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San Diego bowl games are a community-minded production
TCU Horned Frogs set win record, deny Boise State Broncos a perfect season

Posted Dec. 31, 2008
The success of the San Diego region’s two college bowl games — the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl and the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl — starts with the men and women who help organize and run them.

South County resident Bruce Binkowski is one of the more visible “red coats” in attendance at Qualcomm Stadium, the venue for both games. Binkowski serves as executive director for both bowl games and has logged countless hours in planning and logistics over the history of these games.

The Holiday Bowl celebrated its 31st anniversary on Tuesday in record-setting fashion as 15th-ranked Oregon stung 13th-ranked Oklahoma State 42-31.The Poinsettia Bowl completed its fourth year of play Dec. 23 as the 11th-ranked TCU Horned Frogs denied ninth-ranked Boise State Broncos a perfect season with a come-from-behind 17-16 victory in front of 34,628 fans.

In winning its fourth consecutive bowl game, TCU scored 17 unanswered points to erase a 13-0 Bronco lead.

The Poinsettia Bowl and Holiday Bowl games both paired top 15-ranked teams to make them among the most appealing of all the post-season bowl games. In fact, the Holiday Bowl has evolved into one of the top tier non-BCS bowl games. Tuesday’s game featured five second-half lead changes.

The Poinsettia Bowl had an added South County connection this time: Boise State held practices at Southwestern College.

The bowl games wouldn’t be possible without leadership.

El Cajon resident Larry Baber serves as president of the board of directors of the San Diego Bowl Association, the organization that puts on the two games. He presented the Most Valuable Player awards at both bowl games.

Other 2008 elected officers include president-elect Barbara Warden, secretary Pete Litrenta and treasurer Eric Graves.

The bowl association’s mission for the two bowl games is to create tourism, exposure, economic benefit and civic pride for San Diegans. Both the Poinsettia Bowl and Holiday Bowl are televised nationally by ESPN.

“It’s an honor for me to serve as president of this tremendous organization,” Baber said. “I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and working with bowl volunteers and staff to ensure the growth of these two important events continues.”

Baber has been involved with the bowl association since 1987 when he volunteered on the bowl’s bike tour committee. He became a Red Coat in 1989 and joined the board of directors in 2003. For the last 10 years, he has served as a member of the bowl game’s team selection committee and has made more than 50 official visits to universities on behalf of both bowl games. For the last 10 years, he has served as a member of the bowl game’s team selection committee and has made more than 50 official visits to universities on behalf of both bowl games.

Strong community ties define both bowl game efforts. Pre-bowl activities include a hole-in-one golf tournament, three-on-three basketball tournament, parades, band showcases, scholarship awards and fan-friendly contests.

The Viejas Parade of Wishes once again lit up the field with hope, strength and joy in gala pre-game ceremonies at the Poinsettia Bowl. One dollar from every game ticket sold was donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of San Diego.

Sweetwater High School had the winning entry in the “Rock the Bowl” video contest sponsored by Flo-TV and was honored during a time-out at Tuesday’s Holiday Bowl.

Players on the participating teams are treated with visits to the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld and also take time to take part in community functions before each game.

Poinsettia Bowl
The Boise State roster featured four San Diego region players: sophomore quarterback Michael Coughlin (Mira Mesa), freshman defensive end Zach Gholson (La Costa Canyon), senior wide receiver Vinny Perretta (La Costa Canyon) and freshman cornerback Jamar Taylor (Helix).

Taylor, who earned First Team All-San Diego Section honors his senior year, finished his career with the Highlanders with 155 tackles, 19 pass breakups, nine interceptions and four fumble recoveries. In 12 games for BSU this season, he made 15 unassisted tackles, five assisted tackles and one pass breakup.

The Western Athletic Conference champion Broncos built a 13-0 lead in the game and rallied from a 17-13 deficit to close to within one point on a 33-yard field goal by Kyle Brotzman with less than five minutes left in the game. Boise State got the ball back at its own 17-yard line with just under two minutes remaining but TCU’s Stephen Hodge intercepted Broncos quarterback Kellen Moore to end the threat and preserve the Horned Frog victory. Hodge finished the game with 11 tackles (three for losses), one sack and one interception to earn Defensive MVP honors.

TCU quarterback Andy Dalton was named the game’s Offensive MVP after totaling 276 all-purpose yards in the contest, including 74 rushing yards.

Brotzman booted three field goals but missed a 38-yard attempt in the second half. Ian Johnson scored his 58th career touchdown on a 20-yard run to put Boise State up 10-0. The touchdown broke former SDSU standout Marshall Faulk's WAC record.

For TCU, which finished second in the Mountain West Conference standings, Aaron Brown rushed for a 16-yard touchdown to help the Horned Frogs trim Boise State’s lead to 13-7 at halftime. Ross Evans kicked 32-yard field goal in the third quarter and TCU took its first lead early in the fourth quarter when Joseph Turner capped an 80-yard scoring drive on a 17-yard touchdown run. Brown paced TCU with 105 rushing yards.

