SIDELINE
Observations, Opinion & Occasional Silliness by Richard L Gale
BOWL BITES 2 December 27, 2007
Throughout Bowl Season, I'll be hitting you with my 'Bowl Bites' on the games that
matter ...and the plenty that don't. Here's the second installment.
Bowl Bites: Will Holtz Skip Town After '08?
Win or lose, the Boise State Broncos certainly know how to entertain in bowl games. It was all there: the late
comeback, the improbable turnover, the massive upset (even if it was the Broncos themselves getting upset this
time). Sadly, most of the viewing public — certainly those with teams still scrabbling for the NFC
wildcard — were watching Washington and Minnesota instead on Monday night.
What they missed was Boise State being upstaged by East Carolina running back Chris Johnson, whose 223 yards
rushing were only part of a 208–yard all–purpose performance. For those that did catch the Hawaii
bowl, they might have caught a glimpse of next year's draft steal; if Darren McFadden has everybody talking
about the next Adrian Peterson, Johnson may be the next Reggie Bush — a triple threat back who can be worked
in as an offensive utility player. And probably at half the price.
Draft addicts (yup, guilty) have been aware for a while that Johnson has been hovering around the second round in
projections, and the Hawaii Bowl performance — however missed by the general public — could have him
creeping upwards when his 4.3 speed is confirmed at the combine. By my reckoning, he's a dangerous return
specialist and third down back. It isn't improbable to project him as a Brian Westbrook type. At worst,
he's Vai Sikahema.
He may not be the only one headed out of East Carolina. The ongoing vacancies at West Virginia and UCLA are supplying
prolonged attention for coaches on the rise, and the Pirates' victory does nothing to halt growing regard for Skip
Holtz. After two bowl appearances in three years, Holtz may have lucked out with his decision to insert No.2 QB Rob
Kass into the game late, but Kass' lone completion was a 36–yard completion to set up the winning fieldgoal,
and Holtz is starting to get more media attention than dad Lou's occasional references on EPSN.
Of course, Skip's three seasons at East Carolina have coincided with Johnson's time there. If Holtz can produce
another bowl season next year, he could be on the short list for some marquee university.
Bowl Bites: Curtis Paints A Masterpiece
Purdue QB Curtis Painter has spent his college career in the shadow of former Boilermaker QB Drew Brees, even while
rewriting some of Brees' old school records. Painter moved out of that shadow Wednesday night, and if Painter decides
to head for the NFL this next season — he redshirted as a freshman and still has a year of eligibility — his
546 yard performance in the 51–48 Motor City Bowl victory may have given him a platform.
It wasn't just the numbers that were impressive, but his cool, especially late in the game when digging the team out
of a hole one yard from their endzone, and later getting the Boilermakers in position to win with a one–minute drive.
Three different Purdue receivers finished the game with over 100 yards receiving.
Observations, Opinion & Occasional Silliness by Richard L Gale