Advocare V100 Independence Bowl

The "true" start to bowl week with 20 games through Saturday, the bulk of the Bowl Quest challenge.  Monday was the annual game from Shreveport, Louisiana. 

It was a match-up of teams with similar style offenses, Georgia Tech and Air Force, both running the triple option.  The game lived up to its billing of nearly all running plays and a low score, with Air Force coming out on top 14-7.  Air Force was a little more willing to throw passes which was the difference in the game, and the Georgia Tech punt returner having oven mitts on his hands and fumbling twice.  It didn't help that the Yellow Jackets starting quarterback was out with an injury and the back-up didn't have much of a grasp on the what little passing they do use.  His interception late in the game proved that. 

At times both teams seemed to be stubbornly running the ball instead of throwing a pass to gain yardage.  Georgia Tech stuck to the ground even at the end of the game when they needed to control the clock and get a score to tie the game.  I have no idea how a BCS conference team can run the option and be taken seriously by its fans or prospective players.  And yes, I know Georgia Tech was in the Orange Bowl last year but that speaks more to the mediocrity of the ACC than the sense it makes to run this antiquated, small school offense for a major program.  Okay, down from the soapbox.  


Game notes:
-The biggest drama of the game involved the Air Force's mascot, their falcon, Sid.

Intending for him to fly around the stadium at the beginning of the game, the little guy took off for downtown Shreveport and we kept getting updates from the ESPN announcers as to the ongoing search.  The falcon did return at the end of this extremely dull game so maybe he knew more than any of us watching.  The falconer looked relieved to get the bird back.  


-AdvoCare is a company that produces health supplements and energy products.  They sell the products through multi-level marketing similar to Amway.  Drew Brees is their spokesperson and you saw him a lot during this game.  I mean every commercial break.  Maybe the falcon that went missing uses the products since he had the energy to keep flying around for three hours. 

-My wife was ready for this one to go off after one quarter but nope, we watched the entire game.


-Air Force may win the Best Uniforms award for this year's Bowl Quest.  Instead of their usual blue and white, it was red, white and blue with a stars and stripes lightning bolt on the helmet.  

This was the best picture I could find - mostly just their head coach happy for the win and the return of the falcon. 


-Today, we ramp up to two games.  First up, the Champs Sports Bowl with West Virginia taking on North Carolina State followed by the Insight Bowl with Missouri taking on a disappointing Iowa squad.  I like the Mountaineers and Tigers to win.  (One of the boys is going to have to take a quarter of that Insight Bowl, it doesn't start until 10pm.  See Bowl Quest rule #2.)

-My ESPN Bowl Mania record is now 4-5 with the Air Force win.