Monday, December 31, 2007

New Year's Day Bowl Tidbits

Cotton Bowl - Missouri vs. Arkansas - January 1 - Fox 11:00 a.m.
Dallas Morning News sports columnist Kevin Sherrington writes how the Cotton Bowl will be the last game that Frank Broyles will serve as Arkansas athletic director..... "But don't let the white hair and silver tongue fool you. His coaches did so at their own peril. Since confirming in February that he'd retire at the end of the year, Broyles has outlasted two of the Razorbacks coaches that showed up in honor of his announcement." .....
  • Kevin Sherrington


  • Missourian sports reporter Drew Schemenner writes how Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel is a rarity among college coaches.... "Pinkel and his coaching staff are tortoises in a profession full of hares. While other coaches have quickly hopped from job to job in the frantic chase for success, Pinkel has remained faithful to his teams, gradually emerging from his shell in order for the Tigers to reach uncommon heights." .....
  • Drew Schemenner


  • Capital One Bowl - Michigan vs. Florida - January 1 - ABC 1:00
    Detroit Free Press reports that Urban Meyer is not interested in becoming the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.....
  • Detroit Free Press


  • Detroit Free Press reporter Mark Snyder writes about Jake Long's last game as a Wolverine.... "Long, who made his first start as a Wolverine against San Diego State in 2004, has set a standard at Michigan rarely matched in the program's illustrious history. His achievements place him among the all-time greats." ....
  • Mark Snyder


  • Orlando Sentinel sports reporter Dave Curtis writes how Michigan defensive coordinator Ron English was surprised how well Tim Tebow could throw the ball..... "The comments bring full circle the "Can Tebow throw?" fun of 2007. Tebow doubters popped up throughout the country in the spring, and Coach Urban Meyer joked this summer that the Gators might run the ball on every play." ....
  • Dave Curtis


  • Rose Bowl - Illinois vs. Southern Cal - January 1 - ABC 4:30
    Chicago Sun-Times sports reporter Herb Gould writes how Illinois needs to work through the mental side of playing in the Rose Bowl..... "The Illini -- two-touchdown underdogs, the biggest of this bowl season -- are playing not only to validate themselves. They also are carrying the hopes of a supposedly down Big Ten and an Illini Nation that wants to atone for a 45-9 drubbing by UCLA in the 1983 season, Illinois' only other Rose Bowl trip since 1963." ....
  • Herb Gould


  • Los Angeles Times sports reporter Gary Klein writes how Trojan linebacker Keith Rivers wants to uphold the honor of wearing number 55..... "Tatupu was referring to the No. 55 jersey that USC coaches bestowed upon Rivers when he arrived on campus in 2004 from Lake Mary, Fla. Trojans linebackers such as Junior Seau, Willie McGinest and Chris Claiborne, all of who were top 10 NFL draft picks, had worn 55." .....
  • Gary Klein


  • Sugar Bowl - Hawaii vs. Georgia - January 1 - Fox 8:00
    Honolulu Sun Bulletin sports reporter Gary Chun writes how New Orleans is fast becoming green..... "Mostly wearing forest green and black shirts and jackets, a good number of the Hawaii fans were also bedecked with special Warrior green beads and the occasional green-and-white feather boa." ....
  • Gary Chun


  • Atlanta Journal-Constitution sports reporter Carter Strickland writes how Georgia head coach Mark Richt has learned that running the ball is the key to win the SEC..... "Yes, but Georgia may be better set up to win in the future because it has built, quite literally, from the ground game up this season. Never before under Richt has Georgia rushed for more yards than it did this season." .....
  • Carter Strickland
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