12.29.19 — The DW Sunday Column: The CFP is on the Saturday before New Year’s Day — Except When it is on New Year’s Day Every Two Years (Got it?)

My Fiesta Bowl tradition is messed up — but it is not the only one

Several years back, the Fiesta Bowl was on New Year’s Day. It was the last game of the day. I remember watching the Rose Bowl outside the Glendale, AZ stadium at Westgate on the outside big screen TV and then getting the final score on my phone while looking for my seats.

After the game, the challenge was to find a fast food drive-thru that was open on a holiday. I stated: “this is a great tradition.”

After that, I remember the Fiesta Bowl being the lead in game to the Rose Bowl. After the game, we went to a sports bar and watched the Rose Bowl on the big screens. I thought: “this is a great tradition.”

Well, a great tradition for that year.

I have “season tickets” to the Fiesta Bowl. At one time, that meant two games every fourth year, the bowl game and the BCS championship game. Now it means the game will be played once, and “somewhere” around the first of the year.

The Fiesta Bowl isn’t the only game floating around. This year, is the Cotton Bowl on Saturday or New Year’s Day? Where is the Orange Bowl? How can these bowls be part of the “New Year’s Six” when three or four of the bowls are “playing on some random date before New Year’s Day.”

Ok, great, we know that the Sugar Bowl and the Rose Bowl is on New Year’s Day each year. A late afternoon to evening to a night of watching college football. Is something wrong with this picture when two bowls get to knock all other bowls out of whack?

There is a good reason for this. Oh, wait, there is a reason for this. Two cities may deem it a good reason. According to USA Today, before the final details of the CFP, an agreement puts the kickoff of the Rose Bowl at 4 p.m. ET until 2026. A New Year’s evening slot for the Sugar Bowl was also contracted.

The first spin was to put the other games (Orange, Fiesta, Cotton and Peach) on New Year’s Eve, as a new tradition. That flopped, so that left the other four to turn into the “playing on some random date prior to New Year’s Day.”

People like tradition, something special they can count on, for instance, always knowing that the DW Sunday column will be available and fresh and new each Sunday.

That leads to my wish:

Give us New Year’s back. Make the Fiesta Bowl before the Rose Bowl or after. Let me get used to a traditional time slot, on a traditional day. I think others would like it too. Well, I guess other than Atlanta, Miami or Dallas.

References — Credits — Links — Sources

Article about bowls on New Year’s Day: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2019/12/26/college-football-playoff-needs-new-years-day-showcase-event/2750562001/

Picture credits: DP Watz