Putting Virginia Tech’s 20-year bowl streak in perspective
When Virginia Tech beat Virginia at the end of last month to get to 6-6, it extended the Hokies’ bowl streak to 20 straight years, the third-longest active streak in the country to Florida State and Florida.
Some Hokies fans have scoffed at the streak, noting that this year’s team needed two wins against lowly Boston College and Virginia just to get to the six-win threshold and qualify for a lower-tiered bowl. Nevertheless, a bowl is a bowl, and Virginia Tech is going once again.
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I hadn’t given much thought of where that streak fits in bowl history until Hokies broadcaster Bill Roth tweeted this last week: “Only 5 teams in history have gone to 20-straight bowls: Nebraska, Michigan, FSU, ‘Bama, & Florida. VT will be No. 6.”
Regardless of what Tech needed to do to get there this season, that’s a pretty impressive group.
Now, I realize the bowl system has changed dramatically over the years. There are 35 games this season, guaranteeing 70 to make a bowl. In 1960, there were eight games. In 1970, still only 11. In 1980, 15. In 1990, 19. And even as recently as 2000, there were only 25.
So a bowl streak today is not nearly as rare as it was back in the day, which is why three of the six longest streaks of all-time are active ones — Florida State (31), Florida (22) and Virginia Tech (20). (Of active streaks, Georgia and Georgia Tech are next at 16, followed by Oklahoma at 14 and LSU at 13.)
At the same time, there’s much more parity these days, or at the very least competitive teams across the Division I level. The schools with long streaks that originated in the ’50s, ’60s or ’70s — Nebraska (35 years), Michigan (33) and Alabama (25) — had fewer scholarship limits and thus could stockpile talent easier. Until 1972, there were no limits on scholarships. Alabama’s Paul “Bear” Bryant was known for signing more players than he needed, just so rival schools couldn’t get them.
Nevertheless, the schools on this list below are all pretty impressive for different reasons. Nebraska’s just for its sheer scope. Michigan’s for the fact that in the three years before the streak started, the Wolverines went 30-2-1 and didn’t go to a bowl game because only the Big Ten champion did until 1975. Alabama’s for the fact that the Crimson Tide won six national championships during the run.
The more recent streaks are unique in their own ways. Bobby Bowden was behind almost all of Florida State’s run. Florida has gone to 22 straight bowls despite using five coaches in that time, surviving the Ron Zook era and a brief post-Urban Meyer hangover.
Virginia Tech’s streak has a few unique characteristics, not all of them great. Of the new teams on the list, the Hokies had the least history in the postseason, having made only six postseason appearances prior to the streak. All 20 of Virginia Tech’s bowls have come under Frank Beamer, something nobody else in the 20-plus club can say. Bryant came close, although Ray Perkins presided over the final year. Bowden too, although the streak now seems to be in good hands with Jimbo Fisher.
Tech is also the only one of the group not to win a national championship during the run. Alabama had six, Nebraska five, Florida three, Florida State two and Michigan one, a shared title with the Cornhuskers in 1997. Virginia Tech can only hang its hat on the 2000 title game appearance, a game it lost to Florida State by a good margin after leading at the end of the third quarter.
Looking at the makeup of the streaks, they seem to end or struggle to continue around coaching changes. Alabama’s, as mentioned before, ended in Year 2 of Perkins’ tenure. Nebraska began to slip noticeably once Tom Osborne stepped down. Michigan crashed and burned under Rich Rodriguez. Florida State saw a decline at the end of the Bowden era when it nearly missed out on the postseason a couple times.
What’s interesting to see is who isn’t on this list. Ohio State’s longest streak is 15 years. The Buckeyes had a 12-year streak end this year because of a postseason ban. Notre Dame, for all its historical glory, had its longest streak in the late-80′s and mid-90′s, when it went to nine straight bowls. Oklahoma, a team with frequent past NCAA issues, is on its longest run right now at 14 games. Even Texas, a bastion of consistency under Mack Brown, had its school-long streak of 12 years end in 2010 when the Longhorns went 5-7.
