Quote:Rivers Gives Fans Reason To Watch Tangerine Bowl
By BILL FAY
Tampa Tribune correspondent
Published: Dec 22, 2003

ORLANDO - There are some significant reasons that the Tangerine Bowl is just another game in the endless run of holiday football, but none says it louder than the starting time and records for tonight's teams.

Fans across the country will have to leave work early to see the 5:30 p.m. kickoff that matches 7-5 North Carolina State against 6-6 Kansas in a game that screams mediocrity.

Fortunately for the ticket holders at the Citrus Bowl and those tuning into ESPN's broadcast, there is also a significant reason to watch this matchup. That would be N.C. State quarterback Phillip Rivers, the man Florida State coach Bobby Bowden called ``the best college football player in the country.''

That happened after Rivers threw for 422 yards and four touchdowns and ran for another score when N.C. State took FSU to double overtime before losing 50-44. That's just one game out of an NCAA-record 50 consecutive starts that Rivers made for the Wolfpack. He has rolled up 13,087 yards total offense, putting him second all-time on the NCAA charts and 13,009 of those have come through the air.

This season, he completed 71 percent of his passes for 4,016 yards and 29 touchdowns.

"Phillip should have been in New York for the Heisman,'' N.C. State coach Chuck Amato said.  "For what he's done for this program, how much he's carried us this year, it doesn't make sense that he wasn't a finalist.''

Rivers, who might well have won the Heisman had he played for a more successful team, doesn't seem disappointed, and for a good reason. He is certain to be a first-round pick by some team in the quarterback-starved NFL this spring, so this is hardly a last hurrah. He stands 6-foot-5, weighs 235 pounds and is an excellent decision-maker in the passing game.

"He has one of the quickest releases I've seen since Dan Marino,'' Kansas coach Mark Mangino said.  "As soon as he knows where he wants the ball to go, it's gone. Plus, his launch level is higher than a lot of quarterbacks because he is such a big guy. Even when he's feeling pressure, he keeps his eyes downfield on his receivers as he's flushing the pocket. He's a very talented guy.''

Rivers obviously appreciates the compliments, but isn't worried about showcasing his skills one last time for pro scouts.

"I'm not worried about the NFL right now,'' Rivers said.  "I came here to play for North Carolina State and win us a game. I'm going to enjoy this last game and hope I go out a winner.  I'll take care of the stuff with the NFL when the time comes.''