Holiday Bowl Football Game

Fans attending the Holiday Bowl football game Dec. 29, 1989, at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium spent an estimated $11.4 million during the days before and after the game, according to figures released Monday by the game's sponsors. The economic impact, as measured by CIC Research, a consulting firm, rose from $10.6 million in 1988 and just $600,000 in 1978, when the first game was played.

SAN DIEGO -- In a clash of teams with high-scoring offenses but porous defenses, the Texas Longhorns scored early and often Thursday to beat the Arizona State Sun Devils, 52-34, in the 30th Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium. It was a game without much suspense, though it had plenty of mistakes, including nine fumbles and three interceptions. Texas (10-3) scored 1 minute 21 seconds into the first quarter, the quickest opening touchdown in Holiday Bowl history.

Colorado State's special teams were truly special Monday night in the 20th Holiday Bowl football game at Qualcomm Stadium. The Western Athletic Conference champions scored one touchdown on a punt return and another on a fake field goal en route to a 35-24 victory over Missouri of the Big 12 before a crowd of 50,761. The punt return, an 85-yard dash by wide receiver Darran Hall early in the third quarter, put the Rams (11-2) ahead to stay at 21-17.

To reach double digits in victories -- the difference, Coach Jeff Tedford says, between a decent season and a good one -- 20th-ranked California needs to stop a running back who weighs nearly three bills. Jorvorskie Lane, a 275-pound tailback, leads No. 21 Texas A&M with 19 touchdowns and is one of a few defensive worries for Cal in tonight's Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium. "Our 275-pound guys are all linemen," Tedford said. "And their feet are nowhere near the ballerina's feet [Lane] has."

Coaches Rick Neuheisel and Bill Snyder both want to win tonight's Holiday Bowl game. But the similarities end there. This is a game of opportunity for Neuheisel, in his first year with unranked Washington. A victory over seventh-ranked Kansas State gives the Huskies some national attention in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year. Snyder, meanwhile, carries a chip on his shoulder into the game.

To reach double digits in victories -- the difference, Coach Jeff Tedford says, between a decent season and a good one -- 20th-ranked California needs to stop a running back who weighs nearly three bills. Jorvorskie Lane, a 275-pound tailback, leads No. 21 Texas A&M with 19 touchdowns and is one of a few defensive worries for Cal in tonight's Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium. "Our 275-pound guys are all linemen," Tedford said. "And their feet are nowhere near the ballerina's feet [Lane] has."

As befits two coaches who just got whopping salary increases, Texas' Mack Brown and Oregon's Mike Bellotti are eager to get back to work: in this case, Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium. "Mack and I are ready to play," Bellotti said. Although neither team has played in more than a month, both coaches won the sweepstakes recently in the contract derby, signing lucrative long-term pacts to keep poachers at bay.

Texas Coach Mack Brown made it official Wednesday that Chris Simms will start at quarterback instead of Major Applewhite against Oregon on Friday night in the Culligan Holiday Bowl. Applewhite still is recovering from a sprained knee. Asked if he has plans to use Applewhite if needed, Brown said, "We don't have any plans. We just plan to win."

They are 10-1. Ten and one. They are ranked 10th in the nation. Tenth . Yet, outside the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains, not many think of Colorado State's Rams as a football powerhouse. Certainly not the folks in Ann Arbor, Mich., where the mighty Wolverines often start the season among the nation's first five.

Texas and California know about the Holiday Bowl and its dangers. So does Oregon Coach Mike Bellotti, who has spent the last several months with a psychological strategy for his team, almost from the moment it appeared likely the Ducks would be heading to San Diego and Qualcomm Stadium and the 28th annual playing of the Death Trap Bowl. A third consecutive upset may actually make that label accurate.

As befits two coaches who just got whopping salary increases, Texas' Mack Brown and Oregon's Mike Bellotti are eager to get back to work: in this case, Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium. "Mack and I are ready to play," Bellotti said. Although neither team has played in more than a month, both coaches won the sweepstakes recently in the contract derby, signing lucrative long-term pacts to keep poachers at bay.

Texas Coach Mack Brown made it official Wednesday that Chris Simms will start at quarterback instead of Major Applewhite against Oregon on Friday night in the Culligan Holiday Bowl. Applewhite still is recovering from a sprained knee. Asked if he has plans to use Applewhite if needed, Brown said, "We don't have any plans. We just plan to win."

Coaches Rick Neuheisel and Bill Snyder both want to win tonight's Holiday Bowl game. But the similarities end there. This is a game of opportunity for Neuheisel, in his first year with unranked Washington. A victory over seventh-ranked Kansas State gives the Huskies some national attention in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year. Snyder, meanwhile, carries a chip on his shoulder into the game.

Maybe the best tackle, and surely the most sincere, came after the final gun, with the bands playing and the Arizona Wildcats dancing their way to a higher place. At midfield, after fifth-ranked Arizona's 23-20 Holiday Bowl victory over defending co-national champion Nebraska, after Keith Smith was given the game's offensive MVP trophy and Ortege Jenkins screamed his support for the choice, Arizona's two quarterbacks met.

Pacific 10 Conference athletic directors agreed in principle Thursday to send their second-place team to the Holiday Bowl for the next four years. Among the significant details still to be worked out before a deal is finalized is securing an opponent for the Pac-10 team. Bowl officials would like to have the choice between the champion of the Western Athletic Conference--which will change dramatically next year--and the third-place team from the Big 12.

On Oct. 30, Brigham Young's John Walsh passed for 619 yards in a 58-56 loss to Utah State as the Cougars tied an unenviable major college record for the most points scored in a losing effort. That performance could be telling for tonight's Thrifty Car Rental Holiday Bowl when unranked BYU (6-5) plays No. 11 Ohio State (9-1-1) at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium. Kickoff is at 5 p.m.

Brigham Young and Iowa took different paths to today's Holiday Bowl, but each passed a test of faith to get here. For Brigham Young (8-3-1), it came in the fourth game. The Cougars were 0-3, injured and written off when they faced Air Force in their Western Athletic Conference opener. The Falcons were already 3-0 in the conference and 4-0 overall, poised to run away with the league title. Instead, Brigham Young controlled the game, taking a 21-0 lead into the fourth quarter and winning, 21-7.

Colorado State's special teams were truly special Monday night in the 20th Holiday Bowl football game at Qualcomm Stadium. The Western Athletic Conference champions scored one touchdown on a punt return and another on a fake field goal en route to a 35-24 victory over Missouri of the Big 12 before a crowd of 50,761. The punt return, an 85-yard dash by wide receiver Darran Hall early in the third quarter, put the Rams (11-2) ahead to stay at 21-17.

They are 10-1. Ten and one. They are ranked 10th in the nation. Tenth . Yet, outside the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains, not many think of Colorado State's Rams as a football powerhouse. Certainly not the folks in Ann Arbor, Mich., where the mighty Wolverines often start the season among the nation's first five.