The high-scoring Navy Midshipmen lead off the proper college football bowl schedule against, probably, the Utah Utes on Dec. 20 in the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego.
But that is not the beginning of the bowl season.
The real kickoff is Saturday at high noon when the Orediggers of Colorado Mines take on the Western Oregon Wolves in the Dixie Rotary Bowl at Hansen Stadium in St. George, Utah.
The game, now in its 22nd edition, has a proud history. For two decades, the Dixie Bowl was the largest junior-college bowl game in the country.
In 1994, it even served as the breakout game for Garden City (Kan.) Community College running back Corey Dillon, the bowl MVP that year who later went on to shine with the New England Patriots.
This is just the second year the Dixie Bowl has hosted Division II teams, a more interesting matchup of small-school programs.
For instance, Colorado Mines (7-4), which will represent the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, has been playing football since 1888. Two years later, Mines beat the University of Colorado twice, 103-0 and 50-4.
And Saturday’s game should look like old-fashioned football. Western Oregon (8-2) and Mines shine on defense, with the Orediggers allowing 19.5 points per game and the Wolves only 14.5. It will be the first matchup between the schools.
Mines’ offense will be led by sophomore quarterback David Pesek, who threw for 2,699 yards and 15 scores this season, connecting often with Adam Saur (44 catches for 653 yards) and Derek Dykstra (43 for 715). Western Oregon is ranked 15th in Division II.
And if the game isn’t enough to convince you that the bowl season is starting, note the Rotary Bowl Parade that trots through St. George at 10 a.m.
AROUND TOWN
CU-CSU women renew tug-of-war. The area college basketball round-robin continues this weekend with more in-state matchups. Already, the Colorado men faced off with Denver and Air Force. This weekend, Colorado State travels to Greeley for a nonconference game against Northern Colorado, on Saturday (and airing on Altitude). On Wednesday, Denver will play at Colorado State. But the biggest matchup will be among the women. Colorado hits the road to face Colorado State on Saturday at Moby Arena in Fort Collins. The game pits two programs on a downswing lately. But anytime the Buffs and Rams meet, things can get interesting. Also, for another intriguing area nonconference tilt, check out the Denver women playing No. 25 Wyoming on Saturday.
STAY ON THE COUCH
Steelers-Bengals rivalry. The NFL hierarchy has shaken out in an odd way this season. Of the 32 teams, four seem like legitimate contenders and two are far in front. Then, in the “outside chance” second tier, there are three or four more teams. The rest are also-rans. That second tier includes the Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3), which hosts the Cincinnati Bengals (4-7) on Sunday night at Heinz Field. The matchup has become zesty in recent seasons, with fine- prone receiver Chad Johnson cranking the highlight reel. The game airs on NBC (KUSA-9) at 6 p.m. Sunday.
GET OFF THE COUCH
Walk, run in Pueblo. Saturday’s Rock Canyon Half Marathon in Pueblo is a firmly entrenched tradition. The race, on a 13.1-mile course that starts an ends at Pueblo City Park, is in its 21st year. The race, one of Southern Colorado’s largest, should draw more than 300 runners and walkers for the 9 a.m. start. And, if all goes well, it could be a perfect late fall race, Sunshine included. Check for more information.
WHAT WE’D LIKE TO SEE
Dispute needs to be settled. Choosing sides between the NFL and cable television companies is like deciding which is more moral, the cigarette industry or big oil. But somebody somewhere needs to settle the dispute between the NFL Network and cable TV. And soon. Or else area football fans will be without a signal if the Buffaloes end up in the Insight Bowl on Dec. 31. The game airs on the NFL Network, a channel many local cable subscribers are still without.
WEAK IN REVIEW
Rematch rule near-sighted. Some near-sighted nerd at the Mountain West Conference somewhere along the line agreed to needlesome rules in regard to the league’s tie-in with the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego. One rule requires the bowl not host a rematch game. This has made impossible what would have been one of the more entertaining bowl games this season: Navy vs. Air Force. Instead, Navy, which already accepted an invite to the Poinsettia, will play another MWC team in another forgettable bowl game. Just imagine what a Midshipmen-Falcons matchup could entail. They could have combined for 150 points.
