From News4Jax
https://www.news4jax.com/sports/2021/12/22/texas-am-unable-to-play-in-gator-bowl-due-to-covid-outbreak/
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Texas A&M has withdrawn from next week's TaxSlayer Gator Bowl because of COVID-19 issues, putting the annual showdown in Jacksonville in limbo.
The game is trying to find a replacement opponent, Gator Bowl sports president Greg McGarity said, and plans to make a decision within the next 48 hours on if it is possible to hold the game on Dec. 31 at TIAA Bank Field.
McGarity said that everything is in play right now, including looking at 5-7 teams or teams that have already competed in a bowl game.
The Business Journal pointed out
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This year's Sun Bowl between Washington State and the University of Miami may also be in jeopardy as the Hurricanes are also dealing with an outbreak.
Maybe Washington State would come here?
ESPN reports that Rutgers is the leading candidate to replace Texas A & M due to best academic standing among 5-7 record teams.
They found that replacement pretty quick.
How much will it hurt preparation that Rutgers hasn't had any practice sessions since just before their November 27 loss to Maryland?
Anyway, it should bring some New Jerseyites (and others in the Tri-State Area) to town for a couple of days.
Normally would be glad for the State University of New Jersey to have this opportunity gifted to them but it's a big fat NO for me for so many reasons, the obvious ones are that all players have scattered and that this Wake Forest program is no joke (as FSU fans will attest) and had over a month to practice and condition themselves but on top of that:
- Some of their more productive players have either already de-committed from the program or pare prepping for the upcoming NFL Combines and Draft
- Not only are potential players in upheaval so is the coaching staff. They just let go of their D coordinator and many others are still awaiting their fate or making other plans
- And about all that fat-assed Gator Bowl payout money the program gets? The conference stipulates that must be split up with the other members of the Big 10! And I'm guessing there are not a lot of Rutgers alumni and fans willing to cancel expensive New Year's Eve plans to see their team perform as glorified tackling dummies
- New Jersey has become a Covid hotbed over the last month. These athletes and coaches haven't been tested in a month. If enough players and staff test positive and they can't field a team this time Wake and the Gator Bowl will be shit out of luck
I'd prefer either Florida or UCF (winner/loser) of their bowl game today be the Wake Forest opponent for a (consolation/bonus) game in their own home state. The primary idea of being invited to a bowl game for a power conference team is to prove to football fans and potential recruits that your program is competitive in a highly competitive conference but this invite will prove none of that for Rutgers short of an unlikely upset win.
^ I get the sense the NCAA influenced the outcome of this even if they don't participate in the proceeds of the game. I read where the NCAA also is allowing bowls to delay their games up to January 10th if they want but I gather the Gator Bowl and/or Texas A&M wasn't interested in that option for whatever reason (e.g. things may be worse then based on predictions by CDC, etc.).
Quote from: thelakelander on December 23, 2021, 10:21:40 AM
They found that replacement pretty quick.
Rutgers said no at first - and then changed their mind the next day
Just curious, where the FSU Seminoles even called? Seems like a way better alternative IMO.....
Quote from: MusicMan on December 28, 2021, 05:56:22 PM
Just curious, where the FSU Seminoles even called? Seems like a way better alternative IMO.....
Probably not, a rematch of two ACC teams from earlier this year.
They would bring a lot of ticket buyers.....
Besides the rematch, perhaps their Academic Progress Rate wasn't high enough. I can't find a listing of the 2021 APR online, apparently the NCAA has not released the numbers for this year.
I'd bet it's as good as Mississippi State.
Quote from: MusicMan on December 29, 2021, 02:35:25 PM
I'd bet it's as good as Mississippi State.
Irrelevant. The APR only comes in for looking at teams with losing records for bowl games. At the end of the season, Mississippi State had a winning record at 7-5, while the Seminoles were 5-7. The comparison would be FSU vs Rutgers; just guessing, but I'd bet Rutgers Academic rating is higher. I don't know if it played into the decision or not, but the Business Journal article noted that Rutgers continued to hold practice after their final season game.
Jax is getting good talk from the announcers today, and the pictures should make Visit Jacksonville happy. And ... no (so far) downtown shots with the Landing.
Looking at the stands - is this a reduced capacity game? I haven't been watching other bowl games to compare attendance, but ... wow ... lots of empty seats.
Considering the short notice... Rutgers fans represented...WF not so much...
Quote from: Charles Hunter on December 31, 2021, 01:27:14 PM
Jax is getting good talk from the announcers today, and the pictures should make Visit Jacksonville happy. And ... no (so far) downtown shots with the Landing.
Looking at the stands - is this a reduced capacity game? I haven't been watching other bowl games to compare attendance, but ... wow ... lots of empty seats.
If it wasn't for the scoreboards on, you wouldn't have known anything was happening from the southbank... Or the northbank
Attendance 28,508
WF barely draws 28,000 to a home game.....
At some point the Gator Bowl needs to reassess their place in the bowl landscape and their contractual conference tie-ins. As I understand it, one of the original reasons for bowl games was to provide an economic boost to the hospitality industry of participating communities during what would have otherwise been a slow period. The Gator Bowl was pretty successful in that regard for many decades, however, it is obvious that the dynamic of bowl games has changed drastically in recent years. Likely the existence of a CFB playoff system has relegated bowl games to an even more meaningless status in the total scheme of things. It seems to me that the most successful non top tier bowls have been able to attract fans due to more localized or regional tie-ins. Look at the Birmingham Bowl, Auburn v Houston, which I believe was a sellout. Look at the Gasparilla Bowl, UF v UCF, 63,000 plus attendance. The current contractual setup does not really seem to favor a compelling Gator Bowl matchup in most years. If the Gator Bowl can't ascend to the top tier of bowls, a window which may have long since passed, perhaps more attention needs to be paid to size of potential fan bases, the excitement of a team to be here, more localized team selection, etc. Even if Texas A&M had made it to the game, I got the distinct impression that they were not particularly excited about going to the Gator Bowl, and I doubt if there would have been 35,000 people in the stands. Just my .02.