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Worst Ideas for College Bowl Games

Bill Sullivan — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:56:45 +0000

The Rose Bowl is The Granddaddy of Them All. It’s the oldest (dating back to 1902) and arguably the most prestigious of all postseason college bowl games, which occupy (and, in some cases, litter) the sporting landscape from December through the National Championship Game.

The scramble for corporate sponsorships can make for strange bedfellows. Who, after all, could have envisioned a Bell Helicopters Armed Services Bowl? Or a San Diego Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl? Or the Meineke Car Care Bowl?

Then again, the odd-sounding bowl game is not exactly a new concept. Remember the Great Lakes Bowl? Or the Mercy Bowl? Or how about the Presidential Cup?

Didn’t think so. Here, then, is wistful look back at some postseason “classics” that didn’t quite capture the public’s fancy — once again proving that the more things change, the more they remain the same:

– Aviation Bowl: An idea that never quite took flight, this one was played just once, in December of 1961, in Dayton, Ohio. New Mexico beat Western Michigan, 28-12.

– Bacardi Bowl: Sponsored by the Cuban National Sports Federation, this was another one-time event, with Auburn and Villanova playing to a 7-7 tie on Jan. 1, 1937.

– Bluegrass Bowl: The first and only of its kind took place in Louisville, Ky., on Dec. 13, 1958. Oklahoma State beat Florida State, 15-6.

– Camellia Bowl: Ever dreamed of a postseason trip to Lafayette, La.? On Dec. 30, 1948, Hardin-Simmons beat Wichita State, 49-12, in this bowl’s first and last trip across the postseason stage.

Heisman Trophy winners

Bill Sullivan — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 16:00:15 +0000

When it comes to the Heisman Trophy, youth is being served.

In 2009, Alabama running back Mark Ingram became the third consecutive sophomore to win college football’s most prestigious award. Ingram followed in the footsteps of Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford (2008) and Florida quarterback Tim Tebow (2007).

Since the trophy was first presented in 1935, the honor has grown in stature, to the point where colleges campaign shamelessly for their candidates of choice. Winning the Heisman is no guarantee of professional success, as the names below clearly indicate. Still, it’s a cool thing to have on your resume, and even if you’re a guy who doesn’t care much for individual honors, it makes a heckuva doorstop.

Here’s a list of winners:

1935: Jay Berwanger, Chicago, RB
1936: Larry Kelley, Yale, END
1937: Clint Frank,Yale, QB
1938: Davey O’Brien, TCU, QB
1939: Nile Kinnick, Iowa, RB
1940: Tom Harmon, Michigan, RB
1941: Bruce Smith, Minnesota, RB
1942: Frank Sinkwich, Georgia, RB
1943: Angelo Bertelli, Notre Dame, QB
1944: Les Horvath, Ohio State, QB
1945: Doc Blanchard, Army, FB
1946: Glenn Davis, Army, RB
1947: John Lujack, Notre Dame, QB
1948: Doak Walker, Southern Methodist, RB
1949: Leon Hart, Notre Dame, E
1950: Vic Janowicz, Ohio State, RB
1951: Dick Kazmaier, Princeton RB
1952: Billy Vessels, Oklahoma, RB
1953: John Lattner, Notre Dame, RB
1954: Alan Ameche, Wisconsin, FB
1955: Howard Cassady, Ohio State, RB
1956: Paul Hornung, Notre Dame, QB
1957: John David Crow, Texas A&M, RB
1958: Pete Dawkins, Army, RB
1959: Billy Cannon, Louisiana State, RB
1960: Joe Bellino, Navy, RB

Final BCS Standings 2009

Bill Sullivan — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 02:00:21 +0000

The final Bowl Championship Series standings were released on Dec. 6, matching No. 1 Alabama against No. 2 Texas in the national championship game Jan. 7 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.

Alabama moved up a notch after an emphatic win over Florida in the Southeastern Conference championship game. Texas, however, needed a last-second field goal to stave off an upset bid by Nebraska in the Big 12 title game. The Longhorns still finished comfortably ahead of No. 3 Cincinnati in the last BCS poll.

