New Year's Eve Bowl Games Open Thread

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Game: Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl
Teams: Houston Cougars (7-5) vs. Air Force (8-4)
Location: Fort Worth, Texas, Amon G. Carter Stadium
Start Time: 12 PM EST (ESPN)
Network and Announcers: Terry Gannon, David Norrie
Favorite: Houston (-4)
AA's Pick: Houston 37 - Air Force 27


Game: The Brut Sun Bowl
Teams: Oregon State (8-4) vs. Pittsburgh Panthers (9-3)
Location: El Paso, Texas, Sun Bowl
Start Time: 2PM EST (CBS)
Network and Announcers: Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson, Tracy Wolfson
Favorite: Oregon State (-1.5)
AA's Pick: Pittsburgh 24 - Oregon State 21


Game: The Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl
Teams: Boston College (8-4) vs. Vanderbilt Commodores (6-6)
Location: Nashville, Tenn, LP Field
Start Time: 3:30PM EST (ESPN)
Network and Announcers: Mark Jones, Bob Davie, Todd Harris
Favorite: Boston College (-3.5)
AA's Pick: Vandy 24 - Boston College 20


Game: The Insight Bowl
Teams: Kansas Jayhawks (7-5) vs. Minnesota Gophers (7-5)
Location: Tempe, Arizona, Sun Devil Stadium
Start Time: 5:30PM EST (NFL Network)
Network and Announcers: Paul Burmeister, Mike Mayock, Lindsay Soto
Favorite: Kansas (-8.5)
AA's Pick: Kansas 38 - Minnesota 20


Game: The Chick-Fil-A Bowl
Teams: LSU Tigers (7-5) vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9-3)
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, Georgia Dome
Start Time: 7:30PM EST (ESPN)
Network and Announcers: Brad Nessler, Bob Griese, Paul Maguire, Jack Arute
Favorite: Georgia Tech (-4)
AA's Pick: GT 26 - LSU 21

51 Comments:

The Armed Forces Bowl has been an exciting game so far.

However, I have to mention an error on ESPN's part. Apparently, the Gannon-Norre team all season have had a bit where the third guy on the team visits various local sites connected with the music business somehow. They had a segment a few minutes ago where they gave a highlight of where they visited this season, including Jim Morrison's dorm at FSU and the home in South Carolina of "James Browne".

Yes, on the screen they presented a graphic of the highlights, and "James Browne" was listed. They thought that's how The Godfather of Soul's name was spelled? Sigh.

Blair Russell said...
Dec 31, 2008, 1:32:00 PM  

How many fucking bowl games are there?

Holy crap.

I bet Mangino really wanted that Chick-Fil-a bowl.

E Buzz said...
Dec 31, 2008, 2:16:00 PM  

With the loss of Stacey Dales, ESPN should replace her with just some random hot college girl from one of the two school. Then again, she'll probably get scared off having to work with Maquire and his stupidness. Are we sure this isn't why Stacey left the networks?

Anonymous said...
Dec 31, 2008, 2:54:00 PM  

@Walnuts:

Yes, we're positive. Happy New Year.

Anonymous said...
Dec 31, 2008, 2:56:00 PM  

Gary Danielson: "When you're kicking downwind, you have to catch them." You have to catch them upwind, too!

Anonymous said...
Dec 31, 2008, 2:58:00 PM  

If you want to watch some boring, uninspiring football, tune into the Sun Bowl right now.

Anonymous said...
Dec 31, 2008, 3:25:00 PM  

Bob Davie looks like he can't stop shivering at the Sun Bowl.

Anonymous said...
Dec 31, 2008, 3:32:00 PM  

whoops, Davie can't stop shivering at the Motor City Bowl.

Anonymous said...
Dec 31, 2008, 3:33:00 PM  

The village people? Really? Was up with people unavailable? That broke the gay-meter.

Anonymous said...
Dec 31, 2008, 4:18:00 PM  

Good exchange about the annual CBS Crew's Flag Football game:

Danielson: "I had on my Urkel outfit."
"I wasn't counting, but I had 4 TDs, which is more than any Detroit Lions QB had in a while."
After Tracy Wolfson chimes in about Gary practicing beforehand:
Danielson: "I've got a lot of stuff about you, Trace."

