Small bowl games are still a big deal
— -- Before we get started, a story.
On Dec. 25, 2001, USC and Utah were going through their pregame routine for the SEGA Sports Las Vegas Bowl. Somewhere within the catacombs of Sam Boyd Stadium, the seven-man officiating crew was getting dressed. They weren't totally happy. It was an ACC crew and they were nearly 2,000 miles from home on Christmas Day. It was also an experienced crew. Many in this crew had worked Rose and Orange Bowls and now they were in a contest half-named after a video game. They hadn't even been allowed to enjoy Vegas itself, forced to stay in Henderson, a suburb, because no one wanted the referees anywhere near a casino. "When I got the call with my bowl assignment, I immediately asked which resort we'd be staying in," recalls side judge Jerry McGee. "The answer was the Hampton Inn."
As the crew started unpacking their duffels there was a knock at the door. Standing on the other side were two statuesque women with bags of their own and giant headdresses in hand. They were Vegas showgirls, sent to participate in the pregame and halftime festivities.
"Excuse me, guys," one said. "They forgot to assign us a dressing room. Do you mind if we get changed in here?"
"Suddenly," McGee recalls. "We weren't complaining anymore."
(Full disclosure, McGee is the author's father. He loves telling this story.)
On Saturday morning, when ball leaves tee just past 11 a.m. ET in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, the 2014-15 college bowl season will officially be underway, a slate of 39 games played over 25 days. During that time, fans and media will participate in another annual college football tradition -- complaining about the existence of all those games.
