Top Ten Bowl Games for 2008-2009
As you know from last year, this is not really a ranking of the bowl games. I am more interested in possible sponsors this year for bowls and maybe a few suggestions for games. It seems that several of the games are sponsored by banks and websites. Of course, as you know, half of the games have already been played.
1. The Peet’s Coffee Bowl
The game could be played in Berkley, California at Cal’s Memorial Stadium. Berkley is where Peet’s began, and Peet’s is the best coffee on the shelf. This bowl game would feature a team from the Pacific 10 Conference and the Western Athletic Conference.
2. The ESPN.com Bowl
The “mouse ears” as Randy Galloway refers to them already runs several bowls ( I think 7) so why not go all out and have a bowl sponsored by their website. It would be great. It could feature teams from the Big East and the Big Ten since the game would be played in at Rentschler Field in East Hartford near the ESPN headquarters of Bristol, CT.
3. The ING Penny Bowl
Several bowls have the backing of financial institutions, but none would be more confusing than a bowl sponsored by ING. Do you remember the commercials where the guy looking for the rest of the word, but it’s just ing? They have some of the best deals for online banking, helping you save pennies. There you have it. The teams that play in the game can be the highest ranked teams with lions for their mascot. The game would be played in Denver, CO where one of ING’s affiliates are located. The match-up would pit a team from the Western Athletic Conference against a Mountain West Conference team.
4. The Wal-Mart Retail Bowl
Wal-Mart is the retail standard bearer. Everybody measures themselves based on Wal-Mart. Their brand is well known, and they could have a great bowl game. This bowl would be played at Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, AR just down the road from Wal-Mart’s headquarters in Bentonville. Playing in the game would be teams from the Conference USA and the Sun Belt.
5. The Collegefootballtopten.com Bowl
Hey, I might as well have a bowl game. It seems websites get in the act every year. And while we are at it, I think I want my bowl game to be played at the new Cowboys Stadium. I really don’t care who plays in the game, but I’ll take a Mountain West Conference team and a Big 12 Conference team.
6. The Cracker Barrel Apple Butter Bowl
Cracker Barrels are all over the country, and they have the best apple butter around, at least when you add it to their biscuits. Since there is no real big stadium in Lebanon, TN where Cracker Barrel has its headquarters, they could play the game at Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium in Murfeesboro. Teams from the Sun Belt Conference will play a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference.
7. The Panera Bread Bowl
Sponsored by Panera Bread of St. Louis, the Bread Bowl would be played in St. Louis at the Edward Jones Dome featuring teams from the Mid American Conference and the Big Ten.
8. The Starbucks Seattle Bowl
I know, I know, we already have a game sponsored by a coffee, but Starbucks is an institution. It has the brand power behind it already. And, it is a great opportunity to have a bowl game in Seattle. The game would be played in Seattle’s Husky Stadium, and it will feature anyone willing to travel to Seattle in December.
9. The Idaho Potato Humanitarian Bowl
This bowl can be held in Boise at the famous “blue turf,” we just want to replace the sponsor with the potato growers in idaho. Idaho is, you know, the home of the best potatoes in the world.
10. The Riceland Foods Rice Bowl
This bowl can be played at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, AR. The game would feature teams from the Sun Belt and the Conference USA.
There you have it. There are suggestions, but mostly additions. Enjoy the rest of the bowl season.














