Why play a bowl game on Wednesday at 2 p.m.?



... Pinstripe Bowl should command more respect 

Playing a football game in the Big Apple is an exciting event since it is the only football game played in Manhattan. That is why the Pinstripe Bowl was started a few years ago, to attract attention and show what a great city New York is.

So, why then is the Pinstripe Bowl being played at 2 p.m. on a Wednesday afternoon? Today, the Pitt Panthers of the ACC face the Northwestern Wildcats of the Big Ten, but many fans of both teams will be working at that time.

If the Pinstripe Bowl was intended to bring attention to the Big Apple, why did it schedule it at this ridiculous time?

Oh, yes, ESPN. The network has only so many evening games because Jan. 1 is on a Sunday, and the usual college bowl extravaganza day is monopolized by the NFL in mostly throw-away games.

Hence, the Panthers will have to play to a meager television audience.

That is sad. Here is a team that beat the Big Ten champions, Penn State, the competitor in the Rose Bowl, and upset one of the competitors in the CFP title race, Clemson, giving them their only loss.

Alas, the Panthers put together a woeful pass defense that resulted in their losing four games, three in the ACC. Hence, the spot in the Pinstripe Bowl on a Wednesday afternoon.

Nevertheless, this could be a great win for the Panthers, who are favored by four points. First, they need a springboard to next year when they will have a new offensive coordinator, a new QB, and a new running back to replace the legendary James Connor.

Second, the ACC must prove how woeful the Big Ten was this year -- hence the emergence of Penn State and the ridiculous spot in the CFP of Ohio State. It needs a big, impressive win to send that message.

Northwestern, a 6-6 team that was fifth in the Big Ten's West out of seven teams, gives them the perfect opportunity to make that case.

So, Coach Pat Narduzzi, it is up to you to make the case that your 2016 season featured a better team than its four losses indicate. [Other than Miami, all of the losses were close.]

Good luck, Panthers!

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