BCS rankings combine the USA Today Coaches Poll, the Harris Interactive poll, and the average of six computer rankings.

Here’s how it works, courtesy of USA Today:

“To derive a team’s poll percentages in the Harris Interactive and USA TODAY polls, each team’s point total is divided by a maximum 2850 possible points in the Harris Interactive Poll and 1575 possible points in the USA TODAY Poll.

“Teams are assigned an inverse point total (25 for #1, 24 for #2, etc.) for each of their respective computer poll rankings to determine the overall computer component. The highest and lowest ranking for each team is dropped, and the sum total of the remaining four rankings is divided by 100 (the maximum possible points). This figure produces a Computer Rankings Percentage. The six computer ranking providers are Anderson & Hester, Richard Billingsley, Colley Matrix, Kenneth Massey, Jeff Sagarin and Peter Wolfe. Each computer ranking accounts for schedule strength within its formula.

“The BCS Average is calculated by averaging the percent totals of the Harris Interactive and USA TODAY Polls, and Computer rankings. The highest BCS Average receives the #1 ranking, the second highest receives #2, and so forth.”

Here are the Top 10:

1. Alabama — .9978
2. Texas — .9433
3. Cincinnati — .8878
4. TCU — .8836
5. Florida — .8637
6. Boise State– .8106
7. Oregon– .7568
8. Ohio State– .6568
9. Georgia Tech– .6471
10. Iowa — .6180

To read more about the individual breakdowns, visit USA Today.

USA Today Coaches’ Poll 11/22

Bill Sullivan — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:00:15 +0000

As the 2009 college football season winds to a close, the cast of characters competing for the national title remains pretty much static.

Defending national champion Florida continues to lead the USA Today Coaches Poll, with Alabama No. 2 and Texas No. 3. Upstart TCU checks in at No.4, hoping at least two of the teams at the top will slip up and allow the Horned Frogs a berth in the big game.

Here’s the entire Top 25, with first places votes, season records, and total points:

1. Florida (47), 11-0 (1,459)
2. Texas (4) 11-0 (1,398)
3. Alabama (8) 11-0 (1,388)
4. TCU 11-0 (1,279)
5. Cincinnati 10-0 (1,224)
6. Boise State 11-0 (1,181)
7. Georgia Tech 10-1 (1,125)
8. Ohio State 10-2 (1,031)
9. Pittsburgh 9-1 (1,021)
10. Oregon 9-2-1 (941)
11. Penn State 10-2 (843)
12. Oklahoma State 9-2 (815)
13. Iowa 10-2 (714)
14. Virginia Tech 8-3 (656)
15. Brigham Young 9-2 (510)
16. Clemson 8-3 (467)
17. LSU (FL) 8-3 (463)
18. Oregon State 8-3 (450)
19. Utah 9-2 (318)
20. Houston 9-2 (305)
21. Miami 8-3 (266)
22. Southern Cal 7-3 (261)
23. Nebraska 8-3 (191)
24. North Carolina 8-3 (167)
25. Mississippi 8-3 (165)

Source: USA Today

BCS bowl schedule 2010

Bill Sullivan — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:15:17 +0000

With college football’s high sheriffs still resisting the idea of a playoff, fans hope there will be no repeat of the 2008 drama, when Texas and Oklahoma supporters sniped over OU’s trip to the Bowl Championship Series title game despite a regular season loss to the Longhorns.

That wasn’t much fun on either side of the Red River, and who’s to say it can’t happen again? For the moment, despite its flaws, the BCS is the in-place solution for deciding a national champion. The 2009 winner will be determined on Jan. 7 in Pasadena, Calif. The complaining and second-guessing will precede and follow the game.

