Birmingham Bowl

Rainy, stormy Saturday - nothing else to do (I could clean the garage) besides watch bowl game #37.

East Carolina vs. Pittsbur...oh wait, Florida.

It just doesn't seem right for this lousy game to be played in disintegrating Legion Field  without the Panthers.  They're back in Pittsburgh trying to figure out how they blew a 25 point lead in the Armed Forces Bowl.

Another game with an interim coach, this time for the Gators who showed Will Muschamp the door. Incoming coach Jim McElwain showed up in the ESPN booth in the first half, probably glad he was out of the rain.

I watched 100% of this game - sad. But here's the thing, it was entertaining. It was messy, ECU had about 146 plays on offense and that was probably a good thing because Florida lost their starting QB and it was better to keep their defense on the field.

Pirates with the opening score and then Florida hit for three including a pick six.  21-7 at half.

ECU kept it close with a third quarter score.  Florida pushed it to 28-14 and ECU couldn't find the end zone, the game coming to an end with another pick of ECU QB Shane Carden.

The Pira-ette wasn't happy with that last pick. And a half "surrender cobra" from dude.

Florida 28  ECU 20

Notes

-East Carolina ran 101 plays (that's a lot) to Florida's 71.  ECU had plenty of chances, they couldn't convert.

-There is absolutely no point for having this game, and in one of the worst stadiums in America.

The surrounding neighborhood is a bit sketchy too.  I parked in that neighborhood for a U2 concert once.  The guy who took my money promised he wouldn't box me in.  That was a lie. I may have hit a few vehicles angling my way out of his, or someone's, yard.

-This is the last we'll see of the SEC this season.  After a decade of dominance, the conference will not be part of a championship game.

 But don't tell Phylis from Mulga, Alabama that the SEC is down. She's a frequent caller to the Paul Feinbaum show - give a listen. 

 Phylis wasn't the only SEC fan to defend the conference, Auburn fan Tammy from Clanton, Alabama had her piece to say. 
 

 That's Tammy on the left, Phyllis on the right. Passions for the conference run high in Dixie.  Yama mama.

-What did I eat:  Lunch, a bowl of Marie Callender Chicken Chili and a few pieces of summer sausage.

-Bowl swag:   Oakley sunglasses; beanie; hooded sweatshirt; Big Game football but Tammy and Phyllis drove in to congratulate Florida for representing the SEC!!!!

My pick - Florida.  Bowl record improves to 26-11.

One more bowl game, the GoDaddy Bowl tomorrow night at 9:00.  Then the championship a week from Monday. BowlQuest almost complete.