Pinstripe Bowl

I'm not a sour grapes guy, and I start every year with fresh optimism, but this season actually felt more disappointing than most of the non-bowl game seasons. 

Just feels like another long, hard slog to get that extra game, and with the coaching and portal turnover the motivation and teambuilding seems to be missing. That's not just Nebraska, of course. I don't know how the non-BCS bowls can survive if the televised product is missing so many key players, either protecting themselves prior to the draft or already abandoning the team through the portal. That FSU Orange Bowl last year was an absolute joke. ESPN should have asked for their money back. Other networks may start feeling the same way.

I'll watch the Pinstripe Bowl, of course, cause I watch every play of every game. Just not as excited as I thought I'd be. 
Outside of a few meaningful matchups, bowls have been kinda pointless since ESPN decided that essentially half of cfb gets to play as long as they get to 6 wins.  Unless you are a fan of the team playing, it's just background noise while you wrap presents...

 
Outside of a few meaningful matchups, bowls have been kinda pointless since ESPN decided that essentially half of cfb gets to play as long as they get to 6 wins.  Unless you are a fan of the team playing, it's just background noise while you wrap presents...


I'm okay with that part. I watched the Huskers play otherwise meaningless Bluebonnet Bowl games under Osborne and I still cared. 

I guess I naively thought that the players might want one more game with their band of brothers, maybe a bit more of a showcase because it's post-season. But if a significant number of players (and coaches) intend to clock out at the end of November, already headed to greener pastures, it eliminates whatever luster the bowls had left. 

 
It's looking more like if you're not on one of the twelve teams making the playoffs, you should blow off the meaningless bowl game. That's already happening. 
The bowl games have taken on a very different meaning recently.  It's much much less about celebrating the season you had and one last hurrah.  It's more about getting the next year started.  Take Nebraska.  We have a bunch of new coaches.  They will spend time implementing what they want to do next year and we should see a number of young players that the coaches feel will contribute next year.  This year especially, it's also a "tryout" for next year.  It's a chance for players to prove they SHOULD be contributors next year and should be on the team and not....asked to move on.

Someone on a pod cast I listened to this morning stated that this is in essence another spring game...but against someone wearing a different colored jersey and and actual game.  It might not be important to many fans and some players.  But, it is important for the program to get the extra practice and game time.

 
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The bowl games have taken on a very different meaning recently.  It's much much less about celebrating the season you had and one last hurrah.  It's more about getting the next year started.  Take Nebraska.  We have a bunch of new coaches.  They will spend time implementing what they want to do next year and we should see a number of young players that the coaches feel will contribute next year.  This year especially, it's also a "tryout" for next year.  It's a chance for players to prove they SHOULD be contributors next year and should be on the team and not....asked to move on.

Someone on a pod cast I listened to this morning stated that this is in essence another spring game...but against someone wearing a different colored jersey and and actual game.  It might not be important to many fans and some players.  But, it is important for the program to get the extra practice and game time.


Bo Pelini's first two bowl games felt like that, using the extra month as a blueprint for the next year. . So did the 2014 Holiday Bowl after Bo was fired. So did Riley's 2015 bowl game against UCLA, showing a run first offense with Ozigbo we hadn't seen all year and didn't replicate the next. 

I just think that strategy, motivation and entertainment factor changes when you're suddenly missing key players, and the players who'll be replacing them aren't on the team yet. 

 
Bo Pelini's first two bowl games felt like that, using the extra month as a blueprint for the next year. . So did the 2014 Holiday Bowl after Bo was fired. So did Riley's 2015 bowl game against UCLA, showing a run first offense with Ozigbo we hadn't seen all year and didn't replicate the next. 

I just think that strategy, motivation and entertainment factor changes when you're suddenly missing key players, and the players who'll be replacing them aren't on the team yet. 
Again, this year is an odd year because everyone is cutting their rosters so much to get to the 105.  But, typically, yes, you are going to have some transfers coming in for the following year.  But, the majority of your team should still be there for the bowl game.  You have 105 players.  Let's say you take 20 new recruits and 15-20 transfers.  That's 35-40 players...while 65-70 players for next year are already on the team.

And....some of those transfers and new recruits will be there for bowl practices.  

 
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I'm not a sour grapes guy, and I start every year with fresh optimism, but this season actually felt more disappointing than most of the non-bowl game seasons. 

Just feels like another long, hard slog to get that extra game, and with the coaching and portal turnover the motivation and teambuilding seems to be missing. That's not just Nebraska, of course. I don't know how the non-BCS bowls can survive if the televised product is missing so many key players, either protecting themselves prior to the draft or already abandoning the team through the portal. That FSU Orange Bowl last year was an absolute joke. ESPN should have asked for their money back. Other networks may start feeling the same way.

I'll watch the Pinstripe Bowl, of course, cause I watch every play of every game. Just not as excited as I thought I'd be. 
I’d be here if we didn’t change coaches.

I like Rhule, but want results.  I think Holgorsen is a huge get.  I felt White was overrated and I think his departure is another win.

I don’t really care about the bowl.

 
The bowl games have taken on a very different meaning recently.  It's much much less about celebrating the season you had and one last hurrah.  It's more about getting the next year started.  Take Nebraska.  We have a bunch of new coaches.  They will spend time implementing what they want to do next year and we should see a number of young players that the coaches feel will contribute next year.  This year especially, it's also a "tryout" for next year.  It's a chance for players to prove they SHOULD be contributors next year and should be on the team and not....asked to move on.

Someone on a pod cast I listened to this morning stated that this is in essence another spring game...but against someone wearing a different colored jersey and and actual game.  It might not be important to many fans and some players.  But, it is important for the program to get the extra practice and game time.
Didn't Rhule even say in his presser that they are treating it like game 1 of 2025 rather than game 13 (edited for my bad math) of 2024?

 
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