For the last three weeks, it’s been between Orlando and San Diego. Sunday afternoon, State confirmed the latter.
On December 28th, NC State will travel to San Diego to face UCLA in the Holiday Bowl. While we’ll have plenty to preview for the matchup, we wanted to talk about what we like about this bowl matchup, overall.
1) The Team Bonding
Look, would it be nice for WPN to easily get to the Bowl? Absolutely. But for these players, the chance to spend a week out in San Diego is amazing. Not only a great city, but extended time with one another after a 9-win regular season. We know this team has grown close, let’s make this a nice gathering of the minds, to start the focus on 2022 redemption.
https://twitter.com/thejayyscott/status/1467650082338226180?s=20
*Also, enough of some WPN complaining about the travel. Whether it’s about expensive tickets, California laws, stop it. Good for you that the first thing you thought of was bashing the Bowl this team was going to, because it didn’t benefit YOU.
2) The Showcase
It’s a primetime game on Fox. Furthermore, it carries more prestige than the Cheez-It Bowl. Unlike the rumored Clemson vs OU, Tigers instead play Iowa State at 5:45pm. That’s less than ideal. State got the top tier-1 ACC bowl and a solid west coast matchup. Period.
3) The Opponent
Speaking of which…don’t let us eat crow, State…but UCLA is the best opponent of the three bowls if we are looking to get a double-digit win total. Iowa State’s running back Breece Hall is a freak of nature. Wake Forest faces Texas A&M, that depending which Aggie team shows up, could be bad news. Give us the Bruins and Chip Kelly. Let’s set another benchmark for this team and get a W.
4) The 1974 Talks
We will bet every dollar that at some point, the 1974 matchup between State and UCLA will be brought up. Thompson beating Walton in the semifinals, before winning it all. We get to revisit history THAT BENEFITS STATE. Show me the photos, heck, get those dudes out there for the game too.
5) The Mayo Bowl
We aren’t in that one. Enough said.
At the end of the day, there really aren’t options beyond those two bowls. In the past we would have gone to El Paso? Top of the ACC pile, other than NY6 games, and we hope we’re talking that in a year.
Giglio got it right.
The Carolina win was the reward for the fans. A trip to SD in December is the reward for the players and coaches. Good for them! Have fun, but please get us #10.