Here’s the entire BCS schedule. (All times listed are Eastern):

Jan. 7: BCS Championship Game, Pasadena, Calif., 8 p.m. (BCS No. 1 vs. BCS No. 2)
Jan. 5: Orange Bowl, Miami, 8 p.m.
Jan. 4: Fiesta Bowl, Glendale, Ariz., 8 p.m.
Jan. 1: Sugar Bowl, New Orleans, La., 8:30 p.m.
Jan. 1: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif., ABC 5 p.m.

Related Products List:

Bowls, Polls, and Tattered Souls: Tackling the Chaos and Controversy That Reign over College Football – Stewart Mandel

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CBS Sports college football broadcast team

Bill Sullivan — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:15:16 +0000

Here’s the lineup of broadcasters for CBS Sports’ coverage of college football 2009:

Craig Bolerjack
Tim Brando
Gary Danielson
Verne Lundquist
Spencer Tillman
Tracy Wolfson

Top college football games 2009

Bill Sullivan — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 13:15:27 +0000

It’s almost time to tee it up in packed football stadiums across the nations, and Rivals.com is out with its list of games you won’t want to miss in 2009.

Best of the best? Try to be in Dallas on Oct. 17. But, if you can’t make it, there’s plenty more to choose from.

Here are the Top 10:

1. Oklahoma vs. Texas in Dallas, Oct. 17

2. Florida at LSU, Oct. 10

3. LSU at Alabama, Nov. 7

4. Ohio State at Penn State, Nov. 7

5. Alabama vs. Virginia Tech in Atlanta, Sept. 5

6. Texas at Oklahoma State, Oct. 31

7. USC at Ohio State, Sept. 12

8. Oklahoma State at Oklahoma, Nov. 28

9. USC at California, Oct. 3

10. Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech, Oct. 17

To see more, visit Rivals.com

Check out an analysis of the upcoming Southeastern Conference season from CBS Sports:

Non-BCS bowl schedule 2009-10

Bill Sullivan — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:15:54 +0000

Critics argue that the Bowl Championship Series has created a situation in which all but one game is rendered meaningless. That may be true in terms of determining a national champion, but it doesn’t mean these “off-brand” games can’t be a lot of fun. In many years, in fact your Alamos and Cottons and Holidays are the most entertaining match-ups of the postseason.

What they may lack in quality, they more than make up for in volume. Here’s a 2009-10 list of non-BCS bowls. (All times listed are Eastern.) Plan your couch-potato season accordingly:

