This Is Why We Turned Down Boise's Offer

I remember back in late November, when Ball State allegedly had an offer on the table to travel to Boise, ID and play Boise State in the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl. I also remember writing this. Of particular note...

Financially, the game would be a disaster...

That was my argument against playing in Boise, as it had nothing to do with who or where, but more about how. A program on the ropes against financial stability simply could not afford a Bowl game like Boise was offering. I was scoffed at, said there was no way it would be that bad, and that Ball State, to quote one person, "was making themselves look like bitches".

So imagine the small sense of smug "I was right" I felt when reading the Wiz's new column, profiling the epic financial disaster that fellow MAC member Northern Illinois is mired in after their Independence Bowl game against Louisiana Tech. A financial disaster that checks in at right around the $154,000 mark.

When I wrote openly about BSU and Boise, one of the things I noted was all the little trivial stipulations from a Bowl game. There's the cost of travel for those beyond the team, like the cheerleaders and pep band, equipment travel, etc. It isn't cheap and it certainly isn't cheap to a place like Boise, which has some of the most high cost requirements for bowl participation. Of course, most just simply dismissed those out of hand with a "It can't be THAT expensive!" Well, NIU seems to think otherwise. The biggest reason for the loss? A 10,000 ticket gap in allotment and sold. Which certainly would have happened had BSU headed west.

NIU will have enough funds to cover the costs, but mark my words, and it will be sooner rather than later, teams will begin to choose not to go to Bowl games at all if it comes with a $150k sticker, especially with the state of the economy and the general budgetary shitshows that are higher education budgets. I know there are non-dollar benefits like admissions, alumni support, etc. that come with a Bowl, but I think you'll find anyone that can make an argument that it's $150k worth.

Granted, BSU probably played their way out of the Boise game with the MAC Championship bed shatting, but it's still nice to sit back and say, "I told you so." So...

At Least Not Many People Saw Ball State's GMAC Turd

It's not a secret that BSU laid a giant turd in the GMAC Bowl. The walloping they took at the hands of Tulsa made many ask some pretty valid questions about the Cardinals, the MAC, and their (at the time) 12-1 record. The good news for BSU is that in the grand scheme of the Bowls, not as many people watched that implosion as most of the other Bowl games. The ratings... in pretty chart form!

Of course, had BSU still been undefeated, the ratings would have been significantly higher, but to have a Tulsa-BSU GMAC game finish 7th lowest in the bowl season is a bit surprising. There's many reasons why that happened, not the least of which includes being on a Tuesday night, on ESPN, etc. Of course a counter argument could be made that it should have drawn considerably higher considering it was the only football game in town that particular night.

In terms of other MAC teams, BSU drew 3rd best out of 5, which is again surprising considering, on paper, this was the best matchup out of all the MAC bids. The highest? Central Michigan's loss in the Motor City Bowl.

The other piece of good news for the Cardinals is that despite their low ratings against Tulsa, it still was better than the January 08 edition of the GMAC Bowl. This year's game drew a 70% increase in viewers. That is the 4th highest jump for a Bowl Game in the 08 Bowl season. The rest:


Not surprisingly, the MAC was largely not watched, most notably to the perceived quality of the conference and their less than spectacular matchups across the board. The MAC finished 10th out of 11 as a conference for ratings. The tops? The Big 12.


Ball State has had some success this season on the field, but with it's continued success in the televisions of homes across the country, this could serve well to get the Cardinals a little more face time with the general population via ESPN. Recruits care about being on television, and at least now there is some tangible evidence that people WILL watch BSU. Of course, just don't compare those numbers to the rest of college football.

Overall, the Bowls themselves saw a 3% jump in average viewership from last year. When taken into consideration that 2008 had 2 more Bowls on the schedule than last year, that's great. But while the number of people watching the Orange Bowl and Rose Bowl was high, in comparison to previous years it was not a successful endeavor for either. It was the lowest rated Rose Bowl in 6 years and the lowest in 15 years for the Orange. Ouch.

