(01-03-2021 01:16 PM)JTApps1 Wrote:  My dad used to have his "New Years Day Bowl Extravaganza" every year back in the 90's starting with the Outback Bowl at 11am and going until the Orange and Sugar Bowls ended that night. Some years we'd have over 20 people at the house watching the big rear projector TV. I believe there were up to 12 bowls on New Years Day at its peak. It was a great day of football and food that we looked forward to every year.

Having just 4 or 5 games just isn't the same. I know they're spaced out for TV viewership, but it was fun to have multiple games on at all times in case there was a blowout.

I don't really like the relatively goods bowls all on at the same time. 4 or 5 on New Year's Day is plenty.

My most lasting New Years bowl memory involved two teams I had zero rooting interest in. I had just started a new job working for a bank on Wall Street after deciding to take a break from college.

I don't recall the game ever being touted as a "Game of the Century" even though it pitted #1 vs #2 in the Rose Bowl. John McKay had coached his way off the hot seat that season, and would go on to win 4 national championships. This one, against Wisconsin in 1963, was his first.

For the first three quarters, the Trojans dominated their way to a 42-14 lead. Then the Badgers mounted a furious comeback led by the passing combo of Ron Vander Kelen to Pat Richter (who later became the Wisconsin AD). This was one of the earliest games I remember where the fourth quarter never seemed to end, as Wisconsin passed almost exclusively in their comeback. What was striking about that was that the game ended in near darkness, as the stadium at that time had only field level lighting. It was a wonder the players could follow the ball in the dim light.

Announcers marveled about how long it took to play the game -- three hours and 15 minutes. TV apparently hadn't figured out how to pack more commercials into a game yet. Anyway, the Trojans survived, 42-37, and I was hooked on college football for life.

(01-03-2021 01:14 PM)Jared7 Wrote:  My favorite memory of the big New Year's Day Bowls is (obviously) the Rose Bowl following the 2010 season between TCU and Wisconsin. It wasn't a "shocker" like Boise's W over OU in the Fiesta Bowl or Utah's W over Bama in the Sugar Bowl because TCU was actually favored, but it clearly was a big factor in TCU's ultimate promotion back from the wilderness into the big time a couple of years later. TCU was #3 in the BCS ratings and would have made a 4-team playoff had there been one, but we actually lucked into it because of Nevada's late upset of Boise when they missed a FG. The previous year, the BCS had shafted both teams by making us play each other in the Fiesta Bowl, but in 2010, we were both vying for the Rose Bowl due to an obscure BCS rule that required the Rose Bowl to take a non-AQ qualifier (which had been forced on the Rose Bowl by the other BCS Bowls). Wisconsin was a quality opponent and the game was exciting - the Frogs took an early lead, but the Badgers mounted a comeback based on their rushing ability to bring the score to 21-19 with 2 minutes left. And it all came down to a 2-point conversion attempt and Tank Carder deflected (the "Immaculate Deflection") Scott Tolzien's unexpected pass to clinch the W.

2010 TCU/Wisconsin Rose Bowl is one of my all-time favorite bowls. The Horned Frog-with-the-Rose-in-his-mouth might be the best helmet logo ever. I occasionally look for merchandise with that logo but haven’t found any.

(01-01-2021 11:49 AM)bullet Wrote:  My first memory of watching NYD bowl games was January 1, 1968. Indiana was in the Rose Bowl in a big surprise. IU, Purdue and Minnesota tied for the Big 10 title. It would be 30 years before Purdue would again win a Big 10 title. IU and Minnesota still haven't.

OJ lead #1 USC to win over Indiana in the Rose Bowl. Looking it up, OU beat #2 Tennessee in the Orange Bowl. I must have watched the Sugar Bowl where LSU beat Wyoming or the Cotton as I don't remember the Orange. And Gene Stallings lead a Texas A&M team that started 0-4 to a win over Alabama and his mentor Bear Bryant.

Indiana and Wyoming in big bowl games! I often think of 1968 as the beginning of the modern era in College football. After January 1! We haven't seen IU or Wyoming since.

1968- Ohio State national champs with the "super sophs" leading the way. Also, the season when the "pride stickers" started. I wasn't born yet for this season, but know all about it.

(01-03-2021 02:13 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(01-03-2021 01:14 PM)Jared7 Wrote:  My favorite memory of the big New Year's Day Bowls is (obviously) the Rose Bowl following the 2010 season between TCU and Wisconsin. It wasn't a "shocker" like Boise's W over OU in the Fiesta Bowl or Utah's W over Bama in the Sugar Bowl because TCU was actually favored, but it clearly was a big factor in TCU's ultimate promotion back from the wilderness into the big time a couple of years later. TCU was #3 in the BCS ratings and would have made a 4-team playoff had there been one, but we actually lucked into it because of Nevada's late upset of Boise when they missed a FG. The previous year, the BCS had shafted both teams by making us play each other in the Fiesta Bowl, but in 2010, we were both vying for the Rose Bowl due to an obscure BCS rule that required the Rose Bowl to take a non-AQ qualifier (which had been forced on the Rose Bowl by the other BCS Bowls). Wisconsin was a quality opponent and the game was exciting - the Frogs took an early lead, but the Badgers mounted a comeback based on their rushing ability to bring the score to 21-19 with 2 minutes left. And it all came down to a 2-point conversion attempt and Tank Carder deflected (the "Immaculate Deflection") Scott Tolzien's unexpected pass to clinch the W.

2010 TCU/Wisconsin Rose Bowl is one of my all-time favorite bowls. The Horned Frog-with-the-Rose-in-his-mouth might be the best helmet logo ever. I occasionally look for merchandise with that logo but haven’t found any.

it’s technically a lizard, a horny toad is really just a lizard that eats ants

(01-01-2021 10:30 AM)schmolik Wrote:  The following year Illinois went to the Rose Bowl. I remember my dad who honestly isn't into sports was so proud of the team he bought a souvenir mug that had all of the scores of Illinois's games before the Rose Bowl and that they were going to the Rose Bowl. I don't think he ever drank from the mug. I think he still has the mug, never used. It's the first time I remember him talking about the University of Illinois.

The Illini were ranked #4 going into that game. They got absolutely bent by a UCLA team that had only gone 6-4-1 on the season, although 1 of the losses was at Georgia (final ranking: #4) and another at Nebraska (final ranking #2).

Quote:While I was a grad student at PSU I went down to Orlando to see [Penn State] play in the Citrus Bowl. It's the only bowl game I got to see live.

Wow, for such an intense fan that's hard to believe. I would have to stop and give some serious thought if I wanted to calculate exactly how many I've attended. Just off the top of my head, at least 3 Sugars, 5 Peaches (living in Atlanta helps for that), 2 Gators, and 3 Supers (not college but I count 'em, LOL). Plus a few minor bowl games @Memphis, Shreveport, Mobile, Tampa, etc.

2004 Rose Bowl. Matt Leinart catching a TD pass (I think it was Dwayne Jarrett who threw it)

My favorite bowl game attended was the 1-1-18 Rose Bowl. Went to the parade in the morning. Did the tailgate party outside the stadium. And then watched perhaps the 2nd greatest bowl game of all time, Georgia's 54-48 win over Oklahoma.

Kids were too young so it was too complicated and expensive to do the 2005 and 2006 Rose Bowls (greatest bowl game of all time), although I really wanted to go. It was nice to finally go. The Rose Bowl really is special.