The picture of Gary in some cutoff T-shirt was priceless. We might see him in some Nutrisystem ads in the future.

Dec 31, 2008, 5:00:00 PM  

Oregon State beats Pitt 3-0.


Wow.

TJX said...
Dec 31, 2008, 5:48:00 PM  

Glad i missed that danielson pic. They have more awards at the sun bowl than actual points scored today in the game. What a shit fest all around.

Anonymous said...
Dec 31, 2008, 5:56:00 PM  

Anybody catch Danielson saying, "Piss passing" instead of Pitt passing. Good stuff, and true.

Anonymous said...
Dec 31, 2008, 5:58:00 PM  

So that gives us two games in two years where Pittsburgh football teams were in 3-0 snoozefests. But at least the Steelers' 3-0 MNF debacle last year had a subplot--a moat for a field. Today's game was...look, both teams should just say this game NEVER HAPPENED.

Anonymous said...
Dec 31, 2008, 5:58:00 PM  

The Sun Bowl sure was boring, but the Pac10 is now 4-0 in bowls with the annual slaughter of a Big10 team due up tomorrow.

Unknown said...
Dec 31, 2008, 6:18:00 PM  

The BC/Vandy game is starting to get good now.

Anonymous said...
Dec 31, 2008, 6:37:00 PM  

Bob Davie after Boston College stopped a Vandy third and one run.

"Watch the penetration here. He bent that center over backwards."

Anonymous said...
Dec 31, 2008, 6:49:00 PM  

Mark Jones: "Got any tats, Rece?"
Rece: "I am completely clean."

Dec 31, 2008, 6:57:00 PM  

What's Griese doing in a tux?

Anonymous said...
Dec 31, 2008, 7:01:00 PM  

Tuxedos? Really?

It's the Chick-Fil-A Bowl, who do you think you are Bob Griese? larry merchant?

Anonymous said...
Dec 31, 2008, 7:02:00 PM  

Tuxedos are definitely appropriate for sporting events.

/Nantz & Kellogg'd

Dec 31, 2008, 7:05:00 PM  

Epic Dr. Lou.

Anonymous said...
Dec 31, 2008, 7:27:00 PM  

Anybody else catch Danielson referring to one of Pitt's receivers:

"He's really starting to round into form here midway through the year."

Anonymous said...
Dec 31, 2008, 7:28:00 PM  

Kicked Maguire out of the booth ... "Hey man, go sit on that camera perch and break down GT's offense."

Anonymous said...
Dec 31, 2008, 7:35:00 PM  

The midfield thing was a nice experiment...except you can totally see Nessler trucking it in the background as Griese starts his diatribe.

Anonymous said...
Dec 31, 2008, 7:39:00 PM  

Matt Ryan the Rookie of the Year in the IFL - Nessler not knowing what league Ryan is in

InterPlace55 said...
Dec 31, 2008, 8:12:00 PM  

Maguire: "So, you going to any parties tonight?"

Nessler: "Uh...we'll find one, we'll find one."


Translation: Brad Nessler is going to be a very lonely man tonight.

Anonymous said...
Dec 31, 2008, 8:20:00 PM  

Someone forgot to tell GA Tech there was a game tonight

BF said...
Dec 31, 2008, 8:41:00 PM  

Thank you, LSU, for giving men all over the country a great excuse to arrive at the party a little earlier than planned. (Seriously, how do you get clobbered like this in your own backyard?)

Anonymous said...
Dec 31, 2008, 8:46:00 PM  

Nessler: "(Jefferson's) put it on the skin of 7 different receivers."

Ewwwwww.

Dec 31, 2008, 8:47:00 PM  

Bonus from ESPN Radio's Dennis Franchione on LSU's onside kick:

Franchione: "We had that play in our arsenal called 'Gomer Pyle.'"
Dave Barnett: "Gomer Pyle?"
Franchione: "Run around and Shazam."

Dec 31, 2008, 8:49:00 PM  

Well, this game is over. Maybe I'll crack the champagne bottle early.

Anonymous said...
Dec 31, 2008, 9:03:00 PM  

Jack Arute to Georgia Jacket's head coach whose team is down by 32: "Are you going to change anything?"

