r ha. 0 0 0 0 8B - The Michigan Daily - SportsWednesday - January 5, 2005 "Pooplest uni- ' forms" award New Orleans Bowl SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI 31 - North Texas 10 I knew it was over when North Texas only averaged 2.5 yards per play in the first quarter, while Southern Miss averaged 12.3 yards and shut out North Texas in addition to scoring 14 points. North Texas had just 40 yards to Southern Miss's 172 in the quarter, and Southern Miss went on to nearly double North Texas in yards, ending the game with 403 yards. I didn't change the channel because I wanted to see if Jamario Thomas of North Texas - the NCAA leading rusher (in yards per game) and a true freshman- had it in him to set an NCAA record for the most 200 yard rushing games. He fell 108 yards short of making it after rushing for just 92 yards. i t 1 t f l GMAC Bowl BOWLING GREEN 52 - Memphis 35 I knew it was over when Memphis's DeAngelo Williams, the third leading running back in the nation, broke his fibula. I didn't change the channel because Bowling Green's Omar Jacobs threw five touchdown passes. The quirkiest moment of the game was in the second quarter when the teams put up a combined 35 points. - Ian Robinson Hawaii Bowl CINCINNATI 32 -Marshall 14F I knew it was over when Cincy blocked the Marshall punt on the 15 yard line and got a safety with 10:50 left in the game to secure the final score. HAWAII 59 - UAB 40 I knew it was over when Hawaii qua Timmy Chang ran the ball just pas edge of the endzone to give the W 52-33 lead. c Changing the channel wasn't an option after watching Cincy walk all over a team that has produced players like Chad Pennington and Byron .eftwitch. The Bearcats held the Thundering Herd to a season low 134 yards, broke their string of 20 seasons with a winning record and handed them their first ever bowl loss. The most courageous player in the game was Cincy QB Gino Guidugli who threw for 231 yard ... even with two broken bones. - Anne Uible I didn't change the channel because a football, the Rainbows turned Ra always keep things exciting with a h led by Chang - the NCAA career the nation's worst run defense, and any game. The most bizarre moment of the game point on the opening series of the ga fumble it out of the endzone. Or at14 until former American Idol star Jas: The most surprising moment of the game was when Justin Almond, dubbed Mr. Inconsistent heading into the game, threw for over 100 yards, including one touchdown and one QB sneak to put Southern Miss up 14-0 with just 6:16 left in the first quarter. - Sara Livingston 4 FRESNO STATE 37 - Virginia 34 I knew it was over when Fresno State senior tight end Stephen Spach caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Paul Pinegar in overtime to win the game and lead the Bulldogs to an upset over No. 18 Virginia. I didn't change the channel because after falling behind 21-7 in the beginning of the second quarter, the Bulldogs - led by Pinegar's five- touchdown passes - crawled back to tie the game 31-31 by the end of3 regulation. The quirkiest moment of the game was when Pinegar caught his own pass after it hit a Cavalier defender. Pinegar ended up in the box score with -10 yards receiving. - jack Herman Motor City Bowl CONNECTICUT 39 - Toledo 10 I knew it was over when ... although Connecticut set a Motor City Bowl record by outscoring Toledo 17-0 in the first quarter, the Huskies iced the win in the second quarter when Dan Orlovsky hit Brian Sparks in the endzone, put- ting Connecticut up 24-7. The Rockets, whose stand- out quarterback Bruce Gradkowski was hampered by a broken hand, could not recover. I didn't change the channel because I couldn't reach the remote control ... and no one would get it for me. The most unique aspect of the game was that this was the Huskies's first bowl appearance since they joined Division I-A three years ago. - Megan Kolodgy Did you watch so many of the 20 bowl games before Jan. 1 that you can't remember the Motor City Bowlfrom the Insight Bowl? The Michigan Daily sports staff worked hard over break to bring you a new and final look at all those pre-New Year's Day bowls Independence Bowl IOWA STATE 17 - Miami (OH) 13 I knew it was over when Iowa State's Ellis Hobbs III intercepted Miami (OH) quarterback Josh Betts's pass in the final minute of the game. With the Cyclones leading by four, Hobbs stepped in front of Miami receiver Ryan Busing and returned the interception 41 yards to seal the win. I didn't change the channel because Iowa State quarterback Bret Meyer put on an almost Michael Vick-like performance. Meyer set up the Cyclones' game-winning touchdown with a weaving 23-yard scramble in the fourth quarter. The freshman finished the game with 122 rushing yards, while adding 114 yards through the air on 10-for-28 passing. The best moment of the game was that just prior to kick-off, Miami athletic director Brad Bates fired up the RedHawks' lockerroom by announcing f that offensive coordinator Shane Montgomery will succeed head coach Terry Hoeppner, who is leaving to take the reins at Indiana next