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Bowl Wins: A Precursor of Future Success?

MontanaBuff

Well-Known Member
CU’s 2009 opponents posted a 6-1 bowl record this past month.
Is a bowl victory a harbinger for success the following season?

You hear it all bowl season long from the winning coaches: “This bowl victory is not the last game of 2008; it’s the first of 2009”. It is ingrained in our psyche: a bowl win sets the stage for success the next season; a bowl loss puts a damper on the off-season, and adversely affects the following season’s results. Granted, there are many factors which play into one season playing into the next. There is, of course, the turnover in personnel, possibly a turnover in coaches, and a change in the opposition to be faced. Still, the perception remains: the team which wins its bowl game has a leg up on the following season.

All three of CU’s Big 12 North opponents in 2009 which went bowling - Nebraska, Missouri, and Kansas - won their bowl games. The two non-conference opponents for next season which went bowling - Colorado State and West Virginia - won their bowls. Only Oklahoma State amongst CU’s 2009 opponents lost its bowl game. Will that make a difference for CU in 2009?

Well, let’s take a look. Using the University of Colorado’s bowl history as our guide, our crack CU at the Game staff (okay, me), discovered the following:

The Buffs have played in 28 bowl games, accumulating a 12-16 overall record.

In the 12 seasons the Buffs have played following bowl victories, CU has accumulated an overall record of 85-51-2, or a 62.3 winning percentage. Only three times, 1968, 1997 and 2000, have the Buffs followed a bowl victory with a losing season.

In the 16 seasons the Buffs have played following bowl losses, CU has accumulated an overall record of 108-73-4, or a 59.4 winning percentage. Six times, including 2006 and 2008, the Buffs have followed a bowl loss with a losing season (the Buffs were 6-6 in 1986).

Can any conclusions be drawn? Not really. The overall winning percentage is not significantly higher in the glow of a bowl win.

Compare, however, the past 16 seasons the Buffs have played after not participating in a bowl the season before (dating back to 1975). Over that span, Colorado has accumulated a 76-87-1 record, or a 46.6 winning percentage.

Yuck.

Okay, so that overall losing record includes a desolate run during the early 80's when the Buffs were not within sniffing distance of a bowl bid. Still, it is worthy of note that a CU team which does not go bowling, or which is a bowl loser, is more likely to have a frustrating season the following year than a CU team which has posted a bowl win the season before.

Looking for a silver lining?

Colorado has not followed a bowl-less season with another bowl-less season since 1983-84.

The Buffs will bounce back in 2009! :thumbsup:
 
Maybe the real significant thing is not winning or losing the Bowl game but rather going to a bowl game. Many coaches including Barnett and Hawkins have stated how important it is to get those extra practices that Bowl preparation allows teams. This is especially important for young teams.
 
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