BYU Football: Why the Independence Bowl is fine
By Adam Gibby
Shreveport, Louisiana on December 18th on ABC
If you are living in Utah, I’m sorry there is no way around this, it is a tough situation. Tickets to Shreveport are expensive and the road trip is well, a road trip. But what about all the fans in the South? This is a game that many Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Oklahoma fans can get to on a budget. Earlier in the year tickets to the Baylor game were insanely expensive, and Georgia Southern is about as far from Texas as Utah is. Shreveport is a location that many fans who never get to watch BYU will get to go to and get a good experience considering the food, culture and activities in the region are unique.
What about the time? While pre Christmas games seem to have a certain negative perception, ask yourself, would you rather the players, coaches and traveling fans be home for Christmas and play a 8-4 UAB or miss out on being home for Christmas and play a 6-6 West Virginia? While the differing opinions will create a split, the fact that there is a split makes it at least worth talking about.
Had BYU somehow found a way into another bowl, it would have been due to another conference not being able to fill spots. Well guess what? BYU would be snatching up the final slot for the Big 12 or ACC meaning their opponent would be, you guessed it, the last slot of that conference as well.
Finally, the game is on ABC. This isn’t some small ESPNU or FS2 bowl games that will go unnoticed. Casual college football fans who are eating up every last bit of football before the long winter called baseball season will be tuning into this game.
– – – – – – – – – – – – –
Am I making excuses and in denial? Perhaps. But I’d rather believe something that isn’t true and enjoy the game than loathe and be miserable about something I can’t change.