Virginia Tech hasn’t hit any of those NCAA landmines or had a sub-.500 season to end the streak (although this year was close). It might mean less in today’s game to go to a bowl game ever year, but it’s still an achievement that speaks to the consistency of the program.
Here’s a look at the longest bowl streaks in college football history:
Nebraska
** Years: 35
** From: 1969-2003
** Record: 19-16
** Coaches: Bob Devaney (1969-73), Tom Osborne (1973-97), Frank Solich (1998-2003), Bo Pelini (2003 — coached bowl)
** Longest winning streak: 6 (1969-74)
** Longest losing streak: 7 (1987-93)
** Record during streak: 356-72-5 (.822 winning percentage)
** Bowl appearances before the streak: 7
** National championships during streak: 5 (1970, ’71, ’94, ’95, ’97)
** Close call: Nebraska lost three of its last four, finishing the regular season with a 7-6 record after having played 13 games for some reason. It got the ‘Huskers to the Independence Bowl, where they lost to Ole Miss 27-23.
** Ended: 2004. The Cornhuskers went 5-6 under first-year coach Bill Callahan and his West Coast offense, losing their last three to come up short of a bowl game.
Michigan
** Years: 33
** From: 1975-2007
** Record: 15-18
** Coaches: Bo Schembechler (1975-1989), Gary Moeller (1990-94), Lloyd Carr (1995-2007)
** Longest winning streak: 4 (1997-2000)
** Longest losing streak: 5 (1975-79)
** Record during streak: 302-94-7 (.749 winning percentage)
** Bowl appearances before the streak: 6
** National championships during streak: 1 (1997)
** Close call: Michigan lost three games to ranked teams during a 6-5 regular season, then fell 24-17 in the Holiday Bowl to soon-to-be-crowned national champion Brigham Young. (And we think today’s bowl system is screwed up.)
** Ended: 2008. The Wolverines went 3-9 in Rich Rodriguez‘s first year after he tried transitioning them to a spread option attack. It was the worst season in school history.
Florida State
** Years: 31
** From: 1982-present
** Record: 22-7-1
** Coaches: Bobby Bowden (1979-2009), Jimbo Fisher (2010-present)
** Longest winning streak: 11 (1985-95)
** Longest losing streak: 2 (2002-03)
** Record during streak: 299-88-4 (.737 winning percentage)
** Bowl appearances before the streak: 10
** National championships during streak: 2 (1993, ’99)
** Close calls: The ‘Noles hovered around .500 three times late in the Bowden era, going 6-6 in 2006, 7-5 in 2007 and 6-6 in 2009 and qualifying for the Emerald, Music City and Gator bowls.
** Ended: Still going.
Alabama
** Years: 25
** From: 1959-83
** Record: 13-11-1
** Coaches: Paul “Bear” Bryant (1959-82), Ray Perkins (1983)
** Longest winning streak: 6 (1975-80)
** Longest losing streak: 4 (1971-74)
** Record during streak: 235-46-8 (.813 winning percentage)
** Bowl appearances before the streak: 12
** National championships during streak: 6 (1961, ’64, ’65, ’73, ’78, ’79)
** Close calls: The Crimson Tide went 6-4 in 1969 and 6-5 in 1970, going to the Liberty and Bluebonnet bowls, leading many to think the then-57-year-old Bryant was washed up. He’d have nine more seasons of 10-plus wins and win three more national championships.
** Ended: 1984. Bryant retired after the ’82 season, then died only months later of a heart attack. Perkins led the Crimson Tide to an 8-4 record and Sun Bowl appearance his first season, then went 5-6 his second to fall short of a bowl.
