Why getting to the Orange Bowl (again) is a HUGE

Dec 9, 2013, 10:36 AM

accomplishment for the program despite losing to the Coots again:

1) Obviously, $$$$$$$. Clemson pockets $17 million. (BTW, the Chick-Fil-A Bowl which some of the geniuses on here wanted to go to because "We're just gonna lose the OB" and "We don't deserve another bowl" pays out about $4 million.

2) Bowl practices: obviously we'd have bowl practices regardless of where the team went (which is, in and of itself a huge boon for developing young and RS players) but where would you rather spend your last few days practicing? ATL or So FL?

3) ESPN Pub Machine: despite the fact that there are no SEC teams playing, ESPN will be hyping this game for almost a month. That's good for exposure, that's great for recruiting. What game do you think gets advertised more--OB or Chick-Fil-A (or Capital One Bowl)?

4) Get to play one of the "big boys": sure everyone wanted a shot at Bama but we're going up against probably the second best coach in CFB and a team that's gone 24-1 over the last two years. Beating OSU would be huge for our program. I also think we match up better vs. OSU than Bama, especially WR vs. DB.

5) Redemption. Ask Reece Davis what happened last time we were in Miami. Shut everyone up by winning big this year.

Also, anyone saying we're only going because "the ACC is so weak" is a moron. A) Since the SEC bellwether is playing in the MNC, the ACC has checked that off this year. B) We've got TWO teams in a BCS Bowl for only the second time ever. And C) an NCAA-record 11 teams going to bowl games (not even the vaunted SEC has ever done that). Is the ACC the best conference? Probably not, but it's undeniably better than it ever was under TB (and Danny Ford) and is deeper than it's ever been. Winning 10 games (all by 10+ vs. ACC) is a huge deal still unless your head is up your ###.

End the season with a big BCS Bowl win over a top-10 OSU team and this season will have been a success.

GO TIGERS!!!