Don’t Know What You’ve Got, ‘Til It’s Gone….

If the title of this post takes you back to the mid-80’s and the hair band Cinderella, then my mission has been accomplished.  More to come.  But during these times of festivities, celebrations, parties and seven Pac-10 bowl games without our beloved ASU Sun Devils, its a difficult time of year.  Especially when ASU snatched defeat from the hands of victory from many of those bowl-bound teams.  Including the group wearing blue and gold in this years San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl.

Golden Bears 14…..Utes 0

Unless you have any ties to a specific university or school, the college bowl system may seem archaic or pointless.  But to a fan or alumnus, a trip to a bowl game is all you think about during the fall months, and can make or break your holiday season.

“I knew right from the start you’d put an arrow, through my heart”–RATT  

Case in point, ASU’s two-year absence and the University of Arizona’s two-year run of bowl participation. Ask any Wildcat fan how happy they are that their team went to the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl or this year’s Pacific Life Holiday Bowl?  I guarantee sheer giddiness.  It seems just like yesterday ASU was enjoying the Hawaii Bowls, a couple of Holiday Bowls and  a taste of the Sun Bowl for good measure.  There would have been nothing better than to be watching the Sun Devils take on one of my adopted Mountain West teams in this years Poinsettia matchup.

Golden Bears 14…..Utes 10

Say what you will about  the number of teams making bowls, but in todays business market place, if something doesn’t sell, then it goes away. Many players enjoy the extra meal money, the side trips to Sea World or  the gift bags every bowl gives away.  And for a lot of the players, this is their first real trip away from home.  Places they’d never see, people they would never meet and experiences they’ll never feel.  For everyone who has taken a family vacation or gone away to school, it’s hard to understand, but it’s very real.  To watch these players at bowl functions as I have over the last 25 years, you get a first hand look at the enjoyment they experience.

Golden Bears 14…..Utes 24

Celebrating its fifth anniversary as a bowl game, the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl has been growing steadily under the supervision of its parent, the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl, much like the relationship our own Insight Bowl has with the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.  While trying to find its place in the bowl world, the Poinsettia offered Navy a place to go bowling, which was an easy sell with the high naval presence in America’s Finest City.  Last year’s nail-biter between TCU and Boise State was just an appetizer for this year’s Fiesta matchup of the same two teams, but with much more on the line in a BCS game.

Golden Bears 21…..Utes 27

“You give me pain, but you bring me pleasure”–Judas Priest  

If I didn’t know any better, that could be a description of the ASU offense and defense.  But alas, we must watch Cal, Georgia, USC, Arizona, and UCLA all play in bowl games on the backs of our beloved Sun Devils.  You know what they say, dreaming is free.

As for the controversy with the BCS or playoff system, it’s an easy fix.  Continue with the rich history of the bowls and have an a eight-team playoff.

“All that glitters isn’t gold”–Warrant  

That description is perfect for the BCS.  The facts are simple with bowl games.  Twenty-eight communities, 34 bowl champions, 68 universities, 6,800 student athletes, 1.7 million fans, 130 million TV households, $220 million to universities and $1 billion in economic impact.

When the giant flags are curled back up and the fans file out of the stadium, another year of college football comes to a close for two more teams. One living with a season-ending loss and the other experiencing the spoils of victory.  And unfortunately, the Arizona State Sun Devils can feel neither.  But Utah All-American offensive lineman Zane Beadles puts it succinctly, “When all the memories of the zoo are gone and the gifts are lost, you’ll always remember who won the game”.  Not just another game Zane, but a college bowl game.

Final Score-Golden Bears 27…..Utah 37

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