Florida
** Years: 22
** From: 1991-present
** Record: 12-10
** Coaches: Steve Spurrier (1991-2001), Ron Zook (2002-04), Charlie Strong (2004 — coached bowl game), Urban Meyer (2005-10), Will Muschamp (2011-present)
** Longest winning streak: 4 (2008-11)
** Longest losing streak: 3 (2002-04)
** Record during streak: 219-62-1 (.777 winning percentage)
** Bowl appearances before the streak: 18
** National championships during streak: 3 (’96, ’06, ’08)
** Close call: Even the Zook years didn’t come as close to missing a bowl as Muschamp’s first in 2011, when the Gators, in a post-Meyer funk, finished the regular season 6-6 and made the Gator Bowl.
** Ended: Still going
Virginia Tech
** Years: 20
** From:1993-present
** Record: 8-11
** Coaches: Frank Beamer (1993-present)
** Longest winning streak: 2 (2008-09)
** Longest losing streak: 2 (1996-97, 2003-04, 2006-07, 2010-11)
** Bowl appearances before the streak: 6
** Record during streak: 191-64 (.749 winning percentage)
** National championships during streak: 0
** Close call: Nothing has come quite as close as this year, when the Hokies needed to win their last two games just to get to 6-6 and extend the postseason streak to 20 years.
** Ended: Still going
December 6, 2012 - 10:04 AM
Cue the “Should have passed on a bowl this year.” comments. Yeah that would be incredibly smart. Don’t give these athletes a chance to experience post season play? (Which may come in handy considering our running game, or the lack of one, because of inconsistent play from 4 different running backs.) Maybe one of these guys wants to show why he should be the man going into spring practices. Don’t forget to mention the extra month of practice that can only help all three phases of the game moving forward. All in all, the bowl game is like the “icing” on a cake that was made with salt instead of sugar in regards to the regular season. You might not be able to eat a whole piece of the cake but the “icing” helps that first bite go down on a dismal season.
You will hear from all the “haters” why they think VT accomplishing this is not big deal.It actually is a big deal and other coaches, not the “know it alls” give VT credit for the accomplishment.
I think the key comment in there was – ‘Tech is also the only one of the group not to win a national championship during the run. Alabama had six, Nebraska five, Florida three, Florida State two and Michigan one, a shared title with the Cornhuskers in 1997. Virginia Tech can only hang its hat on the 2000 title game appearance, a game it lost to Florida State by a good margin after leading at the end of the third quarter.’
Bill Roth does a good job of disseminating the catchphrases the VT athletic dept gives him, but it’s nice to see some context placed behind the latest.
Yes, we’ve been to 20 straight bowls. However, when you look at our bowl performance over the last decade, or even in total, there’s not as much joy in Mudville. We’re 8-11 so far in that streak, with a 4-6 record in the last decade. The absence of victories when underdogs only adds to that lack of contentment.
The bowl streak is an awful lot like the ten win streak. It sounds impressive until you look a little closer. Then it gets less impressive. All those previous streaks that ended? They all included winning the national championship. I don’t know anyone who would honestly not trade our (soon to be) 20 bowl game streak for one of the others that included a national championship.
Crooked, again, I’ll agree with you on one front. That I would gladly trade a 20 year bowl streak for a national championship, like the other programs mentioned that have one. Who wouldn’t? However, can you agree that it’s quite an accomplishment to be mentioned with those other programs? The history of those programs in football is much more fruitful than the early years of Hokie football (besides FSU, which Bowden put on the map). Come on Crooked, let the road straighten out, roll down the windows, turn up the music, and enjoy what has been accomplished. You’ll get your wish soon enough, heads are gonna roll after the bowl game. Then you can put your “Crooked” streak back to work and analyze why the new guy that’s hired doesn’t live up to your expectations.
For a bit of history, it is useful to go back in time to when the streak started, the Independence bowl of 1993.
