Sun Bowl 2008: Pitt Vs. Oregon State University

[npv708]

I just saw it on the sunbowl.com site, definitely a winable game for the panthers if they come to play. Could be good from program prestige in future years..

LETS GO PITT!!!!

[mac5155]

if pitt loses..

PSU>pitt?

[Stoosh]

PSU is better than Pitt this year anyway. Penn State had a terrific season. They're at a level I hope Pitt can soon find, but Pitt had a good year in their own right as well.

I would've loved the BCS, obviously, but this is a good way for Pitt to return to the bowl scene after three years away.

The Sun Bowl has always been one of my favorites of the second-tier bowls. It's a nice payday for Pitt - $2M, I believe. I love the setting, too...the stadium is cut into the side of a mountain, so the mountain overlooks one side of the field.

[Nailer Cim]

I played in this stadium and it is def. a pretty cool stadium although the town is ehh (though there is mexxxico)

[mac5155]

that is an awesome looking stadium!

[Kicksave]

Who would win in a fight, a beaver or a panther?

[Troy Loney]

if pitt loses..

PSU>pitt?

and if pitt wins....

psu>>>>pitt

[Troy Loney]

Who would win in a fight, a beaver or a panther?

gary roberts?

[mac5155]

I played in this stadium and it is def. a pretty cool stadium although the town is ehh (though there is mexxxico)

out in the west texas town of el paso..

[Rocco]

Two questions:

1) What's the single-game record for rushing? McCoy could break it against a pretty lousy Oregon State defense.

2) Will Pitt fans make the trip? They couldn't be bothered for the Fiesta Bowl in 2005, but I wonder if the years away from a bowl game will make this seem like a bigger deal.

[KennyTheKangaroo]

i wonder if fans get a bunch of nice smelling brut cologne if we go to the game

[Member]

The Sun Bowl is one of two college bowl games airing on CBS. I hope they promote it.

[pfim]

i wonder if fans get a bunch of nice smelling brut cologne if we go to the game

I used to wear brut. In the sixth grade.

[Stoosh]

Two questions:

1) What's the single-game record for rushing? McCoy could break it against a pretty lousy Oregon State defense.

2) Will Pitt fans make the trip? They couldn't be bothered for the Fiesta Bowl in 2005, but I wonder if the years away from a bowl game will make this seem like a bigger deal.

1. Single-game rushing record in the Sun Bowl is 197 yards by Charles Alexander (LSU) in the 1977 game against Stanford. Single-game rushing touchdown record is four, once by Thurman Thomas and once by Priest Holmes.

2. A bunch of fans that I work with are making the trip. I'm not sure if the school is helping arrange a deal to get students down to the game if they want to go. There seems to be a good number of studnets and alumni who are 1) legitimately excited about being in a bowl game after the three-year absence and 2) are aware of the fanbase's reputation as one that doesn't travel well, and I think some good numbers should turn out.

I can't explain what happened with the bowl attendance under Harris. I seem to remember some pretty good turnouts for Pitt at both of their appearances in the Insight Bowl and the Tangerine Bowl.

In 2003, they ended up going to the Continental Tire Bowl in Charlotte, where they lost to Virginia and the Pitt turnout was abysmal. I think that may have had to do with a disappointing finish to the regular season. Pitt was 7-2 after their emotional, last-minute win over Virginia Tech that year. Ranked 16th in the country with a chance to push Miami for the Big East title, they followed up the VT win by getting not just upset, but blown out in the Backyard Brawl. A ho-hum win over Temple got them to 8-3, but they lost to then #9 Miami to finish 8-4, which relegated them to Charlotte when they had a real chance at either the Orange or Gator Bowl just a week or two before.

It's a bit ironic now, but that Continental Tire Bowl appearance marked four straight years of second or third-tier bowl appearances by Harris's teams, and perhaps the crappy attendance in Charlotte in 2003 was a testament to the frustration of the fans with Harris's inability to get that program over the hump. But that doesn't explain, then, Pitt not selling its allotment of tickets for the Fiesta Bowl when the BCS came the following year.

[viva la ben]

LOL I saw the stadium and remembered this from earlier this season!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36uH_EUM7yk

[mac5155]

LOL I saw the stadium and remembered this from earlier this season!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36uH_EUM7yk

thats classic!

[Rocco]

Two questions:

1) What's the single-game record for rushing? McCoy could break it against a pretty lousy Oregon State defense.

2) Will Pitt fans make the trip? They couldn't be bothered for the Fiesta Bowl in 2005, but I wonder if the years away from a bowl game will make this seem like a bigger deal.

1. Single-game rushing record in the Sun Bowl is 197 yards by Charles Alexander (LSU) in the 1977 game against Stanford. Single-game rushing touchdown record is four, once by Thurman Thomas and once by Priest Holmes.

Assuming Cav and Wanny remember to use McCoy, that number won't last. I don't think Oregon St. will give up nearly 700 yards of offense again, but they are not very good defensively.

2. A bunch of fans that I work with are making the trip. I'm not sure if the school is helping arrange a deal to get students down to the game if they want to go. There seems to be a good number of studnets and alumni who are 1) legitimately excited about being in a bowl game after the three-year absence and 2) are aware of the fanbase's reputation as one that doesn't travel well, and I think some good numbers should turn out.

That Wanny's a genius- by tanking 3 years he made the fanbase much more appreciative of any bowl game.

[the wicked child]

LOL I saw the stadium and remembered this from earlier this season!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36uH_EUM7yk

thats classic!

classic indeed!

[ZelieMike]

Assuming Cav and Wanny remember to use McCoy, that number won't last. I don't think Oregon St. will give up nearly 700 yards of offense again, but they are not very good defensively...

That's why they shut down USC? Seriously Rocco, the 3 times I've seen OSU, they are not bad at all defensively, but they tend to overly aggressive, especially in the secondary, which allows them to shut down some teams, but really get ripped by an imaginative coach like Oregon's (forget his name right now).

With that in mind, I find it a tough row for the bubble screen!

ZM

[PenguinSteve-o]

is there a date and time for the game yet?

[Dickie Dunn]

is there a date and time for the game yet?

2 PM, December 31, CBS

Mark your calendar accordingly.

[jimjom]

I originally thought I was heading out there as I found an awesome flight RT for $240 and a cheap 2 star hotel, but when I went to book less than 18 hours later, the first flight I had originally found was booked solid, and the next available flight was $500 RT. There went that idea.

I have always wanted to go to El Paso to see a game at the Sun Bowl, and it won't happen this year. I can remember watching the 89 Sun Bowl on ESPN Classic a few years back and thinking how neat the stadium looked ringed by and cut into the mountains. Also awesomely cool is the fact that the stadium itself is less than a mile from Juarez, Mexico.

I hope I can get to El Paso sometime soon for a Sun Bowl, but hopefully not next year, I am shooting for BCS, baby!

[newarenanow]

There is a rumor going around that Oregon State's best RB, Jacquezz (sp) Rodgers will miss the Sun Bowl.

[Kovy27]

So..

If Pitt wins and USC wins...

Pitt > USC > PSU > Oregon State?

[Senka]

PSU isnt as good as pitt?

Pitt < Iowa < PSU...

DUH!