Liberty / Fight Hunger Bowls - Open Thread
I am going to do this now since I am depressed about the B1G at the moment.
These are on at the same time - Liberty Bowl is on ABC at 3:30 PM, and the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl is on at 3:30 PM on ESPN.
Liberty Bowl - because you wanted Cincinnati (9-3) and Vanderbilt (6-6), right? Right. That Vandy got here is probably going to be considered progress, for they went all of 2-10 in 2010. The Bearcats ended their season on a disappointing note (2-2 in their final four games), and probably want this game for validation. It's the Liberty Bowl, so whatever. I picked Cincinnati here.
The Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl - *snickers* Yes, one of the teams in this one has an overall losing record, and the other fired the man who punted when we least expected it. UCLA (6-7), the de facto Pac-12 South champion is playing a 6-6 Illinois, that went 0-for-the time after we went back to standard time basically. Maybe that loss of an hour blew up their season. We'll never know, I guess. I went Illinois here.
December 31st, 2011 at 3:10 PM ^
Just got back from SF yesterday, and saw the Illini band walking up Powell (I think) from Market. It is actually a little cold and foggy there, so they seemed less-than-pleased given how moderate the weather has been in the midwest. Also saw a couple of UCLA fans walking around. That game may be the most apathetic affair you will see in a long time.
December 31st, 2011 at 3:13 PM ^
Kraft fight coaching bowl
December 31st, 2011 at 3:22 PM ^
A tribute to the college football mania that grips Mgoblog: between the message boards for Illinois, UCLA and Michigan, this is probably the only one with an open thread for this bowl game.
All kidding aside, this site is my first bookmark for current sports, not just Michigan information. I'll bet I am not alone on that.
December 31st, 2011 at 3:26 PM ^
...even if it is Illinois, and even if it is the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.
December 31st, 2011 at 3:26 PM ^
It's kinda funny seeing something named the "Fight Hunger Bowl" with $1M payouts to each team.
December 31st, 2011 at 3:28 PM ^
....but the 'Fight (The) Hunger (Of Others) Bowl' was not selling tickets.
December 31st, 2011 at 3:33 PM ^
I wonder if they have something similar to the Lawry's Beef Bowl for this game.......
December 31st, 2011 at 3:51 PM ^
...but it's a big bowl of Ritz Crackers and Cheez Whiz.
December 31st, 2011 at 3:53 PM ^
....this is the second most delicious bowl.
December 31st, 2011 at 4:14 PM ^
Have you forgotten where Michigan is going?
December 31st, 2011 at 4:16 PM ^
The THIRD most delicious, with the Potato Bowl a competitive second.
December 31st, 2011 at 4:30 PM ^
And then there's Outback, Orange, Little Caesar's.....hell, even Gator. Alligator gumbo = mmmmm. I'd add Beef O'Brady's but after seeing the food in their ads I'm putting "Cotton" and the bygone "Continental Tire" ahead of them.
December 31st, 2011 at 4:33 PM ^
The Sugar Bowl would be well down my list. Pizza. Orange. Chick-fil-a. Gator-on-a-stick. But Sugar straight-up is not delicious.
December 31st, 2011 at 3:30 PM ^
Please. Please please please. Illinois needs to win and Cincinnati needs to maul Vandy. I hate to say it, but it's looking like the Big 12 was indeed the strongest conference this past year. It should have been LSU vs. OK St. in the final.
If Illinois can't beat a 6-7 UCLA squad and a 9-3 Cincy can't beat a 6-6 Vandy, then I'm going to crawl into my hole and cry.
December 31st, 2011 at 3:37 PM ^
I can't believe that UCLA had to get a waiver to play in this bowl game. Games like this allow people to make the point that there are too many bowl games.
December 31st, 2011 at 3:49 PM ^
The Fight Hunger Bowl will be a mammoth offensive game.
Maybe that's the Guinness talking though.
December 31st, 2011 at 3:54 PM ^
I'm not watching the game. Did all of Illinois coaches decide to show up?
December 31st, 2011 at 3:58 PM ^
....are present and accounted for, along with the remainder of the staff.
Yes, the Illinois receiving corps is playing an inspired game of 'hot potato'.
