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Buckeyes Accept Gator Bowl Invite...and other Sunday Evening News
David ThurmanDec 4, 2011
Dave Thurman (8:31 pm)
Gator Bowl officials are dancing in the streets, which is pretty amazing considering the 2012 edition of the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl will be a match-up of 6-6 teams, as Ohio State meets Florida. However, not only does the contest feature two of the more storied programs in the nation, each of which have loyal followings, but it is also a rematch of the BCS National Championship Game played five years ago in Arizona. Additionally this game has the extra magic of being coined the "Urban Bowl," featuring Meyer's former team facing his future squad. And if all that isn't enough, the Buckeyes will make its first appearance in the Gator Bowl since 1978, when OSU dropped an 18-15 decision. That game was marked by coach Woody Hayes’ infamous punch of a Clemson player after a late interception, leading to Hayes' firing the following day. No doubt about it, this is a made for TV event.
The game will be played Monday, January 2nd, at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida, kicking off at 1 p.m. Eastern Time, and will be televised by ESPN2. Although Urban Meyer has been hired as the new head coach, he will not be on the sideline for the Gator Bowl, but Luke Fickell will be at the helm one last time.
Call me old school but I don't think 6-6 teams should receive bids to play in bowl games. However in this era of commercialization it would be a mistake to not accept the invitation, not only because of the financial advantage it presents to the university but also the extra days of practice in provides the players and coaching staff. A young Ohio State team can benefit greatly from the bowl practice, and one has to believe that Urban Meyer will be able to observe and analyze the talent that will be his in 2012.
Gator Bowl officials are dancing in the streets, which is pretty amazing considering the 2012 edition of the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl will be a match-up of 6-6 teams, as Ohio State meets Florida. However, not only does the contest feature two of the more storied programs in the nation, each of which have loyal followings, but it is also a rematch of the BCS National Championship Game played five years ago in Arizona. Additionally this game has the extra magic of being coined the "Urban Bowl," featuring Meyer's former team facing his future squad. And if all that isn't enough, the Buckeyes will make its first appearance in the Gator Bowl since 1978, when OSU dropped an 18-15 decision. That game was marked by coach Woody Hayes’ infamous punch of a Clemson player after a late interception, leading to Hayes' firing the following day. No doubt about it, this is a made for TV event.
The game will be played Monday, January 2nd, at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida, kicking off at 1 p.m. Eastern Time, and will be televised by ESPN2. Although Urban Meyer has been hired as the new head coach, he will not be on the sideline for the Gator Bowl, but Luke Fickell will be at the helm one last time.
Call me old school but I don't think 6-6 teams should receive bids to play in bowl games. However in this era of commercialization it would be a mistake to not accept the invitation, not only because of the financial advantage it presents to the university but also the extra days of practice in provides the players and coaching staff. A young Ohio State team can benefit greatly from the bowl practice, and one has to believe that Urban Meyer will be able to observe and analyze the talent that will be his in 2012.
In other weekend news:
-The Buckeye hoops team remained undefeated, handling hapless Texas-Pan American 64-35 on Saturday in Columbus. With star Jared Sullinger sidelined with back spasms fans expected a big game from senior William Buford. Amazingly Buford had an off day, finishing with only two points. So just how bad is UTPA? Well they might be the worst Division I team in the nation. Now, let's get Sully healthy for the big matchup with Kansas this Saturday in Lawrence.
-One of the nicest guys in football departed the earth today, as Joe Daniels lost his valiant battle with cancer. Daniels, 69, was an Ohio State assistant under Jim Tressel from 2001-07. In the summer of 2006 Daniels was diagnosed with cancer in his kidney, and although he continued to coach for another couple of seasons, his time at practice began to be limited. There is no doubt the Buckeyes missed Daniels' tutelage in recent years, as he was one of the best, evidenced by the job he did developing Craig Krenzel and Troy Smith. We join Buckeye nation in lifting prayers for Joe's family.
-The inaugural Big Ten Championship Game was entertaining, as Wisconsin outlasted Michigan State 42-29 Saturday night in Indianapolis. What was expected to be a bit more of a defensive struggle featured just about everything, as the Badgers enacted a measure of revenge for a loss to the Spartans earlier in the year. Ohio State fans had expected to see their beloved Buckeyes in this game, and hopefully that will be the case in 2012.
-The Buckeye hoops team remained undefeated, handling hapless Texas-Pan American 64-35 on Saturday in Columbus. With star Jared Sullinger sidelined with back spasms fans expected a big game from senior William Buford. Amazingly Buford had an off day, finishing with only two points. So just how bad is UTPA? Well they might be the worst Division I team in the nation. Now, let's get Sully healthy for the big matchup with Kansas this Saturday in Lawrence.
-One of the nicest guys in football departed the earth today, as Joe Daniels lost his valiant battle with cancer. Daniels, 69, was an Ohio State assistant under Jim Tressel from 2001-07. In the summer of 2006 Daniels was diagnosed with cancer in his kidney, and although he continued to coach for another couple of seasons, his time at practice began to be limited. There is no doubt the Buckeyes missed Daniels' tutelage in recent years, as he was one of the best, evidenced by the job he did developing Craig Krenzel and Troy Smith. We join Buckeye nation in lifting prayers for Joe's family.
-The inaugural Big Ten Championship Game was entertaining, as Wisconsin outlasted Michigan State 42-29 Saturday night in Indianapolis. What was expected to be a bit more of a defensive struggle featured just about everything, as the Badgers enacted a measure of revenge for a loss to the Spartans earlier in the year. Ohio State fans had expected to see their beloved Buckeyes in this game, and hopefully that will be the case in 2012.
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