The many deceptions of Chris Petersen

Despite what the ESPN and Fox analysts want us to believe, we didn't find out last night that Boise State is an elite team. We learned they could outlast another mid-level team. But we also learned the Broncos coach Chris Petersen is one gutsy coach. He has more trick plays and is never afraid to use them. For that ... I love Boise State. Go Broncos!

Is Matthew McConaughey retarded?

If you have watched the Texas Longhorns play a football game the past four years you know movie stud Matthew McConaughey is a huge UT fan. But have you ever watched him on the sidelines? He is either stoned or retarded. It's like he never stopped playing former Marshall coach Jack Lengyl in the movie "We Are Marshall."

You'll see in the video that he was at it again during the Longhorns' last-second victory over Ohio State on Tuesday.

Bowl Preview: Fiesta Bowl

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
Ohio State vs. Texas
Date: Jan. 5
Time: 8 p.m.
TV: FOX
Line: Texas -8.5

About Ohio State: If this were 1992, the Buckeyes would be renowned for their innovative offensive and defensive schemes. As it is, they look like they should be playing with leather helmets and drop kicks. Coach Jim Tressel is still convinced the punt and not turning the ball over are the two most important things in football. Scoring points is somewhere in the teens.

Intangibles:
Kirk Herbstreit: -4
Woody Hayes: +2
Average age of coaching staff; 84: -2
Last two national title games: -5

About Texas: The Longhorns were one dropped interception from playing in the national title game (assuming a Big 12 championship win over Missouri. A fair assumption.) As it is, tough crap. Next time don't drop the interception. Colt McCoy and 10 other guys play on offense. Brian Orakpo and 10 other guys play on defense. Mack Brown is still the coach, although he's slowly morphing into the Bobby Bowden "I sit on a golf cart and say funny things" role.

Intangibles:
Bevo: +3
Austin: +2
Rest of Texas: -4
Matthew McConaghey: -2

Impact Player: OSU guard Steve Rehring loves Christmas break. Steve loves eating. Steve doesn't like working out so much. Steve is big. Steve is slow. Steve is slower after Christmas break.

Bowl slogan: "The Fiesta Bowl proudly welcomes...what?! Ohio State AGAIN? Criminy. Why not just buy a timeshare."

Little known fact: Hey Texas players, how about wearing some freaking underwear with those white pants? I'm tired of having to check out your junk every time you make a tackle.

Watchability (1-5): 4

The Pick: Texas 30, Ohio State 24

Is it the economy?

Seems the easy explanation for poor ticket sales to bowl games is "It's the economy stupid!" Sounds plausible. The economy does suck and trekking across the country to watch a football game isn't the best way to be fiscally responsible.

I'm just not buying it.

The Columbus Dispatch talked to Buckeye fans who have decided to stay home instead of going to the Fiesta Bowl for a potentially great match up with Texas. The reasons vary (including the economy), but clearly Ohio State's scarlet and gray clad faithful are tired of spending the holidays in the Phoenix area. The Fiesta Bowl execs should have really considered steering away from OSU and going with Utah. Buckeye fans may have enjoyed a Sugar Bowl trip (OK, last year's trip to New Orleans didn't go so well) to face Alabama.

In a somewhat embarrassing and sad pitch to coax fans into traveling to Miami for the Orange Bowl, Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer is making an online appeal on the Hokies official website. No one went to the ACC Championship game, why would VT fans travel to watch them play Cincinnati? Let's stop the charade. Virginia Tech is not a big-time program.

Now look at two bowls with good ticket sales.

The Meineke Bowl, with regional opponents North Carolina and West Virginia, have surpassed 50,000 ticket sales. According to the Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette, bowl officials got the matchup they wanted. Fans of both schools aren't letting them down either with brisk sales.

According to The Oregonian, the Oregon Ducks second trip to San Diego in four years for the Holiday Bowl has not hurt the interest in tickets. The Ducks have sold 8,000 of their alloted 11,000 for the Dec. 30 game against Oklahoma State.

Good matchups and good fans will go to a bowl no matter what.

Obama wants a Playoff

Found this interesting clip at Dr. Saturday's blog. I don't agree with him or Sen. Barack Obama about a playoff in college football, but thought I should share.

The bowl system works. At the end of the season there are about 18 to 20 teams, universities and fan bases who are thrilled with how they finished the season. Think Boise State wasn't thrilled after taking down Oklahoma a few years ago in the Fiesta Bowl? Much better ending than a first-round playoff loss on the road.

Let us know your thoughts?