2008 Holiday - Profiles, History & More

Player profiles, team history, the breakout players, the best bowl moments and more for the 2008 Holiday Bowl.

2008 Pacific Life Holiday Bowl

Oklahoma State (9-3) vs. Oregon (9-3)
 
Dec. 30, 8:00 p.m. ET, NFL Network

Get Tickets for the Holiday Bowl

- 2008 CFN Holiday Bowl Preview

Scroll Down For Each Team's Bowl History

Holiday Bowl History
2007	Texas 52, Arizona State 34
2006	California 45, Texas A&M 10
2005	Oklahoma 17, Oregon 14
2004	Texas Tech 45, California 31
2003	Washington State 28, Texas 20
2002	Kansas St 34, Arizona State 27
2001	Texas 47, Washington 43
2000	Oregon 35, Texas 30
1999	Kansas State 24, Washington 20
1998	Arizona 23, Nebraska 20
1997	Colorado St. 35, Missouri 24
1996	Colorado 33, Washington 21
1995	Kansas St. 54, Colorado St. 21
1994	Michigan 24, Colorado St. 14
1993	Ohio State 28, BYU 21
1992	Hawaii 27, Illinois 17
1991	BYU 13, Iowa 13
1990	Texas A&M 65, BYU 14
1989	Penn State 50, BYU 39
1988	Oklahoma St 62, Wyoming 14
1987	Iowa 20, Wyoming 19
1986	Iowa 39, San Diego State 38
1985	Arkansas 18, Arizona State 17
1984	BYU 24, Michigan 17
1983	BYU 21, Missouri 17
1982	Ohio State 47, BYU 17
1981	BYU 38, Washington State 36
1980	BYU 46, SMU 45
1979	Indiana 38, BYU 37
1978	Navy 23, BYU 16

By Richard Cirminiello

Best Cowboy Bowl Moment: One of the great offensive displays in postseason history, Oklahoma State ambushed Wyoming 62-14 in the 1988 Holiday Bowl.  The Cowboys cranked out 698 yards and 34 first downs behind Heisman winner Barry Sanders’ 222 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, and a near- perfect passing performance from current head coach Mike Gundy.
 
Best Duck Bowl Moment: There have been Rose Bowls, a Cotton Bowl and a slew of minor bowls in Oregon’s history, all of which paled in comparison to the 2002 Fiesta Bowl. Joey Harrington threw four touchdown passes, Steve Smith picked off three passes, and the No. 2 Ducks put a bow on the most successful season in school history by pummeling No. 3 Colorado 38-16. 

The Last Time You'll See ...

Oklahoma State: TE Brandon Pettigrew. Looking back at how Pettigrew has developed in five years, it’s hard to imagine how he got out of Texas without being scooped up by the ‘Horns or the Sooners. Primarily a blocker in high blocker, he’s blossomed into a 6-6, 255-pound downfield threat, who could wind up being the first tight end selected in next spring’s NFL Draft.
 
Oregon: DE Nick Reed. While Reed might be a try-hard guy who doesn’t fit the NFL prototype at defensive end, he sure has been productive for the Ducks the last two seasons. A relentless pass rusher with a non-stop motor, he’s been named All-Pac-10 first team in back-to-back years, amassing a whopping 42 tackles for loss, 25 sacks, and countless pressures over that time.
 
Breakout Player ...

Oklahoma State: WR Damian Davis. In 2007, Dez Bryant showed signs of his massive upside before erupting this year. Although Davis doesn’t have as high of a ceiling, he’s done the same thing this fall, getting his feet wet with 16 catches for 348 yards and two scores. He still needs to fill out his 6-5, 185-pound frame, but with his roommate getting so much attention on the other side, he stands to be the chief beneficiary.
 
Oregon: LB Spencer Paysinger. Paysinger has sort of gotten lost on a defense with more recognizable names. That’s too bad because he’s really delivered as a sophomore, making 86 tackles, and nine tackles for loss, while doing a nice job in pass defense. He’s got good range, tackles well in the open field, and is, pound-for-pound, one of the strongest players on the defense.
 
Best Non-Game Event
For fans during bowl week of the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl, the bowl game parade is a huge hit.  It's the largest balloon parade in the country with even more giant inflatables than the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Kermit the Frog is grand marshal this year. The event is even nationally televised now on USA Network. For players, the highlight is the Navy & Marine Corps Luncheon.  It's held on board an active Navy ship and players have the opportunity to dine with sailors and Marines, and tour the ship.  It’s always a smash with the players.

