Georgia does not deserve the Sugar Bowl

[BowlBrother85]

I'm not saying bowl games are meaningless for fans. I love bowl games. But for players it's different. It's stupid to risk injury in a bowl game and lose that NFL paycheck.

Peyton Manning didn't see it that way in the '98 Orange Bowl, did he? Even though Nebraska beat the hell out of us... I have always respected the fact that he still played... and he was even legitimately hurt.

 

[BigOrangeAl 1979]

I’d give my left nut for Tennessee to be playing in the sugar bowl tonite

 

[CR-vol]

If there was ever a college football player who should not have played in his team's bowl game... it was Peyton Manning in the '98 Orange Bowl vs Nebraska. He was going to be the #1 overall pick in the NFL Draft and he was also hurt. He had suffered a torn bursa sac in the SEC Championship Game vs Auburn. Michigan had already finished undefeated the day before ... so Tennessee no longer had a shot at the National Championship at the time of the game. However, Peyton still played (not particularly well, but that is beside the point). He played. That is what a competitor who cares about his team does when he can. Did it have a negative impact on Peyton's NFL career? No, it didn't and it wouldn't to these guys sitting out tonight either.

You're talking about 1998? The difference in Peyton Manning's generation and this current generation is light years apart. That just isn't a valid argument.

 

[LittleVol]

jmho but if the players have declined to participate in the bowl game practices and game they should be removed from football program. Stop feeding them, schooling(tutors) them and drop their scholarships.

Agreed.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

Peyton Manning didn't see it that way in the '98 Orange Bowl, did he? Even though Nebraska beat the hell out of us... I have always respected the fact that he still played... and he was even legitimately hurt.

I think there will always probably be some that are for sure NFL players that will continue to play. I mean I've already seen a few that they've pointed out said they were going to play.

 

[TJVol95]

Recruiting drama queens plus playing a tough schedule can lead to this stuff.

 

[CR-vol]

Peyton Manning didn't see it that way in the '98 Orange Bowl, did he? Even though Nebraska beat the hell out of us... I have always respected the fact that he still played... and he was even legitimately hurt.

Generation X looks at things a lot differently than Generation Z. It's a different era. Things change. What was viewed as unthinkable then is the norm now.

 

[BigOrangeAl 1979]

Georgia is still a elite program with another excellent recruiting class coming in and will be heavily favored I’m sure to beat us again next season and win the East for the 4th straight year. Nothing wrong in Athens

 

[BowlBrother85]

You're talking about 1998? The difference in Peyton Manning's generation and this current generation is light years apart. That just isn't a valid argument.

That was my initial point. This has nothing to do with the inception of the college football playoff. This has to do with a change in culture. College football hasn't really changed that much. There have always been "meaningless" major bowl games. Technically, the 1986 Sugar Bowl win for Tennessee over Miami was "meaningless" in terms of the National Championship. But was it really meaningless? Most Tennessee fans regard that game as one of our finest moments, historically speaking.

 

[TAF]

Is there something going on at Georgia

yes...yes, there most certainly IS "something going on at Georgia"...

TELL THIS KID THAT...STAT!

 

[CR-vol]

That was my initial point. This has nothing to do with the inception of the college football playoff. This has to do with a change in culture. College football hasn't really changed that much. There have always been "meaningless" major bowl games. Technically, the 1986 Sugar Bowl win for Tennessee over Miami was "meaningless" in terms of the National Championship. But was it really meaningless? Most Tennessee fans regard that game as one of our finest moments, historically speaking.

Ok, I'll give you that. I was thinking that sentiment here was this was just a culture issue at Georgia alone which ain't so.

 

[Ten_Titans]

Is there a little bit of collapse going on at Georgia right now? I know they are bringing in another huge recruiting class but.

They have like 15 players sitting out of the bowl game. Some are injuries, three are sitting out to get ready for the draft and like 7 more for unknown reasons. You usually don’t sit out a game as big as the sugar bowl for the draft and what’s going on with the other 7 that they aren’t giving reasons? Is this the first chinks in the armor, well besides the fact he can’t coach in big games.

The great recruiting classes and the players sitting out are symptoms of the same thing. It's the Calipari team building strategy.

 

[butchna]

Going to the NFL is part of every recruiting pitch. Doubt any school wants the optics of cracking down on kids exploring that avenue.

