By Ed Condran
When the Las Vegas Bowl debuted in 1992, the game then played at Sam Boyd Stadium. It was the new kid in town in bowl country. Well, that was the take when anyone compared the Las Vegas Bowl to the venerable Rose Bowl, which is known as “The Grandaddy of Them All.”
The Las Vegas Bowl has become the 16th oldest of the 42 Bowl Games recognized by the NCAA. The latest edition, which is slated for Dec. 27 at Allegiant Stadium as the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl, pits the current/former Pac-12 conference against a representative from the SEC.
(The two teams will be announced after our print deadline of Dec. 4.)
There have been terrific Las Vegas Bowl games. One of the best was Wyoming’s comeback over UCLA in 2004. UCLA was led by dynamic running back Maurice Drew, who propelled the Bruins to a comeback of its own. The Wyoming Cowboys started hot with a 10-0 lead, but UCLA hit back with 21 unanswered points.
Wyoming used a trick play to start the comeback. Wide receiver Jovon Bouknight tossed a touchdown pass to backup quarterback J.J. Raterink to cut the margin to 4 points. Wyoming scored another touchdown with 57 seconds left to complete the comeback for its first bowl victory in 38 years.
The initial Las Vegas Bowl was a classic. The Nevada Wolf Pack rallied from a 28-3 halftime deficit to take the lead in the fourth quarter against Bowling Green. However, The Wolf Pack lost on a 3-yard touchdown pass with 22 seconds remaining.
The 1995 edition of the Las Vegas Bowl has the distinction of being the first NCAA major college game eligible to be decided in overtime. The Toledo Rockets’ Waysean Tait rushed for 185 yards and scored his fourth touchdown in overtime for the victory.
Future NFL stars Marshawn Lynch and Desean Jackson led the California Golden Bears to a 35-28 victory over Brigham Young University in front of the first sellout crowd in Las Vegas Bowl history in 2005.
Two years later, Brigham Young was on the winning side of the Las Vega Bowl, edging UCLA 17-16. The Cougars won by blocking a field goal on the game’s final play. Defensive lineman Eathym Manumaleuna was the hero as he tipped the ball as time expired.
The Holy War in Sin City is one of the all-time great Las Vegas Bowl battles. Utah scored 35 points in the first quarter courtesy of four Cougars turnovers. The Utes hung on for the victory 35-28.
Who knows if this year’s contest will stack up to those memorable games? But if it’s like recent Las Vegas Bowl games, the tilt will be compelling.
Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie/USA Today Sports
