By Staff
I cannot remember for the life of me a more exciting bowl season.
It seems like every game has had dramatic comebacks and huge plays that decided the outcome of the game.
Tuesday night's Orange Bowl was a perfect example.
The Penn State Nittany Lions edged Florida State in triple overtime, 26-23.
While many people will remember the fact that the kickers were less than perfect, the real focus on the game should be how each team came back time and time again to keep the game close.
But in the end it was Penn State's kicker who redeemed himself, while Florida State's kicker missed two field goals and an extra point.
Losing games because of poor kicking is nothing new to Florida State and veteran head coach Bobby Bowden.
By now Seminole fans should be used to that.
The game was billed as a battle of college football's greatest coaches.
And in the end, just as it should, it came down to the players on the field, not the coaches on the sidelines.
Although the final score of the Feista Bowl had Ohio State winning by 14 points, the game was much closer than that.
Despite giving up five touchdowns on plays of over 55 yards, Notre Dame was still in a position to win the game.
Speed was the difference and Fighting Irish Head Coach Charlie Weis needs to find some on defense before next season.
I was wondering as I watched the game if the fans or the media, which sang his praises throughout the season, would turn on him with a loss in a big game.
I wasn't disappointed by the media as I picked up a local newspaper on Tuesday morning and read about how some were questioning the success of the Fighting Irish.
The fans I talked to at the Dowagiac basketball game on Tuesday night seemed to be taking it in stride, but they did agree that Weis needs to get some speed on defense.
Take heart Notre Dame fans, the Fighting Irish will not go into a tail spin like they did under Tyrone Willingham in the second season.
Weis, if nothing else, is not afraid to ruffle some feathers and he will get in his team's face this off season to make them better.
I wouldn't be surprised if Notre Dame competes for the national championship next season.
Tonight we wrap up the 28-game bowl season with the Rose Bowl.
I expect a great game between Texas and Southern California to decide the national title.