.

I agree, but the truth is that those bowls still exist because they draw enough TV eyeballs to make money (even if the schools themselves don't clear much, if anything, on their trip to the Famous Idaho Potato Beef O Brady's Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl).  I read a remarkable stat somewhere about the average TV viewership for some of the lower tier bowls: it's a lot higher than you probably think. Football is such a dominant sport in this country that even those low end bowls draw good TV numbers just because they are football, and I understand why. A few years ago, as a high school kid or a college kid on Christmas break, any time I was bored and found a bowl game on, I watched it, even if it was 7-5 Minnesota vs 9-3 Central Michigan with 10,000 people in a 50,000 seat stadium...it was football and I was bored!

Edit: for example, look at the bottom of the article you linked - ESPN wi just create new bowls because it gives them easy programming that gets decent ratings. Unbelievably, Arizona vs Nevada in a low end bowl game outdrew a HUGE college basketball game (Butler vs Indiana) in the same time slot...even if one argues that the basketball game's ratings may not have been real high because it was two schools from the same state, still, that's very telling...there are a lot of casual fans out there who either chose the football game over the basketball game or didn't even know the BB game was on.

[NCF]

Does anyone else think the "bowl season" has gotten completely out of hand?

Catching up on this thread... a good indicator that there are too many bowls is that for at least the past two years, there have been concerns that they'll have more bowl slots than bowl-eligible teams... and that is with the relatively low six-win hurdle.

It won't go to a higher number because of the dollars involved, so their idea of "reform" is for the conferences to share the tie-ins to break up the monotony of always going to the whocares.com bowl, or whatever bowl your conference has a tie-in with.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-football/news/20130110/college-football-bowl-system-changes/?sct=uk_t11_a7

We kvetch about the limited number of Pool C slots available but I wouldn't trade systems with D1 in a million years.

I agree, but the truth is that those bowls still exist because they draw enough TV eyeballs to make money (even if the schools themselves don't clear much, if anything, on their trip to the Famous Idaho Potato Beef O Brady's Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl).  I read a remarkable stat somewhere about the average TV viewership for some of the lower tier bowls: it's a lot higher than you probably think. Football is such a dominant sport in this country that even those low end bowls draw good TV numbers just because they are football, and I understand why. A few years ago, as a high school kid or a college kid on Christmas break, any time I was bored and found a bowl game on, I watched it, even if it was 7-5 Minnesota vs 9-3 Central Michigan with 10,000 people in a 50,000 seat stadium...it was football and I was bored!

Edit: for example, look at the bottom of the article you linked - ESPN wi just create new bowls because it gives them easy programming that gets decent ratings. Unbelievably, Arizona vs Nevada in a low end bowl game outdrew a HUGE college basketball game (Butler vs Indiana) in the same time slot...even if one argues that the basketball game's ratings may not have been real high because it was two schools from the same state, still, that's very telling...there are a lot of casual fans out there who either chose the football game over the basketball game or didn't even know the BB game was on.

That is so TRUE! Last night my son was asking why the NFL didn't have the 2nd play-off game a little later. About this time of year we go into football withdrawal. I understand why the networks pick up ANY football game-easy money for them. My understanding of the bowls is that they are a reward for a successful season. Is 6-6 now considered successfull? Going to a bowl game used to mean something.  I watched several games, but switched back and forth from other stations (even some basketball games) because the football game was bad. I didn't even watch the "national championship" game from start to finish-because the game was terrible.

[formerd3db]

ExTartan and NCF:

I agree with you both.  I had posted this comment also a while back regarding this discussion, but again, as you have mentioned, some of those lower tier bowls this year were some of the best games this year and certainly so much more exciting and better than some of the major bowl games.   But at the same time, there certainly just seems to be too many and I'm not sure if that will change. 

Personally, I would prefer to see the FBS go to the same type of system used in FCS, DII and DIII for the playoffs and hopefully they will after the first year or so of the planned 4 team playoff.  They can still use the major bowls but go to the "early years" of the DIAA, DII and DIII playoffs when they had 8 teams.  Some good teams were still left out then as I'm sure most of us recall, however, it was a decent system and better than what FBS has now. 