season. Montgomery has been credited with developing former Miami quarter-$ back Ben Roethlisberger. -- Stephanie Wright Continental Tire Bow Pa ge De_- Elen Mc& 7j 1.71 OHIO STATE 33 - Oklahoma State 7 I knew it was over when Oklahoma St. turned the ball over on each of its first two possessions. The Cowboys, who were first in the nation with a +18 turnover margin, were never a factor after quarterback Donovan Woods's interception and fumble. I didn't change the channel because Ohio St. wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. was still in the ballgame. A leading candidate for the 2005 Heisman Trophy,' Ginn was a threat to make a spectacular play every time he touched the ball. The best moment of the game was watching Ginn break the ankles of Cowboy3 defenders on his 42-yard reception in the second quarter. The short screen; pass looked dead until Ginn stutter-stepped his way around three opponents and used his blazing speed to scamper across the field for another 30 yards. - Dan Ording BOSTON COLLEGE 37 - North Carolina 24 I knew it was over when Boston College's kicker Ryan Ohliger ran 21 yards on a fake field goal to put Boston College upnby 10 points midway through the fourth quarter. I didn't change the channel because the game went back and forth with the score, tied at 21 at halftime and neither team holding more than a seven point lead until the fourth quarter. The worst and best moment of the game was when Boston College's quar- terback and leader Paul Peterson scrambled out of the pocket and was awkwardly tackled. He broke his left tibia on the play after previously having six screws inserted into his right wrist after break- ing it in November. While he was being carted out of the stadium,' his team scored on the fake field w goal and took control of the game. And afterwards, he was named j MVP. - Kevin Wright L. Holida Bowl_ _ TEXAS TECH 45 - California 31 I knew it was over when Cal receiver Robert Jordan let a perfect Aaron Rodgers pass go directly through his hands, and the ball was picked off by Texas Tech's Vin- cent Meeks, who returned it 47 yards to the Cal 22 yard- line. The Red Raiders took a 17-14 lead three plays later and they never looked back from there. I didn't change the channel because I was actually at the game. But as a diehard Cal fan, I sure as hell wish I would have been able to channel surf. Isn't the O.C. a Thursday night TV show? Just kidding ... or am I?. Yes, I most definitely am. The most impressive part of the game was the halftime fireworks show. It was better than any Fourth of July show these eyes have ever seen. It was absolutely mesmerizing. Who cares that the smoke loomed over the: field and stands for most of the third quarter? - Gennaro Filice NORTHERN ILLINOIS 3 I knew it was over when Northei carried for a four-yard touchdo with 14:52 left in the fourth qu I didn't change the channel becau ball season with a visit from worry Wolverine fans, the Hus mobile quarterback or anyone or Young. The most impressive part of the g play. A local power outage in minutes for TV purposes whil erator. The game was not seen passed in the first quarter, an era angle and there were no I quarter. Anyone casually pass watching a local high school g UbE4t4Bostae4 .QUISVILLE 44 - Boise state 40 lest -.. p ~ ~erck'A'awa L Music City Bowl MINNESOTA 20 - Alabama 16 I knew it was over when Alabama lost its starting quarterback, tailback, fullback and tight end during the season, but still made the Music City Bowl. I didn't change the channel because the Gophers had found a way to lose five of their last six games and a Glen Mason-coached team can always find an entertaining way to lose a game it should win. The funniest moment of the game was the look on Mason's face when Alabama quarterback Spencer Pennington missed a wide-open receiver in the back of the endzone that would have won the game. After ultimately winning the game against the short-handed Crimson Tide, Mason and the rest of the I knew it was over when ... never did I think one of these teams had it in the bag. With seven lead changes right up until the last few minutes, it was anyone's guess which team would walk away with that bell-shaped trophy. I didn't change the channel because if I did, I might have missed a big play by one of these two great offenses. Although the scoreboard made it look like these two teams were equals, the Cardinals out-rushed the Broncos 564-284. Boise's secret was its four takeaways, which led to 17 points. The smoothest move in this game was when Louisville QB Stefan LeFors (who by the way is the only member of y" his immediate and extended family who can hear) pulled an Archie Manning. In the third quarter, A he faked a handoff, and hid the ball behind his back. He then threw a 25-yard pass to Adam McCauley. The drive ended in a touchdown which spurred the Cardinals comeback from a 34-21 deficit. - Ellen McGarrity team celebrated like they had won the Rose Bowl. Instead, Minnesota had defeateda 6-6 team by the skin of their noses. - Matt Venegoni Second annual "Ellens" presented by Ellen McGarrity