College Football Bowls

Here's a letter I just sent to Sports Illustrated this morning.  It concerns the fact that in a time of economic hardship, when fewer and fewer people can afford to keep their cable TV subscriptions all but 3 of the upcoming college football games are on ESPN.  Personally, I've long since given up my cable subscription and I'm limited to the alphabet soup TV that's broadcast over the airwaves. 

Dear sir,

I was trying to write a letter for submission on a topic that's being ignored so far. There are roughly 30+ bowl games being televised this year. Yet, only 2 are being televised on non-cable television. As someone who can no longer afford to purchase cable television, and as an avid college football fan this distresses me greatly.

For the first time in my life, I won't be able to see any of the significant college football games, as nearly all will be on ESPN which is cable-access only. Most of my neighbors here in metro-Baltimore are unemployed as well and have long since given up their cable subscription. Short of going to a bar, that I can't afford to buy drinks or food in, I won't be watching any of the bowl games.

Yet, no-one seems interested in covering this story. As a print and online magazine I had hoped that perhaps, you might write something about this.

Sincerely,

Richard A. Vail
Pikesville, MD

2010-11 College Football Bowl Schedule
Bowl Location Date/Time Network

New Mexico  BYU vs. UTEP Albuquerque, N.M.
University Stadium Dec. 18  2 p.m. ESPN

uDrove Humanitarian
Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State Boise, Idaho
Bronco Stadium Dec. 18   5:30 p.m. ESPN

R+L Carriers New Orleans
Ohio vs. Troy New Orleans
Louisiana Superdome Dec. 18  9 p.m. ESPN

Beef 'O' Brady's St. Petersburg
Southern Mississippi vs. Louisville St. Petersburg, Fla.
Tropicana Field Dec. 21  8 p.m. ESPN

MAACO Las Vegas
Utah vs. Boise State Las Vegas
Sam Boyd Stadium Dec. 22  8 p.m. ESPN

S.D. County Credit Union Poinsettia
Navy vs. San Diego State San Diego
Qualcomm Stadium Dec. 23 8 p.m. ESPN

Sheraton Hawaii
Hawaii vs. Tulsa Honolulu
Aloha Stadium Dec. 24 8 p.m. ESPN

Little Caesars
Florida International vs. Toledo Detroit
Ford Field Dec. 26  8:30 p.m. ESPN

AdvoCare V100 Independence
Air Force vs. Georgia Tech Shreveport, La.
Independence Stadium Dec. 27   5 p.m. ESPN2

Champs Sports
West Virginia vs. NC State Orlando, Fla.
Florida Citrus Bowl Dec. 28   6:30 p.m. ESPN

Insight
Missouri vs. Iowa Tempe, Ariz.
Sun Devil Stadium Dec. 28  10 p.m. ESPN

Military Bowl Presented By Northrop Grumman
East Carolina vs. Maryland Washington, D.C.
RFK Stadium Dec. 29   2:30 p.m. ESPN

Texas
Illinois vs. Baylor Houston
Reliant Stadium Dec. 29   6 p.m. ESPN

Valero Alamo
Oklahoma State vs. Arizona San Antonio
Alamodome Dec. 29  9:15 p.m. ESPN

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces
Army vs. SMU Dallas
Gerald J. Ford Stadium Dec. 30  Noon ESPN

New Era Pinstripe
Kansas St. vs. Syracuse Bronx, N.Y.
Yankee Stadium Dec. 30  3:20 p.m. ESPN

Franklin American Mortgage Music City
North Carolina vs. Tennessee Nashville, Tenn.
LP Field Dec. 30   6:40 p.m. ESPN

Bridgepoint Education Holiday
Nebraska vs. Washington San Diego
Qualcomm Stadium Dec. 30  10 p.m. ESPN

Meineke Car Care
South Florida vs. Clemson Charlotte, N.C.
Bank of America Stadium Dec. 31   Noon ESPN

Hyundai Sun
Notre Dame vs. Miami El Paso, Texas
Sun Bowl Dec. 31   2 p.m. CBS

AutoZone Liberty
Georgia vs. UCF Memphis, Tenn.
Liberty Bowl Dec. 31   3:30 p.m. ESPN

Chick-fil-A
South Carolina vs. Florida State Atlanta
Georgia Dome Dec. 31   7:30 p.m. ESPN

TicketCity
Northwestern vs. Texas Tech Dallas
Cotton Bowl Jan. 1   Noon ESPNU

Outback
Florida vs. Penn State Tampa, Fla.
Raymond James Stadium Jan. 1   1 p.m. ABC

Capital One
Alabama vs. Michigan State Orlando, Fla.
Florida Citrus Bowl Jan. 1   1 p.m. ESPN

Gator Bowl
Mississippi State vs. Michigan Jacksonville, Fla.
Municipal Stadium Jan. 1  1:30 p.m. ESPN2

Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO
Wisconsin vs. TCU Pasadena, Calif.
Rose Bowl Jan. 1  5 p.m. ESPN

Tostitos Fiesta
Connecticut vs. Oklahoma Glendale, Ariz.
U. of Phoenix Stadium Jan. 1  8:30 p.m. ESPN/ESPN3D

Discover Orange
Stanford vs. Virginia Tech Miami
Sun Life Stadium Jan. 3   8:30 p.m. ESPN

Allstate Sugar
Ohio State vs. Arkansas New Orleans
Louisiana Superdome Jan. 4  8:30 p.m. ESPN

GoDaddy.com
Middle Tennessee vs. Miami (Ohio) Mobile, Ala.
Ladd-Peebles Stadium Jan. 6  8 p.m. ESPN

AT&T Cotton
LSU vs. Texas A&M Arlington, Texas
Cowboys Stadium Jan. 7 8 p.m. FOX

BBVA Compass Bowl
Pittsburgh vs. Kentucky Birmingham, Ala.
Legion Field Jan. 8  Noon ESPN

Kraft Fight Hunger
Nevada vs. Boston College San Francisco
AT&e Park Jan. 9  9 p.m. ESPN

Tostitos BCS National Championship Game
Oregon vs. Auburn Glendale, Ariz.
U. of Phoenix Stadium Jan. 10   8:30 p.m. ESPN/ESPN

For the first time in history, not one major bowl will be available for the average non-cable viewer.  Only 3 minor bowl games will be broadcast, one each on ABC, CBS and Fox.  This is a disgrace.  Now the majority of viewers will not be able to see these games.  I suspect that viewership will be the lowest in history because of this.  I for one won't be watching, because I can't afford cable any more.  Because of the failing economy, neither can, literally, millions of others. 

So, for the first time in my life, I won't be watching any bowl games this season.  Thanks ABC...for ceding your place as the network bowl channel.