VT was a still a relatively new BE member then and new to bowl scene as far as having a winning record (going 2-8-1 the previous year). The BE did not have any bowl tie in to the Indy bowl at the time and many of us Hokie faithful were just hoping we would get the invite from the Indy.
At that time we got the bid, it was a big deal. A really big deal. We were playing a Big 10 opponent (Indiana) and for the first time (and maybe the only time) in Indy history, the bowl included 2 teams that were ranked when they met.
The most interesting note is that the Indy bowl officials were very pleased to have gotten VT when they saw the team, the fans, and the admin. The Indy people sensed what was happening with VT and told our AD (Braine) they would like to have us come back but feared that the VT program was going places that would take it far beyond the Independence bowl. How prophetic was that?
In 1995, we went to the Sugar Bowl and the Indy bowl people who had been responsible for starting it all were also invited as a special guest by VT. It was a gesture and a way of saying thanks for your role in the rise of VT football.
VT won the game 45-20, with the game turning on the unbelievable last play of the first half. VT was ahead 21-13 when Indiana crept down into FG range at the end of the first half. The clock had run out but the officials claimed that Indiana had called for a timeout before the clock ran out (which the replays showed was clearly in error and steamed the VT faithful who were watching) and now Indiana lined up for a FG which would make it 21-16 if successful. They had a good kicker named Bill Manoupoulous (probably misspelled). The FG was blocked and Antonio Banks (who would later return an interception for a TD vs. UVA in 1995 in the famous leg tripping incident from the UVA sideline by their trainer) returned it for a TD. The half ended 28-13, VT.
The replays are still vivid. Beamer waving Banks down the sideline and pointing the way and Indiana coach Bill Mallory grimacing helplously in agony as the ball was returned for a TD.
Indiana has not been back to a bowl (maybe they have but I don’t remember) since and VT hasn’t missed one.
We did get one final diss from the rankers. Despite being ranked 22nd and beating 21st ranked Indiana 45-20, VT was not even given Indiana’s spot in the polls and remained at #22. Michigan clobbered a hapless NCSU team in some lower level bowl and leapfrogged us from being not ranked to being #21.
I, for one, am glad the streak is still alive!
Aristohokiegeezer-in-chief: get off it. Beamer has a good progrm. Your only valid complaint is that it isn’t the “best” in the nation. Many schools would kill for the legacy Frank has built. Stop being so cranky all the time.
Is it time for him to go? I don’t know. Not my call. But I still think he has something to prove and go for (a Title). Don’t know if the stars will align for him or not. I hope they do. But if they don’t that fact remains that he has built a program that other schools would dream of.
As for his offense being so 1900′s. Well, look at the SEC. I notivce that their great teams, except for South Carolina, are all spread offense, run option and trick play oriented. Not a smash mouth team among them. Right?
WRONG.
Yup, our offense stinks. So does half the SEC’s. Our offense is run oriented. So is half the SEC’s.
Give us all a break.
If I had to pick one, I’d rather have 20 years of bowl streak and some consistency (only the second time in the last 20 years to not hit the 8-win mark) than Auburn’s national title followed by falling off into futility two seasons later.
COM, I’m as happy as can be right now. I don’t need an instructional on that. Also, I’ll repeat for you & the others who like to ignore this fact – I have never posted on here that any Hokie coach should be fired, ‘retired’, or ‘seek better opportunities (i.e. be pushed out the door)’. I’ve talked about them being incompetent – like Stinespring, or discussed the likelihood of Frank making changes. I’ve never posted anyone should be released, though.
Again, an examination of the bowl streak takes some shine off it. I never said it was inconsequential, just less impressive the more you compare it to those other streaks. When you remove your Bill Roth signature O&M tinted Oakleys, it’s a lot easier to make sure you’re driving on the right side of the road…
Bob H., you’re close. Indiana has been to one bowl game since then – in 1997. Now, with that said, Indiana has only been to 9 bowl games in its history, but six of those came from 1988 to 1993 and three of those from 1990 to 1993. I wonder, had Indiana won that game, would it have been the Hoosiers who turned the corner?
