3 Thoughts … after Oregon’s 28-27 win over North Carolina in the Holiday Bowl

There have been loads of fireworks — on the sphere and above it — at this yr’s SDCCU Vacation Bowl.

Listed below are three ideas after Oregon’s 28-27 win over North Carolina at Petco Park.

1. Rousing return

COVID value the Vacation Bowl two years of memorable moments.

Like Oregon operating again Bucky Irving’s 66-yard landing run (third longest within the recreation’s historical past).

Or North Carolina linebacker Energy Echol’s interception, which glanced off three gamers — together with Echol’s proper toe — earlier than he made a shoestring catch and a 40-yard return.

Or Tar Heels QB Drake Maye’s 49-yard landing move one play later.

Or two late landing passes by Oregon QB Bo Nix, the second tying the sport with 19 seconds to play.

Or the decisive further level by Geese kicker Camden Lewis, who offered pointless drama when his PAT doinked off the left upright earlier than ricocheting in.

Downtown bars and eating places had been nonetheless bustling — principally with Geese followers — a pair hours after the sport.

“I went from tears of aid at first to simply euphoria for the ending of the sport,” Vacation Bowl CEO Mark Neville. “We had an awesome crowd. There was an awesome vibe downtown. I actually sensed that the followers had been excited, the groups had been excited. Everybody was simply so blissful to be there.

“After two years of not having a recreation, I used to be so blissful and proud for our group, our redcoats, and for San Diego. It was simply nice to have the ability to put San Diego within the highlight with our bowl recreation once more.”

Neville mentioned the transfer from Mission Valley to downtown was all the pieces he hoped it might be.

“Completely,” he mentioned. “Petco Park is a extremely great spot for this recreation.”

There have been a few area points.

One was minor: Why was a 2022 MLB Postseason emblem nonetheless seen in entrance of the guests dugout two months after the season ended?

One was main: Soggy area circumstances between the 15- and 25-yard traces on the south facet of the sphere resulted in chunks of turf developing from the opening kickoff.

The Petco Park grounds crew takes such nice satisfaction within the area, so the embarrassment was unlucky on a nationwide tv broadcast.

The issue was believed to be brought on by water from an in a single day rainstorm getting between tarps protecting the sphere and soaking into the bottom.

And whereas the KGB SkyShow was an added bonus to the occasion, there was some booing in the course of the 33 minutes between the tip of the sport and the beginning of the present.

“We’re by no means going to compromise security,” Neville mentioned. “We needed to get all people off the sphere earlier than we may provoke it. Guys needed to remain on the market. They had been taking photos. The Oregon gamers had been fired up after a down-to-the-wire end.”

In hindsight, perhaps the Oregon band — its members had been sitting close by within the stands — may have been introduced out to play a number of tunes till all the pieces was in place for the SkyShow.

“After each occasion, we rejoice all of the successes,” Neville mentioned. “We additionally have a look at locations the place we got here up just a little bit brief, to make it possible for doesn’t occur once more and to find out how we repair it.”

2. Refreshing method

Extra Mack Brown, please.

The North Carolina coach was a breath of contemporary air round these components, a university soccer coach whose solutions to questions each entertained and enlightened.

Requested a day earlier than the sport about how North Carolina was going to include Nix, Brown talked about a thought that crossed his thoughts whereas touring the USS Abraham Lincoln with Nix and Geese coach Dan Lanning.

“Bo was going up the steps in entrance of me, and I began to seize his ankle,” Brown mentioned to laughter from the viewers. “I didn’t wish to damage him dangerous. It’s only one recreation. … God checked out me and mentioned, ‘No, don’t do this.’ ”

Brown was requested about his 5 years away from teaching, when he labored as an analyst for ESPN.

It gave him some perception on how different coaches run their packages and what improvements are happening within the recreation. It additionally offered him some with perspective on those that cowl the sport.

“A variety of coaches assume you’re sitting round attempting to beat them up,” Brown mentioned, “you’re looking for one thing. Actually not.

“You’re actually attempting to get somebody to learn your stuff. Making an attempt to get anyone to take a look at your stuff, and it was wholesome for me to see that for 5 years.”

Distinction that to Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy, who known as out a reporter on Tuesday following the Cowboys’ 24-17 loss to Wisconsin within the Assured Price Bowl.

The reporter’s sin?

Asking “do you anticipate making any adjustments to your workers between now and subsequent season?”

“Do you assume I might let you know if I used to be making workers adjustments?” mentioned Gundy, including, “I may need to chop you out … Don’t be an ass.”

San Diego State coach Brady Hoke restricted entry to media at practices in midseason after it was reported that quarterback Braxton Burmeister was working at extensive receiver, although that commentary was made in the course of the 20 minutes of apply that was open to the media.

The next week, and for the rest of the season, the open portion was lowered to the primary 10 minutes of apply.

Perhaps the transfer did make sense.

Think about if essential info had leaked out throughout recreation week in opposition to Air Drive. The Aztecs could have been shut out moderately than scoring three factors.

3. The place are issues headed?

A whole bunch of gamers entered the NCAA switch portal in December — greater than two dozen gamers of them off Oregon and North Carolina rosters amongst them — whereas others opted out with a watch on the 2023 NFL Draft.

Then there’s head coaches — in addition to assistants — heading for his or her subsequent job earlier than ending what they began this season.

Oregon and North Carolina each had been lacking offensive coordinators for this recreation.

“We’re down coaches, which I don’t like,” Brown mentioned. “I want we’d have a world the place coaches needed to keep by way of the bowl recreation. It could be extra honest to the youngsters.

“We’re all down gamers. Some choose out. Some are within the switch portal. It’s in all places, but it surely’s nonetheless an awesome recreation with large children which might be unimaginable at what they do to arrange.”

One way or the other, the Vacation Bowl was lucky to characteristic two of the nation’s high quarterbacks, who determined not solely to play this recreation however return for an additional season at their respective colleges.

One other bowl hurdle is on the horizon, when the playoff expands from 4 to 12 groups in 2024.

How the Vacation Bowl and its friends are impacted down the street stays to be seen.

Is the day coming when bowls ware a factor of the previous? No good may come of that, as then there wouldn’t be any delay to the beginning of the SkyShow.