The 2006 Gator Bowl - Gainesville, FL
Time to begin the first Bowl of 2006, GTPlanet. We make our way into Gainesville, FL. Personally, I wouldn't mind going to Florida if I had some time to travel. I think I normally hear of Gainesville in terms of drag racing. Well, we got two cars lined up, staged up, and ready for their 10-second thrill ride. One dragster is Iowa. Iowa and Florida have something in common because last year, the Hawkeyes upset LSU in the 2005 Captial One Bowl. Or as I jokingly called it, the "Capital Ownage Bowl." Well, Iowa won in Florida last year, now they meet an actual Florida team. This is essentially a home game for Florida. Gators love the swamps, so they play in The Swamp. Careful! You may get chomped if you're not careful. Luckily, you're with me on this virtual Bowl tour. You're all safe, so let's see who won this wild game.
From what I've seen, Florida was beating down Iowa earlier in the game. However, the resurgent Hawkeyes tried to make a game out of it. As they tried to make a game out of it, they unfortunately came up short for one reason- a penalty on an Onside Kick. They tried it again, and lost. So, it was sort of a heartbreaker as Iowa tried to deadlock the game. Florida was too tough, unfortunately. Sorry, JNasty and other Iowa fans.
Iowa - 24
Florida - 31
MY POST-GAME COMMENTARY:
What can I say? I actually enjoyed following Iowa. I've wanted to cover Iowa upon the influence of GTPlanet's own and one of my buddies, JNasty. Unfortunately, Iowa fell short. There may have been controversy as the referree called the Onside Kick offsides. Questionable call, but Florida won. Think about it like this. If Iowa won this game, this would have been two straight January Bowl wins against the SEC. And let me tell you. Beating Louisiana State and Florida isn't easy, much less beat them in two straight January bowl games. Iowa and Florida will probably be the big sleepers in their respective conferences next season, so keep your eyes on both teams. Only question mark would be if Northwestern may knock off Iowa as sleepers in the next season of Big Ten football.
The 2006 Toyota Gator Bowl - Jacksonville, FL
Louisville {Cardinals; Big East}
- vs. -
Virginia Tech {Hokies; Atlantic Coast Conference}
"Ex Bowl"
This is a battle of two teams who were previously parts of two different conferences. Louisville joined the Big East from Conference USA, and Virginia Tech joined the ACC from the Big East. Which team would deliver on game day? Well, we find out in Jaguar country- Jacksonville, FL. The Jacksonville Jaguars may be a good team, but I think even they'd have to say we have a good matchup in college football at Alltell Stadium. The Louisville Cardinals fans in Jacksonville would love to see their boys go at it against Virginia Tech. Many would say Virginia Tech is overrated, but the Hokies can still play solid football. Virginia Tech was once unbeaten, but they need some games to have something to look forward to next year, and beating Louisville would give the ACC some promise and the Big East more problems.
I was asleep almost all day, so this game I didn't see. All I know is that Louisville took it against Virginia Tech. Louisville was ready to charge up and take on VT like (not to use advertisement) a Toyota Tundra. Unfortunately, VT was just a bit too much for the Cardinals. VT won on a hole shot with their twin-turbo offense. And in the end, Louisville broke off the line and VT coasted to a turbocharged victory.
Louisville - 24
Virginia Tech - 35
MY POST-GAME COMMENTARY:
Virginia Tech is a good team. Louisville is a good team. Virginia Tech was a Big East team, and Louisville is now a Big East team. VT got it done, not to take away from Louisville. I don't see these teams blowing next year. I think both teams will rack up seven or more wins next season. I don't know the seniority of Marcus Vick, but if Ma. Vick enters the draft (imagine Michael vs. Marcus!), VT will need a QB to make something happen like Marcus Vick did.
The 2006 Capital One Bowl - Orlando, FL[/B]
Barry Alvarez has to be proud of his boys in his final season as head coach. Hey Iowa and LSU, remember last year's game? Iowa upset LSU and had high hopes for next year. Iowa may have lost their Bowl elsewhere, but could another upset happen? Wisconsin's Badgers hope to make something happen against a very vicious pack of SEC footballers. Those vicious footballers are the Auburn Tigers.
Wisconsin won this game by two touchdowns. So one big SEC team lost, will another fall as well? Alabama's next, then Georgia.
FINAL SCORE:
Wisconsin - 24
Auburn - 10
MY POST-GAME COMMENTARY:
In the regular season, I said that Wisconsin had a disappointing loss as Iowa beat them in Barry Alvarez's final home game as head coach. Well, this game certainly made up for that loss to Iowa. Normally, I consider a defeat of a higher-ranked team as an upset. Well, Wisconsin did just that to the Auburn Tigers. Last season, Auburn feels they've been shafted by not playing for the National Championship. Now, the perfect drive from that season ends in sadness for the Tigers. As for Wisconsin, God bless you, Barry Alvarez in your future endeavors and other things to help Wisconsin's Badgers.
The 2005 AT&T Cotton Bowl - Dallas, TX
Texas Tech {Red Raiders; Big XII}
- vs. -
Alabama {Crimson Tide; Southeastern Conference}
"Let's Get Red-y to Rumble!"
I'm a Houston boy, but let's stay in my home state and go into Dallas. I have been to San Antonio twice, but never Dallas. Well, I'll virtually be in Dallas, just to talk about this game. It is a battle of one of Texas' own and Alabama. The Texas Tech Red Raiders didn't have to travel too far from their home pad in Lubbock, TX. While their men's basketball team struggles, their football team got it done pretty well. The Red Raiders remained strong and brave, and they'll need to have both qualities matching up against Alabama. As much as Texas Tech was unbeaten, Alabama was even more on a roll. The Crimson Tide are a great bunch with one of my favorite fight songs, "Hey, Alabama!" Unless you're from Auburn, Alabama is perhaps Alabama's greatest teams. Red and crimson ready to take each other on. You ready? Let's get it!
