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Bowl schedule, facts, more

Posted on 12.28.08
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Today’s schedule

11:30 a.m. — USC practice at Jefferson High School

11:45 a.m. — Iowa practice at University of Tampa

3 p.m. — Both teams visit Busch Gardens

What to know about Iowa

Herky the Hawk, Iowa’s mascot, did not come into existence by accident. A cartoon character of the Hawkeye was created in 1948 by Richard Spencer, an Iowa journalism professor. Alumnus John Franklin later won a statewide contest to name the mascot, and his depiction was the insignia of the 124th Fighter Squadron during the Korean War.

Fantasy football, USC style

Had the current bowl system existed, USC surely would have played in more than 13 bowl games over the years. Take 1925, for example.

That USC team, coached by the Branch Bocock, went 7-3 and came within 15 points of going undefeated. The Gamecocks’ losses were 7-0 to North Carolina, 6-0 to Virginia Tech and 2-0 to Furman.

The ’25 Gamecocks posted five shutouts and yielded four touchdowns and 27 points all season. They deserved a bowl bid, even with a 2-2 record in the Southern Conference.

Of course, a lot of teams deserved bids that season when only Alabama and Washington received them. They played in the Rose Bowl. Otherwise, USC would surely have been deserving of a Peach Bowl invitation, perhaps against a 6-2-1 Georgia Tech club.

Observance of the day

USC quarterback Stephen Garcia remains a big man on the Jefferson High School campus in Tampa, his alma mater. His first day of practice at the high school in preparation for the Outback Bowl meant returning to his old locker room.

He was greeted by his former high school coach, Mike Fenton, as well as a couple of school administrators.

“It’s pretty exciting being back here. It’s pretty fun,” Garcia said after practice Saturday. “I’m very grateful that the Outback (Bowl) picked us to play here, and Jefferson let us practice here. It’s the perfect picture. So, we’ve just got to go out there and win now.”

It’s the Outback Bowl, mate

The search in the Tampa Bay area for Nicole Kidman continues.

Still no sighting, but word has it that she is the favorite actor of Kevin O’Connell, USC’s executive associate athletics director. He has promised to pull a few strings.

Outback Bowl history

Like USC, Iowa is no stranger to the Outback Bowl. And, like USC, Iowa played the same opponent in both of its Tampa bowl appearances. While USC defeated Ohio State both times, Iowa split its decisions against Florida.

Fred Russell ran for 150 yards and a touchdown as 13th-ranked Iowa defeated No. 17 Florida 37-17 in the 2004 Outback Bowl. Chris Leak threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns as 16th-ranked Florida defeated No. 25 Iowa in the 2006 Outback Bowl.

Iowa’s Abdul Hodge holds the Outback Bowl record for tackles in a game with 19 in 2006. Iowa’s 20 rushing attempts in 2006 and 57 yards in 2006 are Outback Bowl futility records.

—- Ron Morris

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