0 The Mibhig'n D'fly-Wednesdd PogeX20--VWesdby,, Dberv br'9, 1981'!fih,6'Mtchld6n Daily A lo werful match URBAN COWBOY HOSPITALITY up Ways to explore Hou 22nd Bluebonnet pairing best ever By BARB BARKER When one thinks of football, images of muscular men fighting their way across a gridiron come to mind. When one thinks of bluebonnets, on the other hand, visions of a lady's hat or a popular brand of margarine appear. Despite the contrast, however, the Bluebonnet Bowl was the name given to the post-season football game played in Houston's Astrodome on New Year's Eve. But the bowl is not named after hats or margarine. Rather, it derives its name from the Texas state flower, the bluebonnet. THE BRAINCHILD of prominent Houston businessman Elvin M. Smith, the first Bluebonnet Bowl game was played in 1959. In that inaugural con- test, Clemson beat Texas Christian, 23- 7. "The main feeling was that Houston had become such a dynamic and sports- oriented town that we could put Trivia answers 1) 4-0. 2) Orange Bowl (1976), Gator Bowl (1979). 3) Don Moorhead, Dennis Franklin, Rick Leach, Leach, Leach, John Wangler, Wangler. 4) 8,000. 5) Bump Elliott. 6) Don Bracken. 73 yards. 7) Yes (to Oklahoma, 14-6, in the '76 Orange Bowl). 8) 1959. 9) Washington State (17-17). 10) Iowa'and Wisconsin. 11) 1972. Michigan 26, UCLA 9. 12) True (the Wolverines are 4-0 against the Bruins). 13) Tennessee. 14) 1965 (34-7 over Oregon State in the Rose Bowl). 15) False (Big Ten set the record in 1980). Rio ycle Jim's Restaurant INTRODUCES PASTRY Pretty & Delicious Expresso & Cappuccinno OPEN Lunch & 7 Days Dinner 13011S.University P .*d r rt '°'fx a " " .* together a post-season match-up that would be competitive with even the major bowls," explained assistant bowl director Les Haulbrook. This year, for the first time since its inception, the Bluebonnet Bowl has managed to assemble two teams that provide the potential for the bowl to rival the traditional New Year's Day games. The Michigan-UCLA match-up marks the first time ever that a Big Ten team has faced a Pac-10 team in a post- season bowl game other than the Rose Bowl. Through a gentlemen's agreement, which was made in 1975 af- ter the two leagues started playing in other bowls besides the Rose Bowl, the Pasadena classic held a monopoly on the interconference bowl match-up. "IT WASN'T AN intentional move to select teams from the two conferen- ces," said Haulbrook. "We just wanted to put on the best game possible to compete with the other bowls. Back in the summer, we felt that getting a Big Ten team was essential. They've always been a heavyweight conference, and we wanted to bring them to Houston." The Wolverines, who enter the game, with an 8-3 overall record, are only the second Big Ten team to play in the bowl. Two years ago, Purdue came from behind in the last few minutes of the game to slip past Tennessee, 27-22. The Bluebonnet Bowl has yet to put togetlher a game in which the national championship would be decided. Texas schools have been favored when the bowl has handed out bids, with 13 ap- pearances in the 21-year history of the game. The home-town Houston Cougars have played in the bowl more than any other school, compiling a 2-1-1 record. Although the Bluebonnet Bowl is more than two decades old, it lacks the traditional prestige of such classics as the Rose Bowl (started in 1902), the Orange Bowl (1933), the Sugar Bowl (1935), the Cotton Bowl (1937), the Sun Bowl (1936), and the Gator Bowl (1946). But the Astrodome has certainly not been void of some exciting contests on December 31. Twelve of the 21 games have been decided in the closing minutes, and in the last seven years, the Bluebonnet has been- the leader among post-season games in cumulative scoring, with an average of 56.7 points per game. By GREG DeGULIS Some Wolverine fans will be spending -New Year's in Pasadena after all. Pasadena, Texas, that is, the home of Gilley's, site of the film Urban Cowboy and the world's largest country and western dance floor. Gilley's is one of many attractions available to visitors in the Houston area. The "'Golden Buckle of the Sunbelt," Houston is located with 50 miles of the Gulf Coast and the historic Galveston area. Here are some facts about the nation's fastest-growing city: WEATHER The average temperature in Decem- ber and January is 55 degrees, with a normal daily high of 65 degrees and low of 45. Temperatures are moderated by winds from the Gulf, which produce generally mild winters. Don't expect Florida-like weather in Houston, although the shores of the Gulf are only an hour away. LYNDON B. JOHNSON SPACE CEN- TER (NASA) Collection of spacecraft, as well as exhibits about America's space program, are the featured attraction here. Visitors can embark: on self- guided tours through five facilities, in- cluding the Mission Simulation and Training Facility. The Space Center is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Christmas Day. Tourists should call for reservations; there is no charge. - PORT OF HOUSTON Tourists can view the third largest seaport in the nation from an obser- vation deck. SEA-ARAMA MARINEWORLD Located in Galveston, the marine showcase features dolphins, sea lions, tropical birds and an assortment of other sea creatures. SAM HOUSTON PARK Located right in the heart of down- town Houston, the park contains restored homes and a church reflecting the years 1823-1890. There is also a reconstructed row of storefronts which include the Yesteryear Shop. Tours conducted daily with an admission charge. CURTURAL EVENTS The Nutcracker by the Houston Ballet is a December tradition, one of a variety of cultural offerings in the city. The Museum of Fine Arts, the Houston Symphony, and the Houston Grand Opera, the fifth largest opera company in the United States, are some others. The Nina Vance Alley Theater is one of the finest residential professional theaters in the country. Tours of the complex are offered Tuesday through Friday. SPORTING EVENTS The Houston Rockets, Who call the 17,000-seat Summit their home, are one of the pro teams in the area. The University of Houston and Rice Univer- sity also provide some sport entertain- ment for visitors. DOWNTOWN Many downtown buildings offer a striking examplehof award-winning contemporary architecture, including the tallest building in the U.S. outside the cities of New York or Chicago, the Pennzoil Plaza. Locals recommend the seafood in downtown restaurants (due to the closeness of the Gulf), as well as the Southern delicacy of fried catfish and Creole and other Mexican dishes. THE GALLERIA COMPLEX Located outside the city limits, the Galleria complex boasts of the South's finest department store, Neiman- Marcus, an ice skating rink, and an array of shops. Use of the complex, in- cluding the Galleria' Hotel, will be part of the ASTR' The plasti to as tt may s regula footba for bo: Astrol the m taken classic tle fea Alcind monur7 King t Astrod Bluebx THE HOUSTON skyline has grown tremendously over the last few years. It is now the fil States and the largest city in the Southwest, with a metropolitan area population of over 3 r after General Sam Houston, the first President of the Republic of Texas. THE HOUSTON ASTRODOME, nicknamed the 'eighth wonder of the world', is the home of the Bluebonnet Bowl. 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