The game was a defensive stranglehold, but both teams managed to get 10 points. It wasn't until Alabama literally threaded the needle on a field goal kick to win it all for the Tuscaloosa bunch.
FINAL SCORE:
Texas Tech - 10
Alabama - 13
MY POST-GAME COMMENTARY:
Alabama won the game, but Mike Shula lost in the press conference afterwards. It was a sad, but also amusing as Mike Shula fell out of his chair in the press conference. He stood right up and said to the press "Don't show this on ESPN!" Well, ESPNEWS did it several times. It was so funny! My parents and I were laughing. It was funny. There was still nothing to laugh at with Texas Tech. They were complete hardasses in the Big XII even though it was all about Texas in the Big XII. Both teams should be solid for next year. If not 10-win seasons, then at least make a Bowl Game. I think BOTH teams will make it to somebody's Bowl Game next season.
*+x The 2006 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl - Glendale, AZ x+*
Ohio State {Buckeyes; Big Ten}
- vs. -
Notre Dame {Fighting Irish; -independent-}
""
ATTENTION COLLEGE FOOTBALL FANS! Next season's National Championship is in the Fiesta Bowl! The 2007 Fiesta Bowl will play host to the best two teams in the nation next season. Stay tuned to next year! The first of the BCS Bowl Games is underway, GTPlanet. Since there is no playoff in college football, this is the stage where many college football programs want to reach. You have to be a GREAT team or a "BCS Buster" to make it onto the four big stages. The first big stage is the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Perhaps you have some Tostitos chips and maybe some Tostitos dip. I think I have some Tositos Salsa, but it's time to get some snacks and enjoy this game. As close as their home bases are, as much history between the two, this is only the fourth or fifth meeting all-time. Ohio State and Notre Dame are ready to clash like never before. Notre Dame is #5, and the Fighting Irish hope to do one better over their Columbus opponents. Unless you're Michigan, Indiana, or whoever, you have to love Buckeyes' football.
Notre Dame was explosive, but nowhere on par with Ohio State. OhSU was embarrasing the Irish, all the way to this sweet win. Hope you enjoyed your Tostitos chips and dips and salsa and all that. Also, look to next year for this Bowl Game because the Fiesta Bowl will be next season's National Championship game.
FINAL SCORE:
Ohio State - 34
Notre Dame - 20
MY POST-GAME COMMENTARY:
With this loss, Notre Dame ties West Virginia and South Carolina for most consecutive Bowl losses with eight straight Bowl Game losses. Notre Dame may have been a great story this season, but they lose to their close Big Ten counterparts. As for Ohio State... well, what do you expect? This is Ohio State, a pure and complete football team almost every year. This is a good win for Ohio State. This will just anger Michigan a bit more so that if Ohio State gets on a Notre Dame-like roll, that the Wolverines will want to kick their butts so bad, it hurts. Ohio State's probably gunning for another BCS Bowl or some January Bowl at least. I don't know if Notre Dame will do one better next season, but it is a great win for the Buckeyes
*+x The 2006 Nokia Sugar Bowl - (Moved to Atlanta, GA) x+*
West Virginia {Mountaineers; Big East}
- vs. -
Georgia {Bulldogs; Southeastern Conference}
"Screw With the Dawg, You Get Bit!"
Ready for Bowl action in Georgia? Well, not Athens, but Atlanta? Good. The city of Atlanta is pretty popular among hip-hop types. You got household names like Ludaccris, Ying-Yang Twins, Young Jeezy, Lil' Jon, and of course, OutKast among others. We got two teams who know hip-hop quite well. They are hip on the field, and can hop pretty well to avoid low tackles. Some will even fly like Superman trying to get into the end zone. The Georgia Bulldogs head into the city of their in-state rivals, Atlanta, with a purpose. As hurricanes ravaged Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, the Sugar Bowl was moved to Atlanta as the Louisiana Superdome wasn't in great shape for playing. Georgia's opponents have been ravaged in another fashion. The West Virginia Mountaineers are in a football conference in which they've been criticized as not being very interesting or having really good teams. A win here would make WVU huge exceptions to the statement. Let's see if they got that win to silence the critics.
In the beginning, West Virginia got the first TD. They'd also pick up 3 more until Georgia (finally) answers. At the start of the Fourth Quarter, Georgia only trailed 31-28. Afterwards, a big Facemask call on Georgia gave WVU a chance to further embarass and even upset Georgia. It isn't official, but a disappointing loss is in the works. In the end, Georgia gets silenced as West Virginia escapes the state of Georgia and the city of Atlanta with a hellacious upset win.
FINAL SCORE:
West Virginia - 38
Georgia - 35
MY POST-GAME COMMENTARY:
Wow. If Georgia lost this game in a blowout like Miami lost to LSU in THE SAME STADIUM, I'd be ready to rag on the Bulldogs like hell. Georgia connected some lovely plays. I think the defense was suspect several times against West Virginia's offense. The Big East defeats an SEC juggernaut. To me, that's a BIG win for the Big East. The Big East isn't a basketball conference anymore, as West Virginia got it done against Georgia. Don't fault the heart of a bulldog, though. As the saying goes, it's not about the dog in the fight, but how much fight is in the dog (or something like that). And they had PLENTY of fight. Sadly, it wasn't enough. Not to add insult to injury, but I don't think Georgia ever led the game. Well, a lot to improve for next season. Make it to ANY bowl between New Orleans or the Fiesta for next year. Keep up the good work to both teams.
I'm just mad at the play. What would've been. 
2 onside kicks to returns for touchdowns. 
wow...
