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Ultimate Bowl Experience: Winning

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By JOEY JOHNSTON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 24, 2007

Michigan senior running back Mike Hart had one goal for this season.

Hint: It wasn't a trip to the Capital One Bowl.

"Everybody wants to be in the big game, playing for the prize," Hart said. "But in the system we have now, that only works for two teams."

Hart's realistic hopes of a national championship disappeared long ago, when the Wolverines opened with consecutive home losses against Appalachian State and Oregon.

So when Michigan (8-4) travels to Orlando this week to prepare for its Jan. 1 game against the Florida Gators (9-3), it will search for the right mix of business and pleasure, the proper manner to honor outgoing Coach Lloyd Carr, along with an answer to that eternal holiday question.

No championships are at stake for the state's major teams. So if it's not for No. 1, what is the meaning of a bowl game?

"It's pretty simple," USF defensive coordinator Wally Burnham said. "You don't want to end on a loss. You want a win. You want that feeling to linger."

For the USF Bulls (9-3), who meet Oregon (8-4) in the Dec. 31 Sun Bowl at El Paso, Texas, there's the opportunity for a school-record 10th victory, a year-ending national ranking and positioning the program for next season, when the Big East Conference championship will be in play.

For the Florida State Seminoles (7-5), who face Kentucky (7-5) in the Dec. 31 Music City Bowl at Nashville, Tenn., it's a momentary escape from an academic scandal that has ignited speculation about the future of the program and Coach Bobby Bowden.

For the Gators, the defending national champions, it's the chance to showcase Heisman Trophy-winning sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow and stake a claim for next year's preseason No. 1 ranking.

For the Wisconsin Badgers (9-3) and Tennessee Volunteers (8-4), who tangle in the Jan. 1 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium, it's another chapter in the enduring grudge match between teams from the Big Ten and SEC.

"I've never been to a bad bowl game," said Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez, formerly the Badgers' head coach. "The bowl people and community always want the players to have a good time. It's a reward, so fun definitely should be part of it.

"As the game gets closer, it's business. You want full attention at practice. Then you get your free time with your family. But you never lose sight of the goal - winning the game."

Wisconsin had visions of the Rose Bowl when it was ranked No. 5 in early October. But Tennessee, too, had higher aspirations - along with a fourth-quarter lead against LSU in the Dec. 1 SEC Championship Game.

"The way we started this season certainly wasn't how you draw it up," said Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer, whose Volunteers were 4-3 after a 41-17 loss at Alabama on Oct. 20. "The fact that we stayed the course, fought through adversity, ended up playing for the SEC title and darn near won it, then wound up in a New Year's Day bowl game, that says something to me."

It also says something that the Bulls, an 11th-year program, have reached their third consecutive postseason game. And unlike their previous appearances - to the newly arranged Meineke Car Care Bowl and PapaJohns.com Bowl - they have upgraded to the land of tradition.

It's the 74th annual Sun Bowl. USF's opponent is a well-known Pac-10 program. The Bulls will travel to an exotic locale and receive network television exposure.

"What can USF expect?" Texas-El Paso place-kicker Jose Martinez said. "I'll tell you this. It ain't gonna be no Sun Bowl."

The Sun Bowl has an average kickoff temperature in the low 50s.

Twice in recent memory, it has snowed at the game.

"It's going to be a big-time atmosphere," USF sophomore defensive end George Selvie said. "We'd play in the rain. We'd play in the mud. We're thrilled to be going. We can show the nation what we're all about."

No doubt, the Seminoles have similar emotions, particularly after being shadowed by news of player suspensions. Bowden is 20-9-1 in bowl games. Another victory, under these grim circumstances, would be eye-opening.

Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said his team won't be lulled into a false sense of security.

"This is our second bowl game in a row, and it's their 26th," Brooks said. "That's amazing to me.

"I can't speak for outsiders, but it FSU's academic problems doesn't take any luster away from the game for me. I'm not going to concern myself with it. They have other people who can step up. This game isn't diminished. It's a big deal for us."

The biggest deal, of course, will occur on Jan. 7 when Ohio State (11-1) meets LSU (11-2) in the BCS Championship Game. Or maybe it will be the most controversial deal.

That matchup will feature a decided undercurrent - a suggestion that the nation's two best teams won't be meeting in the biggest game. ESPN recently put together a mock playoff bracket, matching the top eight teams in the final BCS standings.

ESPN's championship game? USC vs. Oklahoma.

"Would I like a playoff? Well, yeah. It should be that way," Hart said. "But let's be real. It will never be that way. There's too much money involved in these bowl games.

"So all we can do is have fun, play hard and go out the right way. That's what a bowl game is - the last chance to show what you can do. You dream of the ultimate game. But no matter where you land, you want the last one to be a win, not a loss."

Reporter Joey Johnston can be

reached at (813) 259-7353

or jjohnston@tampatrib.com.

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