There were slim pickings in Bowl contest
For The Vista
In one of the most unusual college football bowl seasons in years, the Glade Vista’s annual contest of seven local participants was very close throughout, including the championship game, and ended in a three way 12-8 tie between defending champion Greg Dorton, Geoffrey Fine and Ed Lewis.
Three other contestants, Jim Mansfield, Jack Williams and Landry Walther were only one game back at 11-9. Vista Publisher/Editor Keith Walther finished in seventh place — that is — last place at 8-12.
The combined total of the contestants was 77-63, a record low contest winning percentage of 55%. The contest involved 20 of the 35 bowl games, and eight of the 20 games were won by the underdog. Thirteen of the 35 games were won by the underdog. It is not known if 13 of 35 is a record for number of upsets, but it is a high percentage, especially compared to recent years.
Another record that may have been set this year was the total points scored by both winners and losers, each of which exceeded last year’s high totals. The winning teams scored 1,221 points, an average of 35 per game, and the losing teams scored 747 points, an average of 21 per game. Total points in the contest was 705 – 441, an average of 35 – 22.
Twelve winning teams scored 40 or more points, and two of the twelve exceeded 50. Three of the losing teams scored more than 40 points.
Florida State’s BCS national championship ended the SEC’s seven consecutive titles.
The Glade Vista wishes to thank all contestants for their participation in the contest.