It doesn’t take a genius to see that Bowl Games have changed over the past few years. With the emergence of the transfer portal, it’s not uncommon to see a large chunk of a team missing in what should be an important post-season football game. Just think back to last years Boca Raton Bowl… when Syracuse lost to USF 45-0 (I know that seems like a millennium ago) and Braden Davis led the team in passing going 6/13 while Dan Villari went 4/11 throwing the ball with two interceptions. I never want to think about that game again. It basically wasn’t even football. That’s how a lot of bowls have gone recently.
Fran Brown made it clear in his press conference earlier this week that his team wouldn’t have opt outs and that if there’s a game on the schedule his guys will play. The most important piece of that is Kyle McCord. The nation’s leading passer told CNY Central that he will play in the Holiday Bowl.
With McCord playing, it sets the tone for the rest of the team that this is a meaningful game. That means that the team will practice like it matters. You can’t underestimate the importance of having an extra month of practice. The experience that can be given to younger players on the team is insurmountable. Deion Sanders put it perfectly talking about his Colorado team saying, “Our kids are going to play in our bowl game because that’s what we signed up to do, and we’re going to finish. We’re not going to tap out because that throws off the structure of next season.”
Prime Time then referenced teams who laid an egg in their bowl game then struggled this year. SU isn’t a great example with the new staff taking over after the Bowl. His alma mater Florida State is the perfect example. The Seminoles fell apart after missing the playoffs and didn’t take their bowl seriously. That creates a losing culture. FSU then went on to win just two games this year.
With McCord playing, the team will take this game seriously. It sets the tone for next year and helps build the foundation of a positive winning culture.
