WINNEMUCCA - As we head into the last couple weeks of December and into January it is time for the college bowl season.
I am old enough to remember back in the days when the main games were the Cotton, Fiesta, Orange, Sugar and, of course, the grandaddy of them all the Rose.
It was an honor for teams to play in those games back then, but now it's a mere mockery with 35 bowl games and 70 teams. In the current system, we need to find schools to play Gildan New Mexico Bowl, the Belk Bowl, Buffalo Wild Wings or the AdvoCare Bowl.
Before taking a look at this years lineup, we must look back in the past and remember those games that no longer exist. Of course we have to start with the Poulan Weed-Eater Bowl, which turned into the Independence Bowl. You can't forget the Bacardi Bowl played in Havana, Cuba, in 1937 between Villanova and Auburn. There is the Salad Bowl that was played in Phoenix, Ariz., in the late 1940s. The University of Nevada actually played in the Salad Bowl.
Here are some more favorites that you might have missed: The Raisin Bowl (Fresno, Calif., 1946-49), Oil Bowl (Houston, Texas, 1946-47), Gotham Bowl (New York City, 1961-62) and the Refrigerator Bowl (1948-56).
Hawaii used to have four bowl games in the Poi, Aloha, Pineapple and Oahu and who can't forget the Bluebonnet Bowl in Houston, Texas until 1987. For those with a sweet tooth there was the Cherry Bowl. Maybe you can use some of that Bacardi to wash down the cherries.
Well, enough reminiscing and let's break down this year's games.
We will start with the Beef 'O' Brady Bowl between East Carolina and Ohio. If you are going to have beef, we need to go to Boise, Idaho, for The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl that pits Buffalo and San Diego State. Sticking with the meat theme, we have the Outback (Steakhouse) Bowl between Iowa and LSU.
If you are not in the mood for meat and potatoes, how about the Little Caesars Bowl that matches Pittsburgh and Bowling Green. What is pizza with out chicken, so we will head to the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl in Tempe, Ariz., for Michigan and Kansas State.
Staying in that same category there is the Chick-fil-a Bowl in Atlanta for the chicken lovers. Duke and Texas A&M will play in that game. For you historians, the Chick-fil-A Bowl used to be the Peach Bowl.
For those that want a light snack there is the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix, but if a viewer wants something healthy, look no further than the Discover Orange Bowl in Miami, Fla. Last but not least, there is the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Not sure how we mix insurance with sugar.
Getting off the food subject, we have to sell some clothing. Washington State and Colorado State will try to do that in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl as will Miami (Fla.) and Louisville in the Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando, Fla. Do you need a hat? Notre Dame and Rutgers will help you out in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium in New York City. For all your shopping needs there is the Belk Bowl in Charlotte, N.C.
If you are going to attend a game you need to pick a place to stay and the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl in Honolulu is it. As an added bonus you can watch Boise State and Oregon State. Perhaps in making that trip to Hawaii, you need to do your banking at the BBVA Compass Bowl as you watch Vanderbilt and Houston in beautiful Birmingham, Ala. If you are not a fan of banks go to the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl and watch Utah State and Northern Illinois. Perhaps with all of this traveling you will have to go to Nashville, Tenn., for the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl. You are doing a lot of traveling and it's getting expensive.
If all else fails pull out your Capital One Bowl card while Wisconsin and South Carolina play in Orlando, Fla. If you are really bored why not get a head start with the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl. It is the end of the year.
In making your away across America you will need to rent a car and how about the Hyundai Sun Bowl for that. Hopefully, you don't need to go the AutoZone Liberty Bowl if something unexpected happens. If you have your own car, you need to keep it clean with the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl. Of course the car needs gas and where else would one stop than the Valero Alamo Bowl.
With bowl games scattered throughout the United States, teams need some help to get around and that is where the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl comes into play. Perhaps the truck driver needs a cellphone and a pillow for the trip. Thank you, AT&T Cotton Bowl.
During the holidays, you want to stay healthy and be fit and that is where the AdvoCare V100 Bowl game comes into play. With all of this college spirit, how about enrolling in the National University Holiday Bowl.
If you are going on this four-week adventure make sure to get your significant other the Rose Bowl or how about staying home and watching the national championship between Florida State and Auburn on your Vizio TV or surf the Internet on the GoDaddy Bowl.
By the way, Texas and Heart of Dallas bowls, you are no help to me in this column. Lastly, there is no way I am going to make light with the Military or Bell Helicopter Armed Forces bowls.
You have 35 bowl games in the next four weeks, enjoy them football fans.
Winnemucca Publishing sports editor Tony Erquiaga can be reached via email at t.erquiaga@winnemuccapublishing.net.[[In-content Ad]]