Sorry. That should be 2007, not 1997.
Crooked, why is it you are the only one who doesn’t see that you are clearly in favor of coaching changes? Oops…did I say “change”? I mean coaches getting fired. No matter what word you’re using it still says the same thing. CEO’s in the business world don’t let “incompetent” people run their business’. Likewise, coaches are going to act in a similar fashion. Just because some people call it “incompetence”, doesn’t make it true. Some companies have down years, but when the product is no longer substantial, things change, or people get fired.
Crooked, I know this is coming to Blacksburg sooner than later. I don’t agree with it totally but I think some things need a change. The offense could definetly use a shot in the arm. I’ve said it once, I’ll say it a hundred times. This group simply was not that good, not on paper, and not on the field. I for one have been enjoying the ride the last 20 years. You never know when the ride stops. You change cars and the new one just doesn’t handle as good. Next thing you know, you’re sitting on the side of the road saying, “Damn, I miss that old car.” Got my sunglasses on, windows down, Sandman blaring out the speakers. Hey, isn’t it 70 in December anyway?
# 6 progrm spells what? How is that pronounced?
Also, notivce spells what? How is that pronounced?
That Rutgers crowd will really get after you. ( sniff, sniff )
Z-man, I am with you. I live in CA and watched a tough rugged Stanford Team play smash mouth football with the great Oregon spread “should have been” playing for a National Championship offense. If smash mouth is so out dated then why did Stanford win? The Hokies have had good offensive line men in the past, a few who are in the NFL. We don’t need a philosphical change in the way we play football-we just need to be more effiecient-Offensive line is the starting point
Zman, you get it. Everyone has fallen in love with the spread offense. (Some of you will fit the mold if Tony Franklin is hired in Blacksburg. Tony’s brainwashers) You are right on about the SEC. Although, most of the teams in the SEC are exceptional, the title contenders are still run oriented, blow you off the ball, pro-style offenses. Even last year in the NFL, they were all saying how the throwing game has taken over. (I still agree with that to some degree) but the teams who are at the top are the ones who can run the ball effectively to set up the pass. Aaron Rodgers couldn’t produce that kind of year again. Houston, potent running game to go with the pass. New England, back to running the ball well when the defense gives it to support Brady. Look at the Skins with rookie RG3 and Morris. Peyton is Peyton in Denver, that doesn’t get matched anywhere (Peyton will go down as one of the top three in the history of football) Luck in Indy. Peyton and Luck are the flip side to the coin and are shouldering the load which is even more impressive with Luck. Football goes in cycles but bottom line, the team who can run the ball to set up the pass is going to win more often than not, and do it year to year.
I think we need to look at the bigger picture. Yes VT has achieved a rare feat and yes we haven’t fared well in bowl games. I’m glad our kids get to go to the bowl because our young guys absolutely need practice. However, here’s my problem with VT going to a bowl this year: Bonuses. Has anyone looked lately at the bonus structure for VT’s coaches? I’m lazy and don’t want to look it up but I know a few years ago they were getting in the neighborhood of $25k – $50k (Frank gets more obviously). I’d like to know what stipulations are in place. Is it just for making a bowl, period? If so, our coaches should be embarassed to accept it. You never see a business or corporation reward people for regressing drastically. If the staff gets a bonus for this season then I think the fans should start a movement to have the coaches donate their bowl bonus to the less fortunate families in the NRV who can’t afford to provide for their children at Christmas. Seriously doubt it would get done but we can try to make them feel guilty for accepting money for a job poorly done.
Christ, “Frank”. People typo. Get over it. If that’s all you are going to post on is someone’s typos, you’re pretty darn petty and no better than a troll.
