Redshirts Could Save College Bowl Games

[usdtator]

Here is a story on a new proposal that would allow redshirt freshman to play in Bowl games... They are hoping this may offset the loss of key players skipping Bowl games to ensure they are healthy for the NFL Draft.

The way I understand the article, it would allow redshirt freshman to potentially play in up to 4 games without burning their redshirt. Not sure how that would translate to FCS, but I really like the idea.


www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/new-redshirt-proposal-could-save-college-bowl-games-christian-mccaffrey-leonard-fournette-050817

[sdyotefan]

I like the idea. The other thing the FBS is to go to a real playoff system. They should immediately go to an 8 team playoff and in a few years to 16. That would make many more bowl game relevant! FCS and other divisions are very workable!

[Yotes]

Let redshirts participate only if it's a good idea on its own. McCaffery and Fournette type cases aren't solved by letting redshirts play in the bowl game, that would only make the bowls even less meaningful. The underlying problem here is that no one can figure out why any of the bowl games matter. Giving the bowls a scrimmage element where redshirts are going to take playing time from regular starters would only make the games even harder to care about.

They need to make the games matter. Implement a real playoff already. NFL, FCS, D2, NAIA, D3, high school and semi pro can do it, zero reason FBS can't put one in place of a bunch of bowls that no one cares about anyways.

[Yote 53]

I believe redshirts used to be allowed to play in bowl games back in the 80's. Pretty positive the Chuck Long from Iowa saw time as a redshirt in a bowl game. I think he ended up appearing in 5 bowl games as a result. Kind of a trivia question.

[kiyoat]

Agree about 8-team playoff. Those that have been against a FBS playoff often cite that it would make the regular season mean less. Really what it will do (and already has, to some extent) is make the bowl system meaningless. And I'm OK with that.

The bowl system has been a corrupt abomination for years. Bowl Commissioners line their pockets, while some smaller schools lose money going to a bowl that nobody watches anyway. I think its great for teams with a decent season to be rewarded, but a losing record? I think there should be a second-level invitation tourney for football just like there is for BB. Better than what we have now.

[Yote 53]

I love all the lower tier bowls. I don't make it appointment television but if a game is on I have the TV tuned in. I just love college football no matter who is playing, from the Big Ten to SEC to MACtion to an FCS SWAC game.