In Other Bowl Action
8 comments so far
January 5, 2009 by
The Gator Bowl was obviously the high point of this bowl season for most Husker fans, but there have been a number of games since that night that were no doubt of at least moderate interest. The Orange Bowl featured 2008 and 2009 nonconference opponent Virginia Tech against Big East champion Cincinnati, the Cotton Bowl featured Texas Tech against a Mississippi team led by former Texas quarterback Jevan Snead, the Sugar Bowl featured BRN’s own blogpoll darling Utah, and the International Bowl featured Buffalo against Big East also-ran Connecticut. Texas plays Ohio State tonight in the Fiesta Bowl where they could conceivably earn a share of the national title.
Orange Bowl
The bad news for Nebraska is that the Hokies appear to have found a running back. Freshman Darren Evans was still a largely unknown quantity when he scored two touchdowns in Memorial Stadium. Against Cincinnati, he played like a senior as he did in most of the bigger games for Virginia Tech this year. With most of the offense back in Blacksburg next season, the NU defense will have to get better just to hold Tech to 35 points again.
Cotton Bowl
There were already plenty of reasons to expect the Red Raiders to take a step backward next season. The Cotton Bowl was just another one. With Michael Crabtree at less than 100%, the Red Raiders seemed a great deal easier to defend and he still caught a touchdown in the 34-47 loss by Tech. With Crabtree likely headed to the NFL, the Red Raiders lose their biggest playmaker, not to mention a quarterback in Graham Harrell who passed for over 5,000 yards, a wideout in Eric Morris with over 70 catches each of the past two seasons, their most productive running back in Shannon Woods, and a free safety who led the team with 7 interceptions. We also saw their head coach interview for a job outside Lubbock and then trailing by 10 with nearly nine minutes remaining in the third quarter, he decided to try a quarterback sneak on 4th and 4 on his own 37-yard line rather than punt the ball. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark, er, Texas, and it might be a head coach seeing his best days passing by and coming apart at the seams. Really, if the Red Raiders weren’t going to win their division this year, when was it going to happen? If Leach wasn’t going to get a better job this year, then when was that going to come along? We may have just witnessed Mike Leach “jumping the shark�. Snead looked great playing for Old Miss. If Colt McCoy does head for the NFL, Longhorn fans may spend two years watching Snead star for the Rebels and wishing he’d been willing to wait his turn in Austin.
Sugar Bowl
This one’s a little personal but all season I defended the small conference teams in our blogpoll ballot and the Sugar Bowl left me feeling 100% vindicated. Utah beat Alabama by more points than Florida did. And it was hardly a fluke. The Utes held the Crimson Tide to a measly 31 yards rushing and 208 total yards. If not for a 73-yard punt return for a touchdown by ‘Bama’s Javier Arenas, it would have been worse. Utah has been #1 on my ballot and Utah will remain #1 on my ballot.
International Bowl
Sadly, Buffalo’s magic season came to an end with a whimper against Connecticut. The Bulls built a 20-17 lead in the first half by capitalizing on fumbles by the Huskies. But UConn pulled away scoring all 21 second-half points in the game to win 38-20. Connecticut running back Donald Brown had a monster 261-yard outing to put himself over 2,000 yards for the season. Like Leach, you have to ask whether this was former NU quarterback Turner Gill’s best window of opportunity to make an exit and get a promotion. The Bulls lose their starting quarterback and some other key pieces. Turner will need yet another miracle season, it appears, if he wants to make that next step to a BCS school.
Fiesta Bowl
Texas could conceivably be in line for a share of the national championship with a convincing win over Ohio State. But does beating Ohio State badly in a bowl mean anything anymore? More likely, the Longhorns are playing for their right to complain about the BCS. A loss to the Buckeyes would end any claim they have to getting cheated out of a title shot.
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bnahusker Jan 05 09
Here is another reason that BRN is the first Husker site I visit each day.
You let us know what happened, how it happened and what it can mean for the future.
Your staff rocks!
GBR!
Bob
zE bOp Jan 05 09
I knew TT was going to get punched, out talented, and beat by Ol' MS, so no surprise there for me. TT will never win on the highest level just dinking and dunking w/o a strong running attack and DEFENSE!
VT's Evan's is no better or effective than Helu or Castille, so he doesn't worry me. If our D continues and improves over their Gator BO performance I very much like our chances against the Hokies next year. It will come down to our QB play.
Utah was much better than I thought, 'Bama has been overrated a bit, but I still think FL, OU, TX, and USC are better than the Utes.
Still, they could very well end up #2, though I would put them @ #5, assuming a TX win.
Too bad for the Fighting Gills, but I figured they were overmatched playing UConn and it
"TURNed" out that even "Turn(OV)er ball" couldn't secure a 'W'.
teamster Jan 05 09
One fairytale season ending with a bowl loss won't put Turner out of the picture for bigger and better things in the future. He'll still get a shot sometime, unless he goes out of character and throws a punch ala' Woody Hayes.
Like many others, I really, really, really appreciate your guy's analysis and well reasoned evaluations.
Austin Jan 05 09
My two best calls of the bowl season so far:
LSU beating Ga Tech, and Utah beating Alabama... yeah, I'm good.
I also thought Tx Tech would have trouble against Ole Miss... I remember when Tx Tech played Alabama in a bowl game a couple of years ago thinking that Tech would win, but Bama D was too much. So I knew Ole Miss's would be able to slow down Tech, but I was surprised at how easily Ole Miss won.
I feel stupid for believing the hype for Penn St. I remember seeing this match-up and originally thinking "USC is going to kill Penn St." But then listening to all the sports announcers out there I started to think "maybe Penn St has a chance." Maybe they did, but then Taylor Mays knocked it out of them..hahahaha
I say Texas beats Ohio St. I think OSU will limit Texas's ground game, but McCoy will be too much and make some plays. Pyror's scrambling will keep OSU in the game, but when OSU tries to pass, Orakpo will be all over them.
My new conference outlook after most of the bowl games: ACC - speediest, SEC - speedy with good power, Big 12 - power with good speed, Big 10 - all power.
P.S. any updates on Helu's and Dillard's health?
Austin Jan 05 09
Oh yeah, VT looked good. Good D, good run game, and Tyrod looked like a hero out there. Did you see that pose he did into the endzone? Amazing... reminds me of Michael Jordan sticking out his tongue as he dunks. Tyrod is going to be unstoppable next year.
HuskerDeck Jan 05 09
As usual I enjoyed this post. I think what is happening to Utah is shameful. I think the BCS is just a minor version of the way our country is run with special interest groups making the decisions instead of what is right and best for all involved. The insanity the people in charge use as excuses for not having a playoff never ceases to amaze me.
The ole Swede and Husker in South Arkansas
bnahusker Jan 05 09
I feel your pain HuskerDeck but it's all about the $$$$$$$$
The BCS schools set up a party and Utah was lucky to get invited. (Worthy, but not part of the "In" crowd.) Were it about fairness and what is right, VT and Cincy would have never met in The Orange Bowl.
GBR!
Bob
Bill in Iowa Jan 05 09
NU and T Tech were tied 24-24 with 6 minutes left in the game. It was 4th and 5 at the TTU 36 and Mad Mike Leach decides to go for it. Graham Harrell completes a pass to Michael Crabtree for 47 yards to the Neb 17 for a 1ST down. And the rest is history...
All I can say is I wished Mad Mike would have tried a QB sneak against us like he did in the Cotton Bowl! I guess if it had been 4th and FOUR at the 37 he would have?