Again, you have to applaud the athletes from the state of Virginia. The truth is, Frank is residing in a state with a deep talent pool. He really doesn’t have to go outside of the state at all to win. And the talent is growing. Hampton, Newport News and Chesapeake are getting serious challenges from Va Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth and now even the Suffolk schools are stepping up. You have Richmond and Northern Virginia and out west you can get some good talent. It is an awesome base to have. V-Tech has won many football games because of the state. I can remember earlier in the year when Hermitage HS played Fork Union at Oscar Smith HS in Chesapeake, and one of the commentators f’d around and said that Derrick Green was an SEC type of running back. Obviously this clown had no idea that this state has produced NFL Hall of Famers. Screw the SEC!
///11.Crooked, why is it you are the only one who doesn’t see that you are clearly in favor of coaching changes? Oops…did I say “change”? I mean coaches getting fired//
Crooked is not the only one. He is right as usual, and YOU are wrong as always.
Many Tech fans are right where Beamer is, OLD and living on past GLORY. It is time BOTH were put out to pasture. Give them a gold watch and a sincere THANKS. Thanks and goodbye ! !
Those like Crooked will have the insight and smarts to lead Tech to better days with a whole new coaching staff. Good day, OLE TYMERS ! ! !
I think only VT can go to a bowl game for 20 years !!……..and almost lose all of them !!!
I think only VT can go to 20 bowls and almost lose them all…..
Andy, before you brag on Va Tech look at how these other teams got their wins and how Tech got theirs. Everyone should be able to see what Tech does.They schedule enough cupcakes so they will get a bowl game. They always do this. Put Tech in the SEC and see how many wins they get and how many bowls. The way Tech gets some of their wins shows that they do not deserve to be compared to these other teams and Beamer dies not deserve to be compared to other great coaches.
CR, although we were in agreement earlier in the week, I’ve got to say you must be the most glum glass half empty person around. You look at the negative side of everything. There are many, many programs out there that would trade their past 20 years with the Hokies. No, VT has not won the NC and they maay never win one. Not many schools will. Why is it you think there is something wrong with those of us who relish in the success we have had. Would we have liked it to be more? Of course we would. But dwelling on the negative is a lonely way to live.
God, I don’t even recall ever winning homecoming when I was at Hermitage in the early 90s. Back then the only thing that played on Fridays were those of us in the marching band. Wish I could go back to those days.
DrKN – the bowl bonuses paid to the coaches are paid for making the bowl. They receive no bonuses for winning the bowl game. They’re paid the same, win or lose.
zman, nice to see you still stalking me, and nice to see you’re just as wrong as always about my opinions, especially regarding the offensive side of the ball. Don’t you have cheerleader camp to attend, or something?
Don,
Check out Alabama’s cupcake non conference schedule for 2012. Western Kentucky, Florida Atlantic, and Western Carolina.
Georgia: Buffalo, Florida Atlantic, and Gerogia Southern
LSU: North Texas, Idaho, and Towson
Florida: Bowling Green, Jacksonville State
Get over it. SEC teams schedule no differently than VT does.
The bowl streak is something that many schools would like, and maybe love to have on their record.
The streak is certainly better than nothing and should not be criticized too much. We are Virginia Tech fans and we should take some pride in the streak.
Donald#7,you might want to check beyond the surface before turning down a national championship just because of a bad season two years later. Look at the Auburn program over the eight years that VT had our ‘Ten Win Season’ streak going – our previous bragging catchphrase. You’ll find very similar W-L records, more bowl wins for Auburn, two undefeated seasons for Auburn, and of course, the national championship.
Of course, now that I typed the words national championship, the apologists will become further unhinged and call me a ‘hater’, bitter and all the other incorrect adjectives. Then again, Frank’s trophy case remains empty.
I’m glad to see VT keeping their record going. I’m hoping it’s a winner for them Dec.28th.