Boise State boasts an impressive 60-4 record in WAC games over the past eight seasons, winning six championships and finishing second twice. The Broncos posted undefeated seasons in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2008.

During the regular season, Perretta caught 34 passes for 500 yards with two touchdowns. Against TCU, he had two receptions for 78 yards. Moore comploeted 22 of 35 aerials against the Horned Frogs for 222 yards.

Holiday Bowl
Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli totaled 364 all-purpose yards (258 passing, 106 rushing) and scored four touchdowns, including three rushing TDs (one on a 76-yard scamper), to earn Offensive MVP honors. Ducks defensive Jairus Byrd, who made a key 39-yard interception return in the game, was named Defensive MVP.

The teams combined for 1,034 offensive yards, with Oregon totaling 565 yards and Oklahoma State amassing 469 yards. The teams combined to score 73 points and rack up 49 first downs.

Oklahoma State signal-caller Zac Robinson finished the game with 383 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns while Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant set two Pacific Life Holiday Bowl records as he hauled in 13 receptions for 168 yards. The previous Holiday Bowl record for receptions (11) was held by BYU's David Mills (1984) and Texas' Roy Williams (2001); the receiving yards record (163) was held by Oklahoma State's Hart Lee Dykes (1988).

The Cowboys lead 17-7 in the first half and regained a 31-28 edge early in the fourth quarter but Oregon took the lead for good with just over nine minutes left in the game.

Poinsettia Bowl: TCU sets win record, denies Broncos a perfect season

TCU’s Stephen Hodge intercepted Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore with under two minutes remaining as the Horned Frogs hung on to win the fourth annual Poinsettia Bowl. TCU, which finished second in the Mountain West Conference standings, set a school record with its 11-2 season and spoiled a potential undefeated season by the Western Athletic Conference-champion Broncos (12-1).

Hodge was named the game’s Defensive Most Valuable Player.

The Horned Frogs out-rushed Boise State 278-29 on the ground, with running back Aaron Brown leading TCU with 105 rushing yards and one touchdown.

TCU signal-caller Andy Dalton finished the game with 276 all-purpose yards, including 74 rushing yards, to earn honors as the game’s Offensive MVP.

Kyle Brotzman gave the Broncos an early 3-0 lead on a 30-yard field goal and BSU went ahead 10-0 on Ian Johnson's 20-yard touchdown run. The TD run was Johnson’s 58th career touchdown, breaking former SDSU standout Marshall Faulk's Western Athletic Conference record.

Brotzman later added a 24-yard field goal to put the Broncos up 13-0.

Brown rushed for a 16-yard touchdown to help the Horned Frogs trim Boise State’s lead to 13-7 at halftime and scored 10 unanswered points in the second half to take a 17-13 lead. Ross Evans kicked 32-yard field goal in the third quarter and TCU took its first lead early in the fourth quarter when Joseph Turner capped an 80-yard scoring drive on a 17-yard touchdown run.

Brotzman booted his third field goal of the game to bring the Broncos within a point at 17-16 with less than five minutes remaining in the game after TCU’s defense held firm in front of its goal line.

Boise State got the ball back with less than two minutes to play but was intercepted by Hodge on the first play from scrimmage to end the Broncos’ bid for a thrilling comeback win and a perfect season.

Brotzman missed a 38-yard field goal attempt early in the second half to deny Boise State additional points.

Poinsettia Bowl, Qualcomm to contribute to local high school music programs
Posted Dec. 11, 2008
In a joint effort, the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl and Qualcomm have teamed up to make financial contributions to in-need high school music departments at the 26 Title 1 high schools in San Diego County. The San Diego County Office of Education is facilitating the donation.

“The donation from the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl and Qualcomm to our local high school music departments is extremely generous,” County Superintendent of Schools Randy Ward said. “I want to thank them for thinking of our local schools. At times like these, when school music programs are faced with severe cuts, a donation like this is nothing short of fantastic.”

A formal presentation will be made on the field during the Poinsettia Bowl. The fourth annual game kicks off at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 23,at Qualcomm Stadium and pits the ninth-ranked and undefeated Boise State University Broncos (12-0) against the 11th-ranked TCU Horned Frogs (10-2).

It will be televised nationally on ESPN.

Bowl President Larry Baber called the match-up "undoubtedly one of the most anticipated games of the entire bowl season."

“We are ecstatic that teams of the caliber of Boise State and TCU will match up in our bowl game,” he said.

The pairing of two ranked teams is a first for the fledgling bowl game and is being ranked as the fourth-best match-up for the upcoming bowl game this season.

The Broncos -- this year's Western Athletic Conference champions -- concluded a perfect season for the second time in three seasons. Boise State capped an undefeated season in 2006 with a thrilling 43-42 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. This is Boise State’s first appearance in the Poinsettia Bowl.

The Broncos' offense is led by freshman quarterback sensation Kellen Moore, who has has thrown for 25 touchdowns and averaged 272.0 passing yards per game. Sophomore safety Jeron Johnson leads a stingy Boise State defense with 84 total tackles, two interceptions and three fumble recoveries.

