COLOMBIA – There would normally be calculations and analysis of exactly what South Carolina needs to do to get to a bowling game. A season’s farewell week is the standard time to discover which games have the best chance of turning into victories and progressing towards the magic number of six for bowl eligibility.
Like everything today, there is no normality. There will be 37 bowl games this season and they all share the same criteria. Teams do not need to win a single game to qualify.
“It was an exceptionally unusual year due to the pandemic. But, thanks to the flexibility and cooperation of the bowl conferences and partners, we are excited to reward student athletes, ”said Bowl season executive director Nick Carparelli. “These games will be a great way to highlight the many achievements of teams that have endured in a very challenging year.
The goal of every college football team (except winning a championship) is to reach a game of bowling. Go somewhere warm, buy a lot of free stuff, eat local food after six months of training at the table and, for some players, enjoy the last game of football they will play.
But how will it all work?
The selection process
As in the past, the best teams will be invited to bowling and the respective conferences will maintain their usual tie-ins and help with selections.
“Most bowl games will follow their conference partnerships,” said Carparelli. “There are a handful of games that work together. I think the games owned and operated by ESPN are the most likely candidates for this. “
The SEC is expected to have its usual rotation. The conference champion is likely to be at the College Football Playoff, which means that the next SEC team with the highest ranking (perhaps the losing SEC Championship Game) will play in the New Year’s Six game.
The Citrus Bowl chooses the next best team and the rest of the league will be distributed between Outback, Texas Bowl, Liberty, Music City, Duke’s Mayo (the new sponsor of the former Belk Bowl in Charlotte), Gator, Birmingham and Gasparilla bowls.
Even if there are teams with just two or three wins, the SEC will want to fill its bowl quota.
The pandemic
The COVID-19 threat hangs over everything. The virus has already forced five bowl cancellations this year and there is no telling how many teams may have an outbreak or simply do not want to risk taking part in a bowl game.
“I think geography will be very important in the location this year,” said Carparelli. “We don’t want teams to travel longer distances than necessary or stay in cities or hotels any longer than necessary.”
The format could be like a normal road game this year. Practice and prepare at home, bus trips or socially distant flights, a stay in a hotel in Bowl City the night before the game.
If COVID-19 affects one or both teams, bowling will handle it as it comes. But outside the CFP, they would not be reprogrammed.
“I don’t think we have a solution for that,” said Carparelli. “The assumption is that they would be canceled or considered to be without competition.”
The bowl line renewed for 2020. Supplied
The money
Each athletics department is feeling the pandemic crisis. USC is expected to lose more than $ 55 million.
With that in mind, would schools be willing to spend money on a bowling trip?
South Carolina coach Will Muschamp said he had no doubt that the USC would pay the bill for a trip, and it should be noted that it would not be a normal four or five day trip. This saves a lot on hotel and food expenses.
But would fans buy tickets?
The fans
Imagine USC playing in a bowl in late December in Florida or Tennessee. It is cold and the restrictions of the pandemic mean that the stadium is probably just a full room.
Gamecock fans traditionally travel well for bowling. But they, like fans of other teams, always want to go to a different place.
USC went to Tampa several times for bowling. Gamecocks were in Memphis, Orlando, Birmingham and Charlotte recently. Jacksonville for the Gator Bowl wouldn’t be too bad, as I-95 is a direct and accessible channel across South Carolina, and the USC hasn’t played there since 1987.
Perhaps the USC record will be a deciding factor for fans. Gamecocks are currently 2-3 with five games remaining. There will probably be no pre-game activities for fans at bowling venues, and restaurants may be closed or restricted because of the virus.
“The answer for me, always, is yes,” said Harry Zeigler of West Ashley, who participated in several USC bowling games. “Of course, you have to ask my wife and son, who say no.”
Zeigler said he doesn’t care about the Gamecocks record and if there were no activities during the week of the game in Bowl City, that’s fine. However, there are other factors.
“I have asthma. My family doesn’t want me to be around many people who may have COVID,” he said. “I don’t care where it is, as long as it’s not in the middle of nowhere. If I get in the car, I will. On a plane, probably not.
“If we get a vaccine, yes, I will. If we don’t get the vaccine … I don’t know. “
Muschamp said the USC will obey the SEC’s guidelines for bowling, but currently its only concern is Saturday night’s home game against the seventh Texas A&M.
No one knows which teams will be invited to bowling or will be able to attend. The only thing that can be expected is another turnaround. That has been the only constant this year.