EDIT: I bet the KR guy for Illinois wants that return back if only to chance that it would bounce and be a touchback.
December 31st, 2011 at 4:11 PM ^
You can hear the boredom in the announcer's voice. I've seen high school games where the teams played harder...
December 31st, 2011 at 4:13 PM ^
...that I would sit in front of a game thinking it NEEDED a streaker, BUT....
December 31st, 2011 at 4:16 PM ^
Heck this puff piece on Mora Jr is the most exciting thing so far. Even though he's acting like a smug asshole and implying the current crop of players skip practice (way to ensure your entire roster hates you genius).
Also UCLA hired Mora Jr. They're so boned...
December 31st, 2011 at 4:24 PM ^
Obviously, he couldn't believe what passes for offense in this game. I can't either.
EDIT: Wow, UCLA is threatening to get into Illinois territory....no, sack. Sorry for the false alarm.
December 31st, 2011 at 4:28 PM ^
Feel like their burning watching this garbage. Illinois has as much physical talent as any of the top B1G teams. Just goes to show how much the mental side counts.
December 31st, 2011 at 4:31 PM ^
December 31st, 2011 at 4:39 PM ^
'I know! I only half-believed it myself!'
Illinois derps first -7-0 UCLA.
EDIT: Never underestimate Scheelhaase's ability to throw to open cornerbacks.
December 31st, 2011 at 4:37 PM ^
That there are more Cincy fans than Vandy fans at a bowl game in TN.
December 31st, 2011 at 4:45 PM ^
UCLA winning this game? Illinois is a tire fire.
December 31st, 2011 at 4:53 PM ^
Think of the game as two competing tire fires and it is a marginally better game.
Beer helps too.
EDIT: See, Illinois doesn't need to tackle. UCLA can tackle themselves quite well, kthx.
December 31st, 2011 at 4:53 PM ^
That was a classic play for the Illini. Two different defensive players have a shot to wrap the QB up for a 10 or 7 yard loss. The UCLA QB gains 3 instead.
December 31st, 2011 at 5:03 PM ^
Nathan Scheelhaase gets sacked about a mile backwards, but Illinois stays in FG range...maybe. Not too familiar with their punter. At best, 7-3 UCLA at halftime if he makes it. Like I said, mammoth offensive game.
December 31st, 2011 at 5:31 PM ^
This is truly the Kraft Fight Offense Bowl.
December 31st, 2011 at 5:38 PM ^
This should be a before Xmas Bowl. I mean clearly no one wants to be here and everyone sucks. I wish the bowl system at least had some quality control for the post XMas Bowl.
While the Alamo Bowl was screwy, at least half of each team came to play...
December 31st, 2011 at 5:40 PM ^
I am shocked - I repeat SHOCKED - that both of these teams decided to fire their head coaches given the excellent product we are seeing out there between UCLA and Illinois today.
If this isn't the best advertisement for the upcoming Pac-12/B1G match-up agreement, i don't know what is.
December 31st, 2011 at 5:45 PM ^
Some teams eat time on drives to the end zone...but these guys are eating time just getting 1st downs. *gah*
December 31st, 2011 at 5:47 PM ^
Remember preseason when we worried about the Illini?
December 31st, 2011 at 5:52 PM ^
....and I feel supremely stupid about that now.
EDIT: My god, a 16-play drive is going to end in a field goal. Jeebus.
December 31st, 2011 at 5:55 PM ^
Ferentz considers that drive to be pornographic.
December 31st, 2011 at 6:05 PM ^
Remember Navy's 14-minute, 26-play, 94-yard drive from their own 3?
December 31st, 2011 at 6:03 PM ^
Illinois can score if they are on defense. INT returned for a TD - 10-7 Illinois.
We sort of have a type of game here.
EDIT: Still waiting for a punt on 3rd and 6. A tribute to Ron Zook would be appreciated for the humor value.
December 31st, 2011 at 6:05 PM ^
I hope Auburn drestroys UVA. I need to see something decent today.
December 31st, 2011 at 6:34 PM ^
...but UCLA brought NO pressure all game and only now do you break out witha sizeable lead (i.e., something you could keep with five minutes or so left). Still, the offense amazes here, and not in a good way.