Baby Steps

There was a time when playing in a bowl game lent prestige to a football program: Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl. The smaller bowls also seemed prestigious: Peach Bowl, Gator Bowl, Sun Bowl. But now, there are so many bowl games that virtually every team that has won at least six games is invited: Alamo, GMAC, Music City, Las Vegas, Outback, PapaJohns.Com, Chick-Fil-A--I'm not sure I would want to play in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. I'd feel like a Chicken. But the PapaJohns.Com bowl sounds promising. The players probably feast on pizza in the locker room. But I wonder if they'd deliver a pizza to your seat--"Pizza for aisle 38, seat 104!" Would you have to tip 15%?

Anyway, my beloved Bruins are playing in the Emerald Bowl, AT&T Park (home of the Giants) in San Fransisco. No, this has nothing to do with the city by the bay being the jewel of the west coast. It is the name of the sponsor, Emerald Nuts. BTW: We play Florida State University. Too bad Hanzo is no longer blogging. It woulda been fun to see his take on the game. But then, playing in a minor bowl game against a high-value opponent be just the ticket for my Bruins as they work their way back to respectability. Beating 'SC was a great first step. Finishing the season with a win over FSU--even though they are having a down year--will be good for us.

In any event, I hope none of you feel CHEATED. I said I'd try to write more and the first thing I write about is football. I KNOW FOR A FACT that some of you hate these entries... but ya gotta start with baby steps, right?