(Image hat tip to: The Wiz of Odds)

Bowl Pickin'

To spread some love amongst the blogosphere this Holiday Bowl Season, OTP participated in several Bowl Pick 'Ems spread across all sorts of formats. Some were with fellow BSU fans, others were hosted by sites or people we respect immensely in the blog scene. Here's how we fared:

Pool: Rocky Top Talk's
Hosted by: Rocky Top Talk, a fantastic Tennessee site that was one of the first sites on the net to link to us. Joel and crew do a fantastic job on all things blog related, and the team over there are some of the only UT fans we can stomach.
Record: 17-17
Results: 10th out of 47
Thoughts: Lost a 30-pointer on Bama and a 34-pointer on CMU, 25 and 26 on BYU and Troy respecitvely. Serves us right for picking our conference brethren and other mid-majors. RTT used FunOfficePools.com and I like the layout quite a bit.

Pool: BSUFans.com
Hosted by: Uh... bsufans.com
Record: 17-17
Results: 3rd out of 21
Thoughts: Same story as above. And we picked against Kentucky, which means something terrbile karmicly I'm sure.

Pool: Ja'Larry Bird's Disciples
Hosted by: Clay Travis, who if you're not reading on a semi-regular basis you are missing out on something. Go now.
Record: 20-14
Results: 58 out of 236
Thoughts: The largest pool we were in. Between Ball State, Troy, Texas Tech, and CMU, we lost 118 points. Thanks, BSU.

Pool: BHGP Championship
Hosted by: BlackHeartGoldPants, one of the funniest college football blogs on the net.
Record: 21-13
Results: 3rd out of 76
Thoughts: Texas Tech, Cincinnati, and Bama all screwed us in this one. This is one we were actually ahead in with 3 games to go.

So two bronze medals for us here at OTP. Huzzah!

Immediate GMAC Bowl Thoughts

Sweet merciful Jesus. I'm not sure that I could have scripted the epic fuckbucket of failure that walked out of the stadium in Mobile, AL tonight. It's just a few hours old and I'm still a jumbled pile of feeling. Pissed? Sure. Disappointed? Yup. Embarrassed? Absolutely. Feeling like an Ohio State fan? A little.

As I said in our GMAC preview, BSU had to play well enough to win. That sounds simple, and almost too easy to really count as a piece of wisdom, but based on the metric tonnage of sheer awfulness that masqueraded as Ball State Football in the MAC Championship Game, that seemed to be asking a lot. As I sit here after the assthrashing is complete, it apparently was too much to request that Ball State play better than a mediocre 2A Indiana high school team.

Amidst the carnage of this 45-13 beating, Tulsa was able to pretty much do whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted, and however they wanted. The BSU offense was stagnant, the defense was spectacularly shitty, the special teams were ordinary at best, and perhaps worst of all, this team just seemed eager to quit, shower, and get their asses out of there. Truly a shame.

I'll have a little bit better perspective tomorrow and an actual breakdown of the game itself, but this team has a lot of soul searching to do before spring practice. If Stan wants this fanbase to support him despite his quick hire, he had best stop getting his ass handed to him and looking totally and completely outcoached. If Nate wants to go to the NFL, then go. But I find it to be no coincidence that as soon as he began to mention the draft he suddenly didn't have the focus and success that he used to (and for the record, leaving now would be the worst decision possible, regardless of whatever "advice" Nate is getting from his brother Jose).

The bottom line is the clock is already rolling on 2009, and I can only hope that the underclassmen on this team are as upset as I am about ending this season the extraordinarily awful way that they did.

Harsh? Probably. But this team basically told every fan that bothered to watch them that each and every backhanded snide comment made about them was absolutely true. They played a universally regarded "good" team for what some will consider the first time all season and got the shit kicked out of them. Nate Davis fumbled his way right out of guaranteed money in the NFL like the overrated choke artist he was alleged to be. Ball State played like a joke tonight and exactly the way any small time pretender would have. They played like a team that loaded up on soft scheduling and a subpar conference. All the awful bullshit that got spewed all season long just got signed off on and roundly verified through 60 minutes of play that I'm embarrassed to say I witnessed. Congrats, boys, you just confirmed what everyone already thought.

Congrats to Tulsa, they beat our ass tonight.

Cardinal Liveblog: GMAC Bowl Edition

Out here in the fields
I fight for my meals
I get my back into my living

I don't need to fight
To prove I'm right
I don't need to be forgiven

Don't cry
Don't raise your eye
It's only Cardinal Liveblog!



