NFL Bowl Games

When the Dallas Cowboys new stadium in Arlington opens up in 2009, the Cotton Bowl will most likely come along with them. ESPN.com reports that the deal is all but a formality for the long-time bowl game to finally make the move from the 74-year old Dallas institution.

Bill Blaydes, the economic development and housing committee chairman for the Dallas City Council, called the move to Arlington "a foregone conclusion" in a story on The Dallas Morning News Web site Monday.

Mayoral candidate Darrell Jordan, who has pressured officials to make improvements to the city-owned Cotton Bowl stadium, said members of the Cotton Bowl are ready to vote on moving the site of the New Year's Day game. "It's my understanding that they are going to vote, unanimously or nearly unanimously, to move the game to the new stadium in Arlington," Jordan told the newspaper.

The new Cowboys Stadium will be built for $1 billion, have a retractable roof, and house all the state of the art amenities that most newer stadiums provide. For the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association, making this move could be a big step in making the Cotton Bowl into a possible BCS game, should the BCS decide to add another bowl.

The Cotton Bowl pretty much only hosts three football games anymore: the annual Cotton Bowl game on New Year's Day, the Texas-Oklahoma Red River Rivalry Game, and the Grambling State-Prairie View game. No word if either of the latter two games will move as well [both games have a deal to play at the stadium until 2010].

To think it's stupid to move a bowl game from the game's namesaked stadium, please check out how well the Orange Bowl does since they moved from the Orange Bowl to Dolphins Stadium nearly two decades ago.

When you're a surefire top 5 overall NFL draft pick, there's a lot of pressure on you to make the decision to jump to the NFL or stay in school. When your roommate will be the starting QB next season and you're the stud WR, the relationship gets a bit squirlier. Calvin has steadfastly maintained that he will not make any decision about the upcoming draft until after the bowl game, but that hasn't stopped the pressure on him.

Yesterday at Gator Bowl practice, Taylor Bennett showed up sporting a pair of #21 shorts as a show of support for his roommate and a further twist in his efforts to keep his friend and teammate in Atlanta for one more season. Bennett, who was the backup this season until Reggie Ball was an academic casualty for the Gator Bowl, has maintained a joking presence throughout the entire process. In his first ever collegiate pass, he threw a TD to Calvin - and he's certainly hoping to have a full season of his freak frisbee dog of a roommate on the receiving end of his throws next year.

Oklahoma's superstar running back Adrian Peterson has made it clear – he is coming back for the Fiesta Bowl. "I love the game. That's why I play," Peterson said Wednesday, in his first public statement since his collarbone injury in an October 14 win over Iowa State.

For some Oklahoma fans that's not enough. Peterson a junior this year is short 151 yards of breaking Oklahoma's all-time career rushing record of Billy Sims at 4,118 yards. A 2007 Peterson return to Norman, would mean a mature Oklahoma team, and a certain contender for the National Championship.

As usual, injuries play a big role in how these games go late in the year. But it looks like BYU's secondary's all going to be standing on the sidelines on December 21st and you know Gary Crowton's already noticed. A separated shoulder, ligament damage to a toe to one guy, and a broken leg to another last Saturday, and just like that, Oregon's got Jaison Williams matched up with BYU's fourth best cornerback. It means Jordan Kent at 6' 5" gets whoever else they decide to put out there as meat. And it means when they go to the third and fourth receivers, Colvin, Strong, Finley and Paysinger will have mismatches as well.

Of course, knowing Oregon's play-calling in the last month, I'm sure they'll try mostly double, triple, reverse, pitch, option screen plays to 'fool' the BYU defense. Fearing their talent just can't match up with players a half foot shorter and slower. 'Let's trick'em. Let's out-scheme'em. Let's use tomfoolery.' here's an idea for the Duck coaches, throw the stinkin' ball to the guys who can make plays and let'em make plays. Hand...yes....hand the stinkin' ball to Stewart and Johnson, and...let'em make plays. Enough with the razzle dazzle shamazzle. Let guys make plays. Especially if the D is all banged up for BYU.

Please don't remind me again how another Oregon team in their last NCAA tourney appearance (also against a Mountain West School, Utah) got the other team's center fouled out, and proceeded to shoot 3's until they were finished in the tournament because they were to ignorant to throw the ball inside.

If BYU's corners are as inexperienced as it appears. Attack them early, often, all day, and until you get on the bus to go back to the hotel.

Of course, it's not like the Ducks are coming in totally healthy either. They may not have their best defender, linebacker Blair Phillips and that'd be absolutely huge in allowing them to play straight up against the run and get pressure on John Beck. Fortunately for Oregon, the Ducks have had so many injured on defense they've played the second stringers for most the year. The good news there is, those guys have all seen a ton of action. Thurmond, Byrd, Ageyman, Dickson, etc.

Oregon's got a lot of issues to deal with in preparing for BYU's team. Fortunately, BYU's got this to deal with on the other side. Can they find some guys to match up with Oregon's receivers? I don't know.