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Bowl week schedule, facts, more
Posted on 12.30.08
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Today's schedule
7 a.m. —- Fellowship of Christian Athletes breakfast at Hyatt Regency, downtown Tampa
10:30 a.m. —- Iowa practice at the University of Tampa
11:30 a.m. —- USC practice at Jefferson High School
11 a.m.-4 p.m. —- Bowl beach day, Clearwater Beach, to include USC and Iowa cheerleaders and marching bands.
7 p.m. —- Metlife/Mercedes Benz presidents' reception for school presidents, coaches and bowl supporters, A La Carte Pavillion, Tampa
What to know about Iowa
Calvin Jones remains one of the most revered names and players in Iowa football history, more than 50 years after his death.
Jones was a two-time All-American and three-time All-Big Ten selection as an offensive lineman. His jersey No. 62 is one of two to be retired by Iowa, the other being the No. 24 worn by 1939 Heisman Trophy winning halfback Nile Kinnick.
Jones won the Outland Trophy following his senior season in 1955. In the fall of 1954, he was the first college football player and the first African-American to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Jones was killed in an airplane crash in the Canadian mountains on Dec. 9, 1956.
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 1953, for example.
The '53 Gamecocks rolled to a 7-3 record that include impressive wins against Clemson and eighth-ranked West Virginia. Their losses were to Wake Forest, No. 10-ranked Duke and No. 2-ranked and eventual national champion Maryland.
Again, USC must not have had the proper connections to earn a bowl invitation. The problem was that there were only seven bowl games, although the Tangerine Bowl could have done better than Arkansas State against Texas A&M-Commerce.
So, let's just imagine that USC would have played in the Capital One Bowl against, say, a 7-3-1 Auburn team.
Observance of the day
It might not be true, but it sure appeared as if USC looked significantly bigger overall than Iowa when the two teams were introduced in street clothes prior to Monday's luncheon at the Tampa Convention Center.
It's the Outback Bowl, mate
The countdown to D-Day, or Outback Bowl Day, is nearing and still no sighting of Nicole Kidman, whose agents have assured The State she will attend the game (no word on whether she pulls for USC or Iowa).
There was a man seen on Monday at the sponge docks in Tarpon Springs who looked just like Hugh Jackman, her co-star in the recently released movie "Australia." Kidman can't be far behind.
Outback Bowl history
USC fans probably do not need to know that Clemson owns the second-most lopsided decision in Outback Bowl history. The 14th-ranked Tigers under newly hired coach Ken Hatfield destroyed Big Ten co-champion and 16th-ranked Illinois under coach John Mackovich, 30-0 in the 1991 game.
Quarterback DeChane Cameron, who rushed for 76 yards and completed 14 of 19 passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns, was the game's MVP.
— Ron Morris
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