Tonight. 7:30 or so. Comment and relish in the Ball State-ness of Tuesday night football. What else are you going to do? Work? Raise a family? Right....

GMAC Bowl Preview

You know, I remember when gameday weeks consisted of calling another school's mascot gay, or comparing wide receivers to inanimate objects (upside down mop for the win!), or making another school's fans feel all small-like because their team was not, in fact, undefeated as mine was. The good old days, indeed.

I remember the best times, like insinuating Coach Hoke was eating up the homeless people in Muncie at an alarming rate, red checkerboard hobo napsacks and all. I remember making Native-Americans-sobbing-at-litter jokes. I remember when it was all good to be a Ball State fan. Nothing but Whitlock weight jokes and telling every other MAC fanbase to fist themselves in honor of the Cardinals. Then came December 5th.

What started as a fumble-rama against Buffalo in the MAC Championship Game culminated in a fanbase so unused to success and attention that they proceeded to have a collective coronary over things totally outside their control. Over the last 5 weeks or so, things got to fever pitch in Cardinal Nation. Head Coach Brady Hoke headed for bigger and better hobos in San Diego, Stan Parrish was promoted as head coach from his former post as Offensive Coordinator, Nate Davis may go pro or may not, Tom Collins may or may not be an idiot, Jo Ann Gora definitely sent us a form letter, the Ball State Daily News definitely used as a source, Jose Davis likes to talk, on and on and on.

Somewhere amidst all the madness the Cardinals accepted a bid to play Tulsa in the GMAC Bowl down in lovely Mobile, Alabama because contrary to some in the fanbase, it is about the team and staff and not about the administrative shitshow we got to witness. And that team, that staff, those athletes, and this game is where we find our focus for today. We're not worried about Brady. We're not worried about Nate. We're not worried about Coach Parrish. We are worried about climate change, but only because that means Al Gore still has a platform to spew his opinion from. Fuck you, penguins. We never liked you much to begin with. We're not worried about Boise State invitations, coaching staff turnover, or losing the MAC title game. We're only worried about Tulsa.

We could do a lengthy post debating the pros and the cons of each offense and defense. We could talk about intangibles and coaching, mascots and fans, tradition and honor. The fact is that all of that sounds good, and it fills column space, but the bottom line for this game is quite simple. If Ball State plays to potential, they win. If they don't, they lose. Simple as that. They are the better team.

Tulsa is a good team. They had some good wins. Laid some beatings on some people. Took a couple beatings themselves. They are a good football team, and fully capable of beating the Cardinals. They are a balanced offensive show, with equal success running and passing the football. In many respects, this is as close as two teams can get in terms of similar styles.

This Ball State team, however, is a special one. They are a balanced offensive attack like I have never seen, facing a team that isn't exactly lights out on the defensive side of the football. If they hang onto the ball, they capitalize on opportunities, and they make the big plays, they win. If they cough up the football, take field goals instead of TDs and lose the field position battle, they lose. Big.

The key to this game will rest on the defensive side of the football, and it is whether or not Ball State can slow down the Tulsa offense. Tulsa and their QB David Johnson has tossed 18 INTs this season, so the opportunities will be there to win the turnover battle. Of course, the defense was largely Brady Hoke's responsibility.

So the long and the short of it is that we here at OTP have no Earthly clue what's going to happen tonight. Ball State is just as likely to beat Tulsa by 20 as they are to lose by 20. We picked the Cardinals in our Pick'Em with Rocky Top Talk, BlackHeartGoldPants, and Clay Travis, so we'll stick with them. We guess.

Tulsa 30
Ball State 31

Rich Brooks Proves I Know Nothing

In the fellowship of the miserable of Kentucky football, it is common place to believe that Big Blue will find a way to lose. Even amidst the resurgence of this football team over the last three years, there was always the nagging reality that while improvements were made, this was a team that was beatable. In fact, this was a team that was hard pressed to overcome adversity at all, given that their roster is significantly less talented than the Georgias, the Floridas, and the Tennessees on their schedule. It isn't a knock on the Wildcats, Rich Brooks, or any of their current roster inhabitants, it is simply a long cold drink of reality in the brutal SEC.