And I’ll also point to very poor offensive line play for most of the last five seasons. The Sean Glennon haters neglect just how bad VT’s O-line has been since 2006, except for maybe 2010 and 2011. Newsome has been here since 2006. Coincidence?
Sure, there are more to VT’s woes than the offensive line, but until that gets fixed you could have Peyton Manning or the second coming of Michael Vick (during his VT days) at quarterback and it wouldn’t matter.
And for everyone calling for Tony Franklin, remember that he was fired as Auburn’s OC after only 5 games.
Finally, you wanted to compare the 2004-2011 seasons, here they are side-by-side. Looks to me like, bowl woes included, VT is the more consistent team. As a lifelong Redskins fan, I’d much rather have VT’s consistency than what you see from Auburn over that same span.
2004: VT 10-3, Auburn 13-0
2005: VT 11-2, Auburn 9-3
2006: VT 10-3, Auburn 11-2
2007: VT 11-3, Auburn 9-4
2008: VT 10-4, Auburn 5-7
2009: VT 10-3, Auburn 8-5
2010: VT 11-3, Auburn 14-0
2011: VT 11-3, Auburn 8-5
2012: VT 6-6, Auburn 3-9
VT 2004-2011: 90-30. 75% winning percentage. No losing seasons (yet).
Auburn 2004-2011: 78-35. 69% winning percentage. Two losing seasons, three 10+ win seasons.
Bowl info
VT: 3-5.
* Opponents: 13-0 Auburn, 9-3 Louisville, 9-4 Georgia (beat Auburn 37-15), 12-1 Kansas, 11-3 Cincinnati, 7-6 Tennessee (lost to Auburn 26-22), 12-1 Stanford, 11-2 Michigan
* Favored against: Louisville (7.5, won by 11), Kansas (2.5, lost by 3), Georgia (2.5, lost by 7), Tennessee (5.5, won by 23).
* Underdog lines: Auburn (7, lost by 3), Cincinnati (2.5, won by 13), Stanford (3.5, lost by 28), Michigan (1.5, lost by 3)
Auburn: 6-1
* Opponents: 10-3 VT, 10-3 Wisconsin, 9-5 Nebraska, 9-4 Clemson (lost to VT 41-23), 8-5 Northwestern, 8-5 UVA (lost to VT 38-0)
* Favored against: VT (7, won by 3), Wisconsin (10.5, lost by 14), Northwestern (7.5, won by 3), Oregon (2, won by 3), UVA (1, won by 19).
* Underdog lines: Clemson (2.5, won by 3), Nebraska (1.5, won by 3)
So, yeah, Auburn has a better bowl record over the last 8 years, but look at who Auburn has played vs. who the Hokies played. I would argue that Tech’s competition was, for the most part, much tougher. Vegas would probably agree given that VT was favored in 4 of 8 games-only one by a touchdown or more, while Auburn was favored in 5 of 7, and two of those by a touchdown or more.
Good work, Don. Crooked will probably hate on that too because he’s so bitter. Shoot, had another colorful adjective but my old Beamer supporting mind is so clogged with good memories of Hokie football’s past that I recall it.
Crooked Road, Just wanted to run something by you. Let’s say VT goes to Orlando and has a very good game. Offense, defense, special teams all play very well and VT comes away with an impressive win. Would you be able come on this or any other site and compliment Beamer, Stinespring, etc. for a job well done?
Or would you be greatly disappointed if VT has a great game in Orlando? I’m just curious.
One correction – my percentages include the current 2012 season. And I did math right but failed the number of seasons. 2006-2011 is 6 seasons, seven counting this last season. Of the last seven, only two have had decent o-line play: 2010 and 2011.
One last thing, looking back at the bowl games:
Average point spread
* VT: 0.4375
* Auburn: 3.4286
Average favored by:
* VT: -4.5
* Auburn: -5.6
Average spread against:
* VT: +3.625
* Auburn: +2.0
Looks to me like Tech had a much more difficult 8 bowl games than Auburn did in the same time period, overall.
