2009 Bowl Schedule

[scarlett09]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4111912

Read it and celebrate :rah: (or weep, in my case)

We got relegated to the bowl basement: St. Petersburg Bowl. Back in the day when we were really awful, we used to say that the only bowl we were going to that year was the toilet bowl. Feels pretty damn close, especially since we were a lock for the Meineke Car Care Bowl until Pitt nearly upset Cincinnati and we couldn't seal the deal vs. WVU. It's amazing how much my alma mater has become all about big-time football: this bowl game is during FINALS. I believe this is a clear statement by the university that academics are not as important as athletics. I cannot imagine how I would have finagled my way out of finals if I was still a student and had to travel with the team. It's not like they're getting rich off of this either. Last year, even after the bowl payout, the Athletic Department had a negative balance after all of the expenses were paid. Of course you're in the red (scarlet) when you pay all of the expenses for someone's fourth cousin to go. Ugh, only about 3 months until March Madness starts.
::gets down off soapbox::

Anyhoo, I AM excited about a Boise State-TCU match up, as well LSU-Penn State, Bobby Bowden's last game, I could go on and on. Can you tell I love college football and will be *slightly* sad to see it end in a few weeks?

Feel free to celebrate/vent about your bowl game here. I know there are some happy (and disappointed) folks out there.

[oceanchild]

We'll play Boston College in the Emerald Bowl. It's in San Francisco, so I imagine USC fans will pretty well dominate. This is our worst Pac-10 finish since I started paying attention (namely, when I started freshman year), but I can't say we didn't deserve as much.

FIL went to Boston College, so perhaps we'll muster a little intra-family rivalry.

[JaneDoe]

We're Rose Bowl bound, baby! Go Ducks! Dh has already booked his flight. I'm staying home with the kids because it's too expensive to take the whole fam. I'd rather spend the money on a vacation where the kids will enjoy it more. (Read: I don't have to listen to them wine through a football game. )

I'm also excited about the Boise State v. TCU game. That should be a good one.

[Malpka]

Can't wait for the Gator Bowl. We are going - no way could I miss BB's last game.

[fluffhead]

Of course you're in the red (scarlet) when you pay all of the expenses for someone's fourth cousin to go.

and you're playing "my" team, which is the SCARLET knights. pretty funny!
(not like I'm rooting for them - I think that spending educational budget on football is the stupidest thing I've ever heard - and Rutgers destroyed acres of wetlands to upgrade their stadium, all for the 6 games a year they play there? for what? one winning season?)
/end{soapbox}

[scarlett09]

and you're playing "my" team, which is the SCARLET knights. pretty funny!

It's the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers versus the Golden Knights of UCF. The Scarlet Knights is one of the three reasons behind my user name. Yay, another alumnus!

(not like I'm rooting for them - I think that spending educational budget on football is the stupidest thing I've ever heard - and Rutgers destroyed acres of wetlands to upgrade their stadium, all for the 6 games a year they play there? for what? one winning season?)
/end{soapbox}

Are you referring to the wetlands they took away from the ecological perserve in Piscataway to build the mega-mansion for Schiano and his family so that he would stay? Not sure if they took away wetlands to expand the stadium, but I can totally see the new closed-in area with the gate and bus stop on River Road flooding out when the river floods. That might be wetlands. :shrug:

Things have changed so much there since I started going to school, with regards to academics, student life and athletics. Most things not for the better. I could write a whole other thread about that, I know way too much for my own good.

[niener]

National Championship, here we come!!!!

So of course I'll be glued to a TV (and likely spewing a stream of obscenities at it as well) on Jan 7th. But the TCU / Boise St. game looks interesting, as does Oregon / Ohio State (I like the ducks for some reason - I think just because their mascot is a duck ).

[Amiens]

Excited that my Broncos made BCS history with TCU to have 2 non-BCS teams play in a BCS bowl!

Fiesta at my house on Jan 4th!

[fluffhead]

Are you referring to the wetlands they took away from the ecological perserve in Piscataway to build the mega-mansion for Schiano and his family so that he would stay?

Wow. I hadn't even known about that. We left NJ in 2002, so I haven't really been in the loop. I understand that things have changed considerably, and that Route 18 now goes OVER River Road.
I used to ride my bike back and forth from Highland Park to Busch regularly, and the work and money they put into that stadium just pissed me off. It was about the same time that some nincompoop state senator wanted to change the name from Rutgers to Univ of NJ.
Where did you go? I did my PhD at Cook (Env Sci), but my lab was at Busch (EOHSI), and later on I worked in the Dept of Nutritional Sciences.

[scarlett09]

Wow. I hadn't even known about that. We left NJ in 2002, so I haven't really been in the loop. I understand that things have changed considerably, and that Route 18 now goes OVER River Road.

Lol, you should see what it looks like now. They just completed the second phase of the construction from Rt. 27 to Rt. 1 - that was a bitch to get around. It's still backs up though, so I'm not really sure what the 4 years of construction was for.

I used to ride my bike back and forth from Highland Park to Busch regularly, and the work and money they put into that stadium just pissed me off.

You can totally see the stadium from there now, especially along River Road. It pisses me off too, considering that they reduced the amount of classes available and the residents halls are so full, that transfer students have had to live in nearby hotels for the fall semester during the past two years. Mulcahy was ousted as AD last year and they brought in Tim Pernetti, who has like no experience whatsoever, except being a radio/TV commentator. Just great choices being made all around!

It was about the same time that some nincompoop state senator wanted to change the name from Rutgers to Univ of NJ.

Ugh, I remember that! So very glad they abandoned that idea! But then they consolidated the liberal arts colleges and whatnot, which was definitely NOT a good idea. Cook is now the School of Environmental & Biological Sciences.

Where did you go? I did my PhD at Cook (Env Sci), but my lab was at Busch (EOHSI), and later on I worked in the Dept of Nutritional Sciences.

I went to Douglass and worked on campus for a couple of years after graduation. DF lived on Busch as an undergrad.

PS - Man vs. Food: New Brunswick, NJ was just on the Travel Channel. He eats at Harold's in Edison, Stuff Yer Face and tries the Grease Trucks sandwich challenge (5 sandwiches in 45 minutes).


Sorry for the thread hijack folks! Please continue your regularly scheduled college football discussion.

[Laker]

There is only one way to end this dismal season by my Michigan State Spartans...getting blown out by Texas Tech at the Alamo Bowl.

Wanted to go to San Antonio and hit up the River Walk, but couldn't justify it when the team is only 6-6 and very likely to be 6-7.

I went to the last 2 bowl games, and we lost. Maybe we have a better shot if I stay home this year Not likely, but I am trying to be a glass is half full guy.