This evening I came across another college football bowl game which I had no idea even ever existed.
The Boca Raton Bowl, which takes place in Boca Raton, Florida, the city’s Spanish meaning being literally “Mouse Mouth,” featured the Orange Men of Syracuse and the University of Southern Florida Bulls. The game was appropriate for a Thursday night. Well, maybe more appropriate for pre-dawn on a Sunday morning as the Bulls beat the Orange Men like a rented mule. I don’t know if mules can be rented these days. Just a saying though, since USF triumphed 45-0.
The best I recall, both of these teams owned 6-6 records going into the Mouse Mouth Bowl. Lots of folks bitch about giving kids awards for participating. Oh well, I’m just being provacative.
WWJTD?
Jim Thorpe was a renown Native-American athlete who was an Olympic gold medalist in the early 1900s. He was a versatile athlete who played several sports including professional football.
Once there were only a handfull of post-season bowl games. The Cotton Bowl, the Sugar Bowl, the Gator Bowl, the Rose Bowl. Those are the one I recall from my younger days.
Those bowls increased over time, the Sun Bowl in El Paso, the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, to name a couple. Now it’s like one bowl after another every day and all the time. Season records and conference be damned!
Next up, the Gasparilla Bowl. The What the Hella Bowl? It will be featured Friday, Dec. 22, 2023, in Tampa Bay played in Raymond James Stadium. The combatants will be University of Central Florida versus Georgia Tech, another pair of 6-6 teams.
“Inspired by the Legend of Pirate Jose Gaspar, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla was founded in 1904 as an organization dedicated to enriching the vitality and imagination of Tampa and its surrounding community, says the bowl’s website.”
Okay. I did not know that.
Saturday will feature a bevy of bowl battles. The Birmingham (Ala.) Bowl, Troy (11-2) v. Duke (7-5); Camella Bowl, Montgomery (Ala.), Arkansas State v. North Illinois (both 6-6); Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Air Force (8-4) v. James Madison (11-1.) Oh and we can’t forget the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise, Idaho, I mean, we can’t wait to see the most Famous Idaho Potato. And that will be, whom exactly? Mr. Potato Head perhaps? That will feature Georgia State and Utah State. Another pair of 6-6 teams.
I was a bit disappointed to see the 68 Ventures Bowl had nothing to do with the popular 1960s band the Ventures, which was the best selling instrumental band of all times. Nevertheless, this bowl in one of my favorite Southern towns, Mobile, Ala., features Eastern Michigan vs. South Alabama. Another pair of 6-6 teams.
Finally, Northwestern (7-5) and Utah (8-4) will square off in the Las Vegas Bowl.
I will have to get back with you on the many bowls beyond that. Believe me there will be plenty more games leading up to the National Championship. Ta daa! I can’t wait for the Pop Tarts Bowl!!!