For the good Dr. (even though he doesn’t want to look them up) — bonus payments can be found on the VT web site. From the home page, go to “Administration” then “Board of Visitors” and then “Meeting Minutes” from there. Check out the attachments, typically from March meetings, and look for ones tagged “Personnel Actions” or the like. There will be several pages showing new hires and changes in salary for faculty, by VP area. The football bonuses are usually listed under “President” and show coaches, athletic staff, and others who get a bump from going to a bowl. Of course, the bigger bumps go to the head coach and coordinators, while staff get the equivalent of chicken feed.
And for the comment about Alabama and other schools and cupcakes — the difference is that those schools then play each other and other top-ranked teams in their conference, while VT plays more cupcakes in the ACC. Putting one ranked team on the OOC schedule each year really doesn’t make up for this.
Donald, your bowl stats, while thorough, fail to factor in the rankings of VT & Auburn at the time of the bowl games. Auburn was undefeated and higher ranked when playing Tech in the Sugar Bowl, so despite beating the Hokies, they’re ‘downgraded’ using your analysis for doing so? In 2010, once again undefeated and playing for the MNC, they’re downgraded for winning because they were favored to win?
Just to make sure it’s not lost in the statistics – Would you trade VT’s record over the last nine years for Auburn’s record, which features two undefeated seasons & a national championship? Yes or no?
Joe Hokie not to specifically call you out, but your rational and those like it does not make any sense. Who did all of these SEC teams beat to be ranked so high? No one. Well then of course since they are all undefeated or have great records when they start conference play, boom we have meetings of top 10 and top 15 teams… all the time. They don’t drop because they lost to a real good team, or they get a big boost because they beat a top 10 team. While not proving anything out of conference. They are ranked highly in preseason, schedule cupcakes then the SEC is highly ranked across the board over stating their dominance of college football. Yes they are the best conference, yes they have the best team (ALA) and yes it would be tougher for VT to get 6 wins, but if they played 4 cupcakes OOC they would only need 2 to achieve that goal.
So by the above logic all the SEC has to do to remain the “TOP” conference in college football is to continue to schedule cupcakes and stay ranked high in the preseason so their in conference games look impressive and can be used as an excuse to not schedule anyone.
For all 12 SEC teams there are 4 decent OOC wins, FSU, Clemson, LaTech, and Mich…. I believe this conference has an arguably just as strong OOC resume… Rutgers, Penn St., Cincy, Iowa *2, and beating numerous other mediocre big 6 confrence teams on the road during the year. The MAC. So if the MAC is like the 9th best conference in the country shouldn’t their OOC wins be so significantly worse than the NFL LITE confrence of the SEC??
No more preseason polls, (let’s say week 5 or 6 should be about right) would make the upcoming playoff way more interesting and probably give us a much better sample of who should be ranked where. Remember ARK was a top 10 team preseason.
I realize I’m very late to this post, so I don’t know if this will even be seen, but one thing I’d point out on bowl W-L records is the effect a school’s fanbase has on these games. If you look at the schools listed above, only Florida State has a good bowl record. While ours is the worst, the others aren’t much over .500.
The two Catholic FBS schools (I think they’re the only two), Notre Dame and BC, within the last few years, were sporting long bowl winning (BC) and losing (ND) streaks. If you think about it, and the subjectivity involved in bowl matchups, it completely makes sense. ND has a huge national following, and will therefore get into a better game/matchup than they deserve. As you would expect, they’ll usually lose those games. Conversely, BC has a tiny following, and would frequently get passed over for the better bowl games until they had to resort to a lesser game. Their teams were usually pretty good, but because of their (lack of) following, they’d end up playing against an outmatched team.
Just something to think about. While our traveling reputation probably isn’t as good as it once was, it’s still a positive. Given the subjectivity, we’ll often end up in (and lose) better bowls than we deserve.