Being chosen for a college bowl game used to be an elite honor for a handful of teams. Today, there are 44 bowl games with auspicious names such as the Cure Bowl, Rate Bowl, 68 Ventures Bowl, Idaho Potato Bowl, Pop-Tarts Bowl, First Responder Bowl, and Duke’s Mayo Bowl. It seems the only thing missing is the infamous Tidy Bowl, the subject of so many jokes.
While the Rose, Orange, and Cotton Bowls may retain some of their prestige, the month-long parade of games dilutes the impact for everyone. Now a bowl game is little more than a money grab by the hosts. Seventeen teams are 6-6, meaning some bowl teams could end the season with a losing record.
Better to have created an atmosphere of post-season play that isn’t linked with an honor. Have the same games but as festivals across the country. Instead of the Celebration Bowl, make all but a few true celebrations with a football game as part of the lineup.
You can’t have both prestige and proliferation.
