Selling tickets to visiting teams and how well those teams travel for bowl games has long been part of the equation when it comes time for college football bowl committees to hand out bowl game invitations. Iowa is one school that traditionally has traveled well to support their Hawkeyes football team but for this year's Insight Bowl in Tempe, Ariz., they are struggling to sell tickets.
According to a report in the Sioux City Journal, they have only sold about half of their 11,000 allotted tickets for the game on Dec. 28 in sunny Arizona. Iowa ticket manager Pam Finke didn't think that the recent drug scandal involving wide receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos or the suspension of star running back Adam Robinson is playing a role in the slow ticket sales. Finke blames the team's record and three-game losing streak.
"Folks were just disappointed with all the losses at the end of the season," she said. "This stuff (the suspensions) that happened in the past week or so I don't think had anything to do with it. By that time most people who were going to get tickets had already gotten them."
Meanwhile, the Missouri Tigers have put together a smoking deal for their student to attend the game. $99 gets them a bowl ticket, bus transportation to the game and four nights in hotels. The hotel stays will include two nights in Tempe, Ariz. and two on the road. The report does not say if beer is included in that price so we have to assume it is not.
Insight Bowl News - Iowa Football Links:
Hawkeyes still have tickets to sell
The University of Iowa has sold only a little more than half its allotted tickets for the Dec. 28 Insight Bowl and undoubtedly will need to foot the bill for a large quantity of unused tickets. Iowa ticket manager Pam Finke said Wednesday afternoon that she thought between 5,700 and 5,800 tickets had been sold through her office.
Black Heart Gold Pants - For Iowa Hawkeyes Fans
Still, it was certainly just a little surreal to see Gary Barta up there talking about Iowa's drug testing policy for an aggregate of about half an hour, all while Kirk Ferentz groused about the Internet like some sort of neo-Luddite (except, y'know, he was right this time) and 80% of the reporters danced around the words "drug dealer."
Shall we ramp up to the Insight Bowl with some frivolity? - Black Heart Gold Pants
After a hyper cursory analysis of Missouri football, there are a few things I noticed. So, in an effort to redirect the football conversation, here is my random, cherry picked list of 10 things worth noting about the Missouri Tigers.
Hawkeye Sports - University of Iowa Official Athletic Site
The University of Iowa ranks 12th in Graduation Success Rate (GSR) among the 70 college football teams that will be participating in bowl games in the coming weeks. The UI also ranks third among the eight Big Ten Conference teams that will be participating in post-season events.
Hawkeye Sports - University of Iowa Official Athletic Site
Former Iowa football players Aaron Kampman and Andre Tippett were tabbed Insightful Players by Insightful Players, LLC. The Insighful Player team members are individuals that believed in themselves and relentlessly pursued their most far-reaching dreams, which resulted in a career in the National Football League.
Insight Bowl News - Mizzou Football Links:
The Maneater – MU offers students travel options to Insight Bowl
The Department of Student Life has organized a bus trip for MU students to attend the Mizzou vs. Iowa showdown in the 2010 Insight Bowl on Dec. 28. There are 100 spaces available for $99 a piece.
Football season in review: Mizzou 23, Illinois 13 | KBIA Sports Extra
Leading up to Mizzou’s Dec. 28 Insight Bowl matchup against Iowa, KBIA Sports Extra will provide game-by-game looks back at the Tigers’ 10-2 2010 season.
Four Missouri underclassmen to gauge their worth in NFL Draft - KansasCity.com
Missouri defensive ends Aldon and Jacquies Smith, quarterback Blaine Gabbert and tight end Michael Egnew told PowerMizzou.com on Sunday they will enter their names for consideration in the 2011 NFL Draft. The expectation is that all four will wind up returning to Missouri,
Mizzou TE Michael Egnew Lands On AP All-American First-Team - SB Nation Kansas City
The Missouri Tigers tight end has been named an Associated Press All-American -- first team, no less. Egnew was honored earlier this week with his placement on the first team of the Walter Camp Football Foundation's All-American squad.
Insight Bowl's Recent History Favors Mizzou Tigers Over Iowa Hawkeyes - SB Nation Kansas City
Recent history appears to be on the Big 12's side and Missouri only wishes it was the University of Minnesota listed opposite them in this year's slate.