Thursday News and Notes

Thursday, December 28, 2006

 

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Kansas State-Rutgers

Houston Chronicle

Rutgers (10-2) enjoyed an improbable regular season, winning its first nine games and climbing as high as seventh in the national rankings before losing two of its final three games. “Certainly, there’s disappointment,” Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. “We had an opportunity to be in the BCS, and more importantly to be league champions. To come close and not get it hurts.” The Scarlet Knights are making their second bowl appearance in school history. “In 137 years of football, we’ve only been to two bowl games, so we’re thrilled to be going to another bowl game — and for the first time in our history, to be going to back-to-back bowl games,” Schiano said. Kansas State (7-5) was picked to finish last in the Big 12 North Division during the preseason. Under first-year coach Ron Prince, the Wildcats won three of their final four games, including a 45-42 upset of then-No. 4 Texas.

Oklahoma State-Alabama

Examiner Enterprise

The 2007 season is starting early for the Oklahoma State football team.
Emerging from the dizzy ride of a break-even season (6-6), the Cowboys are hoping Thursday’s Independence Bowl showdown with Alabama (6-6) will be a preview of a team which has arrived on the BCS scene. If not for an easy three opponents out of the chute — Missouri State, Arkansas State and Florida Atlantic, which OSU outscored by a total of 135-25 — the Cowboys might have fallen short of the necessary six wins to become bowl eligible. Following a 34-25 loss to Houston, however, Oklahoma State never lost by more than six points, with the exception of a 36-10 setback at then-No. 4 Texas. The Cowboys finished up their season with a 66-24 massacre of an improving Baylor team and close losses to Texas Tech (30-24) and No. 13 Oklahoma (27-21).
Alabama went 6-3 in its first nine games before dropping its last three contests to Mississippi State (24-16), No. 12 Lousiana State (28-14) and No. 14 Auburn (22-15).

 

Texas A&M-California

San Antonio Express-News

The besieged Texas A&M football coach, fresh off a startling upset victory at rival Texas, relished the chance to get a few things off of his chest. Thursday night’s Holiday Bowl against favored Cal (9-3), the Pac-10 co-champion, should offer the Aggies (9-3) plenty of clues as to their program’s direction under fourth-year coach Dennis Franchione. What they know for now, however, is winning in Austin 12-7 last month lifted a huge burden, as Franchione earned his first victory over UT in four tries. Two years ago, the 7-4 Aggies swaggered into Dallas for the Cotton Bowl, seemingly on an up-tick under Franchione (despite a narrow loss in Austin), before the Volunteers whipped them 38-7. A&M followed with a losing season, bringing hollers for Franchione’s job. On Thursday, the Aggies will play in their first bowl since the Cotton.

Kitsap Sun

So far, the Pac-10 is getting kicked around in the bowl season. Oregon State safety Sabby Piscitelli said losses by Arizona State in the Hawaii Bowl and Oregon in the Las Vegas Bowl were well-deserved. Hawaii beat Arizona State 41-24 on Saturday and Brigham Young spanked Oregon 38-8 on Dec. 21. “That’s their problem; I don’t really care,” running back Yvenson Bernard said. “I just worry about Oregon State.” Oregon State (9-4) takes a three-game winning streak into its game against Missouri (8-4).

CBB

Rider-Notre Dame

Press Notes

Notre Dame plays its first game since its 88-47 win over Army on Dec. 21 as the Irish entertain Rider. The contest will mark just the second meeting ever between the two schools. The matchup is the fifth of seven straight home games for the Irish. Notre Dame owns an 8-0 mark at the Joyce Center this season and has won 10 consecutive games at home dating back to last season. The Irish are averaging 87.1 points per game (sixth in the nation) and have topped the 90-point mark six times and scored 80-plus points nine times.