So my pessimism about the Liberty Bowl this week was not entirely out of left field. This edition of the Football Cats were without a reliable quarterback, had injuries rivaling the bravo company of the Iraqi Republican Guard, and still were without receivers who seemed to want to catch the ball. The momentum of the season was clearly headed in the wrong direction, as the Cats closed 08 with 6 losses in 8 games, with their 2 wins coming by a combined 2 points. It wasn't pretty, but it was 6-6, and with it came the Liberty Bowl and East Carolina.

First and foremost, Rich Brooks is one hell of a football coach for anyone who thought otherwise. After watching his Cats surrender momentum and a 16-3 halftime lead to the Pirates, Brooks made adjustments, lit a fire under their collective asses, and watched his Cats hold the Pirates to 3 second half points while winning 25-19, winning their third consecutive Bowl for the first time in school history, and proving that I clearly don't know much about football. I'll have my order of crow with a light cream sauce and some garlic mashed potatoes.

Overall, I thought the game was exciting, enjoyable, and truly uncharacteristic of Kentucky in that they didn't wilt under pressure or let one get away. It was an unexpected win, but a win that I will celebrate and claim as my own despite thinking it would go the other way. Some other random thoughts about this little Bowl-O-Liberty:

• The replay official needs an explanation of what "convincing indisputable evidence" means. The Micah Johnson fumble return should have stood, not because it was convincingly evident that it was a fumble, but because there is no possible way it was indisputable that it wasn't. Thankfully, Ventrell Jenkins and his stiff arm from hell saved the day and potentially an official's life. Nice work, big fella.
• Hartline was surprisingly not shitty. I can only think of one piss poor decision (the flea flicker into double coverage) that was a head scratcher. Overall, Hartline did well enough not to lose, and that's really all I ever wanted from him.
• All in all, this was one of the more exciting bowl games. Congrats to the players, and most importantly, to Coach Brooks.

So here we are, three straight years of bowling, three straight wins. Hard to believe really, considering the depths of suckery this program has seen in recent memory. Congrats Cats... on to signing day.

Oh Look... the Liberty Bowl

Forgive the delay in posting, as I've not only brought back my loot from Christmas, but also a nasty little sinus infection. It's made watching football a chore, and writing about it while trying to be funny nearly impossible. With the litany of prescriptions I'm chucking down my gullet, I'm optimistic this will be fixed in time for lots of GMAC Bowl coverage for Ball State. But if not, I'm sure Edge and RV can provide your fix.

Bowl Season is winding down, though, as only a handful of games remain. The Bowls this year have been, in my opinion, outstanding. Upsets galore, most games exciting to watch, and some amazing individual performances by players you did and didn't know. In the two BCS Bowls so far, neither were exceptionally exciting, though both played out much differently than I expected. While nowhere close to "competitive", the Penn State-USC game was not the blood bath I expected. Virginia Tech intercepted their way to a victory in the Orange Bowl, and we're left with only 3 major bowl games left to decide the season. Tonight's matchup of Alabama-Utah has the potential to be a dandy, while Monday's Ohio State-Texas tilt should once again demonstrate why OSU and the BCS have no business together.

Today, though, features a three-peat of football action with the aforementioned Bama-Utah Sugar Bowl the nightcap to today's schedule. Starting us off in an hour or so is Ole Miss-Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl. Entertainment is sure to follow as you have two of the best soundbyte coaches in Houston Nutt and Mike Leach. It's a prelim of the Big 12-SEC matchup featured in the national title game, but Tech is no Oklahoma and Ole Miss is no Florida, though Ole Miss did hand the gators their lone loss.

The happy hour fiesta of the Liberty Bowl is what I'm concerning myself with today, though, as Kentucky battles East Carolina. Both teams slid ass-backwards into a Bowl game, and ended the year much differently than they started. When 2008 started, ECU was everyone's darling, beating BCS team after BCS team. Kentucky started the season 4-0, and gave Alabama one of their closest games of the season. Injuries plagued the Cats, and the losses soon followed. Finishing 6-6, but 2-6 in the SEC is not the way to end your season.

The Cats are struggling mightily right now, without Randall Cobb, and in dire need of an offense. The best thing about today's Liberty Bowl will be that when it ends, this season is over for Kentucky and 2009 can quickly get rolling, a year that figures to be tremendously better for the football Cats than 08. Any showing that's better than total embarrassment is a moral victory for these wounded kittens, but I'll be shocked if Big Blue rolls out of Memphis with a W.

