Monday, December 24, 2018
Football Bowls-Big Business
Many of you
will be tuning in to an American phenomenon during the next few
weeks. In the early 1950s, my parents transported the family to
California, at Christmas time, to spend a few weeks of sunshine. An
interesting trip, as we traveled by train. It was the first year of
Disneyland, which we enjoyed, as well as the Rose Bowl parade. My dad
scalped a couple of tickets for himself and my older brother to
attend the Rose Bowl game. The teams in that game were the UCLA
Bruins and the Michigan State Spartans
At that
point in time, there were very few bowl games. It has snowballed
since then. There are now more than forty bowl games. I will not
bore you with all of their names. Some are much more important than
others. The most important championship game is supposed to be played
between the two best teams in the nation. For years, that became a
contentious issue. Nowadays, a system is in place which is by no
means foolproof, but is pretty close to being accurate.
The records
of all teams, wins and losses, are used as a basis of determining the
best teams in the league. Experts then look at the schedules that the
teams play. The University of Central Florida has not lost a game
this year; however the school is ranked lower than some teams with
poorer records. That is because UCF did not play against really
strong opponents all year.
There are
three divisions in American College sports. Last weekend, the Mary
Hardin-Baylor Crusaders defeated the Mount Union Purple Raiders 24-16
to win the Division III title. Valdosta State won the Division II
title, squeaking by Ferris State 49-47.
Most
American college football fans pay more heed to the Division I games
which take place over the next three weeks, culminating with the
College Football Championship, taking place on January 7th
in Santa Clara, California. It will feature the winners of the Cotton
Bowl and the Orange Bowl.
The
Celebration Bowl was played last weekend in Atlanta. North Carolina
A&T defeated Alcorn State 24-22 for that title. In Albuquerque,
Utah State hammered North Texas 52-13. At Orlando, Florida, Tulane
won the Cure Bowl with a victory over Louisiana-Lafayette41-24. In
Montgomery, Alabama, Eastern Michigan Eagles lost to Georgia Southern
Eagles 23-21 for the right to hoist the Camellia Bowl. Finally, last
weekend, Appalachian State Mountaineers defeated the Middle Tennessee
Blue Raiders 45-13 for the New Orleans Bowl.
On Saturday,
December 29th, the semi-finals for the National Championship take
place. Clemson (13-0) will play Notre Dame (12-0) in the Cotton Bowl.
Alabama (13-0) plays Oklahoma (12-0) for the Orange Bowl in Miami
Gardens.
In the
meantime, you will be able to watch the following bowls: Camping
World, Alamo, Belk, Pinstripe, (in Yankee Stadium, naturally,) Dollar
General, Arizona, Armed Forces, Peach, Military, Outback, Gator,
Sun........and almost 20 more!
The
traditional Rose Bowl Game will be between Ohio State and Washington,
on the 1st of January.
Mind you,
College Basketball is well underway at this time, so you should have
plenty to keep you busy. Keep extra batteries handy for the channel
changer!!
Of the four
teams in the hunt for the national championship, Notre Dame comes out
on top, financially. The school is guaranteed six million dollars,
plus travel expenses of more than two million!! And you know how much
the players get from this!
James Hurst
December
2018
# posted by James Hurst @ 7:04 AM 