Anonymous said...
Dec 31, 2008, 9:08:00 PM  

the chick-fil-a crew has officially given up on the game and started with the prop comedy

BF said...
Dec 31, 2008, 9:37:00 PM  

someone doin the post game wrapup in the studio on espn 2 said:

"utah's gym is a shooter's gym"

When did we have arenas that are scorers/defender friendly?

he also said about notre dame and their lack of one on one defenders:

"its not in their DNA"

Unknown said...
Dec 31, 2008, 10:00:00 PM  

Oh dear God, now Griese and Nessler are doing the prop comedy, wearing the typical party gear for this night.

Even worse, Nessler's horn didn't work, so he said, "My horn doesn't work!", and both laugh as if Brad is referring to his love life... and what they said after that... I'm happy I'm drinking alcohol right now, because seeing that would make me reach for a beer anyway.

Blair Russell said...
Dec 31, 2008, 10:13:00 PM  

"And my horn doesn't work, but that's a whole other story." Mr. Nessler, if that doesn't win I don't know what will.

Anonymous said...
Dec 31, 2008, 10:15:00 PM  

"You know one of these things looks like Jack Arute"- Maguire on the Chik-Fil-A cows

JH said...
Dec 31, 2008, 10:34:00 PM  

And the CHick-Fil-a cow just started hitting Maguire on the head with the Sportscenter is next sign, and the cameraman was dropping confetti on him.

"if you do that again, you'll be a dead cow." - Maguire after the cow hit him

"71,265 tonights attendance. Many have left, GA Tech fans drowning their sorrows.

Anonymous said...
Dec 31, 2008, 10:38:00 PM  

Bowl week is just not that good

Anonymous said...
Dec 31, 2008, 10:39:00 PM  

Nessler "..after a pickup of about a year, err a yard."

Anonymous said...
Dec 31, 2008, 10:42:00 PM  

Chick-fil-A cow does what viewers have wanted to do all season. It beat Paul Maguire with a sign. I think it drew blood on Maguire's forehead too.

Anonymous said...
Dec 31, 2008, 10:42:00 PM  

Did anyone else spot the camel toes on the cheerleaders with about 5 minutes left in the game?

Anonymous said...
Dec 31, 2008, 11:17:00 PM  

If anybody saw the New Year, no limit show there was a noticable f bomb after he completed the jump

The guy in his radio said: "Robbie, you are the fucking man"

Anonymous said...
Jan 1, 2009, 12:26:00 AM  

This isn't bowl related but ESPN just let an F-Bomb slip on their Red Bull stunt show. After one of the stunts there was what sounded like a radio transmission from the stuntmans crew which is where the word came from which they broadcast.

Anonymous said...
Jan 1, 2009, 12:27:00 AM  

From the start of the LSU-GT halftime show:

Rece: "Georgia Tech is being exterminated by a bunch of Purple & Gold Orkin Men."

Jan 1, 2009, 12:54:00 PM  

Capital One Bowl, did anyone else hear Mike Patrick say, "They pulled a Plaxico they just keep shooting themselves."?

It was around 5 minutes left in the 2nd quarter.

Anonymous said...
Jan 1, 2009, 2:17:00 PM  

The system in college football sucks. Now, let's think rationally here: if Oregon State and Pittsburgh were in a playoff game, the drama would be excellent as literally every point would matter. When you have a meaningless bowl game end at 3-0 though, you're hard pressed to find something that's worse.

Brad James said...
Jan 1, 2009, 2:32:00 PM  

Please tell me someone else caught Griese after LSU's first touchdown:

"He's got such athletic-cism...err, athlec-ticism...err, ath-, ath-, ath-, athleticism!"

This, of course, followed by a healthy dose of Nessler laughter.

Anonymous said...
Jan 1, 2009, 3:00:00 PM  

if Oregon State and Pittsburgh were in a playoff game, the drama would be excellent as literally every point would matter.

Oregon State and/or Pittsburgh would make a "mythical college football playoff?"

Jan 1, 2009, 3:29:00 PM  

Announcer for the BC/Vandy game (Gaylord Music City Bowl, in Nashville) said "They're both small schools. This game lets bowl organizers see how well these two teams travel. "

-- um, dude, Vandy is in Nashville

Anonymous said...
Jan 2, 2009, 8:36:00 AM  

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