Does tonight's game feel a little anti-climactic?

[JS School]

I almost forgot it was tonight, it's been a long time since the season ended. We are now into the NFL playoffs and the college basketball conference schedule. I'd prefer the semifinals about a week before Christmas and the final the first Monday after New Years.

Having the semifinals on New Years Eve also seemed like a bad idea to me, a lot of people have other things to do that night. I didn't notice what the tv ratings were, though.

 

[ratking17]

I know I am in the minority but I rarely get to watch the final because it starts so damn late. Watching TV until after midnight and then waking up 4 hrs later for work doesn't work well for me.

 

[Pitt79]

I almost forgot it was tonight, it's been a long time since the season ended. We are now into the NFL playoffs and the college basketball conference schedule. I'd prefer the semifinals about a week before Christmas and the final the first Monday after New Years.

Having the semifinals on New Years Eve also seemed like a bad idea to me, a lot of people have other things to do that night. I didn't notice what the tv ratings were, though.

I wish they'd scrap the Monday Night championship games for hoops and football. I have to go to work Tuesday morning, and generally I DON'T CARE about any college games that don't include Pitt, so I am not willing to sacrifice sleep to watch teams I don't care about. How about a Sunday Night 6:00 pm like the Super Bowl for these finals? They could play it the week between the NFL Conference Finals and the Super Bowl, Monday Night at 8:30 with all the extra CRAP they do- that I DON'T CARE ABOUT, singers and celebrating our veterans an interviewing the special teams coach, etc. etc. etc., I find I DON'T CARE what happens or who wins and go to sleep instead.

 

[Hero of the Oppressed]

agree that its too many days passed new years. if it wasnt for the constant pounding from espn all week i wouldnt even realize the game was going on

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Yeah I think the fact that it seems so disconnected from the college football season. But it also goes to show you just how HUGE the NFL is when compared to college football. Even the bluest of the bluebloods cannot compare with even the NFL Wildcard round.

 

[BPXCIV]

starting after the NFL playoffs, I agree. They need to wrap this crap up on NYD, period. (They won't...and due to ratings #s, Monday night will always be the bed and butter for these non NFL championship games, just like the NCAA).

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

Yes, too long from end of season to now.

 

[CaptainMurphy]

Yes, the semis should be a few days after Christmas and the championship a few days after the New Year, at the latest, on a weekend. Not only does the championship get lost in the NFL shuffle, but everyone's lives tend to get busy again after the holidays

 

[thebadby2]

I almost forgot it was tonight, it's been a long time since the season ended. We are now into the NFL playoffs and the college basketball conference schedule. I'd prefer the semifinals about a week before Christmas and the final the first Monday after New Years.

Having the semifinals on New Years Eve also seemed like a bad idea to me, a lot of people have other things to do that night. I didn't notice what the tv ratings were, though.

It always is. I think unless a team you're passionate about is in that NC game, it is very much anti-climactic. Imagine how hard it has to be for the players and coaches to stay focused all that extra time with the holidays, a new school semester starting, etc.

 

[Ski11585]

It's too long after the regular season, yes. But I also think the fact that there are so many bowls and so many bad bowls helps dull the general interest. Unless you are a fan of the teams or a college football nut, it's easy to think of the game as "just another bowl game" that will probably be boring.

I'll pass.

 

[Consultant Panther]

I'll may watch some of the game, but I really don't have much interest in it at all.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

It's too long after the regular season, yes. But I also think the fact that there are so many bowls and so many bad bowls helps dull the general interest. Unless you are a fan of the teams or a college football nut, it's easy to think of the game as "just another bowl game" that will probably be boring.

I'll pass.

Perfect example. Talking to my dad today "are you going to watch the championship game tonight?" Dad: "what championship game?"

Granted, in a city like this, where we are chest deep in the NFL playoffs, it goes anonymous, but I think this is true of a lot of casual sports fans.

 

[Pitt79]

Even the bluest of the bluebloods cannot compare with even the NFL Wildcard round.

To me blue bloods are a turn off, I'd have more interest if somebody totally unexpected was there! I root against any and all blue blood teams in college sports, so seeing them play each other is unappealing to me, I want both to lose.

 

[Pitt79]

(They won't...and due to ratings #s, Monday night will always be the bed and butter for these non NFL championship games, just like the NCAA).

Why? do they think they get better ratings on Monday Night? I don't even like MNF, I never watch that anymore unless the Steelers are in it.

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

To me blue bloods are a turn off, I'd have more interest if somebody totally unexpected was there! I root against any and all blue blood teams in college sports, so seeing them play each other is unappealing to me, I want both to lose.

I agree but I think Clemson might not be so blue

 

[thebadby2]

To me blue bloods are a turn off, I'd have more interest if somebody totally unexpected was there! I root against any and all blue blood teams in college sports, so seeing them play each other is unappealing to me, I want both to lose.

Clemson has never been a "blueblood". What they have been over the past several years is a team that has started out well, raised their fans' hopes and expectations, only to eventually disappoint. A lot of people wonder whether they/Dabo are legit. I believe they are. I still think they will get handled tonight, but that's more a reflection of how good Bama is than it is of Clemson. Clemson has a better defense than they've ever had this year, Venables knows what he's doing, the OC Chad Morris is really good, and of course Watson is a tremendous playmaker. It still won't be enough, but it will be well worth watching. Bama by 14-plus.

 

[UPitt '89]

Clemson has never been a "blueblood". What they have been over the past several years is a team that has started out well, raised their fans' hopes and expectations, only to eventually disappoint. A lot of people wonder whether they/Dabo are legit. I believe they are. I still think they will get handled tonight, but that's more a reflection of how good Bama is than it is of Clemson. Clemson has a better defense than they've ever had this year, Venables knows what he's doing, the OC Chad Morris is really good, and of course Watson is a tremendous playmaker. It still won't be enough, but it will be well worth watching. Bama by 14-plus.

