The Week Of Bowls For Which NU Failed to Qualify
I had a wonderful Holiday season, filled with family and celebration. I'm looking forward to a rocking New Year's Eve with my wife and our friends. (We got a sitter...we're going out!). But, all of the merriment aside, there was an empty place in my heart as I watched the pre New Year's Day bowls this year. This was the week of games for which NU failed to qualify. Alas, no Shreveport, San Antonio or San Diego for Herbie's vacation. The least I can do to alleviate the pain is to offer my impressions of the Big 12 participants who did get to play this week.
Holiday Bowl Beat Bown
Texas represented the Big 12 well in sunny San Diego. I was happy for the conference, but took a beating in my bowl pool (for entertainment purposes only...). I foolishly thought Arizona State could be competitive with the Longhorns. Basically, I was guessing that Mack Brown's coaching would underwhelm, since UT is habitually loaded with top drawer athletes. A reminder of my not-so-hard rule to never "pick against athletes" in bowl games. In these neutral exhibitions, usually the most well stocked team wins. Case in point - Jamaal Charles.
Besides, how was I to know that Rudy freaking Carpenter would be running his yap at the UT players at the events leading up to the game? That is proof positive that he is a class-one idiot. You don't poke a sleeping bear.
The fact that ASU only meaningful score was aided by an "illegal touching" call against Mack Brown's step son (Chris Jessie) is so ripe with humor I don't even know where to start.
I'll just let the video and the fine folks at The Sporting Orange do all the heavy lifting. Enjoy.
Paterno Rises From Deathbed to Kick Aggie Ass
Oh how I love San Antonio! Just the very sight of the Alamodome field conjures visions of NU's past success on that field. With victorious Big 12 title games, Bo's first shot at being an (interim) head coach in 2003, and even one of the 'high points' of the Callahan era, it is easy to remember the Alamo. Sadly...NU didn't qualify this year. I'd have loved to see it. Instead we get A&M versus Penn State...which is quite a culture clash and battle of the brands.
Speaking of the culture clash...we got a superb example of why people from outside of A&M sometimes (often) look at their culture and roll their eyes. The whole "Maverick and Goose go to college" look the "yell leaders" have going is one thing, but this is pretty ridiculous.
Total disclosure, I'm not above making age-related remarks or jokes about Paterno, Bowden or even dear Tom Osborne. Yes, they are senior citizens. But, come on! This kind of stuff at a pep rally shared by both teams is over the line. I'm glad that young man was sent packing and that appropriate apologies were made. And, Paterno was classy enough to laugh it off.
In the actual Alamo Bowl game, the "athletes" theory applied again. I thought going in that PSU had a more talented squad overall, but they didn't show it early. A&M jumped out on them 14-0, and was looking like they might cruise. But, in a game that sort of mirrored the Aggie season, PSU rallied with 17- straight points and the Lions eventually triumphed. No Paterno didn't have a headset on. But, he didn't have to get out of a coffin, either.
The game was Paterno's 500th win and 23rd bowl game victory. That's impressive, regardless of his age. For A&M, it's a down ending to a downer of a season and a Franchione era that frankly deflated. Let the Mike Sherman era begin, I guess.
In the Next Great City of the South
During one of the commercial breaks for this game between Colorado and Alabama, the mayor of Shreveport called his city "the next great city of the South". Good luck with that, fella. Because one of the messages in the ad was about Shreveport having three kinds of freight transportation...water, air and a railroad. Oooooh, look honey - rail cars! But, as much as Shreveport may not be a destination location yet, I was especially disappointed that NU didn't qualify for this game. All they had to do was beat Colorado, and they could punch their ticket to the next great city of the South. But...nope. In watching the game, I was just little bit glad they didn't. Alabama is a tough draw.
Remember my bit about always picking the team with the best athletes? Well, this game bears that out. Alabama is FAST! Saban's team could be accused of under-performing their way in to this game, and it showed against CU. The Tide jumped all over Colorado for a 27-0 lead. CU showed some guts in clawing back in to the game. But, when your big play of the game is an under-thrown go route to an admittedly slow wide receiver, you've got problems.
Despite their talent, Alabama sputtered and spat like an uncooperative engine. And still, they secured at 30-24 win. Colorado can take some solace in the fact that they rebounded from 2-10 to a bowl qualification and that their quarterback (a true product of "Hawk love") is just going to be a sophomore next season.
YES! Skippy is Back!
In non-game related news, UCLA hired a head coach. His name brings a smile to NU fans everywhere. Ladies and gentlemen, Rick "Skippy" Neuheisel is back in coaching. After being spurned by many other possible coaches, UCLA landed on their one-time quarterback. Any person who has followed college football in the last decade knows that Neuheisel brings with him more baggage than just about any other coach in America.
Both Colorado and Washington found themselves in hot water following Neuheisel's time there. And yet, UCLA bought in to him. Proof positive that there are more jobs than really viable coaching candidates this year. Oh well, let the fun begin. If UCLA wanted to be relevant on the national level again, there is little doubt that "Skippy" can deliver that...one way or another.
Still need some validation that this is sure to go wrong? ESPN's Mark May reacted to Neuheisel's hiring by saying that in three years, UCLA's program will be thriving and very clean under his leadership. Considering May was the first person I ever heard suggest that NU look to hire Bill Callahan, I'm willing to bet the opposite.
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