The Virginia football team returned to the bowl scene in 2017, ending a six-year hiatus from postseason play. The Cavaliers finished 6-6 in the regular season and drew a game with Navy in the Military Bowl in Annapolis, Maryland. That game, unfortunately, capped the season with a 49-7 loss.
Still, prior to that season-ending thud, UVA fans were excited about a bowl game and many liked the fact that it was in close proximity to Washington D.C. Then the weather forecast hit. The “99 Virginia Football Thoughts Before Kickoff” series is back for a quick bowl chat.
No. 75 – Keep That Cold Weather Gear
When the Military Bowl began on that Thursday afternoon, it took place with temperatures in the 20’s. The game started with a bang for the Cavaliers as Joe Reed sprinted 98 yards for a touchdown on the opening kickoff. For a few minutes on that Dec. 28 afternoon, UVA fans in attendance might have forgotten just what the forecast turned out to be. By the end of the rough loss, however, it probably felt extra frigid.
Why bring that up? Any fans that braved the temperatures for that contest might want to keep the cold weather gear.
According to an article in the Chicago Sun Times, citing ESPN’s Brett McMurphy, a new bowl game may hit the market in 2020 in Chicago. It would feature a Big Ten team vs. an ACC team at Wrigley Field per the report. Myrtle Beach and Charleston are two South Carolina cities that would like to host bowl games as well, but there’s not ACC tie-in there as of now.
If the conference’s bowl tie-ins stay the same as 2018 (announced here), that would add a third cold weather bowl destination to the list. The ACC has connections with the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit (six-year deal began in 2014) and the Pinstripe Bowl in New York (six-year deal began in 2014). Of course, the Music City Bowl in Nashville (not always an ACC team), the Belk Bowl in Charlotte (six-year deal began in 2014), and the Military Bowl in Annapolis (six-year contract began in 2013) could fall at potential cold weather sites too.
That means any teams qualifying for a bowl game from the ACC could have as many as six cold weather cities on the list in a given year depending on the forecasts. The average December temperature in Chicago is a high of 37 degrees. In New York, it’s 44 and in Detroit, it’s 35. Nashville (51), Charlotte (54), and Annapolis (49) all check in slightly higher for average December temps.
Prior to this past season’s trip to Annapolis, UVA’s previous two bowl games had been played in Jacksonville, Florida (68 degrees average temperature in December) for the 2008 Gator Bowl (following the 2007 season) and the 2011 Chick-Fil-A Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia (55 degrees average temperature in December).
Virginia has not made back-to-back bowl appearances since 2004 and 2005.
The “99 Virginia Football Thoughts Before Kickoff” series has discussed much more. The previous articles are below. Click away.
- No. 99 – The importance of a fast start
- No. 98 – The impact of early-ending careers
- No. 97 – Jordan Mack’s role
- No. 96 – Welcome Back
- No. 95 – Han Solo Says
- No. 94 -Smart Addition
- No. 93 – The Center Spot
- No. 92 – Finding A Punt Returner
- No. 91 – Facing Running Quarterbacks
- No. 90 – Interceptions
- No. 89 – Kickoff Times
- No. 88 – QB Optimism Not Enough To Tilt Early Predictions Too Far
- No. 87 – It Starts With Jordan Ellis
- No. 86 – Virginia’s Most Dangerous Game
- No. 85 – The Tight End Swan Song?
- No. 84 – Teach A Man To Fish
- No. 83 – No Ordinary Joe
- No. 82 – Now Or Then
- No. 81 – How To Treat The Kickoff Rule Change
- No. 80 – Play, But Still Redshirt
- No. 79 – Which Red Zone Offense Is The Real One?
- No. 78 – Schedule For Success
- No. 77 – Who’s The Worst?
- No. 76 – ACC Coach Rankings
I believe at least the bowl in Detroit is played in a dome, whereas the other northern bowl games are outside.
Yes, the game in Detroit is at Ford Field indoors. Tailgating and other bowl related fan activities may not be inside, though.