Skip navigation
Site powered by
Latest news:
msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines: Mickelson a marvel at Pebble Beach, while Tiger tumbles

Five things to watch as bowl season begins

EagleBank highlights two coaches who would've been better for Auburn

NiumataloloAP
Coach Ken Niumatalolo leads Navy against Wake Forest in the EagleBank Bowl on Saturday.

4. Same as it ever was.
Look, I'm a bowl guy. Love their tradition and what they mean to the fabric of the game.

But this Las Vegas Bowl is the perfect example of why the bowl system needs a little tweaking here and there. If a team has appeared in the same city the three previous seasons — and it's not a BCS bowl — why not allow them to go outside the preset conference affiliations and find another bowl game?

It makes no sense for BYU to make yet another trip to the Las Vegas Bowl — for a fourth straight year — as a reward to the players for a 10-win season. If the WAC can find a way to get Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl, can't the Mountain West find a way to place the Cougars in a comparable bowl with a similar payout?

BYU-Arizona will be one of the better games this bowl seasons, but those BYU players have gone to Las Vegas — granted, not a bad place to be — and seen enough of Elvis. This isn't brain surgery. How about the Sun Bowl and Las Vegas Bowl making a switch: BYU for Pitt. That leaves us with Pitt vs. Arizona and BYU vs. Oregon State.

Was that so painful?

5. The Big Catch.
We're all infatuated with freshmen wideouts Julio Jones of Alabama and A.J. Green of Georgia, and with good reason. But if you watch the New Orleans Bowl for no other reason, watch it for Southern Miss freshman wideout DeAndre Brown.

As good as Jones and Green are, Brown could be better.

A look at the numbers:

Jones: 51 catches, 847 yards, 16.6 ypc., 4 TD
Green: 55 catches, 951 yards, 17.3 apc., 8 TD
Brown: 66 catches, 1,108 yards, 16.8 ypc., 12 TD

Who's the best? It doesn't matter — all three will be top 15 picks (or higher) in the 2011 NFL draft. Enjoy them while you can.

© 2012 Sporting News


< Prev | 1 | 2

advertisement
More news
Image: Boston College v Miami
Getty Images
'I'm taking that program down'

Miami coach Al Golden says the worst is behind him, but his headaches figure to continue now that former booster Nevin Shapiro, now in jail, says his involvement with the Hurricanes program will result in stiff penalties.

Image: LSU quarterback Jefferson is stripped of the ball by Alabama's Hightower during the second half of the NCAA BCS National Championship college football game in New Orleans
Reuters
CFT: Jefferson says 'Alabama was more prepared'

CFT: Jordan Jefferson makes it clear he wasn't happy with LSU's game plan in the Tigers' BCS Championship Game loss to Alabama.

Video: Football from NBC Sports
Memphis fulfills BCS dream
Tigers officials thrilled to announce that school has been accepted to join the Big East Conference in 2013.

Slideshow
Image: Joe Paterno
  Joe Paterno (1926-2012)
A look at the career of legendary Penn State coach Joe Paterno

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Image:
  BCS title game
Check out photos of Crimson Tide's victory over Tigers.

more photos

Slideshow
Image: Kansas State running back Pease is tackled by Arkansas defensive tackle Jones during the Cotton Bowl Classic football game in Arlington, Texas
  Bowled over
Check out the action from the postseason games.

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Kansas vs Oklahoma State
  All-American team
Check out which players were best of the best at each position.

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Image: Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio - Wisconsin v Oregon
  College cheer
Check out some of the college football cheerleaders from across the country.

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Image: Snee, 8, son of New York Giants player Chris Snee and head coach Coughlin's grandson plays in the confetti after the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game in Indianapolis
  The Week in Sports Pictures
The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more.

more photos