It seems like the rest of the NCAA is catching up with the Southeastern Conference as the SEC finished 5-5 in bowls. However, the SEC reigned supreme for the fifth straight year as Auburn defeated Oregon for the BCS Championship.
Music City Bowl — North Carolina 30, Tennessee 27 (2OT)
It’s amazing that for the second time this season Tennessee has lost a game because of too many players on the field. Unlike the debacle against LSU, North Carolina had too many men on the field and were actually rewarded for it. With the score being 20-17 in Tennessee’s favor with one second left in the fourth quarter, Tar Heels K Casey Barth kicked a 34 yard field goal. However, North Carolina was penalized for having twelve men on the field. Tennessee thought that they won the game again, but the referees conferred with each other and gave UNC another chance to kick a 39 yard field goal because the infraction occurred before the play actually started. Barth then kicked the 39 yarder to take the game into overtime.
Both teams scored touchdowns in the first OT. North Carolina received possession first in the second overtime and kicked a field goal. However, Volunteer QB Tyler Bray threw an interception which ended the game. Even though the game ended in such a weird fashion, Volunteer fans need to remain optimistic because the freshman QB threw for 312 yards on 27-45 passing with 4 TD’s and 3 INT’s despite of a lack of a rushing game (27 yards).
Liberty Bowl: UCF 10, Georgia 6
Georgia coach Mark Richt should have been fired after this bowl loss. Only scoring six points against a Conference USA team is absolutely atrocious. It proves that the team was either unprepared or not focused for this bowl game. Plus, Georgia won’t be that much better next season because Bulldog junior WR AJ Green declared for the NFL Draft. If you didn’t watch this game, then you didn’t miss anything.
Chick-Fil-A Bowl: Florida State 26, South Carolina 17
The game was over on South Carolina’s opening drive when RB Marcus Lattimore was knocked out of the game with an excruciating hit. It was the best tackle applied during the bowl season. After that injury, South Carolina no longer had a running game because the team lacks depth. Many good players do not go to South Carolina because the Confederate Flag flies in front of the South Carolina State Capitol Building. If you are a high-ranking football recruit that is undecided, then don’t go to South Carolina. Stand up against racism and sign this petition to have the Confederate Flag taken down: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/take-down-confederate-flag/
Outback Bowl: Florida 37, Penn State 24
Florida was able to win in Coach Urban Meyer’s last hurrah. The Gators’ offensive struggles continued as the team only amassed 279 yards for the entire game. However, Florida’s defense and special teams showed up in a strong fashion in order to give the team a comfortable victory despite of the close score.
Florida’s defense intercepted Penn State QB Matthew McGloin five times throughout the game. Safety Ahmad Black returned one of those picks 80 yards for a TD with 1:11 remaining in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach. Those 5 INT’s gave Florida great field position the entire game.
Florida’s special teams blocked a punt in the second quarter and returned the block for a TD. Gators K Chas Henry also converted three field goals in the second half because of the horrible offense getting bogged down even after obtaining great field positioning time after time. Maybe that’s why Urban Meyer is retiring: opponents have caught up with his gimmicky offensive schemes.
Capitol One Bowl: Alabama 49, Michigan State 7
This game went pretty much as expected since Michigan State skated through their entire regular season with a string of lucky victories. Alabama totally dominated this game by outgaining the Spartans 546-171. The starters for the Crimson Tide were taken out in the middle of the third quarter because Coach Nick Saban didn’t want to run the score up because he felt sympathetic towards his opponent; he used to coach at Michigan State. The Tide fans can remain optimistic about next season as well even though most of its stars are going pro; the second-string scored two more touchdowns to make it 49-0 before the Tide let Michigan State score a TD.
Gator Bowl: Mississippi State 52, Michigan 14
I personally want to thank Bulldog coach Dan Mullen and the entire Mississippi State football team for demolishing Michigan in the Gator Bowl. This 52-14 thrashing caused for Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez to be fired after this bowl game.
However, Michigan actually had a 14-10 lead at the end of the first quarter because Wolverines QB Denard Robinson is that good. After the first quarter, Michigan didn’t score again as Mississippi State scored the next 42 points in the final three quarters. It proves that one man cannot defeat an entire team.
Sugar Bowl: Ohio State 31, Arkansas 26
Ohio State finally beat an SEC team in a BCS Bowl Game; the Apocalypse is near. Arkansas was sleepwalking through the first half as the Buckeyes went up 28-10. However, Arkansas woke up in the second half, but the comeback failed at the end. I actually have to give Ohio State credit for showing up in this game despite of all of their players selling their football souvenirs as if they opened up a pawn shop on campus.
Cotton Bowl: LSU 41, Texas A&M 24
Now I know that the Apocalypse is really near; Tiger QB Jordan Jefferson actually threw the ball well for the entire game as he threw for 158 yards and 3 TD’s. It also helped that RB Stevan Ridley was cleared to play by the NCAA over some made-up infraction that was imagined in some parallel universe. Ridley rushed 24 times for 100 yards and 1 TD. The defense also took advantage of Aggie QB Ryan Tannehill, who had been lights out at the end of the regular season. The Tiger secondary intercepted Tannehill three times throughout the game. Those picks gave LSU superb field position throughout the game.
Also, Tiger fans are relieved that Les Miles is staying at LSU instead of going back to his alma mater at Michigan. Wow! Look at how far Michigan has fallen.
BBVA Compass Bowl: Pittsburgh 27, Kentucky 10
No, I am not making the name of this bowl game up. Pitt won the bowl game in coach Dave Wannstedt’s final game. Kentucky lacked confidence in this game because Wildcat starting QB Mike Hartline was suspended for this game after being arrested last month for disorderly conduct and public intoxication after being involved in a verbal altercation with several women at his apartment. That’s sad because he probably messed up a shot at the NFL because he was messing around with some skeezers. Don’t worry, the Arena Football League season starts in a few months.
BCS Championship Game: Auburn 22, Oregon 19
The championship turned out to be a very good game although many thought that both teams would score plenty of more points. The stats for both teams were still rather gaudy as Auburn QB Cam Newton threw for 265 yards on 20-34 passing with 2 TD’s and 1 INT. Oregon QB Darron Thomas went bonkers, throwing for 363 yards on 27-40 passing with 2 TD’s and 2 INT’s.
However, the key to Auburn’s victory was the running game. Auburn held Ducks RB LaMichael James to 44 yards rushing while Tiger RB Michael Dyer ran 22 times for 142 yards. Dyer’s 37 yard run in the last minute put the Tigers in position for the winning field goal. As he was being tackled on the run, Dyer’s knees did not touch the ground. All of the players thought that the play was dead, but Dyer was encouraged by the sideline to keep going. The play was reviewed and was upheld by the referees.
This championship game was also historic as this was the first time in BCS history that two Black quarterbacks played in the BCS National Championship Game. I wonder who the racists rooted for in the game. If you are a racist, then leave a comment on which team you voted for and why.
