Congratulations Iowa State Football Fiesta Bowl Champs !

[Cermak]

Congrats to the Iowa State Football program on the Fiesta Bowl win. Matt Campbell has turned this once patsy program into a hard nosed football team. He’s had more than a few impressive wins in his short time in Ames. Don’t know how he does it, but he’s found something that works in Ames that many coaches before him couldn’t. Probably one of the better turnaround coaching performance’s in years. Whether he stays in Ames remains to be seen.

[Big E]

Can't wait for Nebraska to fire him in 5 years.

[Greg S]

Can’t be more impressed with Matt Campbell. He’s earned and deserved a raise every year in Ames. I hope he stays, seems perfect for them. He can win there and Iowa State fans are as good as any.

Hopefully they can provide him with the support he wants for facilities and compensation for him and staff.

Not sure what his long term goals are but I think Iowa State would be a great place long term for him and his family.

Greg

[TitosBuritoBarn]

As an Iowa state alum I could not be more pleased by what Matt Campbell has done for the program and hope he chooses to stick around for a lot longer.

Wish he was coach when I was there.

[Cermak]

Just did some checking only Ohio State and Penn State have more Fiesta bowl appearances than Nebraska. We are tied with Arizona State with 6. Interesting fact. That was always one of the better bowls I thought, usually guaranteed good weather.

[omaha79]

Just did some checking only Ohio State and Penn State have more Fiesta bowl appearances than Nebraska. We are tied with Arizona State with 6. Interesting fact. That was always one of the better bowls I thought, usually guaranteed good weather.

It has always been a decent bowl game, but it wasn't actually considered a top level bowl game until 1995 when the Bowl Alliance was formed. Prior to that, it was considered a second tier bowl game that wasn't of the same caliber as the Orange, Rose, Sugar, or Cotton Bowls. Those were the big 4 in the 70's and 80's. In fact, the Fiesta Bowl was a December bowl game through the 1980 season. But, even when it gained January 1st status, it wasn't at the same level as the big 4 until 1995. It was a bowl you fell into after a heartbreaking loss, not somewhere you wanted to be.

If you go back and read stories from 1975, Nebraska was extremely miffed about being relegated to the inferior Fiesta Bowl and it ultimately showed in their loss to host Arizona St. Their feelings were similar in 1986, 1989, and 1990, but at those times, it was Orange Bowl or bust which is why they likely ended up 0-4 in that bowl game prior to finally breaking through in their demolition against Florida in 1996. Nebraska did win their two appearances when the Fiesta Bowl was considered something special in 1996 and 2000.

[Big E]

The 1987 Fiesta Bowl between #1 Miami and #2 Penn State disagrees with your timeline.

[Greg S]

Just did some checking only Ohio State and Penn State have more Fiesta bowl appearances than Nebraska. We are tied with Arizona State with 6. Interesting fact. That was always one of the better bowls I thought, usually guaranteed good weather.

It has always been a decent bowl game, but it wasn't actually considered a top level bowl game until 1995 when the Bowl Alliance was formed. Prior to that, it was considered a second tier bowl game that wasn't of the same caliber as the Orange, Rose, Sugar, or Cotton Bowls. Those were the big 4 in the 70's and 80's. In fact, the Fiesta Bowl was a December bowl game through the 1980 season. But, even when it gained January 1st status, it wasn't at the same level as the big 4 until 1995. It was a bowl you fell into after a heartbreaking loss, not somewhere you wanted to be.

If you go back and read stories from 1975, Nebraska was extremely miffed about being relegated to the inferior Fiesta Bowl and it ultimately showed in their loss to host Arizona St. Their feelings were similar in 1986, 1989, and 1990, but at those times, it was Orange Bowl or bust which is why they likely ended up 0-4 in that bowl game prior to finally breaking through in their demolition against Florida in 1996. Nebraska did win their two appearances when the Fiesta Bowl was considered something special in 1996 and 2000.

You are right on the 1975 game. I remember that as a kid. It wasn't the same though for the ones you mentioned in the 80's. Obviously Orange Bowl was always the first choice because it meant we were the conference champs. We went to the Sugar Bowl a lot then too and it was popular. I was a student at Nebraska from 86-90. Your years are a bit off. We went to the 88 Fiesta Bowl not 89. One of my roommates was on the roster than year and he went. By then the Fiesta Bowl had some prestige and we were excited to be going.

The Fiesta Bowl was much more highly looked upon by the 80's and with Nebraska having such a large alumni base in the valley (along with all of the snowbirds that went for the winter), so it was actually a popular bowl with the fans and university then. Plus the weather was perfect and we got treated so much better than in Miami. Not to mention the location of the stadium (even though we wanted to go to the Orange Bowl-no one was thrilled with the location of the stadium or the stadium itself).

Greg

[bigredmed1]

The Orange bowl really did suck for fans in the later 1980s. My uncle was a huge fan and bowl trips were normal. They quit Miami after getting crapped on by the restaurants and other tourist stuff. Basically, one menu for husker fans and another for everyone else.

[Big E]

The Orange bowl really did suck for fans in the later 1980s. My uncle was a huge fan and bowl trips were normal. They quit Miami after getting crapped on by the restaurants and other tourist stuff. Basically, one menu for husker fans and another for everyone else.

"No, ma'am. We do not have Dororthy Lynch for your lobster and scallops."

[Linkin5]

The Orange bowl really did suck for fans in the later 1980s. My uncle was a huge fan and bowl trips were normal. They quit Miami after getting crapped on by the restaurants and other tourist stuff. Basically, one menu for husker fans and another for everyone else.

Having worked at a downtown Lincoln bar and restaurant on game days for multiple years, I would 100% do the same thing for Nebraska fans.

[omaha79]

The 1987 Fiesta Bowl between #1 Miami and #2 Penn State disagrees with your timeline.

You're right. That PSU vs. Miami game was probably the moment that game was fully legitimized. The only reason Miami and PSU played that game though is because they were both independents at the time and it was a game that could accommodate them without the strings attached of conference champion tie ins. I think I've read a few stories that there were a few eyebrows raised that the national title would be awarded in a non traditional bowl game setting. Prior to that game, there had never been a matchup of two top 5 teams in the Fiesta Bowl, but yes, it became a regularity after that. I was definitely off by about 7 years on my timeline. The 1988 National Title was also won in the Fiesta with Notre Dame beating West Virginia. Again, that was a product of Notre Dame needing a bowl game they could play in as an independent. Being included in the Bowl Alliance in 1995 was just the final validation.

I guess I was more looking at it through the lenses of a kid in Nebraska where it was either you made the Orange Bowl, or you made a secondary game. Period.

[bigredmed1]

The Orange bowl really did suck for fans in the later 1980s. My uncle was a huge fan and bowl trips were normal. They quit Miami after getting crapped on by the restaurants and other tourist stuff. Basically, one menu for husker fans and another for everyone else.

"No, ma'am. We do not have Dororthy Lynch for your lobster and scallops."

More like the shrimp at table 4 costs $20, but for you, $30. They told me about restaurants that had scratched out prices and wrote in higher ones. That was the last Miami trip for them. Still went to Fiesta and other bowl games where husker fans were treated well.