[Kovo]

Ponx out at NCC. I hear he had etiquette issues while interviewing for another job, maybe the basketball guy from NCC will confirm, he always has good info. Promote from within, or look outside is the question now.

..or the football mom can confirm it as well, he is gone. Three years ago they promoted from within, so we'll just have to wait and see.

I would love to hear the "true" story behind the firing----if anyone has it.  My quick take is that, in the CCIW last year (all games), NC was 1st in scoring defense, 1st in total defense, 1st in rushing defense, and 3rd in pass defense.  Usually, that type of season wouldn't get the DC tossed.    Maybe the D was at fault for the 17 turnovers in the three losses----otherwise it doesn't make much sense.  The "etiquette issues" must be really bad.

[formerd3db]

Mr. Ypsi:

Thanks for your reply regarding the Parish hire by Eastern Michigan - sorry I missed seeing that until now or I would have posted a reply earlier than this.  Thanks also for sharing more about your experience with Eastern Michigan and I don't blame you one bit for feeling the way you do and also not giving them one cent, other than your son's tuition check until he is done.  I would do the same thing were in I in your situation and experienced what you did.  Shame on Eastern Michigan and those jerks who did that should be ashamed of themselves, yet from what you say, I doubt they are because that's how those type of people operate.  Probably some of them are no longer there anyway (hopefully not ).

Nonetheless, while Parish is a good coach, I have my doubts as to whether he will be able to elevate that team. Karcher was a good coach, but he got the "heave ho" by English.  And as you said a long time ago when we've all discussed the plight of Eastern Michigan on these boards before, it is the "Graveyard of Coaches", just the exact opposite of Miami, Ohio's historic reputation in that vein. As such, we'll probably be seeing English go the way of Genyk before him and the guy before him, and before him, and before him, etc., etc. .  We'll see what happens.  I predict English will have another one year, maybe two if his team does better like it did in 2011, unlike this year in 2012. 

[Kovo]

Ponx out at NCC. I hear he had etiquette issues while interviewing for another job, maybe the basketball guy from NCC will confirm, he always has good info. Promote from within, or look outside is the question now.

..or the football mom can confirm it as well, he is gone. Three years ago they promoted from within, so we'll just have to wait and see.

I would love to hear the "true" story behind the firing----if anyone has it.  My quick take is that, in the CCIW last year (all games), NC was 1st in scoring defense, 1st in total defense, 1st in rushing defense, and 3rd in pass defense.  Usually, that type of season wouldn't get the DC tossed.    Maybe the D was at fault for the 17 turnovers in the three losses----otherwise it doesn't make much sense.  The "etiquette issues" must be really bad.

Thanks NCF!

[formerd3db]

Kovo:
Oops!  I meant to include you in my reply also i.e. in agreement with your opinion on the bowls!  +k also!

[wally_wabash]

42-3-1 career record at Wabash...Stan Parrish is a saint where I'm from.   

[formerd3db]

42-3-1 career record at Wabash...Stan Parrish is a saint where I'm from.   

Indeed, I would concur!  Other than Kansas State, he didn't do that bad at his other stops.  However, given the situation at Eastern Michigan, I doubt even he can help out there.   We'll see what happens this upcoming fall.

[79jaybird]

Good luck Timmy, and best wishes. Thank you for what you gave to Elmhurst College. 

