Gone Bowling

By Chris Carpenter
CBN.com Program Director

CBN.com - As I awoke from my gridiron induced slumber at 3am Wednesday morning I came to the conclusion that there are just too many college bowl games. Regardless of whether I missed Arizona State's high flying 45-40 shootout win over Rutgers in the Insight Bowl, due to a good, quality snooze, I determined that it might be easier to qualify for a bowl game than it is to put on a pair of socks.

Upon a bit of investigation I discovered that my theory might not be too far off. Consider this, to qualify for a college bowl game a team must win at least 50 percent of its games. Based on this criteria, 64 of the 118 Division 1A teams playing major college football earned the right to play in a postseason game. Fifty-six of those 64 teams were invited and played or will play in the 28 officially sanctioned college bowl extravaganzas for 2005.

Those closely associated with college football either as a player, coach, or fan, would argue the 28 sanctioned games are just the right amount. They defend that a bowl game is the ultimate pinnacle for the amateur football player. The holiday games give substance to what teams worked so hard for during the regular season. It is a reward for a job well done, or in the case of some 6-6 teams, mediocrity. In addition, it is a wonderful opportunity for fans and alums to travel to another city and experience great food, fun, and of course football.

While I strongly believe that 28 bowls is enough if not too many, I am a bit perplexed as to why the other eight bowl eligible teams did not receive an invitation to play on college footballs biggest stage. I understand that many of these squads play in weaker conferences with a smaller fan base (making them unattractive to bowl selection committees), but hey, if you meet the criteria why not? By adding just three more bowl games, each and every eligible team would get the chance to play for postseason glory.

Scanning over this years list of bowl-qualified teams who did not receive a postseason bid, there are some natural games just waiting to happen. For example, Western Michigan (7-4) and Central Michigan (6-5) could play in the Overhadowed State University Bowl, as both schools play in relative anonymity due to the national appeal of sister schools Michigan and Michigan State. In Lebanon, Kansas, the geographic midpoint of the United States, Miami (OH) (7-4) and Bowling Green (6-5) could hook up in the Mid-American Bowl as both teams hail from the Mid-American Conference. The state of Lousiana could host the Rajun Cajun Bowl pitting two teams from that great state, Louisiana-Lafayette (6-5) and Louisiana Tech (7-4). Finally, the Huskies of Northern Illinois University (7-5) could travel to Albuquerque to play New Mexico (6-5) in the Infinity Bowl. Why the Infinity Bowl? Because, the Los Alamos Laboratory, on the campus of the University of New Mexico has just been awarded the Mars Odyssey Grant by NASA to study the potential of life beyond our universe.

While this entire article seems to be nothing more than a whimsical exercise in sports induced frivolity, it does draw some interesting contrasts to an individuals personal walk of faith.

Only so many teams qualify for a postseason bowl game each season but there is absolutely no limit on who can go to heaven. There are no boundaries, parameters, or quotas that determine Heavens capacity. The only stipulation is that you believe in Jesus Christ as your personal savior.

Once you have made this decision there is only victory through Christian living. It is not uncommon to think that because you have accepted Christ as your savior that life will be heaven on earth. It is easy to think that you will have no more problems, you will have a solution for every tense life question, or be completely healed of any infirmity. Becoming a Christian provides a new beginning in the same old world but with a difference.

In Zephaniah 3:17, God promises restoration for the land of Judah by saying through Zephaniah, "The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

As Christians, God will make a difference in your life by working in and through you. His presence will change your fear and trepidation about life into hope and confidence. He takes this fear and trepidation away by carrying it for you.

So, as you take your bowl command post on the couch today, tomorrow, or the next day, remember that while there will always be limitations on the college bowl system there are absolutely no restrictions on Gods love for you.

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