Bowl Quest - Complete!

Another year, another mountain of mostly meaningless games watched.  Finished with the title game between No. 1 Auburn and No. 2 Oregon.

37 days since these two schools played football and did it show.  It's amazing how the NCAA can  allow their marquee sport to languish in its post-season year after year.  The regular season is essentially one and done - you lose and your school's chance to win the championship is over.  And then they cap the season by shutting it down for weeks and then to pile up horrible games between 6-6 and 7-5 schools until New Years.  Then make the fans wait another week or so before the title game.

So yeah, there was rust on these schools, and probably a good case of nerves.  No scoring in the first quarter followed by unusual scoring in the second quarter including Oregon going for two points to increase the score 11-7 with Ducks coach Chip Kelly trying to build some offensive momentum.  It didn't work.  The Ducks could never get its running game on track against the Auburn defensive line. And who didn't predict a 16-11 halftime score.  

Not much scoring after that but at least Oregon's only second half touchdown and another two point conversion came late in the game to add some excitement to the finish.  The big play was when Auburn running back Michael Dyer appeared to be tackled but was never down and broke off a long run to set up the game winning field goal.  (I google searched Michael Dyer and this picture of pro wrestler Ox Baker came up, you're welcome.)

Final score 22-19 in a game that at least was close but really had lulls because of the first and third quarters.  Heisman winner Cam Newton looked okay but certainly did himself no favors if he plans on entering the NFL this year.  He looks raw and in no way ready to step into the pros.  A lot of his throws were off the mark and the small-ish Oregon defense was able to bog down the Auburn attack a number of times.  As a matter of fact, for all the hype ESPN gave to the high paced attack of both teams, the Auburn defense was the story.  As usual, the world wide leader misses the mark.  Fortunately the game had a number of explosive plays to keep interest up although I did fall asleep in the third.

Game notes:
-Really long, unnecessary pre-game coverage.  Nick Saban never has to worry about a career as a TV analyst.  Not exactly Dick Vitale on the microphone (not all bad in that regard).  For the "experts" employed by the network, Nick Saban and Urban Meyer were odd choices to co-host the pre-game coverage.
-Thanks to the person who decided to not have Matt Millen involved with this game in any capacity.
-Casey Matthews plays for Oregon, another member of the football Matthews family with really long hair.  I think members of the Matthews family played for 50% of the teams in bowl games.  
-Oregon coach Chip Kelly knew what kind of game his team was in for and going for the two point conversion early indicated it.  Kudos to his team for converting the 2-pointer twice.  Oregon was probably a play maker or two away from winning that game.  
-A lot of vindication for Auburn fans who have seen their team go undefeated and not get in the title game.    
-The win gives the SEC its fifth straight national title.  The conference has never lost in the BCS title game.  All title hopes run through Alabama, Florida and Louisiana. 
-I finished 19-16 in ESPN's Bowl Mania, good for 68%.  M'eh.