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The Mountain West Conference meets a new foe in the 2008 San
Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl.
In an effort to provide fans with the best possible post-season
matchups, Poinsettia Bowl organizers last year secured a contract with one of
the nation’s marquee conferences, the Pacific-10. The agreement stipulates that the conference
send its 7th place team to San Diego in 2008 (assuming bowl eligibility), and
its 6th place team in 2009. The bowl
gets the second selection from the Mountain West. “We’re thrilled to bring the Pac-10 into the
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl mix,” said 2008 Bowl President
Larry Baber. “The Mountain West versus
Pac-10 matchup is one fans can really get excited about.”
Pac-10 teams and their fans now have a two in ten chance of
spending the holidays in San Diego. This
new partnership may be particularly appealing to schools that have yet to play
in San Diego’s other post-season event, the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl. Oregon State, UCLA, Stanford and USC could
very well be bowling in “America’s Finest City” this December. Oregon State, under the tutelage of former
San Diego Chargers Head Coach Mike Riley, seeks to overcome losing all
front-seven defensive starters and put together a third straight winning season. UCLA begins a new chapter as Head Coach Rick
Neuheisel takes over and endeavors to reclaim Los Angeles bragging rights from
USC. He has his hands full, however, as
injuries to QB’s Ben Olson (out two months) and Patrick Cowan (out for season)
leave them thin at that position. Last
year’s upset victory over USC in the Coliseum and a season-ending win against
Cal could provide Stanford the confidence needed to catapult Head Coach Jim
Harbaugh and his Cardinal squad to its first winning season since 2001. Trojans’ Head Coach Pete Carroll has his
team’s sights on the BCS Championship.
If USC survives the Pac-10 and a non-conference schedule that includes
Ohio State, Virginia and Notre Dame, they’ll deserve a date in Miami’s Dolphin
Stadium on January 8th.
So who will represent the MWC and face the Pac-10 in the 4th
annual bowl game?
Most pundits foresee BYU repeating as champions of the
Mountain West Conference. And why not?
The Cougars have swept through conference play without a loss the past
two seasons. The title, however, could
come down to their November 22nd showdown with in-state rival Utah in Salt Lake
City. The Utes, under 4th year Head
Coach Kyle Whittingham, are poised to repeat as conference contenders with a
favorable home schedule and a veteran offensive unit. TCU returns 15 starters to a team that capped
its season last year with a 20-13 win over Houston in the Texas Bowl. Horned Frog opponents will have a hard time
moving the ball on a stingy defense led by senior MLB Jason Phillips. New Mexico looks to make it six bowl games in
seven years. Lobos’ fans hope junior QB
Donovan Porterie builds on his 15 TD, 3,006 yard season last year. The conference’s surprise team in 2008 could
be UNLV. Standout WR’s Casey Flair and
Ryan Wolfe should help sophomore QB Omar Clayton gain momentum through a tough,
yet manageable non-conference schedule.
The Rebels may be poised to earn a spot in their first bowl game since
2000. And of course, local San Diego
State alums would love to see their Aztecs bowling for the first time since
1998.
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