It depends what the definition of "casual" is. Most college football fans know what a sorry season FSU had in comparison to their history. Most know they canned their coach, I would bet. If we beat them, it would be a "MEH" to "casual" fans. If we got beat by them, it would be "LATECH was overrated". Just my most humble opinion and not based on any real facts whatsoever.
My preference: Knowing that Texas athletes makes up so much of our recruiting base, I still want LA Tech to appear in the First Responders Bowl, on Dec 30th, on SMU's campus, against a Big 12 team.
A "Battle of the Tech's", between LA Tech vs Texas Tech would be ideal, and a great way to make LA Tech's name more familiar to fans and recruits throughout Texas. We would also have a packed house for the game too. TT travels very well.
I really don't think it matters much at all. If you know enough to know that App. State is better than Florida State this season, you know more or less who and what we are. If you are a football fan that would dismiss a win over App (or think a loss to them was a bad loss) then it probably doesn't matter what we do short of a NY6 game. You're never going to get it.
The haters are going to spin any bowl with any result away. It's what they do. The fans/SID/recruiters will (and should) spin any bowl with any result positively.
I heard Jay Bilas say something to this affect......
I think Izzo felt his team would compete better in a game with Duke. They didn’t appear to be competing the way they should have.
All I could think was, “Holtz is a commentator on ESPN?”
It would mean a lot to me here in NW Florida. This area is infested with FSU fans. And since we would not play FSU for another 10 years or so, bragging rights would remain intact. Much like being able to tell the legions of Alabama fans (also critical level of infestation) that "yeah, we have beat y'all the last three times we played y'all". The confused look on their face is always laugh worthy. http://www.winsipedia.com/alabama/vs/louisiana-tech
On the Alabama note, what's the back story on why did Alabama forfeit in 1993 after Tech had them @ 56-3?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993_A..._football_team
In 1995, the NCAA found Antonio Langham guilty of receiving improper benefits after signing with an agent following the 1992 season, forcing Alabama to forfeit all games in which Langham competed.[2]Officially, Alabama finished the season with a 1–12 record, only winning their bowl game. [3]
Yahoo Sports this afternoon has Liberty vs So Miss in Indy, Tech vs West Mich in First Responders. Where do they get these?
Of course, I have loved going to our three DFW bowls.