Gator Bowl

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Cocklover

ESPN has us in the Gator Bowl and Vandy in the Chickfila Bowl...LOL

bc KKKlumpsun is probably going to Chick Fil A

[U-Dub Gamecock]

Its probably all going to depend on the Cap-1, and who they take.. If they take A&M, I think the Cotton is gonna go with LSU... Then, what will the Outback do?? Do they take Georgia(who was there last year), or Carolina??

Now, if the Cap-1 takes Georgia.. then its a lock that A&M goes to the Cotton.. LSU goes to the Outback...and we end up in the Gator (IMO)

[ColaCock]

Why would you want to select a lesser bowl (Gator) over a better bowl (Outback)...just because it is 3 hours closer in drive time and we haven't won it so it is "something different"?

That shouldn't be a priority for what bowl you want to attend. We should want to play in the highest bowl in the pecking order that matches us up with the most difficult opponent.

Besides, Jacksonville sucks compared to Tampa.

[Luke Skycocker]

Originally Posted by ColaCock

Why would you want to select a lesser bowl (Gator) over a better bowl (Outback)...just because it is 3 hours closer in drive time and we haven't won it so it is "something different"?

That shouldn't be a priority for what bowl you want to attend. We should want to play in the highest bowl in the pecking order that matches us up with the most difficult opponent.

Besides, Jacksonville sucks compared to Tampa.

[ColaCock]

Originally Posted by Luke Skycocker

Okay, so maybe I am a TAD partial.

Really though, Jax doesn't have anything to offer in comparison to Tampa.

[MWard]

I think the SEC Bowls break down like this for the best teams.

BCSCG-bama
Sugar-florida
Cap One-uga
Cotton-aTm
Outback-USC
Gator-aTm
Peach-lsu

The Outback usually takes an SECe team, and the Cotton takes an SECw team. So that's why I think we go to the Outback over lsu or aTm

[yazoo]

Originally Posted by ColaCock

Why would you want to select a lesser bowl (Gator) over a better bowl (Outback)...just because it is 3 hours closer in drive time and we haven't won it so it is "something different"?

That shouldn't be a priority for what bowl you want to attend. We should want to play in the highest bowl in the pecking order that matches us up with the most difficult opponent.

Besides, Jacksonville sucks compared to Tampa.

The economics alone argue strongly in favor of Jacksonville. There are worse things than New Years Eve in J-ville.

[CockTail]

Originally Posted by ColaCock

Okay, so maybe I am a TAD partial.

Really though, Jax doesn't have anything to offer in comparison to Tampa.

Yea, if like old people, eating dinner at 3pm and an endless supply of 1974 Cadillac's Fleetwoods on I-4 doing 35mph in the left lane.

[Metalrush24]

I personally like the idea of Jacksonville because of it only being about 2-2 1/2 hours away from where I live.


I went to a TSO concert last year at the arena near the stadium and while the area was pretty sketchy, it could be worse. Not to mention, when I went, it wasn't on gameday obviously, so I'd imagine it's a bit more lively and less sketchy with more people.

[JT21]

Originally Posted by MWard

I think the SEC Bowls break down like this for the best teams.

BCSCG-bama
Sugar-florida
Cap One-uga
Cotton-aTm
Outback-USC
Gator-aTm
Peach-lsu

The Outback usually takes an SECe team, and the Cotton takes an SECw team. So that's why I think we go to the Outback over lsu or aTm

I don't see how Capital One passes on Texas A&M, even if they are in the west. They appear to be by far the most attractive SEC team (even over Bama) with Manziel at QB and how good they've looked down the stretch.

[bryarx]

A 4th Outback in the last 12 years? No thanks!

With payouts being split between all SEC teams, the specific bowl payout of our bowl game means little. Yes, I would prefer a new venue (for me anyways), that is closer.

I'll put it this way - I will go to the Gator Bowl. I will not go to (another) Out back bowl. Yes, Raymond James stadium is awesome (my personal fav btw), but I don't want to deal with Ybor city NYE again. I'll settle for a more mild celebration in Jax. Bonus: My old roommate is a Navy pilot in Jax, so I'd get to hang out with him for new years. Free lodging as I'd get to stay either with him, or preferably my aunt & uncles vacation place in St. Augustine.

I know most of the reasons are specific to my situation, but the change of venue would be great. The only way I'd want to do Outback is if we got to play Michigan there. I'd love to have bowl wins over both Ohio State AND Michigan. Just to /flex.

[ColaCock]

Originally Posted by yazoo

The economics alone argue strongly in favor of Jacksonville. There are worse things than New Years Eve in J-ville.

