For Illinois, a Case of California Creamin'

Check out the Illinois cheerleaders, part of the posse that traveled from Champaign to Pasadena for Tuesday's Rose Bowl. The Fighting Illini did most of their cheering before the game. Once they teed it up, USC had its way, smacking the Fighting Illini, 49-17.
This photo package is the work of our friends at Image of Sport. You can view the entire gallery, including a flyover during the national anthem, by clicking here.
Desmond Reed goes for a spin after his touchdown in the first quarter. Reed got flagged for excessive celebration, one of 11 penalties against the Trojans totaling 130 yards.Reed punctuated his play by firing up the pro-USC crowd. Ron Zook, below left, and Juice Williams briefly got the Fighting Illini back into it in the third quarter, but receiver Jacob Willis fumbled after a 24-yard reception near the Trojan goal line. The ball rolled into the end zone and USC recovered. The Trojans went 80 yards for a touchdown and 28-10 lead. The rout was on.
Two players from Louisiana played key roles in the victory. Freshman tailback Joe McKnight, above, arguably could have been the offensive play of the game, but that honor went to quarterback John David Booty, who shares a laugh afterward with Pete Carroll.
Of course, it wouldn't be a USC game without a celebrity sighting. Trojan honk Will Ferrell works the sideline.

Please Accept Our Apology

Yes, we're behind on the posts today. ... Speaking of behind, we thought that we would offer this shot of Erin Andrews at Tuesday's Rose Bowl talking to ESPN cohort Shelley Smith. You can click the image for a close inspection.

Another One Bites the Dust

Yet another newspaper has fallen. The Cincinnati Post ended a 126-year run on Monday night with its final edition. The papers' 52 employees were given severance papers but only one was offered another job within the E.W. Scripps Company.

After that dismal news, let's move ahead with a look at how papers have been covering bowl games in recent days. These are all front pages with the exception of the sports fronts of the Columbia State and the Lexington Herald-Leader.

A Broken Bowl System

Going to a bowl game might not be such a great thing. A study by the Orange County Register revealed that six-figure bowl expense deficits for universities have become increasingly common the past four years. Consider these examples from the 2006 season:

• Northern Illinois took a party of 434 to the Poinsettia Bowl. The bill came to $916,800. The school's share of the payout was $598,901, leaving a deficit of $317,898.
• Ohio's appearance in the GMAC Bowl resulted in a $277,550 deficit. The university dipped into general reserve funds to pay the tab, weeks after the school dropped track, swimming and lacrosse. Funding those sports cost less than $200,000 annually.
• Texas A&M racked up a deficit of $489,978 for its appearance in the Holiday Bowl.
• Florida and Ohio State ran up more than $5 million in expenses at last season's Bowl Championship Series title game, finishing with a combined deficit of more than $600,000.
  

So who is to blame? University officials say ticket allocations and hotel contracts dictated by the bowl committees are the driving forces behind the deficits.

But longtime observers of college sport said the lack of control by university administrations has allowed bowl games to become the ultimate college party and, it seems, everyone is invited.

"It's out of control. There's no cost containment," said Murray Sperber, the former chairman of the Drake Group, a national faculty committee pushing for college sports reform. "The trustees, the administration are along for the ride. The same administrators that are supposed to be watching over this are right there on the charter planes to the bowl."

The profitability of the bowls and not wanting to give up control probably mean no future playoff in Division I. Just consider that those who run the bowls are getting rich quick. And how Florida ran up its big deficit at last season's BCS title game.

Making a Spectacle of Himself

A Wisconsin fan certainly knows how to stand out in a crowd with this fashion statement at a pregame festivity for the Outback Bowl against Tennessee. Thanks to Busted Coverage.

Reporters' Notebooks

Bob Thomas, Florida Times-Union: Florida State's Bobby Bowden was critical of the Big East officials who worked the Seminoles' Music City Bowl loss to Kentucky.

Brandon George, Dallas Morning News: Oklahoma starting defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger of Kimball won't play in the Fiesta Bowl on Wednesday after being sent home following an arrest on a shoplifting charge.

Mike DeArmond, Kansas City Star: Arkansas' Darren McFadden will play in the Cotton Bowl against Missouri after being cleared of allegations surrounding his use of a Cadillac Escalade.

Dave Matter, Columbia Tribune: Missouri players are getting tired of hearing about the superiority of the Southeastern Conference.

Ferd Lewis, Honolulu Advertiser: While its name and logo are on Allstate Sugar Bowl and next week's national championship games in New Orleans, the insurance company is one of 11 targets of a government lawsuit.

Glenn Gulbeau, Shreveport Times: Georgia's Mark Richt has a cautionary tale for Louisiana State defensive coordinator/Nebraska coach Bo Pelini. Don't try and balance two jobs.

Ed Kracz, Intelligencer: How Bear Bryant and Edward Krause, the Notre Dame athletic director, fought to shoot down Title IX. Thanks to Michael Rothstein.

To bypass registration, go to Bug Me Not. Here is today's mystery link.

Sure Cure for a Hangover

It's one of the finest college football days of the year and the Wiz will help ring in the New Year on Fox Sports Radio.

Chris Plank will be hosting Fox's bowl preview show from 9 a.m.-noon (Eastern) and the Wiz will be a guest in the 10 a.m. hour.

You can hear the show on the vast Fox Sports Radio network, on XM Satellite Radio channel 142 or online at Fox Sports.