Thursday, 22 July 2010 7:29 P.M.
The
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl to be Big Game after Christmas Day
Kowalski
a Consistent Anchor for University of Toledo
Photo
credit: Little Caesars Pizza Bowl
Coaches,
student athletes and a representative from Little Caesars
were on hand at the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association
luncheon.
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by
Raymond Rolak |
AmericaJR.com
Web Team |
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DETROIT
-- Both teams have scoring threats and big bang players.
Toledo has sophomore wide receiver Eric Page as an instant scoring
threat. Besides receiving, he is dangerous on returns. Page had
94 receptions on the year. Florida International had the Sun Belt
Player of the Year in T.Y. Hilton. The junior wide-receiver is a
scoring machine with 26 career touchdowns. Both teams have impact
linebackers. The high octane offensive for both programs will establish
the game winner. Look for fourth quarter time possession to determine
the final outcome.
These were
just some of the topics at the Little Caesars Bowl Kickoff as part
of the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association luncheon.
The experience
to play in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl has both teams in high
spirits. This was apparent by all the superlatives that the coaches
and Bowl ambassadors spoke about during the kickoff presentations
at Comerica Park. Like a heavyweight boxing match the game got a
super build up. It all will culminate on game day, Sunday, December
26, (8:30 P.M. EST) at Ford Field and also televised nationally
on ESPN.
DSBA President
Will Tieman got the attention of the guests by reminding everyone
that the Bowl experience is a reward for excellence. “This
is a great location and Detroit will applaud and celebrate the players
and visitors,” he said.
Mid-American
Conference representative, Toledo (8-4) will face Florida International
(6-6) of the Sun Belt Conference. FIU coach Mario Cristobal said,
“I don’t smile a lot but as you can see from my smiles
today, we are so happy to be here in Detroit. Our guys did the work
last summer in the weight room to get here.” This will be
the first Bowl game for FIU and Cristobal was Sun Belt Conference,
Coach of the Year.
Student-athletes
Winston Frazer from FIU, a sophomore and Toledo senior Archie Donald
both linebackers were advocating for their teams. Both predicted
victory.
Frazer,
who had a game saving interception against the University of Louisiana-Monroe
said, “That’s why we are coming, we will be focused
and ready.”
Donald is
a defensive specialist for the Rockets. He had 16-plus tackles in
three separate games. He will end up leading the team in tackles
for three straight seasons. Another Toledo anchor is center Kevin
Kowalski. The 6-4, 299, senior is a four year letterman. He has
46 consecutive starts, most on the team. He gives the Rockets a
strong presence on the line.
As a head
coach, this will be the first Bowl for Toledo’s Tim Beckman.
He mentioned the proximity of the University of Toledo to Ford Field.
“We want the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl to be a home-field
advantage for us,” said Beckman. “It's a great chance
for us to showcase the University of Toledo.”
Again, as
an added value to spectators there will be a giant ‘Pizza
Party’ at the adjacent Comerica Park.
Also, team
members will serve Christmas morning breakfast at the Masonic Temple
to those in need. The Bowl has partnered up with the Salvation Army.
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, Executive Director, Ken Hoffman said
this years charity partner is Make-A-Wish. He emphasized all the
activities for visitors and the impact the Bowl has on Detroit.
The team travel parties will even have a lunch at the Detroit Institute
of Arts, an international cultural destination. “Besides the
game, the whole Bowl experience is about enriching the players.
This has become a signature event for Detroit,” said Hoffman.
As part
of the Bowl national outreach, Little Caesars President, David Scrivano,
announced that the Little Caesars Love Kitchen will make an appearance
in Miami and Toledo. This is to provide complimentary meals for
those in need. The Little Caesars Love Kitchen is a semi-truck with
a pizza bakery inside so it becomes a mobile feeding station. Local
Little Caesars franchise owners and company regional offices donate
all food and labor costs for the Love Kitchen servings.
Scrivano
also talked about the extra marketing, including a point of purchase
campaign that will be going on at all Little Caesars outlets. He
said, “Little Caesars is adding enhancements to the bowl experience
for the players and the fans through a national promotion. There
will also be a contest and viewer participation event on the ESPN
telecast.”
The FIU
contingent got a walk thru at Ford Field. Frazer was awed with the
sight lines as he walked next to Director of Athletics Pete Garcia.
Frazer said to his group, “This is great, I can’t wait
until my teammates see this stadium.”
The Rockets
and Golden Panthers have played twice before, splitting and both
teams losing at home. Six Toledo players made All-MAC and 12 FIU
players made All-Sun Belt Conference.
Editors Note: Raymond
Rolak is a past President of the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association
AmericaJR.com's
Jason Rzucidlo and Garrett Godwin will be covering the Little Caesars
Pizza Bowl from the field and the press box.
Logo
credit: www.littlecaesarspizzabowl.com
The
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl is scheduled for Dec. 26 at Ford Field
in Detroit.
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