North Carolina State vs. Vanderbilt
I started this game with the boys at the Gaslight Cafe in Pleasant Ridge. This was an abbreviated version our annual Christmas tradition we call Man Day. Just the guys out for lunch, shopping and maybe a few beers for Dad along the way. We couldn't get it in this earlier because they didn't get off from school until the Friday before Christmas and Mrs. Keith and I were out of town that weekend. So today was the last chance.
The Gaslight Cafe was the destination because the Gaslight burger is ranked as the #4 burger in town by Cincinnati magazine.
Boy #2 and I went for it while Boy #1 must be watching his figure and went for the quarter pound burger. It's one tasty burger. And if you go, stick with the chips. The large crinkle cut fries were a disappointment. The house made chili wasn't bad but too much alongside this monster.
Turns out the Gaslight didn't have the bowl game, favoring the U.C. basketball game. No problem, these games drag on so I'd catch a quarter of the second half at home. As noted many times, I've been subbing for my morning show, so the belly buster of a burger combined with mild exhaustion equaled me laying on the couch for the third quarter.
Blah. Vanderbilt put up 21 points in the second quarter and that's all she wrote in this one. This game was another with a coaching change, with Jim O'Brien getting the boot in Raleigh so we'll chalk up the Wolf Pack's poor play to that. As is common in these games, turnovers are a huge factor and NC State's Mike Glennon had three of them with interceptions.
North Carolina State outgained Vanderbilt by 214 yards. That's seriously inefficient.
Vandy 38 NC State 24
Game Notes:
-This was Vanderbilt's first 9-win season since 1915. 1915. They didn't wear helmets that far back. Commodores coach James Franklin certainly deserves some votes for coach of the year. He's turned a doormat program into a solid second tier player in the S.E.C.
-Another quarterback hurting his draft stock with lackluster to poor play, this time NC State's Mike Glennon. Three picks isn't going to get you paid come April, Mike.
-The highlight of NC State's season was ruining Florida State's season when they beat them in October. That win gave us my favorite football fan picture of the year.
I'm guessing that guy would really enjoy the Gaslight Cafe.
Swag bag for players: Just like this game, blah. A trip through the gift suite and a Fossil watch. Fossil, the official watch of bowl game gift suites. Bowl sponsor Franklin American should at least offer players parents a discount on a re-fi.
Of course, I picked NC State to win. Bowl record started to swirl.
The Sun Bowl is sponsored by Hyundai but I like this Vitalis logo better. I'm taking the Sun Bowl as seriously as the Trojans of USC did.
Southern Cal vs. Georgia Tech
What an embarrassment for Southern Cal, a team that was a preseason favorite to play for (and win) a national championship. Obviously that didn't happen as they found themselves in El Paso on December 31st.
I put this game on after it was clear the Music City Bowl was a done deal. I had doubts about Southern Cal in this game because of starting quarterback Matt Barkley being out with a case of "I don't want to get hurt in this meaningless game" and the Trojans being relegated by their own doing to this game instead of something on New Year's Day or later.
Another turnover plagued game with a real lack of effort and game planning by Southern Cal. They had no answer to Tech's triple option attack and couldn't find a way to get the ball to their two soon-to-be-NFL playing wide receivers. No one on offense really seemed to be trying.
USC head coach Lane Kiffin was dressed as the Unibomber, in a hoodie and shades, maybe hoping no one would recognize him and the awful job he and his staff did all season and for this game. Here's Lane looking thrilled to be part of some pregame folderol.
George Tech 21 USC 7
Game notes:
-This is the only bowl game on CBS because ESPN loves showing crappy football. Vern Lundquist and Gary Danielson, the SEC A-Team, are called in to do this game yearly. These guys get to be in El Paso every New Year's Eve day. Lucky them.
When it was clear that USC had no intention of making a real effort, they told the story of how Kiffin and his team blew off the bowl game dinner that is planned for both teams. El Paso takes a lot of pride in this game, their only time each year in the annual spotlight. They were both obviously disgusted with the team's lack of manners and consideration for the people that put on this game and were waiting to tell this story to shame USC. That they did.
-If they don't jump on a private jet to go home, what can Vern and Gary do on New Year's Eve in El Paso? Well, the "stars" of American Idol are performing at the nearby Inn of the Mountain Gods. Yes, that's a real place. There is an outdoor ball drop at the Lotus club including a performance by the band Biscuit Roller. Or they can go R&B at the Sunland horse race track with the velvety sounds of Sha'Vone.
-Player swag: Timely watch, Majestic fleece, Top of the World cap, coin, Helen of Troy hair dryer. The only game that gives away a hair dryer. Maybe a late Christmas present for mom, yeah?
Got this one wrong too, picking Southern Cal. I probably shouldn't gamble.
Finishing the Liberty Bowl now and on to the nightcap, hopefully a good game between Clemson and LSU. Aw, who am I kidding, it's the ACC vs. the SEC, it will likely be a beat down. Maybe I can pick one game correctly.
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