Bowl Duds

[Tigermike 3,054]

Bowl Duds

1. Oklahoma — There's obviously no shame in losing to USC, but the mauling OU endured in the Orange Bowl was the biggest shocker of the postseason. A bonehead special teams by Mark Bradley early on shifted the momentum, and the Sooners never recovered. The 55 points allowed by the defense is the most in the Bob Stoops era.

2. Cal — Forget the Rose Bowl. The Bears performed against Texas Tech as if they didn't even belong in the Holiday Bowl. Their 45-31 drubbing at the hands of the Red Raiders vindicated voters that helped elevate Texas above Cal in the controversial race for Pasadena.

3. Texas A&M — Playing in their first bowl game in three years, the Aggies decided to sleep in on New Year's morning. A&M was careless with the ball early, and Tennessee never let them recover in a 38-7 Cotton Bowl whooping.

4. UCLA — On and off the field, the Bruins were a disgrace. Sandwiched between the suspension of two players for disciplinary reasons, and some poor sportsmanship during and after the Wyoming loss was a listless and sloppy effort. At 12-13 with two ugly bowl losses, what exactly has Karl Dorrell done in two seasons to warrant a recent two-year contract extension?

5. Oklahoma State — The Cowboys were completely mauled by a much better Ohio State team, dropping them to 0-5 this season against ranked opponents. Other than some cool bowl giveaways and a few glimpses of freshman Prentiss Elliott's potential, Oklahoma State took home nothing positive from San Antonio.

6. The Michigan defense — For the second consecutive game, the Wolverines were obliterated by a mobile quarterback. Michigan succeeded in stopping Texas' Cedric Benson, but that only opened up more running lanes for Vince Young, who sprinted for a game-high 192 yards and four touchdowns.

7. The Virginia defense — Whenever the Cavs had to have a stop in the MPC Computer Bowl, it was Fresno that made the big play. The Bulldogs controlled the line of scrimmage, and picked on the Virginia secondary like it was a frat pledge.

8. Syracuse — Inept in every facet of the game, the Orange were one of this year's poster children for there being way too many mediocre teams in the postseason. With incoming athletic director Daryl Gross in attendance, Syracuse's 51-14 loss in Orlando ended any slim chance Paul Pasqualoni would be back in 2005.

9. Alabama — 'Bama was physically abused along both lines by a smaller, yet athletic Minnesota team. If the Tide was pumped about being back in the postseason for the first time in three years, it wasn't evident in the outcome or the quality of their play. The Gophers out rushed 'Bama 276-21 in front of a crimson clad Nashville crowd.

10. The Purdue defense — The same Boilermaker unit, which ranked among the nation's best in defense this year, failed to hold a late fourth-quarter lead and yielded more than 500 yards to an Arizona State team sans starting quarterback, Andrew Walter.

11. West Virginia — No matter the opponent nor the venue, the 'eers just can't seem to get this postseason thing down pat. West Virginia closed out a very disappointing season with a sloppy 30-18 loss to Florida State in the Gator Bowl, making them 1-11 in bowl games over the past two decades.

12. Cal QB Aaron Rodgers — Yes, Rodgers was clearly hamstrung by his young receiving corps, but the Holiday Bowl was still the personal low point of his otherwise spectacular junior season.

13. Oklahoma QB Jason White — White was crisp and nimble in the early going, but that success was fleeting. His three picks added to the Sooners' woes, and were more than any other quarterback threw this postseason.

14. Wisconsin DE Erasmus James — James' uneventful afternoon in the Outback Bowl became more glaring every time David Pollack notched another sack.

15. Oklahoma RB Adrian Peterson — All those holes and broken tackles that typified his first season were no where to be found in the Orange Bowl. Peterson struggled to find daylight against the rugged USC D, and was held under 100 yards for just the second game all year.

16. LSU S Ronnie Prude — A blown assignment in coverage by Prude allowed Iowa's Warren Holloway to score the game-winner from 56 yards out as time expired in the Capital One Bowl.

17. Pittsburgh — An upset was out of the question, but the Panthers did absolutely nothing to quiet the mass of critics questioning their presence in the Fiesta Bowl.

18. Notre Dame — The Irish's 17-point loss to Oregon State extended their postseason losing streak to seven games. As hard as it is to comprehend, more than 80 programs have won a bowl game since Notre Dame last pulled it off 11 years ago.

19. Virginia coach Al Groh — Every time Groh's Cavaliers had a pivotal game in 2004, they failed to deliver. A season once filled with so much promise skidded to a very disappointing 3-4 finish following their 37-34 loss to Fresno State.

20. Oklahoma State RB Vernand Morency — While his O-line certainly shares this dishonor, Morency was held to just 24 yards rushing by Ohio State, a full 121 yards off his season average.

21. Florida QB Chris Leak — With little support from his offensive line, Leak spent the better part of the Peach Bowl trying to avoid punishment. He was sacked six times by Miami, picked off twice and completed less than half of his 39 passes.

22. LSU's special teams — Against Iowa, the Tigers were plain miserable on special teams, getting two punts blocked, missing an extra point and failing to execute a fake on a 39-yard field goal attempt.

23. Players that got suspended — It happens every year. Some player acts his age, and does something stupid to get banned from the postseason. Oklahoma State, Ohio State, Marshall, UCLA, Iowa State, Oregon State and Michigan all had kids stay home for the holidays.

24. Silicon Valley quarterbacks — Neither Troy's D.T. McDowell nor Northern Illinois' Josh Haldi had much luck finding receivers through the San Jose rain drops. The two teams combined to connect on just 14-of-46 passes for a completion % that was as miserable as the local weather.

25. Memphis' secondary — The Tigers aren't the first — or the last — defense to get dissected by Omar Jacobs and Bowling Green, but for heaven's sake, make a stop once in a while.

26. Cal DE Ryan Riddle — The nation's No. 2 sacker in the regular season couldn't get a hand on Texas Tech's Sonny Cumbie even though the quarterback dropped back to pass 60 times in the Holiday Bowl.

27. Marshall DE Johnathan Goddard — One of college football's most disruptive defensive players barely made a peep thanks to a veteran Cincinnati line that had a hat on him throughout the Fort Worth Bowl.

28. North Texas RB Jamario Thomas — Jamario, I don't think we're in the Sun Belt anymore. Facing a decent defense for the first time in three months, Thomas was a non-factor, making his 1,800 yards rushing look a little overrated.

Also: Marshall, The Miami (OH) Offense, Toledo

http://msn.foxsports.com/story/3298604

[tombigbeetiger 223]

the biggest bowl bust?......bammers' ass got busted

[Proud Tiger 4,261]

the biggest bowl bust?......bammers' ass got busted

137343[/snapback]

Like David and Goliath.......the little gopher intimidated the pachyderm

[lsuj2006 0]

pachyderm

137347[/snapback]

I'm amazing by the spelling precision!

[SKCAUB 0]

You are amazing!