I'll go with an official I-Hope-I'm-Way-Wrong-Prediction of:
ECU 24
UK 10

5pm... ESPN... be there or be square.

Humpday Quickies

All's quiet on the football front unless you live in Muncie, IN or Auburn, AL and your administration essentially just slipped a pinky finger fist in your backdoor when no one was looking. But at least Auburn has a coach... however craptastic he may be. I am optimistic that Ball State will be able to say the same in the next 48 hours. Off we go...

Ball State Quickies

• Stan Parrish, and to a larger extent, every Ball State fan, waits to see what will become of the head coach position at Ball State. Hoke has offered him a position at SDSU, Ball State athletic director Tom Collins seems hesitant to do the same. And now we play the waiting game.
• Nate Davis was named to Sports Illustrated's Honorable Mention All American team on Tuesday. Just think, Nate, one more year and you'll be up at the top. You should probably stay.
• Kent Sterling, ESPN Radio's Indianapolis program manager offers his perspective on the whole "Should Hoke Have Left?" debate.
• The North Carolina News & Observer names Nate Davis one of the 5 to watch for the Heisman next year. Congrats, Nate.
• The end of year honors banquet took place on Sunday. Awards, recognition, and such, can be found here.
  

Kentucky Quickies

• Like him or not, the success of this Kentucky team rests with Mike Hartline, who will be the starting QB for the Liberty Bowl.
• Nice little read about the recruits who have signed or who are still on the radar for the Kentucky staff, most recently, Dakatoh Tyler of Pike High School in Indianapolis.
• Bell County kicker Ryan Merrick was not offered a scholarship and is disappointed.
• Incoming Kentucky QB Morgan Newton, he of Carmel High School Greyhound fame, was named Indiana's Mr. Football.
• Trevard Lindley was named a third-team All-American by Phil Steele's College Football. Fantastic news for Lindley and the program.
• Interesting perspective from Braxton Kelley about the Liberty Bowl.
  

Everyone Else Quickies

• Syracuse has moved quickly and bypassed Turner Gill, Brady Hoke, and Skip Holtz for the Man-O-Awesome known as Doug Marrone, or the soon to be known as "Former Syracuse Coach". GetGrossOut, how do you feel? The answer... not pleased.
• Oklahoma stud DeMarco Murray will not be running roughshod over anyone in the BCS Title game, as he's out with a hamstring injury. Sort of ironic that Florida, who has been decimated by stupid ligaments and little pieces of flesh all year gets sweet tasty justice in the biggest game of the season.
• In more BCS Title news, Florida Blog Saurian Sagacity points out that Troy Smith won one of those little statues too and that didn't seem to matter much.
• In totally unbelievable news, more stories are surfacing about Auburn and their assistants who were canned while on recruiting trips. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall in a living room when they got their calls.
• Iowa blog Black Heart Gold Pants offers some advice to Iowa State as to who they should hire. We can only hope BSU AD Tom Collins has sought out their services.
• Dan Hawkins suggests a new mantra for 2009... Ten Wins. No Excuses. I have a better one... 13 wins. 24 losses. Which is The Hawk's career record at CU.
• In The ACC Can Actually Sell Tickets department, North Carolina has sold its allotted 22,000 for its Car Care Bowl appearance against West Virginia. This was an actual increase from the original 12,500 allotted. No word if fans realize its a football game and not a basketball game.
• Joe Paterno just signed for three more years. Over/under not if he finishes, but how soon he keels over on the sideline.

Kentucky Goes Bowling... Really?

I will preface this by saying that I am content with this football season at face value. This was a Kentucky team that by all measures would struggle as the push was made not to win, but to continue to win, a feat that had been virtually impossible in Lexington until now. There were injuries, there was chaos at the QB position, an angry fanbase, and excitement, disappointment, rejoice, and letdown all rolled in to one.

I am thrilled for the seniors that get to go to their third straight bowl game, who will close their careers with the potential to do something that no team has done in school history (win 3 straight). But frankly, this whole bowl has a "meh" sort of feeling for me. Why is that? Glad you asked...

