Goin' Bowling

There are too many bowl games.

That statement, repeated this time of year a countless number of times, is something I used to agreed with. Too many sponsors. Too many 7-5 teams undeserving to see the field again. Too much everything.

My sentiment changed two days before the end of 2010 when I attended just my second ever bowl game.

The first bowl game? The Rose Bowl in 2004, a huge matchup between then 10-2 Michigan and then 11-1 USC in Pasadena, CA. Michigan lost 28-14, although it seemed like more of a blowout than that score.

The second bowl game? The New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium, played yesterday (12/30/2010). A not-so-huge matchup between then 7-5 Syracuse and then 7-5 Kansas State. It was even the inaugural Pinstripe Bowl. They ADDED a bowl game for the Big East and Big 12. That's how insignificant this bowl game seemed to be entering Thursday.

However, after Syracuse won 38-36, I realized that bowl games matter. All of them. And not just because my alma mater won.

These bowl games help with exposure. Who in the Kansas/Oklahoma/Texas area knew anything about Syracuse football this year? Who in the tri-state area knew anything about Kansas State football.


The fact that ESPN covers most bowl games (the rest covered by CBS, FOX, NBC and ABC) means there is a huge upside to being in a bowl game.

For two programs on the rise this game was huge. Longtime Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder, who retired in 05 only to return in 09, is helping his team rebuild. Doug Marrone is helping pick up the pieces Greg Robinson left behind.

I understand that some programs fail to play their best game because they're disappointed in the bowl they're in. Boise State starting off slow in the MAACO Bowl is no surprise considering they were an upset and a FG away from playing in the Rose Bowl or for a national championship.

But for Syracuse this game meant everything. And the location didn't hurt either.

The game was held at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Doug Marrone grew up in the same borough. New York City holds Syracuse University's largest alumni base. To see a sea of orange line the stands, to hear 'let's go orange' in the 4th quarter, and to feel the stadium shake when Syracuse recovered the onside kick, was awesome.

So next time you're sitting there watching another 'meaningless' bowl game, think about how much it really means to the schools involved.

As Doug Marrone said while accepting the George M. Steinbrenner trophy on the field, "You've made a Bronx boy's dreams come true."