Related Links: Complete Bowl coverage BCS poll Forum: Who will win the national championship, Florida State or Virginia Tech?
	T O P   N E W S

Unfortunately, that Colorado-Colorado State postgame scene served, more or less, as the jumping off point to the 1999 season. Intense rivalry, packed house, big game and -- pepper spray?

At that point, Times Square on the eve of Y2K looked like a safe haven.

To say this season was a gas would be an insult to those whose gag reflex was activated by Mace and other assorted party favors from police trying to control fans after the Rams-Buffs game that night. Instead, consider the victim driven to his hands and knees in the south end zone while trying to catch his breath in the postgame haze.

A Denver cop sauntered up and patted the victim on the back saying, "You'll be all right."

The casualty and college football recovered.

The Riot by the Rockies was a shaky start to a season that begins its end Saturday with the Las Vegas Bowl. Twenty-three Division I-A bowl games in 17 days crowd the football calendar that will finally run out Jan. 4 with the Sugar Bowl.

We've seen it all this season -- from tear-gas grenades to more conventional weapons like bombs launched from arms attached to Joe Hamilton, Chris Weinke, Drew Brees and others.

There was a soft-spoken lug with thighs of iron hauling off a trophy of bronze.

The decline and fall of the Golden Dome.

Free publicity for Dillard's, not to mention the foundation for monologues for every comic from Jay Leno to Dennis Miller.

A change in campus social habits: Instead of studying with girlfriends, players studied the list of tutors willing to write their term papers.

The Mike DuBose affair at Alabama -- which had at least two different meanings.

Lou Holtz's triumphant return to coaching, which degenerated into a winless season.

Police had to use tear gas to squelch a near riot at a Colorado State-Colorado game in September.(AP)

A 70-year-old Bobby Bowden vowing to keep coaching until he can't quip anymore.

The biggest turnaround in history -- at Hawaii?

The tragic end of life and, perhaps, a tradition at Texas A&M.

But in the end the game survived another year with its share of nicks and cuts. Here we are to clean up the mess once again prior to a crowded bowl season. Gas masks ready?

Las Vegas Bowl, Saturday, Fresno State vs. Utah: Ron McBride looks like Rick Majerus' little brother. For that reason and others he is one of the more anonymous coaches in the country. The Utah coach has beaten Brigham Young five of the last seven seasons. How many coaches can say that?

Mobile Alabama Bowl, Dec. 22, East Carolina vs. TCU: The correct spelling is LaDainian Tomlinson. In case you didn't notice it, TCU's junior led the country in rushing.

Aloha Bowl, Dec. 25, Arizona State vs. Wake Forest: Interesting matchup of over-hyped major-conference failure vs. the little program that could. Figure out who is who.

Oahu Bowl, Dec. 25, Oregon State vs. Hawaii: The Turnaround Bowl. Dennis Erickson saved the Beavers. June Jones salvaged the Rainbow Warriors. The winner gets all the sashimi it can eat.

Motor City Bowl, Dec. 27, Marshall vs. BYU: The Herd could finish 13-0 and have nothing to show for it except Chad Pennington's picture in the media guide under "Former Marshall players in the pros."

Alamo Bowl, Dec. 28, Penn State vs. Texas A&M: Hard to believe that three Nittany Lion defenders were All-Americans. Here's a secret -- A&M's defense is better.

Music City Bowl, Dec. 29, Syracuse vs. Kentucky: Looks awful (two 6-5 teams) but Virginia Tech used this bowl as a jumping off point last season.

Holiday Bowl, Dec. 29, Washington vs. Kansas State: Bill Snyder takes his practice of playing easy non-conference games to the postseason. The Wildcats could have made a case for playing Arkansas in the Cotton or Penn State in the Alamo but chose the easy route. Again.

Humanitarian Bowl, Dec. 30, Boise State vs. Louisville: Boise is getting jacked up over the return of former Idaho coach John L. Smith, now with Louisville. Boise State should get getting ready for top 10 NFL pick Chris Redman.

Micron PC Bowl, Dec. 30, Virginia vs. Illinois: Miami will yawn but don't miss the Big Ten's next star -- Illinois quarterback Kurt Kittner.

Peach Bowl, Dec. 30, Clemson vs. Mississippi State: Jackie Sherrill got to Atlanta, just not in the SEC championship game.

Insight.com Bowl, Dec. 31, Boston College vs. Colorado: B.C. needs to beat a quality team to uphold the Big East's reputation.

Sun Bowl, Dec. 31, Oregon vs. Minnesota: Gopher fans thought they deserved better. Oregon fans can always Duck across the border to Mexico. Return alive and get a free Sun Bowl ticket!

Liberty Bowl, Dec. 31, Colorado State vs. Southern Mississippi: Two programs that would do well in the Big Ten.

Independence Bowl, Dec. 31, Mississippi vs. Oklahoma: The Sooners' glorious return to the postseason. It's not the Orange Bowl but it's not John Blake on the sidelines either.

Cotton Bowl, Jan. 1, Arkansas vs. Texas: How exactly do you allow three punts to get blocked in one game? Texas did against North Carolina State and lived to win the Big 12 South and play in the Cotton Bowl.

Outback Bowl, Jan. 1, Purdue vs. Georgia: Brees against that defense? Let the 2000 Heisman race begin now.

Gator Bowl, Jan. 1, Georgia Tech vs. Miami: Clash of two programs that have won national championships this decade.

Citrus Bowl, Jan. 1, Florida vs. Michigan State: Go with Michigan State big. Florida is out of quarterbacks.

Rose Bowl, Jan. 1, Wisconsin vs. Stanford: Cardinal will need spirit of Jim Plunkett. Dayne alone could win it taking 70 handoffs.

Orange Bowl, Jan. 1, Michigan vs. Alabama: DuBose goes from sec-retary to SEC champion. Lloyd Carr proved he could win with two quarterbacks.

Fiesta Bowl, Jan. 2, Nebraska vs. Tennessee: Vols are 21-2 since getting blown away by Nebraska in 1998 Orange Bowl. Nebraska is on the "rebound" after going 11-1 and winning the Big 12.

Sugar Bowl, Jan. 4, Florida State vs. Virginia Tech: Don't look at the helmets, look at the talent. Hokies are for real. Bowden will spend the rest of the month trying to convince the Seminoles.