Originally Posted by
BrunswickDawg
The number of available bowls and the 12th cupcake game really benefited Mullen. In 1970, the 11 game schedule was added. If you go back to 1970 and add a 12th cupcake game and assume a win, and apply 6 wins making you bowl eligible you get this:
- 3 additional seasons of 9+ wins (plus additional 10 wins - '74, '76, '80)
- 7 additional "bowl eligible" seasons ('77, '82, '85, '86, '89, '90, '96)
- 4 seasons we were already "bowl eligible" but did not go to a bowl ('75, '76, '78, '97)
- 6 additional regular seasons of .500+
That would be a huge perception changer outside of the Croom Error, giving us 5 Bowls in the '70s (instead of 1); 6 in the '80s (instead of 2); and 8 in the 90s (instead of 5).
This should not detract from the job Mullen did - he did great. But, it does show the benefits the era gave him compared to others.