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Bagpipe Monday: What bowl game would you rather have Notre Dame play?

I hear New York is LOVELY this time of year.

By Joshua Vowles
NCAA Football: Birmingham Bowl-South Florida vs South Carolina Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome to another Bagpipe Monday on One Foot Down! Friends, there has been quite a lot of backlash from fans of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish about the bowl game destination. Perhaps, more accurately, it has much more to do with their opponent in the Camping World Bowl — the Iowa State Cyclones.

Bagpipe Monday Notre Dame @phillykelly

I became resigned to Notre Dame’s fate to play in the Camping World Bowl weeks ago, but I came to that zen like state based on the possibility of facing either the Texas Longhorns or the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The name of the bowl game isn’t what matters to me once it’s out of the New Years Six, it what game makes the most interesting matchup — and Texas and OSU make much more interesting games on different levels than Iowa State. Even the Kansas State Wildcats would have offered something (like a weird throwback make-up game for the 2012 never-was game).

Here we are though with a 7-5 Cyclone team that many say is dangerous — and yet 7-5. It’s not a sexy matchup, and the most interesting thing that people can say about it is that maybe Matt Campbell will be on the short list to replace Brian Kelly in 3-5 years.

Joy.

It’s why I tweeted this out — and meant every word of it:

Rather than complaining or providing the many valid reasons why Notre Dame deserves a better bowl game, I chose a “lesser” bowl in our bowl arrangement for a more interesting game.

Here are the other non NY6 bowl games Notre Dame was eligible for this year and who’s playing in them. Just sub ND for the ACC team:

Is there a matchup here that you would rather see than what we have in the Camping World Bowl?

Poll

Other bowl opponents I’d rather play than Iowa State...

This poll is closed

  • 6%
    Kentucky / BELK
    (53 votes)
  • 22%
    Sparty / PINSTRIPE
    (201 votes)
  • 11%
    Miss St. / MUSIC CITY
    (98 votes)
  • 11%
    AZ St. / SUN
    (104 votes)
  • 0%
    Temple / MILITARY
    (2 votes)
  • 0%
    LA Tech / INDEPENDENCE
    (5 votes)
  • 0%
    EMU / QUICK LANE
    (3 votes)
  • 8%
    Cincy / BIRMINGHAM
    (77 votes)
  • 38%
    I’m fine with ISU and the Camping World
    (338 votes)
881 votes total Vote Now

This is our reality — WAKE UP! Here are your pipes:

In This Stream

2019 Notre Dame Football: Iowa St. Cyclones in the Camping World Bowl

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