TIM LESTER STEPS DOWN AS ELMHURST COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACH
      ELMHURST, Ill., January 14, 2013 — After leading the Elmhurst College football team to new heights in 2012, Tim Lester has announced his resignation as the Bluejays' head coach. Lester, who spent the last five seasons at the helm of the Bluejays, has accepted a position as an assistant coach at a Division I institution.
      "This is a very bittersweet day for me and my family," said Lester. "I've enjoyed every minute of my time at Elmhurst but this is a tremendous opportunity that I could not pass up. I'd like to thank the Elmhurst College administration for all the support that they showed me and the football program. I'm looking forward to following the Bluejays as they continue to become an annual national contender."
      Lester, who began his collegiate coaching career as the Bluejays' offensive coordinator in 2002, was named Elmhurst's head coach prior to the start of the 2008 season. Last season, Lester directed the Bluejays to their best season in school history. The squad captured a share of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Championship for the first time since the 1980 season and earned its first-ever trip to the NCAA playoffs while posting a school record for wins (10-2 record). The Bluejays advanced to the second round of the playoffs, earning the College's first postseason victory by defeating Coe College. The Bluejays finished the season with a pair of top-10 national rankings from D3football.com and the American Football Coaches Association.
      In five seasons as Elmhurst's head coach, Lester compiled a 33-19 record and his .636 winning percentage is the second-highest mark in Elmhurst history. Under Lester's guidance, 33 players earned all-conference recognition, including nine during the 2012 campaign. Lester also coached a pair of All-Americans, three CoSIDA Academic All-Americans (the first in the program's history), and the 2012 Gagliardi Trophy winner, Scottie Williams.
      "Tim certainly brought the program to new heights and he was a great fit for our institution," said Elmhurst Director of Athletics Paul Krohn. "I'd like to thank him for all that he did for our program and we wish him nothing but continued success in his career. In the meantime, I look forward to working with the College's leadership to find a new coach who will continue the momentum that our football program achieved under Tim's direction."
      A search for a new head coach will begin immediately.

[oldnuthin]

Syracuse for Lester, that is a big hit for Elmhurst, maybe Ponx can continue the line of former NCC Coaches to Elmhurst

[Gregory Sager]

Three new head coaches in the CCIW next fall. When's the last time that that happened?

[Naperick]

Good luck Timmy, and best wishes. Thank you for what you gave to Elmhurst College. 

TIM LESTER STEPS DOWN AS ELMHURST COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACH
      ELMHURST, Ill., January 14, 2013 — After leading the Elmhurst College football team to new heights in 2012, Tim Lester has announced his resignation as the Bluejays' head coach. Lester, who spent the last five seasons at the helm of the Bluejays, has accepted a position as an assistant coach at a Division I institution.
      "This is a very bittersweet day for me and my family," said Lester. "I've enjoyed every minute of my time at Elmhurst but this is a tremendous opportunity that I could not pass up. I'd like to thank the Elmhurst College administration for all the support that they showed me and the football program. I'm looking forward to following the Bluejays as they continue to become an annual national contender."
      Lester, who began his collegiate coaching career as the Bluejays' offensive coordinator in 2002, was named Elmhurst's head coach prior to the start of the 2008 season. Last season, Lester directed the Bluejays to their best season in school history. The squad captured a share of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Championship for the first time since the 1980 season and earned its first-ever trip to the NCAA playoffs while posting a school record for wins (10-2 record). The Bluejays advanced to the second round of the playoffs, earning the College's first postseason victory by defeating Coe College. The Bluejays finished the season with a pair of top-10 national rankings from D3football.com and the American Football Coaches Association.
      In five seasons as Elmhurst's head coach, Lester compiled a 33-19 record and his .636 winning percentage is the second-highest mark in Elmhurst history. Under Lester's guidance, 33 players earned all-conference recognition, including nine during the 2012 campaign. Lester also coached a pair of All-Americans, three CoSIDA Academic All-Americans (the first in the program's history), and the 2012 Gagliardi Trophy winner, Scottie Williams.
      "Tim certainly brought the program to new heights and he was a great fit for our institution," said Elmhurst Director of Athletics Paul Krohn. "I'd like to thank him for all that he did for our program and we wish him nothing but continued success in his career. In the meantime, I look forward to working with the College's leadership to find a new coach who will continue the momentum that our football program achieved under Tim's direction."
      A search for a new head coach will begin immediately.

I hate to see him go, but I understand.

[Mr. Ypsi]

And now the obvious question - which I would assume NO ONE can currently answer:

Will this past season turn out to be a 'one-hit wonder' for the Jays, or can they bring in someone who can keep the magic going?

[NCF]

And now the obvious question - which I would assume NO ONE can currently answer:

Will this past season turn out to be a 'one-hit wonder' for the Jays, or can they bring in someone who can keep the magic going?

It depends on who they bring in, but with a new head coach I would say it might take a couple years. Would be very interesting to see Ponx take over. looks like next season might be fun to watch after all.