By Cliff Kirkpatrick
Gazette-Times Writer | Posted: Friday, December 29, 2006 12:00 am
EL PASO, Texas - Sometimes bowl games are more than just a game.
The Oregon State football team spent a week here preparing for today's Sun Bowl against Missouri. The Beavers, however, did not just practice, watch video on their opponent and wait around their hotel.
Certain bowl games make more of a production than others, and the Sun Bowl Association goes all out. It pays $1.9 million to each school, making it one of the more lucrative bowl games not part of the top-tier Bowl Championship Series, such as the Rose Bowl.
It can do that because the game is the city's largest draw for out-of-town visitors, said Bernie Olivas, executive director of the Sun Bowl Association. The Sun Bowl has an estimated $12-15 million impact to the city, according to Olivas.
With the kind of money flowing from the game, the Sun Bowl Association shows teams a good time to say thanks and promote them within the community. At the same time there are serious moments.
"I don't know of any other bowl game that takes care of the players and coaches more," said Grant Teaff, executive director of the American Football Coaches Association. "My former (Baylor) players still talk about this trip."
Both teams woke up early Wednesday morning to have breakfast with the soldiers at Biggs Army Airfield. It was a time for everyone to mingle and share their lives.
"I've never done anything like that before," OSU senior defensive lineman Ben Siegert said. "The fact that we were able to honor them was good. They work hard every day, so it meant a lot to us to see them. Even though we had to wake up early to do it, it was worth it. What we do is nothing compared to what they do."
It was mostly small talk about their lives, some of the players said. The soldiers wanted to know about their season, and they were happy to answer.
"They are very respected for what they've done for us," junior linebacker Joey LaRocque said. "We really appreciate it. It was important for them to know that. And we respect them. We have their backs, and they obviously have ours. It was pretty special."
Another community service for players was visiting sick children at Providence Memorial Hospital.
The Beavers made their trip Wednesday afternoon. Players handed out gifts and talked with the children, mostly about football.
"It was a good time brightening up their day," Siegert said.
Lighthearted highlights included team dinners, talent shows, visits to game centers and a trip the the Luchesse Boot Company to buy boots at 25 percent off.
Even the fans were treated to their own event Thursday night. There was a battle of the bands and a fireworks show.
The Beavers have been to lesser bowl games in recent years and those organizers treated it as just another game. They show up, practice and play the game.
That's the way it was in the 2002 Insight Bowl, 2003 Las Vegas Bowl and 2004 Insight Bowl. The multimillion-dollar Fiesta Bowl in 2001, however, was even more elaborate as part of the BCS bowls.
"They've had a lot of stuff for us to do," senior offensive lineman Adam Koets said. "It's been interesting. I've never had such a schedule. The way they treat you, they've taken care of us with all the different events we've had."