TCU, which finished 7-1 in the Mountain West Conference standings, returns to the Poinsettia Bowl for the second time in three years. In 2006 the Horned Frogs routed the Northern Illinois Huskies 37-7.

TCU coach Gary Patterson said the 2008 Poinsettia Bowl "should be a great game with a lot of national interest.”

A well-balanced TCU offensive attack is guided by sophomore quarterback Andy Dalton, who has thrown for 11 touchdowns against just four interceptions in 10 games. His passing rating for the season is an impressive 132.4. The Horned Frogs boast one of the nation’s best defenses, anchored by defensive end Jerry Hughes. The junior tallied 14 sacks this season, tops in the country. He also forced six fumbles and snagged two interceptions.

This will be the second time these teams have faced one another. The Broncos narrowly defeated TCU in the 2003 Fort Worth Bowl 34-31.

Tickets for the 2008 Poinsettia Bowl can be purchased by calling TicketMaster at 220-8497 or by visiting www.PoinsettiaBowl.net.

The Pacific Life Holiday Bowl follows on Dec. 30 at Qualcomm Stadium and pits 13th-ranked Oklahoma State (9-3) and 15th-ranked Oregon (9-3). For more information, visit www.PacificLifeHolidayBowl.com.

Oregon Ducks clip Oklahoma State Cowboys, 42-31, in Holiday Bowl thriller

Holiday Bowl press release
In yet another fantastic bowl finish, the Oregon Ducks defeated the Oklahoma State Cowboys 42-31 in the 31st annual Pacific Life Holiday Bowl.

In an exciting, back and forth second half, the Ducks took the lead for good over the Cowboys with just over 9 minutes remaining after QB Jeremiah Masoli found Jaison Williams in the endzone for a 20-yard touchdown pass. After getting stopped at the 1-yard line on fourth down by the OSU defense, Oregon got the ball back once more and they took advantage of it as RB LeGarrette Blount hurdled a player and held off two others as he powered his way to a 29-yard touchdown run to seal the victory for the Ducks.

Ducks QB Jeremiah Masoli earned Offensive MVP honors, finishing the game with 364 all-purpose yards (258 passing, 106 rushing) and 4 TD's, three of which were on the ground. DB Jairus Byrd was named the game's Defensive MVP, thanks in part to a huge 39-yard interception return.

After the Cowboys dominated the first half, the Ducks came roaring out of the gates in the third quarter as they scored twice to take a 21-17 lead, their first lead of the game. Oregon kick returner Walter Thurmond III returned the second-half opening kickoff 91 yards to the Oklahoma State 3-yard line. Two plays later, QB Jeremiah Johnson rushed into the endzone from one yard out.
From there, both teams' offenses started firing on all cylinders as the game saw five second-half lead changes, as opposing QB's Zac Robinson and Jeremiah Masoli put on a clinic both on the ground and in the air.

In the first half, it was the Cowboys who struck first as they took their opening possession 52 yards to set up Dan Bailey's 45-yard field goal. After forcing an Oregon punt, Oklahoma State got the ball back on their own 1-yard line. The offense then put together an 11-play, 99 yard drive as they marched down the field and scored a touchdown as QB Zac Robinson hit WR Dez Bryant on a 33-yard pass.

The Ducks offense didn't take long to respond. Starting at his own 24-yard line, Oregon's RB Jeremiah Johnson broke loose and rushed for a 76-yard touchdown to get the Ducks on the scoreboard.

Oklahoma State answered right back, as Perrish Cox returned the kickoff 42 yards to give the Cowboys great field position. Then QB Zac Robinson, RB Kendall Hunter and the Cowboys offense went back to work as they marched down the field and scored on their third straight posession on a 3-yard rushing touchdown by Hunter, stretching the Cowboys lead to 17-7.

Robinson finished the game with 383 all-purpose yards and 2 TD's. WR Dez Bryant set two Pacific Life Holiday Bowl records as he hauled in 13 receptions for 168 yards. The previous Holiday Bowl record for receptions (11) was held by BYU's David Mills (1984) and Texas' Roy Williams (2001), and the receiving yards record (163) was held by Oklahoma State's Hart Lee Dykes (1988).

After a lot of offensive fireworks in the first quarter, the defenses stepped up in the third quarter, combining to force three missed field goals and a turnover. After Oregon turned the ball over on downs to open the quarter, Oklahoma State missed a scoring opportunity as Bailey missed a 43-yard field goal. After Oregon got the ball back, QB Jeremiah Masoli stung the Cowboys defense for a 50-yard pass play to Terence Scott, but then the Cowboy defense held, forcing a 38-yard field goal attempt. But Oklahoma State DB Jacob Lacey blocked Morgan Flint's FG attempt, keeping the score 17-7. After forcing the Cowboys to turn the ball over on downs, Oregon put together a long 14-play, 43 yard drive, only to see Flint's second field goal attempt sail wide right.