"Isn’t it time to put a lid on these college bowls?" by Dan Shaughnessy, Globe Staff December 30, 2014
Anybody out there old enough to remember when the college football bowl games were actually played on New Year’s Day? When playing in a bowl game meant you were a superior football team? When we could all set our New Year’s Day watches by the Sugar Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Rose Bowl, and Orange Bowl?
Those were the golden olden days.
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ESPN calls it “Capital One Bowl Mania.’’ I call it “Embarrassing Bowl Boredom.’’
Why are there so many bowl games? It’s simple. It’s called “programming.’’
Not accidentally, all but one of this year’s 38 bowl games are televised by the ABC/ESPN conglomerate....
BC athletic director Brad Bates said, “I don’t know what the perfect number of bowl games is, but there are obvious advantages for the schools. It’s another month of media exposure, another month for recruiting, another month to practice with your team.
“And if you manage it right, it can be an incredible regional and cultural experience. Our students went to the 9/11 Museum and the New York Stock Exchange. It was a wonderful opportunity to engage in the New York culture.’’
Talk about brainwashing!
Related: Ex-BC football player gets probation in attack on homeless man
Bowl season resumes Tuesday.
If you’re really paying attention, you watched....
I wasn't and didn't.
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