ABC likes Missouri-USC for Aloha Bowl

Washington, Oklahoma State are still in contention for Christmas Day classic

By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

There are so many ifs and buts in the Aloha Bowl equation, chief operating officer Lenny Klompus doesn't know for sure who will be playing on Christmas Day.

"But we do have a pretty good idea which four teams are in contention," Klompus said earlier this week. "They are Washington and USC from the Pac-10, and Missouri and Oklahoma State from the Big 12."

It's also possible Texas A&M could end up here if the Aggies lose to Texas and Nebraska to close out the season. Colorado would be the Big 12 representative should the Buffaloes upset Nebraska.

"A lot also hinges on Arizona State and where they wind up," Klompus said. "If they beat Arizona on Friday, then they'll probably go to the Fiesta Bowl, Washington will go to the Sun Bowl and USC will end up here.

"If they lose to Arizona, they'll probably go to the Sun Bowl and we'll get Washington in a battle of two ranked opponents. The bottom line is, we'll have a much better idea after the Arizona-Arizona State game on Friday."

The Aloha Bowl has the fourth pick in the Pac-10 and the fifth choice in the Big 12. The Alamo Bowl has the fourth choice in the Big 12, while the Sun Bowl gets the third-place team in the Pac-10.

Klompus said ABC-TV was leaning toward a Missouri-USC game because Tigers head coach Larry Smith would be facing his old team in the Trojans.

"We also like the idea of having Oklahoma State here," Klompus said. "They have a great quarterback and a good head coach.

"The Alamo Bowl said they don't care who they get between Missouri and Oklahoma State, so we'll have to see how things play out."

Should Kansas State be picked up by the Alliance and Colorado lose to Nebraska, then the Aloha Bowl won't get a Big 12 team. That would mean Klompus would choose between Iowa or Michigan State in the Big Ten.

"I thought a few years ago that the Alliance would make things a lot easier for everybody, but it really hasn't worked out that way," Klompus said.

"Sometimes, I wish it were like the old days when we all competed for teams."