Thursday, January 2, 2020

The 86-th Sun Bowl Florida State Seminoles vs Arizona State Sun Devils 12-31-19



Finally, I got to watch to a full Sun Bowl.  Usually, work interferes with me seeing the whole thing, but this time, even with a long halftime, it all fit in before I had to go.  I seem to remember, the only times I’ve gotten to see the game otherwise were when it fell on a weekend and that one time I was out sick (and fell asleep during the game). 

We have a new sponsor this year: Tony the Tiger.  He’s promoting fundraising for youth sports.  At first, the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl was a bit awkward, but eventually it grew on people.  Tony did a commercial to intro the game.  They’re using a new voice for him and it was awkward in general.  There was another one later where he was talking to an athlete that was more polished.  We got a “Grrrreat!” and that made all the difference.  Tony was at the stadium.  They showed him leading on the crowd on the sidelines.

It was clear, but cold up in the Franklin Mountains.  We’ll call it good football weather.  (One of these days, I gotta go.)  There was officially a slight breeze, but the broadcasters assured the viewers that it was stronger than that.  The crowd was listed at 42,000.  Arizona State is relatively nearby and Florida State travels well.  The good matchup probably attracted a lot of locals. 

It looked like a full house . . . except for that large construction area under the pressbox.  They started a major remodeling job right after the regular season and lost several hundred seats that might have actually filled.  They would have been nice seats too.  It was like they’d forgotten about this whole bowl game thing.  From the architect’s pictures, the lounge area is going to look great when it’s done.  Oh wait, I meant, Grrrrreat!  

The pregame reported that, due to draft considerations, both teams were missing their leading rushers.  This might have accounted for some problematic play in the game.  They showed ASU Coach Herm Edwards greeting travelling Arizona State fans in the stands.  I could hear Jon Teicher, voice of the Miners, doing the PA duties.  (I didn’t find the game on the radio.)  Teicher was in Florida calling a Men’s Basketball game the next day.  What a busy guy.  The CBS announcers were pretty giddy and having a good time calling the game.  Retired, long-time announcer, Verne Lundquist, was reportedly watching the game at home.


First Quarter
It was a nervous start for both teams.  ASU fumbled on their first play from scrimmage. Florida State was then intercepted in the end zone.  ASU nearly ran it back.  The Sun Devil player was only pulled down by his t-shirt by the last defender.  FS got the ball back.  On one play, their quarterback, James Blackman, couldn’t find a receiver and scrambled into the open field.  As he was about to go into a slide, he was leveled.  The back of his head bounced off the field.  The ASU player, Khaylan Thomas, then taunted him while on the ground.  Amazingly, the player was not ejected.  ASU blocked the FS field goal attempt.

There was another fumble by Blackman, this time on a sack.  ASU was deep in FS territory.  A touchdown pass was called back on a questionable penalty.  After another penalty, the announcers told the officials to pick up their flags and let them play.  ASU settled for a field goal. 3-0 ASU.  FS fired a super deep bomb that was broken up downfield with a great hit by Kej Markham.


Second Quarter
The broadcasters interviewed the new incoming FS coach, Mike Norvell, in the booth.  He would be taking over after this game.  ASU fumbled again.  On an FS punt back to ASU, a blocker pushed into returner, which set their starting point near their own endzone.  No problem.  ASU’s Kyle Williams broke off a 77-yard run off a screen from scrimmage from their own 10.  However, this only lead to another field goal.  6-0 ASU.  ASU intercepted on the next series.  Another touchdown pass waved off on review for the ball not being under control.  The receiver, AJ Carter, high-fived the ref after his initial touchdown call.  They settled on yet another field goal.  9-0 ASU.  The CBS director seemed infatuated with one of the ASU cheerleaders.  He kept showing her on camera.  (Good taste.)


Halftime
Unfortunately, they didn’t show any of the on-field activities, but just went back to the studio.  Like as last year though, one of the analysts got out a guitar and serenaded the season in college football.  That was pretty great actually.  Back to El Paso, there was a heartfelt broadcast team goodbye to a retiring camera operator on the field.  The gorgeous sideline reporter gave him a big hug afterward.


Third Quarter
FS made a long drive and scored a touchdown to make it, 9-7 ASU.  They had a two-pass trick play in the red zone to keep the drive going.  FS got the ball right back.  In a break, up on the big video screen, an FS fan proposed and it was accepted.  Blackman fired another deep bomb, this one from FS’s own 9, and it went for a touchdown by Tamorrion Terry.  Florida State took the lead 14-9.


Fourth Quarter
ASU came back with a field goal to make it 1, 4-12 FS.  A long QB run by Jayden Daniels and a pass interference penalty kept the drive going.  Blackman was intercepted again.  ASU’s Willie Harts ran it back for a TD.  They went for two.  It was broken up, but a penalty gave them a second try.  Daniels ran it in on a naked bootleg, surrounded by five defenders.  He managed to fake them out and just fall in. 

FS had the ball back.  They went for it on fourth down on their end of field and made it but didn’t make it on another fourth down on ASU end.  “The Butler did it,” the announcers said after Darien Butler broke up the play.  Let’s all groan at that prepared statement.  ASU punted, but then got another interception.  Kaylan Thomas made a very athletic pick.  James Blackman had four interceptions and a fumble to this point.  His teammates gathered around him on the sidelines to encourage him not to give up.

FS had the ball back with under two minutes left.  Blackman took a bad sack that put the team near their own goal line.  But next, he threw up a ball into double coverage.  The FS receiver, Keith Gavin, jumped up and got it for a big reception down field.  Unfortunately, Terry fumbled on next play to functionally end the game.  That was their sixth turnover.

20-14 ASU was the final.  Herm Edwards got a barrel of Frosted Flakes cereal dumped on him after the win.  The player of the game (as far I’m concerned) was the ASU kicker, Cristian Zendejas.  He was nails.  This wasn’t a well-played game.  It might not have even been a good game, but it was certainly interesting and close.  One day, I’ll see one of these in person.  (It’ll be one of those snowstorm games with high winds.  It’ll be great . . . errr . . . Grrrrreat!)

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