What are “exhibition games”? To me “exhibition games” are games that are played with little or no regard towards the winner of the game. Often, using free substitution with the same players going in/out frequently. Sometimes experimenting by playing 2nd line players to get better evaluations of their level of play. Some rules are sometimes modified in those games….no free throws in basketball, no walks in baseball, no set time limit for each scrimmage, yada, yada, yada. I’m sure that there are other modifications for “exhibition” games. Most of all….no one really cares who wins!
…In MLB baseball, exhibition games are played pre-season with totally no regard (or very little regard) for winning the game. It’s totally about player development & evaluation. …In the NFL, pre-season games are “exhibition games”. Players are evaluated—winning or losing is really not relevant at all. No one cares which team wins.
….Now, we hear agents for college players calling the Bowl games—”Exhibitions”. The agents are using this terminology to denigrate the value of the game. The agent wants an excuse for recommending to their player NOT TO PLAY the bowl game. Of course, it’s all about keeping their “client” (the player) clear from suffering a serious injury.
…It’s my understanding that agents get paid a percentage for the player’s salary. Generally, it’s between 4-10% of the contract. If the player earns a bonus, agents generally get part of that money also. Agents receive additional fees from their clients for a myriad of services—financial planning, legal advice, marketing options. Soooo….to the agent….Bowl games are dangerous. Their client may get injured seriously or have a poor performance. That would lower the value of their client. There doesn’t seem to be much “upside” for the agent in having his client playing bowl games. The exception is if the player has a very strong, notable performance in that Bowl game. Hence, the agents use language (e.g.calling the bowl game “exhibitions”) to denigrate participation in the bowl games. Is it really an “exhibition”?
…From the other side of it, professional scouts are interested in seeing their possible draft choices compete against a strong opponents. The 2-3 week layoff between the last game of the year & the bowl game allows coaches to evaluate their opponents with much greater scrutiny as they try to exploit the weaknesses of these star players.
….College Bowl Games to this point have been a 1 game season. For many teams it’s a rare opportunity to be seen across the entire country on TV. Or, to play an opponent that they rarely, if ever, have the opportunity to play in the regular season. It’s a chance to visit a place in Florida, California, or wherever. Or, to play a “big name” opponent that they’ve seldom, if ever, played recently. No matter the level of the Bowl & teams, each team does their best to win the game.
…With the football championship series beginning this year with 4 teams an expanding next year to 12 teams, some of the Bowl games will assume a totally different role. The Bowl name will lose some of its luster. It’ll be more known as the NCAA Quarterfinal game or Semifinal game or Championship Game. Will those still be called “exhibitions”?
….Does anyone think that Mizzou regrets playing the Gator Bowl after beating Ohio State? Does anyone think that the Buckeyes weren’t trying their best? It was a really BIG, convincing WIN for the Tigers. It was only the 13th game between the 2 schools. They first competed against each other in 1939!! The Buckeyes were 10-2 against Mizzou! Mizzou’s players, fans, administration, & the entire school will be talking about the MU dominating win in the Gator Bowl for a long time! It wasn’t an exhibition game….Mizzou, the winner of the game gets the bragging rights against a tough opponent for winning the game!
…17 Ohio state players skipped the Gator Bowl. Reading further, I learned that all but 1 of those players are in the transfer portal. The 1 exception sitting out was a super Soph wide-receiver, Marvin Harrison Jr, will be making himself available to be drafted. Another is the starting QB who is transferring. Clearly that impacted the Buckeye offense. Meanwhile, 12 Mizzou players had already applied for the transfer portal—so obviously, they didn’t play. 2 other players were injured. While Mizzou controlled the game, the Buckeye early departures does leave a bit of a cloud.
….Ohio State was soundly trounced by Mizzou. The MU line play on offense & defense was much better. It seemed that MU was a bit “star struck” in the very early part of the game. As the game unfolded, MU took firm control of the line, used their offensive leaders—Brady Cook-QB (Chaminade HS), Luther Burden (ESL), Cody Schrader (Luth South) to take move the ball. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes were completely stymied by the Mizzou defense. In fact, the domination by the Mizzou off/def lines was dramatic!
…The stats tell even more of the real story than the scoreboard. Total Yards—MU 331; Ohio St 203; 1st downs-MU-19 Ohio State 12; time of possession- Mizzou-33:53 Buckeyes–26:07. As the game unfolded, you could see Mizzou gaining confidence as they controlled the line play.
…An unheralded transfer from D-II Truman State, Cody Schrader, is a perfect example of why the game of college football is so beautiful. Schrader was totally unheralded upon his arrival in Columbia. He looks skinny and he doesn’t have the eye-popping quickness of the super backs. Schrader just gains yards! He set’s up the blocks on the LOS, follows other blockers effectively, seems to see the “field” (it seems some runners just run blindly ahead). When Schrader is hit he keeps his legs moving to gain extra yards after the initial contact. He has deceptive speed. He was very durable throughout the ’23 season. I don’t know if he’s a NFL player….but he’s a heck of a college player!
…Players Sitting-out Bowl games is probably here to stay. To me, the players are breaking their contract with the school. The school agreed to give them an education, special housing, special medical care, etc. You agreed to play football for them—each practice, work-out, game. Each game is a game….not an exhibition (which sounds to me like a scrimmage). Now, I realize that some players may have special “contracts” with the university that exempt them from playing in bowl games but I wouldn’t think that it’d be too many of them. I ask the schools, why are you doing that? If a player doesn’t want to play in your biggest game of the year for your school, why keep him? Find it out when you award him with a scholarship
…Your thoughts? I expect that there will plenty of you than agree with the Agents. I just don’t view bowl games as exhibition games! Each team is really playing to WIN. Go ahead respond….we all have our own thoughts. A belated Happy New Year to ALL! Thanks for your reads in 2023!! Bob
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