Player Gift Package
Players from both schools will receive a Tourneau watch, a hooded sweatshirt from Sports Tek, an Insignia 19” HD TV/DVD Player, and a Best Buy gift certificate

Charitable Component
The Holiday Bowl works with several charities each year. One example this December involves the staging of a food drive with the San Diego Food Bank at the game.

How Success is Measured
There are many benchmarks by which the bowl committee measures success.  First, it aims to provide a considerable economic impact on the San Diego region. The more fans that travel to San Diego for each game the better. Second, it wants to see large crowds at each game. Third, it expects those fans to enjoy not only the game, but the entire experience, including pregame and halftime shows, and non-game entertainment. And finally, it’s important to the committee that the student-athletes have enjoyable bowl week experiences that will provide them memories to last a lifetime. The Holiday Bowl staff puts a lot of energy into providing them with a first-class San Diego bowl week.

MVP of the Bowl
There are so many people that play invaluable roles in the production of the game, it’s impossible to choose a single person.  The Holiday Bowl is fortunate to have a dedicated and loyal volunteer corps. It has 30 active board members, 120 committee members, and several hundred other volunteers. It's because of these selfless people that the bowl is so highly regarded throughout college football. The committee believes it has the hardest working corps of volunteers among the postseason games.

Impact to the Community
The mission of the bowl game is to generate tourism, exposure, economic benefit, and civic pride for San Diego and its citizens by presenting the nation's most entertaining bowl games and festivals of events.  The impact the game has on the San Diego community is considerable. Last year, for example, the games—the Holiday and Poinsettia Bowls—generated an economic benefit of more than $40 million. San Diegans are enthusiastic with the games. The local ticket base for the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl alone is approximately 35,000. Our renewal rate annually is in the neighborhood of 95%.

Role of Volunteers
There are only nine individuals who are paid to put on two games in San Diego, the Poinsettia and Holiday Bowl. They rely heavily on volunteers to make these games and festivities function on a year-round basis.  They produce, sell, and market their calendar of events, such as outrigger canoe races, 3-on-3 basketball tournament, golf tournament, weiner dog races, hole-in-one tournament, and more. They truly will play a role in every function associated with the organization. 

- 2008 CFN Holiday Bowl Preview

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Oklahoma St Bowl History (12-6)

2007	Insight	Oklahoma State 49, Indiana 33
2006	Independence	Oklahoma State 34, Alabama 31
2004	Alamo	Ohio State 33, Oklahoma State 7
2003	Cotton	Mississippi 31, Oklahoma State 28
2002	Houston	Oklahoma State 33, Southern Miss 23
1997	Alamo	Purdue 33, Oklahoma State 20
1988	Holiday	Oklahoma State 62, Wyoming 14
1987	Sun	Oklahoma State 35, West Virginia 33
1985	Gator	Florida State 34, Oklahoma State 23
1984	Gator	Oklahoma State 21, South Carolina 14
1983	Bluebonnet	Oklahoma State 24, Baylor 14
1981	Independence	Texas A&M 33, Oklahoma State 16
1976	Tangerine	Oklahoma State 49, Brigham Young 21
1974	Fiesta	Oklahoma State 16, Brigham Young 6
1958	Blue Grass	Oklahoma State 15, Florida State 6
1948	Delta	William and Mary 20, Oklahoma A&M 0
1945	Sugar	Oklahoma A&M 33, St. Mary's 13
1944	Cotton	Oklahoma A&M 34, TCU 0

Oregon Bowl History (8-13)

2007	Sun	Oregon 56, South Florida 21
2006	Las Vegas	BYU 38, Oregon 8
2005	Holiday	Oklahoma 17, Oregon 14
2003	Sun	Minnesota 31, Oregon 30
2002	Seattle	Wake Forest 38, Oregon 17
2002	Fiesta	Oregon 38, Colorado 16
2000	Holiday	Oregon 35, Texas 30
1999	Sun	Oregon 24, Minnesota 20
1998	Aloha	Colorado 51, Oregon 43
1997	Las Vegas	Oregon 41, Air Force 13
1995	Cotton	Colorado 38, Oregon 6
1994	Rose	Penn State 38, Oregon 20
1992	Independ.	Wake Forest 39, Oregon 35
1990	Freedom	Colorado State 32, Oregon 31
1989	Independ.	Oregon 27, Tulsa 24
1963	Sun	Oregon 21, SMU 14
1960	Liberty	Penn State 41, Oregon 12
1958	Rose	Ohio State 10, Oregon 7
1949	Cotton	SMU 21, Oregon 13
1920	Rose	Harvard 7, Oregon 6
1917	Rose	Oregon 14, Penn 0

- 2007 CFN Holiday Bowl Preview