In 1979 ESPN was born ! Who knew they would destroy College Football !

Dec 21, 2023, 10:35 PM

ESPN launched on September 7, 1979, and is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.

Bowl Games from 1979 15 BG’s to the 43 current BG’s in 2023. As ESPN grew so did the number of BG’s and so did the ESPN $$$$$$$$$$ machine ! 86 teams qualify for a BG. South Florida is kicking Syracuse a$$. What an exciting BG.

500, isn't the postseason meant to celebrate the best-of-the best? Take a look at the history of bowl games in major college football, a number that grew from one in 1901 to five in 1940, eight in 1950 and 1960, 11 in 1970, 15 in 1980, 19 in 1990, 25 in 2000, 35 in 2010 and now, perhaps, 43 in 2015.

Before ESPN expended to a butt load of programming and channels that they had to fill, BG’s meat something. Especially when Clemson beat OSU in the 1978 Gator Bowl aka the Woody Bowl. There were 15 BG’s. The Gator Bowl was a big time bowl just below the New Years Day BG’s that decided the National Champion.

Now we have 43 BG’s. Teams with 6-6 records kick off the bowl season the famous Myrtle Beach Bowl, the really famous Cricket Celebration Bowl, the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, don’t miss the Gaspsrilla Bowl, the Pop Tart Bowl, the Pinstripe Bowl, the Fenway Bowl or the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. Wow some these names. I am waiting for the Ex-lax or the Always Tampon Bowl. All of the players get free samples for life. 😂

ESPN’s announcers keep referring this to bowl mania. I don’t know about many of you but it’s had to get excited about 43 crazy named BG’s with over 50 to 60% of the teams play in a BG that in the 70’s when BG’s use to mean something. I remember getting so excited when Clemson was invited to the Gator Bowl in 1978 ! Tickets were hard to come by. I would not be surprised if some BG’s let you in for free just to get a warm body in the stadium.