Jan. 6: GMAC Bowl, Mobile, Ala., 7 p.m. (MAC vs. ACC No. 9)
Jan. 2: Alamo Bowl, San Antonio, 9 p.m. (Big Ten No. 4/5 vs. Big 12 No. 5)
Jan. 2: Liberty Bowl, Memphis, Tenn., 5:30 p.m. (C-USA No. 1 vs. SEC)
Jan. 2: Cotton Bowl, Arlington, Tex., 2 p.m. (Big 12 No. 2 vs. SEC)
Jan. 2: Papajohns.com Bowl, Birmingham, Ala., 2 p.m. (Big East vs. SEC)
Jan. 2: International Bowl, Toronto, Noon (Big East vs. MAC)
Jan. 1: Gator Bowl, Jacksonville, Fla., 1 p.m. (ACC No. 3 vs. Big East or Big 12)
Jan. 1: Capital One Bowl, Orlando, Fla., 1 p.m. (Big Ten No. 2 vs. SEC No. 2)
Jan. 1: Outback Bowl, Tampa, Fla., 11 a.m. (Big Ten No. 3 vs. SEC)
Dec. 31: Chick-fil-A Bowl, Atlanta, 7:30 p.m. (SEC vs. ACC No. 2)
Dec. 31: Insight Bowl, Tempe, Ariz., 5:30 p.m. (Big Ten No. 6 vs. Big 12 No. 6)
Dec. 31: Sun Bowl, El Paso, Tex., Noon (Pac-10 No. 3 vs. Big 12 or Big East)
Dec. 31: Armed Forces Bowl, Fort Worth, Tex., TBA (MWC vs. C-USA)
Dec. 30: Holiday Bowl, San Diego, Calif., 8 p.m. (Pac-10 No. 2 vs. Big 12 No. 3)
Dec. 30: Texas Bowl, Houston, 8 p.m. (Big 12 No. 8 vs. Navy*)
Dec. 30: Humanitarian Bowl, Boise, Idaho, 4:30 p.m. (WAC vs. MWC)
Dec. 29: Champs Sports Bowl, Orlando, Fla., 8 p.m. (ACC No. 4 vs. Big Ten No. 4/5)
Dec. 29: EagleBank Bowl, Washington D.C., 4:30 p.m. (Army** vs. ACC No. 8)
Dec. 28: Independence Bowl, Shreveport, La., 5 p.m. (Big 12 vs. SEC)
Dec. 27: Music City Bowl, Nashville, Tenn., 8:15 p.m. (SEC vs. ACC No. 5/6/7)
Dec. 26: Emerald Bowl, San Francisco, 8:30 p.m. (ACC No. 5/6/7 vs. Pac-10)
Dec. 26: Meineke Car Care Bowl, Charlotte, N.C. , 4 p.m. (ACC No. 5/6/7 vs. Big East No. 3)
Dec. 26: Motor City Bowl, Detroit, Mich., 5 p.m. (MAC vs. Big Ten No. 7)
Dec. 24: Hawaii Bowl, Honolulu, 8 p.m. (WAC vs. C-USA)
Dec. 23: Poinsettia Bowl, San Diego, Calif., 8 p.m. (MWC vs. Pac-10 No. 6)
Dec. 22: Las Vegas Bowl, Las Vegas, Nev., 8 p.m. (Pac-10 vs. MWC No. 1)
Dec. 20: New Orleans Bowl, New Orleans, 8 p.m. (Sun Belt No. 1 vs. C-USA)
Dec. 19: St. Petersburg Bowl, St. Petersburg, Fla., 8 p.m. (Big East vs. C-USA)
Dec. 19: New Mexico Bowl, Albuquerque, N.M., 4:30 p.m. (MWC vs. WAC)

* Assumes Navy is bowl-eligible
* Assumes Army is bowl-eligible

AP preseason college football poll

Bill Sullivan — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:58:29 +0000

f the 2009 preseason college football polls are to be believed, there’s not much point in playing the season. When the Associated Press anointed Florida as No. 1 at the start, it made for pretty much a clean sweep for the Gators.

The defending national champions received 58 of 60 first place votes. No. 2 Texas got the others.

Here’s how they’ll break from the gate:

1. Florida
2. Texas
3. Oklahoma
4. Southern California
5. Alabama
6. Ohio State
7. Virginia Tech
8. Mississippi
9. Oklahoma State
T9. Penn State
11. LSU
12. California
13. Georgia
14. Boise State
15. Georgia Tech
16. Oregon
17. TCU
18. Florida State
19. Utah
20. BYU
21. North Carolina
22. Iowa
23. Notre Dame
24. Nebraska
25. Kansas

USA Today preseason football poll

Bill Sullivan — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 21:44:13 +0000

Who is on the fast track to the 2009 college football national championship? Preseason polls don’t guarantee anything once the games begin, but they can make sure a team doesn’t have to move up too far to stay in the conversation.

Here’s the way the horses will line up at starting gate according to the coaches who vote in the USA Today poll, with first-place votes included:

1. Florida (53)
2. Texas (4)
3. Oklahoma (1)
4. Southern California (1)
5. Alabama
6. Ohio State
7. Virginia Tech
8. Penn State
9. LSU
10. Mississippi
11. Oklahoma State
12. California
13. Georgia
14. Oregon
15. Georgia Tech
16. Boise State
17. TCU
18. Utah
19. Florida State
20. North Carolina
21. Iowa
22. Nebraska
23. Notre Dame
24. Brigham Young
25. Oregon State

To see the entire poll, visit USA Today.com