College Football Bowl Season

2010
December 18
5:30 p.m.-9 p.m.
Northern Illinois Huskies vs. Fresno State Bulldogs

To me this match-up is head-and-shoulders above the other two games scheduled for the day.  The top team in the MAC versus one of the best year-in-year mid-major programs in the country.  This should be good.

December 22
8 p.m.-11 p.m.
Utah Utes vs. Boise State Broncos

This could have been an annual match-up in the MWC, instead the Pac-10 came calling and Utah answered so they could have a better chance at an AQ bid.  The Broncos were a FQ away from a BCS game if not the National Championship Game, but that's why you play.  This is game is easily one of the top three in the bowl season.

December 23
8 p.m.-11 p.m.
Navy Midshipmen vs. San Diego State Aztecs

I can't describe how interested I am in this game.  A surprising team in the MWC in the Aztecs in basically a home game against the Midshipmen that started off the year not their usual selves only to right the ship, pardon the pun, and continue an impressive decade of year-in and year-out success for a service academy.

December 28
6:30 p.m.-10 p.m.
West Virginia Mountaineers vs. North Carolina State Wolfpack

The Mountaineers almost won Big East, the Wolfpack were a win against Maryland away from facing the Hokies for the ACC Championship.  The Mountaineers haven't found themselves offensively since Rich Rod's departure and barely finished above expectations while the Wolfpack surprised everyone, especially early in the season.  This game is just intriguing to me and that's why I want to see it.

December 30
6:40 p.m.-10:15 p.m.
North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Tennessee Volunteers

My Vols finished 4-0 in November to reach 6-6 and bowl eligiblity while the Tar Heels were on and off all year because of suspensions throughout the year because of the agent scandal that hit them in August.  These two were to start a home-and-home series next year, but the Vols wanted to postpone it only for the Tar Heels to refuse them thus the series was cancelled.  Now they won't be facing one another two in their next three games, they were scheduled for their 2nd game of the 2011 season, so for the first time since the 1960s UNC faces UT, should be good.

December 31
7:30-11 p.m.
South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Florida State Seminoles

Both teams did better than expected, both lost their conference championship games, and both are looking for a way to springboard into next season.  Some just seems to say this should be a very good game.

2011
January 1
1 p.m.-4 p.m.
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Michigan State Spartans

I'll be honest, I'm watching this game more for Michigan State than Alabama

4:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
Wisconsin Badgers vs. TCU Horned Frogs

This if the first BCS game and it could be one of the best, plus its the ROSE BOWL!

January 3
8:30 p.m.-12 midnight
Stanford Cardinal vs. Virginia Tech Hokies

The Cardinal were the 2nd-best team in the Pac-10 all year and for a half had the Ducks on the ropes, the Hokies after a hard fought battle against Boise State and a major letdown against James Madison have won 11 straight games.  This Orange Bowl looks like it'll be one to remember.

January 4
8:30 p.m.-11 p.m.
Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Arkansas Razorbacks

I can't miss the Buckeyes playing and especially against the Razorbacks and their pass happy offense.

January 7
8 p.m.-11:30 p.m.
LSU Tigers vs. Texas A&M Aggies

This game just smells like its going to be something to remember.

January 10
8:30 p.m.-12 midnight
Auburn Tigers vs. Oregon Ducks

It's the National Championship Game and it might never end, though to be honest the rust factor will be the "X" element in this game and whomever gets over it first will most likely win.

There is my personal viewing schedule for the 2010-11 bowl season.  See you in the first week of the 2011 season.

I’ve only given a general introduction of myself, but haven’t really given a sense of where my fan perspective is coming from.  So what I’m doing with this series is giving you an insight of how I view a particular sport through the teams I follow.  With college football ready to begin in less than two weeks, I figure its time to post this.

Favorite Team
Tennessee Volunteers- I really didn’t get into college football until the fall of 1992 when I was almost 11.  Being a Seventh-day Adventist, my parents were a bit conservative in raising me before my tween years and so TV before sundown on Saturdays was only allowed for ‘very special circumstances.’  But 1992 was when they started easing up a bit and that corresponded with a 5-0 start for the Vols under Philip Fulmer and Johnny Majors.  The spectacle and tradition of college football instantly hooked me and the Vols became my team.  I’ve endured the disappointments against Florida, the elation of back-to-back conference titles then a National Championship, and finally the frustration of a roller coaster decade.  But the Vols are still my team every Saturday.

Preferred Teams
Chattanooga Mocs- The local Division I-AA football team was only consistently good before I was introduced to college football.  Since 1992, the Mocs have been constantly bad with half a dozen coaches that at best have one good season in their tenure.  However things are looking up with Coach Russ Huesman taking the helm last year and getting a winning season in his first year after the Mocs endured a 1-11 2008 campaign.

Ohio State Buckeyes- In what will be a running theme throughout this series, the Buckeyes are my family’s “fall back” team for one reason: while I was born and lived near Chattanooga all my life, both my parents are from the Canton (OH) area.  Like the Vols against the Gators throughout the 90s, my family had to deal with the disappointments against Michigan until Jim Tressel took over and made the Wolverines his play toy.  While the Buckeyes have been disappointed come bowl time most of this decade, they’ve been the bright spot when the Vols season has gone downhill.

Boise State Broncos- I can’t help it, I like the blue turf.  I love watching the Broncos and I’m not ashamed to say it.  Currently my favorite team in the WAC, soon they’ll be my favorite MWC team.

Nebraska Cornhuskers- When I started following college football in the early 90s, the Cornhuskers were dominant and after the Vols and Buckeyes there my next favorite team for one reason: Tom Osbourne.  Right now they’re the only team in the Big 12 that I’d want to watch and soon they’ll be joining the Buckeyes in Big Ten, thanks to Tom Osbourne.

Fresno State Bulldogs- “Anyone, anywhere” explains it all, but the fact the Bulldogs make the big boys earn those victories makes watching their games fun.  Until the conspiracy between BYU and the WAC was exposed, the Bulldogs were going to be my favorite team in the WAC now they’ll be a solid #2 behind the Broncos in the Mountain West like they are in the WAC.

Navy Midshipmen- I don’t know if it’s a patriotic twinge every fall or the triple option offense, or a combination of both, but I just like watching the Midshipmen.  And I have the ability to watch them (when not watching teams I route for more), I flip to them.

Utah Utes- Since they burst onto the scene close to the start of the last decade, I’ve been interesting in finding out how the Utes are doing.  With their move to the Pac-10 next season, they’ll become my favorite team in the conference especially when they face Southern Cal and “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.”

Despised Teams
Georgia Southern Eagles- The continual humiliating beat downs that the Eagles gave the Mocs throughout the 90s and early into the 00s made me really dislike this team.

Michigan Wolverines- You can’t like the Buckeyes and not dislike UM.

Texas Longhorns- This offseason made me dislike this team. Prima donnas.