Please give me Clemson and 14 for $100. Hell, give me Clemson and 10 for $100. I'm begging you.

 

[pittzap]

starting after the NFL playoffs, I agree. They need to wrap this crap up on NYD, period. (They won't...and due to ratings #s, Monday night will always be the bed and butter for these non NFL championship games, just like the NCAA).

There are too many days from the last game of the regular season to the first playoff game. Start the playoffs a week earlier, at least.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Maybe college football should start a week or 2 earlier so they can have the championship game around Jan 1. Would it be the end of the world if college football kicked off on August 18 for example?

 

[UPitt '89]

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I'm really pumped for tonight's game. No hoops games of note on..... it's all about NCAA football tonight.

I put down $50 on a parlay of Clemson+6.5 and the over at 50.5. But even without the action on the game, I'd be tuned in. I think it is a classic matchup, and could rival the Texas-USC title game in the Rose Bowl a decade ago.

 

[OriginalEther]

Maybe college football should start a week or 2 earlier so they can have the championship game around Jan 1. Would it be the end of the world if college football kicked off on August 18 for example?

You don't even have to move the start of season.
It's not like teams have to have 4 weeks off between the last regular season game and the bowl/playoff game.
A lot of times the layoff is what produces a dud.

 

[ClarkLotTgate]

Clemson isn't really a blue blood, so that kinda shoots that theory down. Personally i think the lack of local interest is because of the Steelers being in the playoffs (and then obviously winning on saturday)

I'd be interested what type of ratings this thing gets in cities with NFL teams still in the playoffs vs cities who didn't have teams make the playoffs/non-NFL cities.

 

[Pitt79]

How does the NCAA Football Championship's TV ratings compare to the March Madness Final? I wonder if people are more into the basketball final because they've been following the tournament, filling out brackets etc. Wouldn't there be more interest if you had maybe a 16 team football tournament with a bracket challenge etc.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

You don't even have to move the start of season.
It's not like teams have to have 4 weeks off between the last regular season game and the bowl/playoff game.
A lot of times the layoff is what produces a dud.

Using this year's dates:

Semis: Sat, Dec 19
National Championship: Fri, Jan 1 8:30. Screw the Sugar Bowl.

 

[TD_6082]

Clemson has never been a "blueblood". What they have been over the past several years is a team that has started out well, raised their fans' hopes and expectations, only to eventually disappoint. A lot of people wonder whether they/Dabo are legit. I believe they are. I still think they will get handled tonight, but that's more a reflection of how good Bama is than it is of Clemson. Clemson has a better defense than they've ever had this year, Venables knows what he's doing, the OC Chad Morris is really good, and of course Watson is a tremendous playmaker. It still won't be enough, but it will be well worth watching. Bama by 14-plus.

Chad Morris is no longer there. He took a HC job. I think he is at SMU.

 

[Burgh15]

I love college football and all of the bowl games around New Years, but once those few days are over and the NFL playoffs start, I lose interest in college. It's been too long and I felt no hype with the buildup just because of Wild Card weekend. I want to be excited and will watch the game, but it absolutely feels anticlimatic.

 

[CaptainMurphy]

To me, January is all about the NFL, the holiday season college football. You cant compete with the NFL, as Trump and the USFL found out a few decades back. It doesnt help that the sports world is still talking about the Steelers and Vikings games.

 

[PHATWOOD]

The one good thing that can help get this fixed is ratings. ESPN learned a hard lesson on the NYE semis. They will likely learn another tonight especially if it gets ugly before the end of the third quarter. A basketball final that starts at 8:30 is over by 10:30. A football final that starts at 8:30 is likely going to push midnight. After wild card weekend.

Not sure what I would do as I haven't invested much thought in it yet. Clearly it needs to wrap up sooner. But in order to fix the problems plaguing the entire process you have to go back and fix the bowl system. The only way that happens is likely if ESPN has to start swinging the hammer at everyone because they're losing money.

 

[UPitt '89]

A little more than a quarter in, and Clemson looks like the clearly better team. They've gotten no respect this whole post season despite being #1. Underdogs in both games.

But they're the best team in the country. If Alabama comes back to win, it will be because of turnovers. Because Alabama can't stop Watson without turnovers.

 

[UPitt '89]

A little more than a quarter in, and Clemson looks like the clearly better team. They've gotten no respect this whole post season despite being #1. Underdogs in both games.

But they're the best team in the country. If Alabama comes back to win, it will be because of turnovers. Because Alabama can't stop Watson without turnovers.

......and... on cue..... there's the turnover.

Clemson is winning at the line of scrimmage..... but turnovers are the equalizer.

 

[Pitt79]

I had no desire to stay up! Good game I guess. Although the last thing I want to see is 'Bama win again! I did set the DVR for the 2 hour version they broadcast at 3am, so I guess I'll take a look at the game eventually. But honestly, I have no desire to watch, generally the teams in it are teams I root against and never watch, so again, it's not worth staying up for to me.

 

[Pitt79]

IMO College Football, unlike the NFL is Regional in it's a appeal. I don't know if I'm in the minority or majority, but during the regular season, I follow Pitt and Pitt's league, whether it's the BE or ACC religiously, and don't give a crap about the "National Picture" at all. That would change if Pitt ever get's in that picture, but as long as they aren't, I'm looking at what position they are in in the ACC Coastal and have no concern with who's top 5 in the AP Poll, but again, that's just me.