Tom O’Brien is a pretty good bowler
Here’s a tidbit to elicit further confidence in our chances at the Pizza Bowl: Coach O’Brien’s career bowl history:
12/31/99 — Lost 62-28 vs. Colorado, Insight.com Bowl
12/25/00 — Won 31-17 vs. Arizona St., Aloha Classic
12/28/01 — Won 20-16 vs. Georgia, Music City Bowl
12/26/02 — Won 51-25 vs. Toledo, Motor City Bowl
12/31/03 — Won 35-21 vs. Colorado St., San Francisco Bowl
12/31/04 — Won 37-24 vs. North Carolina, Continental Tire Bowl
12/28/05 — Won 27-21 vs. Boise St., MPC Computers Bowl
So, TOB hasn’t quite seen a million bowls and he hasn’t quite rocked them all, but with a near-sterling 6-1 record when bowling, the dude knows how to win in December.
He’s won thousands of miles from home in Honolulu and San Francisco; he’s won in virtual road games (Carolina in Charlotte) and actual road games (Boise St. in Boise); and he’s won with what couldn’t have been more than a smattering of Golden Eagle die-hards in the stands.
Luckily, none of those factors will be at play in Birmingham.
