Wild Bill’s Weekly Sports Roundup

Wow, what a week.

Since high school sports always goes through a lull during the December holidays, I’m going to change gears to bring you the Official Wild Bill College Football Bowl Preview. Here’s a quick look at the upcoming cavalcade of games.

This year we’re flooded with 35 bowl games, if you include the BCS championship. A couple of great football pundits (you know who I’m talking about) have emphatically said there are no bad bowls. Technically, they’re right. Not one bad bowl, but a bushel-full.

With 35 bowl games, that means 70 teams are playing. This year 28 of those have lost 5 or more games; 14 have lost 6 or more; one has lost 7. Yep, 6-7 ACC power Georgia Tech goes to the Sun Bowl after a special losing-record bowl exemption.

Admittedly, I was rooting for Georgia Tech to win the ACC title game over Florida State, which would have sent a six-loss team to the Orange Bowl. The Orange Bowl guys got a break when the Seminoles won, then still managed to botch things up when they got Northern Illinois. ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit called this pick “an absolute joke.” Touche, Kirk.

I don’t think we have enough bowls, so why not add a couple more? Here’s the Wild Bill readjusted bowl lineup for your holiday pleasure.

Never Too Late Bowl: Since the NCAA gave a special exemption to Georgia Tech to go bowling despite a losing record, this one is a no-brainer.
Southern Mississippi (0-12) vs Rhode Island (0-11) – the only two winless FBS and FCS squads battle it out with some special bowl rules. No practices; both teams just show up, party for three days, then play it out. Somebody is guaranteed to get off the schneid.

See You Later Bowl: Maryland vs Rutgers: The two teams that bolted to the Big-10 from the ACC and Big East take to the gridiron for a preview meeting. Granted, Rutgers will have to pay an exit fee to the Russell Athletic Bowl, which, if like the way the final Big East payout is heading, should be covered by program sales.

You Done Got Caught, Daddy.com Bowl: North Carolina vs Miami: The two ACC teams, which comprised 40% of the bowl-eligible ACC teams with winning records, were bowl-ineligible due to NCAA violations. This one kicks off with John Swoffard giving the signal before captains take 12 paces, turn and proceed with a simulated duel. The first team that retreats to the sideline gets to receive or defer to the second half.

Ink it in Blood Bowl: A pair of yet unnamed ACC teams go for the gold with the added excitement of a pregame ceremony having both schools inking a contract in blood that they won’t leave for the SEC or Big-12. After reading the fine print, and proposed $ 1.26 billion exit fee, both teams head for the parking lot. Appropriately, the Blood, Sweat and Tears halftime show is moved forward to appease fans.

Now, we close this week with the first Wild Bill ‘Big-11’ basketball poll. A little early, but here goes:

#1)Patrick Henry – PH held the top spot most of last year, and they’re undefeated so far. After their 111-44 thumping of Martinsville, they stay put.

#2)Northside – Billy Pope’s guys look good. A team around 6’5″ Spencer Maye will be a factor. Wednesday’s matchup with Cave Spring will tell a lot.

#3)Cave Spring- Have your neck in good order before watching these guys. Up and down the court they go.

#4)Salem – Predicted to be near the top of the ever-tough River Ridge.

#5)William Fleming: May be the big sleeper. Warren Craft brings a lot to the hardwood for Mickey Hardy.

Until next week, stay off the schneid. For the record, that’s a gin rummy term from the parlor game founded by Elwood Baker and his son in 1909. It in turn comes from German / Yiddish “schneider,” one who cuts cloth, i.e., a tailor. See, you always learn something when you read this column.

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