This is sort of a teaser of the upcoming IP Sports Bowl Preview coming NEXT WEEK!
NEW ORLEANS BOWL
NORTH TEXAS vs. SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
Dec-14 7:30/ESPN
WHO THE HELL ARE THESE TEAMS?
It’s a tale of two seasons. North Texas makes their fourth appearance in the fourth New Orleans Bowl as the Sun Belt Champion for the fourth time. Of course everybody thought they weren’t gonna make a bowl game after a string of consecutive losses to start their season. You know how many losses? Go on, guess! That’s right! Four! They started 0-4, but ended up winning their seven remaining games to clinch the championship outright. Take a peak at the best Running Back that you never heard of named Jamario Thomas who is only 155 yards shy of breaking Ron Dayne’s Freshman rushing record.
Southern Miss on the other hand has to consider this season a disappointment especially when they were considered Liberty Bowl contenders. They’ve also lost their last four out of five barely garnering a winning record. They’ve also lost their last two bowl games and their last game was just a couple weeks ago versus California. You can also look at the best defensive player you never heard of; Michael Boley whom recorded 7 sacks, five forced fumbles, and 117 tackles this year.
WHAT THE HELL IS THE NEW ORLEANS BOWL?
With the disintegration of the Big West and the MAC gaining a little prestige; the old California Bowl (also known as the Raisin Bowl) folded and with it the traditional pre-bowl college bowl. Obviously, someone was begging to take over this glorious enigmatic spot. Enter the New Orleans Bowl It’s the brain child of the Sun Belt conference and ESPN who have had ties for a long time. Actually, the Sun Belt conference is the first college sports conference to give a contract to ESPN way back in 1980. Let’s hear what Ron Maestri, Executive Director of the New Orleans Bowl has to say.
Come to the Crescent City to see one of the newest NCAA College Football Bowl Game – the Wyndham New Orleans Bowl! The Wyndham New Orleans Bowl is the first game of the college bowl “season”, and pits the champion of the Sun Belt Conference vs. a mutually agreed upon team from the Conference USA. The inaugural New Orleans Bowl in 2001, was rated the third highest viewed bowl game in ESPN2 history.
Wow, that’s super..but it gets better!
Officials for the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation and the Wyndham New Orleans Bowl announced today that the national television broadcast of the 2004 New Orleans Bowl will be rescheduled from ESPN2 to ESPN.
In making the decision to move the 2004 bowl game to the patriarch of the ESPN family, network executives recognized the growth of the New Orleans Bowl over the past 3 years, the addition of Wyndham as a title sponsor, and the positioning of the Wyndham New Orleans Bowl as the official launch of the bowl season. For bowl executives, the move represents another major step in the growth of the game. For the Wyndham New Orleans Bowl, this move serves as a real testament to the relationship and partnership we’ve developed with ESPN, and their commitment to the growth of this game. It certainly marks another major milestone in the 4 year history of our event. For Wyndham, in their first year as the Bowl’s title sponsor, the timing couldn’t be better. “We are ecstatic that ESPN has created the opportunity for us to shine a larger national light on the 2004 game and this community. We can’t think of a better way for ESPN to kick off the bowl season”, commented Gary Froeba, Wyndham’s General Manager/Area Director of Operations in New Orleans.
WOW! Either that or ESPN needed to fill space due to the NHL Strike!
Come back after the game for a complete Wrap-Up right here in this VERY same column!
SOUTHERN MISS-31
NORTH TEXAS-10
MVP-MICHAEL BOLEY
WHAT HAPPENED?
Well, that was a thrashing. The game wasn’t even as close as the three touchdowns displayed in the final score. The Mean Grean scored that touchdown last so that should give you a clue what the real score was. Linebacker Michael Boley made an interception that was run back for a touchdown plus eight tackles and two sacks. Thomas who ran for 92 yards was outshined by Anthony Harris who ran for 104 years including a 43 yard sprint.
WHAT DID WE LEARN?
That Southern Mississippi was better then their mediocre record exemplified and Michael Boley is gonna make some NFL team very happy. Also, if the top Sun Belt team in the NCAA got thrashed by a 6-5 USA team, then that conference still has a long way to go in being a competitive mid-major conference.
