The Big Ten’s centennial football season was one to remember. Big Ten teams notched eight victories over ranked non-conference opponents during the regular season, more than the other seven major conferences combined.
Then came the bowls, and a Big Ten wipeout. The league went 2-4 this postseason, with only Iowa and Penn State winning. The league’s top two teams, Northwestern and Ohio State, fell on New Year’s Day, and Michigan and Michigan State also lost. It was the Big Ten’s feeblest postseason since 1990, when its teams also went 2-4.
Meanwhile, the lightly regarded Atlantic Coast and Big East conferences, which went 2-15 against ranked teams this year, combined to win five of their six bowl games. And the future Big 12 stood 5-1 going into Tuesday night’s Fiesta Bowl.
A breakdown of conference bowl records through the New Year’s Day games, followed by overall records against Top 25 teams:
Big Eight: 3-0 in bowls, 3-1-1 versus Top 25.
Big East: 2-0 in bowls, 4-9 versus Top 25.
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ACC: 3-1 in bowls, 2-6 versus Top 25.
SWC: 2-1 in bowls, 2-8-1 versus Top 25.
SEC: 2-3 in bowls, 2-5 versus Top 25.
Big Ten: 2-4 in bowls, 9-7 versus Top 25.
Pac-10: 1-4 in bowls, 2-7 versus Top 25.
WAC: 0-2 in bowls, 0-8 versus Top 25.
Bittersweet ending: Florida wide receiver Chris Doering was thrilled to play for the national title in the Fiesta Bowl Tuesday night. But he was also feeling a little blue over wearing the Gators’ orange and blue for the final time.
Doering said he wept as the Gator bus pulled into Florida Field for his last home game Nov. 25. Doering is a native of Gainesville who grew up dreaming of playing for the Gators but had to walk on because the Florida coaching staff didn’t think he was fast enough. Doering earned a scholarship his sophomore year.
Four years later he leaves with the most touchdown catches (31) in Southeastern Conference history.
“I think I had to believe in myself,” Doering said before Florida and Nebraska squared off in Sun Devil Stadium.
Unofficial count: There were more than 110 signs for Tostitos throughout the Fiesta Bowl.
Frazier’s options: Nebraska quarterback Tommie Frazier was asked if he took heart in the stellar rookie year enjoyed by Kordell Stewart at Pittsburgh. Like Stewart, Frazier is a Big Eight option quarterback.
“There are a lot of options out there for me,” said Frazier, whose college career ended in the Fiesta Bowl. “It’s not just the NFL. There’s also the Canadian (Football) League and the World League (of American Football).”
Silence is golden: It was a noticeably quiet week for the Gators, who made headlines by fighting among themselves during the runup to last year’s Sugar Bowl. Florida coach Steve Spurrier attributed the calm to the leadership of seniors and a new emphasis on togetherness that began in preseason camp.