Because you can save an extra $30 on gas? What could possibly favor Jax economically?

Tampa Bay area has:

- 20x more hotels (should translate to better pricing)
- 20x more restaurants
- 20x more strip clubs
- better areas to party
- Disney 50 minutes away
- better weather (you can wear shorts on gameday easily- still mid 70's here during the day)

[MWard]

Originally Posted by JT21

I don't see how Capital One passes on Texas A&M, even if they are in the west. They appear to be by far the most attractive SEC team (even over Bama) with Manziel at QB and how good they've looked down the stretch.

Both of those teams will have 2 loses. Cap1 goes after the highest ranked team not in the BCS games. uga will fall in the rankings, but not past aTm.

[LakeMonticelloCock]

Originally Posted by ColaCock

Why would you want to select a lesser bowl (Gator) over a better bowl (Outback)...just because it is 3 hours closer in drive time and we haven't won it so it is "something different"?

That shouldn't be a priority for what bowl you want to attend. We should want to play in the highest bowl in the pecking order that matches us up with the most difficult opponent.

Besides, Jacksonville sucks compared to Tampa.

What is really the difference in playing Northwestern in the Outback and Wisconsin in the Gator? Both are NYD Bowls and both are against Big 10 teams. Yes, Northwestern had a better season, but Wisconsin is the bigger name and would travel better.

Tampa doesn't really have anything Jacksonville doesn't. BOth have beaches, bars, and NFL Stadiums.

When there really isn't much of a difference, you go with the bowl easiest to travel to. Many more Gamecocks will travel to Jacksonville than Tampa.

[LakeMonticelloCock]

Originally Posted by ColaCock

Because you can save an extra $30 on gas? What could possibly favor Jax economically?

Tampa Bay area has:

- 20x more hotels (should translate to better pricing)
- 20x more restaurants
- 20x more strip clubs
- better areas to party
- Disney 50 minutes away
- better weather (you can wear shorts on gameday easily- still mid 70's here during the day)

-Hotels in Jacksonville isn't an issue on Gameday
-Plenty of places to eat in JVille, this isn't Clemson we are talking about
-Strip Clubs are a waste of money
-With 30,000 Gamecocks, you won't have a problem partying anywhere
-Don't care about Disney when I'm going to a football game
-Weather isn't going to be awful in Jacksonville. Nothing like Birmingham a couple years ago. Plus, I've been to Tampa in December and worn jeans many times.

Tampa is a great city, but it would require more money on gas and possibly an additional hotel cost many Gamecock fans won't want to pay. It's certainly going to cost me more than $30 extra on gas. Tampa is about 200 miles further from Columbia than Jville is. This means you drive 400 extra miles(there and back). 400 miles of gas is going to cost me about $75.00 right now.

[U-Dub Gamecock]

Originally Posted by ColaCock

Why would you want to select a lesser bowl (Gator) over a better bowl (Outback)...just because it is 3 hours closer in drive time and we haven't won it so it is "something different"?

That shouldn't be a priority for what bowl you want to attend. We should want to play in the highest bowl in the pecking order that matches us up with the most difficult opponent.

Besides, Jacksonville sucks compared to Tampa.

But you are in Tampa!

[ColaCock]

Originally Posted by U-Dub Gamecock

But you are in Tampa!

Exactly. And Raymond-James is about 5 miles from my house. No brainer, right!

I'm like the lobbyists who push for their city to host the next Olympics over here.

Tampuh! Tampuh! Tampuh!

[keegthecock]

I want Gator vs Michigan. I know it probably won't happen, but that would be my choice.

[carolinafan111]

Originally Posted by uscjeremynca

I've gone to 7 football games this year covering the SEC, ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Pac 12, Mountain West, and Independents. Now I just have to do a bowl game.

I wish I could do a bunch of them but can only do one. May have to pick one on the west coast due to time constraints and budget. Would love to see the Gamecocks play this year but Florida may just be too far to go.

One year, it would be fun to take a couple of weeks and go to as many bowls as possible.

oh i know i read your story

just saying that it is a really cool experience if you can afford it

[Jdallen20]

Not trying to be negative here, but I think it's a shame that we are even in the discussion for the Gator OR Outback. For a team that started the season in the top 10, those two bowl games aren't what you shoot for. I know that there is nothing that can be done, given the current system. We are the 4th-6th best team in the SEC and that means we are allotted the Outback or Gator.... All the while teams like Louisville are on the verge of playing in a BCS bowl game. It is what it is.