As I type, the International Bowl is being played in Toronto. This qualifies as a "so what" bowl game, but this one is special.
Today, the State University of New York/University at Buffalo Bulls are playing the University of Connecticut Huskies (U Conn Huskies--Yukon Huskies--get it!). This is Buffalo's first bowl game ever. In the past several years this team has been a perennial #1 on ESPN.com's "Bottom Ten" list. In the last three years they have gone from worst to MAC Champions. Good for Buffalo. But this isn't the only reason.
The Bulls were invited to the 1958 Tangerine Bowl in Orlando, but there was a hitch. The Orlando High School Athletic Association, the Tangerine Bowl Stadium's leaseholder, didn't let blacks and whites play on the field together. The Elks lodge that sponsored the bowl was on board with all of the Bulls playing, they even protested the OHSAA decision, but to no avail.
The Bulls declined the invitation, unanimously. Follow this link for the full story.
Today, after 102 years of football and 50 years since their only other invitation, the Bulls make their first appearance ever in a bowl game. Maybe a story like this is worth 33 bowl games. Go Bulls.
No comments:
Post a Comment