**The 2008-09 College Football Bowl Games Thread**

[GOP_Raider]

The regular season in college football has come to an end, wild and woolly as it was. Some would like to use it as a legitimate excuse for a playoff system, some modification for the BCS system, or just something to discuss on 3rd dates. Other people, like Norm Chow, have said (and I paraphrase) "I'm against a playoff system. I wouldn't have wanted to see our '84 (byU national championship) team have to prove it on the field."

(In case you were wondering, yes, I have waited almost two weeks to post that). :)

(One more parenthetical note: the BCS Championship Game thread will be performed on a separate thread, since I'm pretty sure somebody is going to post that thread before I get the chance to do so.)

Anyway, as many of you know the bowl games thread works a little different than the regular season threads. Each day I'll ping the list to that particular day's slate of bowl games and you can say something like "wow, West Tennessee A&M Tech is playing in the Dyer's Hamburger Grease Bowl, I think I'll watch". Or maybe you won't, I don't know. But let's start off with...

[Dog Gone]

Thanks for the clarification on Divisions. I’ll try to be more careful from now one.

Because I mentioned them earlier, I checked out the 2009 schedule for the Texas Longhorns.

Their non-conference games will be against Arkansas, UTEP, and Central Florida.

Arkansas is a legitimate opponent. The other two will prove nothing when Texas beats them.

Bring in a Penn State, Clemson, or even Oregon State. That would be manly.

[aft_lizard]

They played OSU two years in a row.

Either way I am just going to have to disagree with you.

Non-BCS teams need to schedule BCS teams to get their name out there, receive the money they get paid for playing them and bring prestige to their schools and to slowly build themselves up into big named schools. Like some teams have donwe through out the years, like ASU did back in the seventies before the Pac 10 picked them up, or Colorado did before the Big 8 picked them up. Otherwise the NCAA should simply cut D-1a in half by removing the non-BCS schools. Teams like Utah would never get the chance to beat teams like OSU or Oregon, nor would they even receive consideration for BCS games. It’s really a complicated system.

[Biggirl]

Congrats on your Utes winning after a perfect season. Go UConn Go!!!!

[Biggirl]

I am happy that the Big East is getting the long desired respect it rightly deserves as foot ball divsion, beyond the hard wood floors.

Go UConn, Go Tyler!!!!! :) =^..^=

[Biggirl]

CT beat Cinncy during the season, it was in the Orange Bowl. VT beat Cinncy.

[Biggirl]

Thanks GOP_Raider for honoring UConn. :) =^..^=

[Biggirl]

Another UConn touch from a young man from my hometown! It looks good for UConn! :) =^..^=

[Biggirl]

UConn wins the International Bowl, 38 to UB 20. :)

[Dog Gone]

Non-BCS teams need to schedule BCS teams to get their name out there, receive the money they get paid for playing them and bring prestige to their schools and to slowly build themselves up into big named schools. Like some teams have donwe through out the years, like ASU did back in the seventies before the Pac 10 picked them up, or Colorado did before the Big 8 picked them up. Otherwise the NCAA should simply cut D-1a in half by removing the non-BCS schools. Teams like Utah would never get the chance to beat teams like OSU or Oregon, nor would they even receive consideration for BCS games. It’s really a complicated system.

Even if I agreed with your premise that BCS teams are doing a favor to non-BCS teams by scheduling them and beating the snot out of them, there ought to be some sort of common sense limit on the practice.

When all your non-conference games are non-BCS schools, you're just trying to pad your record, period.

[sweet_diane]

GOP_Raider, despite Alabama very poor showing at the Sugar Bowl, I have totally enjoyed your football threads!

Thank you for the time and effort you have put into this ping list.. it has enhanced my college football knowledge and enjoyment. :)

[GOP_Raider]

Before I get to tonight's bowl game, I wanted to thank everyone for the well wishes and the participation not just on Friday evening, but the entire season. This makes it fun for me to do. Now, to tonight's game

The Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: Texas vs. Ohio State (8:00 pm, FOX) Even though the Longhorns and Buckeyes have played each other a few times in the past decade or so, these are two teams that had some higher aspirations throughout the season. (I will refrain from saying anything else about where Texas could have been playing instead of this game). The offenses might rule the night in this one, as the Longhorns are lead by QB Colt McCoy and two very talented WR’s, Jordan Shipley and Quan Cosby. The Buckeyes have settled in nicely with QB Terrelle Pryor and RB Chris “Beanie” Wells. Despite being injured for a portion of the season, Wells was able to rack up over 1,000 yards on the year. The good thing about this game for the Buckeyes is that they don’t have to worry about a possible loss to an SEC school.

[Pharmboy]

Some say the Big 12 is over-rated...if T gets blown out by O, “some” may be right.

[wolfcreek]

Texas/OSU have played exactly Twice. At Columbus in Texas’ 2005 championship run and the following year in Austin.

[GOP_Raider]

Correct. I should have wrote that sentence with that specific in mind.

[cleveland gop]

Tony Stewart screwed the Buckeyes already.

Nice coin flip!!

[cleveland gop]

You help make this thread a blast every week!!

And the smack running is always fun too, along with all the posters who try to one up everybody, like I do!!!

[GOP_Raider]

Hey thanks cleveland! Been kind of watching the Fiesta Bowl out of the corner of my eye...this looks to be a good match up for the Buckeyes so far.

[cleveland gop]

So far, so good. Keeping the ball away from the Longhorn offense is a good thing.

Now OSU misses the FG Attempt.

[commish]

This is looking just like the Michigan St - Georgia game. Big-10 team comes out and Dominates the first half and can only manage a FG or two. Once texas gets in rythm and thier speed and talent takes over this one will stretch out just like MSU-UGA and Penn St-USC

[Mr. Mulliner]

Laurenitis MUST be a senior, right? Seems like he’s been there forever. Was he in that 2005 game between these two teams?