'Tis The Season - It's Time For College Football Bowl Game Season
The 5 things you need to know about the all-consuming time of year.
While you might be in the midst of holiday shopping season, others are immersed in college football bowl game season.
This is it,
The Last Night’s Game Team
1. If the Oscars have the most coveted swag bags, bowl games are a close second. Players cannot be paid to play in the games but they can take home some great loot valued up to but not exceeding $550. Gifts this year include a cowboy hat, a life-sized decal for each participant of his likeness, a GoPro and for the first time ever at the Idaho Potato Bowl, fanny packs. TOUCHDOWN IN THE GIFT DEPARTMENT
2. What’s in a name? Well for bowl games, it’s big money. The committees will do just about anything to please their title sponsors including naming the game itself something odd. The most memorable bowl game names this season roll off the tongue like the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl, Cheez-It Bowl, Taxslayer Bowl and the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. And yes, there used to be a game called the Salad Bowl. HOW LONG UNTIL WE HAVE THE SMOKE-A BOWL?
3. Unless a player is playing in the national championship game, families cannot receive any financial assistance to travel to a bowl game, per NCAA rules. This year Heisman Trophy finalist from Ohio State, Chase Young, was suspended for taking a loan from a family friend to fly his girlfriend out to the Rose Bowl game in early 2019. WANNA GET AWAY?
4. Not all teams are invited to a bowl game. A team has to have a .500-plus record to be considered bowl eligible. The TV exposure, additional revenue and chance at a title all come with a price tag – winning. NO PARTICIPATION TROPHIES HERE
5. The top four teams in the country will play each other on Saturday, January 28 in either the Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, AZ) or the Peach Bowl (Atlanta). The winner of those two games will play each other in the National Championship Game on January 13. The other bowl games are for pride and money for the program, but will not impact a team’s overall rating. BOWLED OVER
What The Elf Is Happening?
It may be Monday but did you know it’s also “Answer The Telephone Like Buddy The Elf Day?” Like you wanted to work today anyway.
It may be Monday but did you know it’s also “Answer The Telephone Like Buddy The Elf Day?” Like you wanted to work today anyway.
Feel free to talk sports like an elf today too,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NBA (National Basketball Association)
What to say to your friend who isn’t afraid of heights. Monday may not be your favorite day but today is the best day ever for legendary Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant. He will have not one but two numbers (#8 and #24) retired into the rafters of the Staples Center tonight. Why two? He switched numbers about halfway through his career. Bryant is also the first player in NBA history to have two numbers retired by the same team.
NFL (National Football League)
When 2007 seems like yesterday. The Jacksonville Jaguars haven’t made it to the playoffs since Britney Spears’ buzz cut, the iPhone debuted and Rihanna’s Umbrella blew our minds. Yesterday, for the first time in 10 years they finally clinched a spot in the playoffs.
Overtime
With 52 days until the Winter Olympics in Seoul, Team U.S.A is coming together nicely. On Saturday, 17-year-old Maame Biney became the first African American woman to qualify for the U.S. Olympic speedskating team.
Sideline stat
Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson is putting his team on the market amid allegations of workplace misconduct. A willing buyer? Brother Love aka P. Diddy is interested in getting in on the deal. Golden State Warriors’ Steph Curry (NBA) has also expressed interest. Brother Love/Diddy is worth a reported $820 million and the team is valued at $2.3 billion. Looks like he’s going to need more benjamins.
Coaches’ corner
Retiring a jersey number means no one on that team can ever wear that jersey number again. Want to sound in the know? If a player’s jersey is “in the rafters,” it means their number has been retired and it hangs from the rafters of the arena. If you’re legendary, you’re in the rafters.
PS – Wondering how your College Football Bowl Game Mania entry is doing? Kudos to HuskerZ and Amy16 who are tied for first place after the first weekend of games. Don’t worry there are still plenty of games to play. CHECK THE STANDINGS
Treat Yo Self
Like the jelly of the month club, knowing what to say in the sports conversation is the gift that keeps on giving all year long.
Like the jelly of the month club, knowing what to say in the sports conversation is the gift that keeps on giving all year long.
#winning,
The Last Night’s Game Team
PS – Looking for a way to take your tailgate beer game to a whole new level? Today’s Tailgate Treat is exactly what you’re looking for.
NFL (NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE)
America loves a great comeback story. Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is headed back to the field eight weeks after breaking his collarbone. He’ll return with a few extra plates and screws in his surgically repaired collarbone to help his team, which is on the verge of the playoffs, finish out the season.
When you can't fit one more thing into your weekend. Starting this weekend the NFL will play two games to on Saturday. You can now catch an NFL game on Monday, Saturday or Sunday. If you’re playing in a fantasy football league, don’t forget to set your rosters. (FYI - Yesterday was the last Thursday Night Football game of the regular season).
MLB (MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL)
When decisions of the head and the heart collide. The St. Louis Cardinals were looking to make a trade and it seemed outfielder Stephen Piscotty was the guy. Piscotty missed some of last season to spend time with his mom who was diagnosed with ALS. Taking in account his family situation, amongst other things, Piscotty was traded to the Oakland A’s where he could be close to his mom.
OVERTIME
In the “this really happened” file, New York Jets player Jeremy Kerley (NFL) was suspended for four games for violating the league's performance-enhancing substance policy. How’d that banned substance get into his system? He blamed a ghost, specifically the Ghost of Christmas Past. No really. Apparently, he not only needs to avoid any questionable supplements but he should probably lay off the Disney Christmas cartoons.
SIDELINE STAT
Florida and Nebraska will play for the Women’s Volleyball National Championship on Saturday. Florida will be playing for their first national championship. Expect a big crowd as the semifinal game drew a record 18,000+ people, serving up the biggest crowd of all time.
COACHES’ CORNER
College football bowl game season starts tomorrow with the Celebration Bowl featuring Grambling vs. North Carolina A&T. Don't take a snack break and miss halftime of this game because the Grambling band will not disappoint. They're not your average college band. BOWL GAME SCHEDULE
Want to talk college football without all the stats and jargon? Catch our Five Things To Know About College Football Bowl Games right here.
Do you like free stuff? Join our College Football Bowl Game Mania for a chance to win prizes. Better yet? You don't even have to know anything about college football.
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