• The Cats are playing a midmajor East Carolina team. This isn't a team like Florida State or Clemson, who bring some sort of name recognition. This is East Carolina, who banked their early season good will by beating severely over-ranked West Virginia and Virginia Tech. The Pirates faded down the stretch, losing three in a row at one point, squeaking by in several others, and just playing uninspired football. And now, it's a no-win situation for Kentucky. A win and it's what they should have done, a loss and it's the talk of the news. This opponent does not excite me in the least.
• The Cats are playing in a location that no one wants to be in. It's Memphis. It's the Liberty Bowl. This is not a premier location. This is not a premier Bowl. Yes, the Cats went to two straight Music City Bowls, but to campaign hard for the Liberty Bowl just to go someplace different seems ridiculous. This location excites me even less than the opponent.
• The Cats are quite simply put, an average football team. At best. This Kentucky team is .500. They were 2-6 in the SEC, winning their 2 conference games by a combined 2 points. The only QB they had that showed any sort of moxy is doubtful for the Liberty Bowl, and the last time they took the field they looked stagnant, uninspired, and like they were going through the motions in Knoxville.
  

On one hand, I'm happy the Cats made a Bowl game as around 50 schools can't say that. But to be truthful, I just wish they were staying home this holiday season. I'm not thrilled about the Bowl, the opponent, or the team itself, and am just counting down the days until next year.

I hope the Cats prove me wrong. I hope the Cats respond well to the month or so off, get healthy, and close the season on a high note. Hopeful, but not optimistic. This team has given me no reason thus far to be optimistic at all. And within a much larger argument, I'm not convinced a 6-6 team with a 2-6 conference record who won a game over a 1-AA opponent deserves to even be Bowling in the first place. Meh.

Idaho Journalism At Its Finest.

As I perused the morning news on the interwebs about Ball State, most had to do with the failure of the Humanitarian Bowl to broker some sort of deal with the Cardinals about heading west and playing Boise State. Not surprising was the number of news outlets that picked up the story, and the general tone was one of disappointment that the game couldn't be worked out.

Amidst the lipstick spin-job that Boise State, the WAC, and the Humanitarian Bowl has put on this pig, was the fact that Ball State had all the power, and they simply didn't want to play Boise. Well... isn't that special. I can't imagine a lucrative game financially would have been turned down. I also can't imagine any AD in his right mind would have taken a monetary loss and ignored his coach's wishes to accept a strong arm deal from a midmajor school and lower tier Bowl Game. So spin it how you want, Boise, your offer sucked, and rather than rooting for you as I sometimes do, I will now hope that whomever you play mops the floor with you.

One article in particular stood out to me, though. It was Chadd Cripe' s "news story" in the Idaho Statesmen. Viewable here. Somewhere amidst the drivel that Cripe managed to send out from a snowy remote location in Idaho were these gems:

• There, the No. 9 Broncos (12-0) likely will face No. 11 TCU (10-2) - a higher-ranked and more-respected opponent than No. 12 Ball State (12-0).
• Ball State turned down its prove-it opportunity - deciding to play an also-ran in the Motor City Bowl in Detroit or GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Ala., instead of traveling to Boise
• McDonald thought the problem would be navigating all the bowl contracts to create a dream matchup. Instead, the hang-up was the Broncos' 64-2 home record the past 10 years

Chadd, I'm not sure where you went to school and what they taught you there, but news, fact, and opinion are three different things. You seamlessly integrate all three in your story, though, so kudos for that, I guess.

This was my email to Chadd... I'm sure I won't get a response.

Chadd,

I read your article linked at http://www.idahostatesman.com/sports/story/592728.html and I have to say, I was a little surprised.

While surprised initially that Idaho even had a newspaper, I was truly surprised that your editor let you run a story that was basically backhanded slaps at Ball State rather than you know, reporting news. Which last I checked was the purpose of print newspapers. Though of course, it's hard to say what their purpose is anymore. I'll ask the next 60 year old who's reading one what he thinks.

Did you ever stop to consider that maybe it was a financial disaster for Ball State to travel to Idaho? How about contemplating that Ball State wanted to be loyal to its fans and conference which is why Boise wanted to stay? Of course, none of those angles crossed your mind because a real journalist would have investigated and found that out. Instead, you take the easy road and sit back and take potshots at Ball State.

