Our panel of semi-pro pros discussed just exactly why we love college football and have Bowl Mania. Is it the playoff-like atmosphere for 35 games in 24 days? The trickery and football savvy that the coaches and players bring to each game? Is it the sweet names that companies spend tons of money on so people can forget anyways? If you answered yes to these questions, than you too have Bowl Mania. Let's break it down:
I talked (not really, texted, which is probably cheaper than calling anyways, weird..) with CSU East Bay athletes Lincoln Clapper and Nick McManus as to why they love bowl games. Clapper, who is majoring in college football in the fall/winter and NCAA bracketology in the Spring, says that bowl games, "match up schools against each other that you would never see during the regular season," and I couldn't agree more. Bowl games are set up to feature the best of each conference, and this in turn, creates interesting and entertaining match-ups.
Power hitting switch hitting third baseman McManus adds simply, "why do we like playoffs? Its the best of the best." That is exactly what we get this month, and on the 18th day of Christmas, ESPN is giving us the New Mexico Bowl, Humanitarian Bowl, and the night cap, New Orleans bowl. So as Antonio Cromartie when with THE San Diego Chargers once said, "I hope y'all brought y'all's popcorn and drinks, cuz there's about ta be a show." I couldn't have said it better myself.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
The Game Plan, w/ Troy University's wide out, Jason Bruce
I was blessed with the opportunity to ask Troy University's Senior standout wide receiver Jason Bruce a few questions about their upcoming game against Ohio this Saturday. Here is what he had to say.
Question: What is it like to be a wide receiver on one of the nation's most dynamic passing attacks?
J. Bruce: "It feels good to be a part of an explosive offense knowing that we have a lot of weapons and we use them in so many ways!"
Q: With the game being in Louisiana and relatively close to campus, do you think you guys will have a sizable advantage over Ohio in that sense?
Bruce: "I feel like we have the upper hand because the game is in the south and for me, it's like I'm playing in my backyard because I'm from Natchez, Mississippi which is not far from New Orleans.."
Q: Lastly, with all of the excitement and energy around a bowl game, how do you keep your focus before the game, during the game, etc.
Bruce: "Well I know why we are here and that's to win a game...of course I'm going to have fun and enjoy myself but at the same time, I want to take care of business and that's get a "W" Saturday night...So staying focused won't be hard for me but I know I love winning and that's what I plan to do Saturday."
Jason is tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns with 5, and is averaging 46.2 yards per game, so he has proved to be one of red-shirt Freshman QB Corey Robinson's favorite targets. Jason's first career touchdown came on a trick play in the 09' season, so maybe we can expect to see some more trickery this Saturday night as the high-flying Trojans take on the Bobcats in the Superdome.
Question: What is it like to be a wide receiver on one of the nation's most dynamic passing attacks?
J. Bruce: "It feels good to be a part of an explosive offense knowing that we have a lot of weapons and we use them in so many ways!"
Q: With the game being in Louisiana and relatively close to campus, do you think you guys will have a sizable advantage over Ohio in that sense?
Bruce: "I feel like we have the upper hand because the game is in the south and for me, it's like I'm playing in my backyard because I'm from Natchez, Mississippi which is not far from New Orleans.."
Q: Lastly, with all of the excitement and energy around a bowl game, how do you keep your focus before the game, during the game, etc.
Bruce: "Well I know why we are here and that's to win a game...of course I'm going to have fun and enjoy myself but at the same time, I want to take care of business and that's get a "W" Saturday night...So staying focused won't be hard for me but I know I love winning and that's what I plan to do Saturday."
Jason is tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns with 5, and is averaging 46.2 yards per game, so he has proved to be one of red-shirt Freshman QB Corey Robinson's favorite targets. Jason's first career touchdown came on a trick play in the 09' season, so maybe we can expect to see some more trickery this Saturday night as the high-flying Trojans take on the Bobcats in the Superdome.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
First bowl games have arrived
This weekend, bowl games 35-33 will be played. The New Mexico Bowl, which features the Cougars of BYU and the Miners of UTEP. Both teams are an even 6-6, however the axe carrying Minors have lost 5 of their last 6, and the Cougars couldn't be in a more polar opposite direction as they have won 4 of their last 5 in which their loss was by 1 against the #20 ranked Utes of Utah.
-Prediction: BYU wins 25-19.
In the uDrove Humanitarian Bowl aka the Kennel Clash, the Huskies of NIU take on the Bulldogs of Fresno State. The Huskies are 10-3 and won 9 in a row before losing to Ben Roethlisberger's Alma mater, Miami of Ohio in the MAC Championship. Fresno State is lead by quarterback Ryan Colburn who ranks 30th amongst all NCAA FBS QB's, but NIU ranks 13th in points per game (37.8) and 16th in points against (19.1).
-NIU is a solid team, but the Bulldogs of Fresno State find a way to outscore NIU (via field goals), 27-23.
Ohio and Troy round up the Dec. 18th games in the R+L Carriers Bowl. The Bobcats (8-4) have a balanced running attack and will look to tame the high flying aerial attack of Troy (7-5) , who is 27th in points per game and lead by freshman QB Corey Robinson, who is 11th in the FBS in total passing yards @ 3,339.
-Troy takes the lead early, and doesn't look back, 33-23.
-Prediction: BYU wins 25-19.
In the uDrove Humanitarian Bowl aka the Kennel Clash, the Huskies of NIU take on the Bulldogs of Fresno State. The Huskies are 10-3 and won 9 in a row before losing to Ben Roethlisberger's Alma mater, Miami of Ohio in the MAC Championship. Fresno State is lead by quarterback Ryan Colburn who ranks 30th amongst all NCAA FBS QB's, but NIU ranks 13th in points per game (37.8) and 16th in points against (19.1).
-NIU is a solid team, but the Bulldogs of Fresno State find a way to outscore NIU (via field goals), 27-23.
Ohio and Troy round up the Dec. 18th games in the R+L Carriers Bowl. The Bobcats (8-4) have a balanced running attack and will look to tame the high flying aerial attack of Troy (7-5) , who is 27th in points per game and lead by freshman QB Corey Robinson, who is 11th in the FBS in total passing yards @ 3,339.
-Troy takes the lead early, and doesn't look back, 33-23.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)