 

[kunsanvol]

jmho but if the players have declined to participate in the bowl game practices and game they should be removed from football program. Stop feeding them, schooling(tutors) them and drop their scholarships.

9 times out of 10 if someone is voluntarily sitting out of a bowl game for any reason than injury, it's because the are concentrating on the NFL. They've typically graduated (not always) and are not coming back anyways.

 

[Gandalf]

"Ain't nothin goin on here baby at all"

 

[SpaceCoastVol]

Georgia is a 2nd tier program, they have no right or reason to ever believe it's "National Championship or bust" because that's not where they are or have been in the college football hierarchy.

No they aren't. They belong in the Sugar Bowl just like we belong in the Gator. It's up to the coaching staff to remind/instill whatever is required to ensure that the players show up and play hard. They can believe in the NC or bust thing, but they also need to accept that they aren't a NC team. Watching the Outback bowl, we would get slaughtered if we were playing either of those teams. We don't belong there.

All this being said, I couldn't care less about the game on the 13th. It's more about the hype and money at this point.

 

[SpaceCoastVol]

Who can blame these guys for not playing in a meaningless Sugar Bowl game? It's not worth it. This is what the playoffs did to other bowl games. If we ever work back to relevancy again we'll have lots of guys sitting out of meaningless bowl games too. It's a business decision.

It's arrogance. I hope none of them get drafted... at least a few rounds down from where they think they are.

 

[SpaceCoastVol]

That was my initial point. This has nothing to do with the inception of the college football playoff. This has to do with a change in culture. College football hasn't really changed that much. There have always been "meaningless" major bowl games. Technically, the 1986 Sugar Bowl win for Tennessee over Miami was "meaningless" in terms of the National Championship. But was it really meaningless? Most Tennessee fans regard that game as one of our finest moments, historically speaking.

Ask Minnesota fans how meaningless their bowl is today.

Ask Indiana how meaningless the gator bowl is.

 

[CR-vol]

It's arrogance. I hope none of them get drafted... at least a few rounds down from where they think they are.

Nope it's not. It's looking out for their own self interest. Like what you, I and everyone else does with business and work choices.

 

[BowlBrother85]

I think there will always probably be some that are for sure NFL players that will continue to play. I mean I've already seen a few that they've pointed out said they were going to play.

Can you imagine Peyton Manning not playing in his last college game if he possibly could? Nobody would have blamed him for sitting that one out. He was legitimately hurt and we had a capable backup (hell, we would have probably been better off with Tee Martin that night. He drove us down the field for a TD on his lone series of the game.)... A competitor like Manning plays if he can.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

Can you imagine Peyton Manning not playing in his last college game if he possibly could? Nobody would have blamed him for sitting that one out. He was legitimately hurt and we had a capable backup (hell, we would have probably been better off with Tee Martin that night. He drove us down the field for a TD on his lone series of the game.)... A competitor like Manning plays if he can.

I think Peyton would play tomorrow if there was some way he could.

 

[SpaceCoastVol]

Nope it's not. It's looking out for their own self interest. Like what you, I and everyone else does with business and work choices.

Would they be playing if it were for the NC? That's two extra games where they could get hurt.

 

[CR-vol]

Would they be playing if it were for the NC? That's two extra games where they could get hurt.

A championship game has meaning. There's no guarantees but most players I assume would choose to play for the championship.

 

[ABINGDON VOL FAN]

if UT was going to playoffs no one here would complain about players not being loyal to Tennessee and sticking for their 4th year.

I would. Especially if they quit before a bowl game.

 

[JMSqb11]

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, there are now a baker’s dozen UGA players who have been confirmed will be sidelined for the postseason game. Of those 13, a dozen are on the two-deep depth chart. Six of them, three on each side of the ball, are starters. I think this just shows how Kirby sells his program. It is a playoff or bust mentality and has nothing to do with loyalty to the University. Maybe UGA needs to remember they have not won a National Championship since 1980 and realize the Sugar Bowl is their ceiling and they should treat it with a little more respect.

I realize this post is grumpier than most of mine, I think I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. But the point is still valid.

I’m sorry but what is the actual reasoning you are talking about why they don’t deserve their bowl bid? Because players choose to sit out?