Ball State and Boise State are totally irrelevant in the college football world. No one cares. The difference is our fans, and especially our journalists, don't lose sight of that fact. Boise State fans sit back and act like Oklahoma, dictating who plays whom and where and expecting us to cave. They shouldn't. You sit back and write pithy, half hearted tripe and expect anyone to think you're worthy of reading. You aren't. You write for a "respectable" newspaper and I've seen more impartial writing from football blogs from college students. Ball State told the Humanitarian Bowl and your bush league school and conference the same thing I am about to tell you...

Find your high horse, and ride it right into your silly ass.

Alan

What do you think about this story and the editor who let it run, Coach Gundy?

Ball State Versus Boise... OTP's thoughts

As has been widely debated on messageboards, the internet, blogs, and sports radio the last several days, the Humanitarian Bowl has extended an invite to the Ball State Cardinals to play in Boise, Idaho on December 30th. Their potential opponent would be #9 and also undefeated Boise State. Oh, and the game is in Boise State's home stadium.

According to several sources, the offer has included an increased payout to the Cardinals, an ease on ticket sales and financial limitations, as well as the opportunity to be the home team (which means Boise doesn't wear their blue jerseys on their blue turf). There has also been mention of a return trip next season to Scheumann Stadium for the Boise State Broncos. All of this is of course wildly speculative and basically internet hearsay since the deal has not been publicized as to what exactly the Cardinals will receive. The alternative is the Motor City Bowl in Detroit, MI.

The goods for the Cardinals are numerous if they agree to the game. They can utilize an "Anywhere, anytime" mentality that has worked for teams like Fresno State and Boise State in recruiting. They can play a team ranked ahead of them in the BCS and receive some national attention and press with a quality win, something the Cardinals' resume is lacking this year. The game also provides exposure to a western audience, something the Cardinals may benefit from in recruiting. Additionally, the game would be a premier national game, televised by ESPN, and unofficially dubbed the non-BCS national title.

The bads are just as numerous, though. Financially, the game would be a disaster as the majority of the ticket allotment for the Cardinals would most likely go unsold. Obviously an assumption on my part, but I sincerely doubt the ability or want of the majority of their fans or students to travel to Boise, Idaho for an outdoor bowl game no matter who the opponent is. Additionally, this is a quality opponent that we would be hard pressed to defeat on a neutral site. Playing at Boise for a Bowl Game is insane. The casual football fan may still view the game as another win over a mid-major program (who themselves have no marquee wins this season save for an Oregon team on QB#3). Additionally, it perpetuates the BCS cycle of letting the midmajors beat up on each other and not gain wins over BCS schools.

In my mind, both schools of thought on the subject are entirely correct, and to be truthful, I'm not sure how much credence I give to whether or not Ball State and their administration is seriously considering this offer. At face value, it's an interesting predicament to be in, at least. What spoils my stomach about the whole affair is that the Humanitarian Bowl is putting extreme pressure on Ball State to either accept or reject the offer by Friday, before they play the MAC Championship Game. We're talking about two schools battling for an undefeated season and you're trying to put the hard sell and the "This is our final offer" tactic to use before we've even clinched the MAC? Shady.

Ultimately, it comes down to this in my mind. Initially, my opinion was to tell Boise to shove their blue turf and their home game in their Humanitarian Bowl asses. I then began to really think about what this game could mean to the University, not only this season, but also next season with a marquee game at home against Boise State. I'm not expecting Nate Davis to stick around, but if he did, and the Cardinals have another fantastic year, that could be their signature win that gets them to a much bigger payday. But then I realized something else. That no matter how much Cardinal and Bronco fans want to think they matter, or that they're relevant, or that they are important to the landscape of college football and those who run it, they aren't. When you really get down to it, this is just another game with two midmajors and that's exactly what the casual observer will realize. A win over a "name" program like Notre Dame or Minnesota will go further towards the Cardinals ultimate end game of national credibility, and provides the best opportunity for competitive recruiting, fan involvement, and financial success.

Like it or not for Ball State, the Boise State game is push/lose at best, while the Motor City Bowl is a win-win for all involved. Would I like to see us go to a Top 10 team's home turf and beat their ass? Absolutely. Do I think this is the right circumstances for that to happen? I do not. The Humanitarian Bowl and Boise State to a lesser extent is selling us something we don't need and they're doing it in a shady, underhanded, pushy way. If Boise State and Ball State want to play next season on a neutral field, then great. But for now... in this moment... sign me up for Detroit.