The Panthers have played in this game three straight years. At some point you'd figure they either have to win another game or two and play in a better bowl game or drop below .500 and stay home. Either is a better alternative than an annual January trip to Birmingham and crumbling Legion Field.
Boy #2 and I made a trip to Dave and Buster's to catch the first quarter because we had a $40 gift certificate to use before it expired Sunday. The local Dave and Buster's has been remodeled and while still a humungous space, it was much nicer than the previous incarnation.
We sat in this area and fortunately Stephen A. Smith wasn't on. In addition to the Compass Bowl, we had access to the Michigan State/Purdue basketball game on another big screen. The Spartans are the usually sloppy, foul happy team they are this time of year and it was a foul fest against the Boilers.
Anyhow...
Ole Miss scored two touchdowns in the first half, one coming thanks to a Tino Sunseri interception. Sunseri's only playing of note was that he had not thrown an interception since September. The ESPN guys calling the game made certain to mention that fact several times so everyone watching knew what was coming.
We stayed at Dave and Busters through the first quarter and left after we ate and the boy played $20 worth of games. A stop at Costco was next, to pick up a couple things to munch on during the NFL playoff games. I don't know what they were selling, but it was the most crowded I've ever seen Costco. Not a single cart at the front of the store. Must be an outstanding coupon book this month.
It took forever to check out. We were standing next to a man who was only buying two boxes of cereal. Seemed like a bad time for cereal only shopping. Mr. Cereal looked perplexed at the whole situation and for some reason, jumped out of his line one spot from checking out and went to stand in another line. He still managed to check out before us because the self serve check-outs at Costco are the worst. They stop working for every single customer and require an employee to come over and restart it. There should also be an item limit on those self serve lines. We were behind a family that appeared to be restocking a restaurant and furnishing a bedroom.
We finally checked out and then there was a huge line to wait for the receipt check. A lot of people hate the receipt check but during Christmas we saw these folks pick off some shoplifters, so there is a reason for it. And it's always the same people who do the checking, which I like. Charlie always seems like the cantankerous but kind elderly neighbor.
Oh yeah, the game. I came home, watched the ho-hum third quarter and then Mrs. Keith said she had enough and started watching episodes of True Blood. Wow, that show is terrible.
Ole Miss 38 Pittsburgh 17
Game notes:
-Nice season for the Rebels, improving to 7-6 from 2-10 last season. SEC! SEC!
-As noted Pittsburgh needs to do something one way or another with their program. If not, at least commit to not playing in this game for a fourth straight year.
-The announced attendance was better than at the Sugar Bowl. How does that happen? I guess Rebels fans were excited about being in the postseason and they could drive to the game. Thankfully Legion Field didn't crumble under the weight of a full capacity of fans.
-Pre-game competions? How about some bowling (get it?) with bowling pin trophies.
-Bowl swag: Fossil watch, Oakley Dispatch II sunglasses, wireless portable speaker, backpack, football. Not a bad haul for a bottom tier game.
I had Ole Miss in this game, upping my record to 20-13, just a few points back of the pool leader. It's all going to come down to Monday night.
There is another game tomorrow, the GoDaddy.com bowl. And it's on late. But MACtion.
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