NCAA Football FanHouse http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com NCAA Football FanHouse http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif NCAA Football FanHouse http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Bowl Season '08: Gartrell Johnson Carries Colorado State to New Mexico Bowl Winhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/20/bowl-season-08-gartrell-johnson-carries-colorado-state-to-new/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/20/bowl-season-08-gartrell-johnson-carries-colorado-state-to-new/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/20/bowl-season-08-gartrell-johnson-carries-colorado-state-to-new/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Gartrell JohnsonFanHouse gathers around the TV to bring you insights from Bowl Season '08.

One of the beautiful things about bowl season is that some very talented, but unknown college football stars get their moment in the spotlight. With that in mind .. America, meet Gartrell Johnson. The stocky senior running back put on an absolute show, leading Colorado State to a 40-35 come-from-behind win over Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl. The win was the Rams' first bowl win in seven years.

Johnson ran for a career-high 285 yards plus caught six passes for 89 -- giving him a whopping 374 total yards. Prior to Saturday, Johnson averaged 99 rushing yards per game in 2008.

Colorado State trailed 28-20 heading to the fourth quarter, but Tommie Hill intercepted Fresno State quarterback Tom Brandstater, swinging momentum in the Rams' favor. Johnson punched in from one yard out soon after to cut the Bulldogs' lead down to 28-26.

CSU finally jumped into the lead -- for the first time all day -- with 7:10 left in the fourth quarter. Rams' QB Billy Farris launched a bomb to Rashaun Greer, who made a nice catch, fought out of a tackle and took it in for a 69-yard score.

Johnson then put the game on ice, taking a handoff to the left side of Colorado State's line and busting free on a 77-yard TD scamper. Fresno scored late, but failed to recover a last-gasp onside kick.

Johnson's efforts overshadowed a strong rushing day for the Bulldogs. Anthony Harding and Lonyae Miler combined for 232 yards and four touchdowns on the ground for Fresno. It's not too often that you see a team popo in four rushing TDs and still come out on the losing end.

Fresno's inability to get a stop late made Harding and Miller inconsequential, though. Just as in early losses this year to Wisconsin, Louisiana Tech, Nevada and Boise State, the Bulldogs defensive line got gashed all afternoon. Johnson rumbled for 57 yards on his second carry and never looked back.



Not to imply that Fresno State didn't care one way or the other, but this looked like one of those cases where motivation proves to be the driving factor behind a lesser-bowl's outcome. While Fresno sort of put it in cruise control after taking that 28-20 lead, the Rams put their foot on the gas in the second half -- clearly, a win in the New Mexico Bowl was a big stepping stone for a recently struggling program. CSU finishes the year 7-6

That record matches Fresno's final mark -- but the Rams will be much, much happier to be in the "Just above .500" crowd than the Bulldogs will.

Remember that Fresno looked like a potential BCS buster before the season started. A 17-point win at Rutgers to kick things off simply added to that hype. But the Bulldogs dropped a tough one two weeks later to Wisconsin, lost a stunner to Hawaii on Oct. 4 and limped to a 2-3 mark down the stretch.

The Bulldogs clearly had bigger hopes for this season. As impressive as Pat Hill's coaching run at Fresno State has been (nine bowl games in 10 years), the 'Dogs have yet to get over the top and break into the BCS world.

Bowl Season '08: Gartrell Johnson Carries Colorado State to New Mexico Bowl Win originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:41:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Chris BurkeSat, 20 Dec 2008 18:41:00 EST Turkey Legs to Go: New Mexico Bowl Travel Guide, Colorado State vs. Fresno Statehttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/08/turkey-legs-to-go-new-mexico-bowl-travel-guide-colorado-state/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/08/turkey-legs-to-go-new-mexico-bowl-travel-guide-colorado-state/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/08/turkey-legs-to-go-new-mexico-bowl-travel-guide-colorado-state/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Turkey Legs to Go is FanHouse's complete travel guide for all of the 2008-2009 college bowl games. Here, we cover the New Mexico Bowl (Albuquerque, N.M.), which pits Fresno State against Colorado State.

Overview: The New Mexico Bowl is essentially a old school western-style shootout, drawing in teams from the WAC and Mountain West. Many analysts projected Nevada to land the Western Athletic's bid, but Fresno State got an offer and, at 7-5, pounced quickly. The Bulldogs, (the former team of Mittens!) will face off against, but Colorado State, the only 6-6 team in the Mountain West, appears likely as an opponent.

Hotels: Each one of the hotels we've suggested have great proximity to the stadium. Even if they weren't so close, Albuquerque is easy to navigate. Sandia Peak makes for a good directional landmark because you can see it from anywhere in town. The Hyatt Regency Albuquerque is probably the finest hotel in town. The Hilton Albuquerque is more reasonably priced, and is the best all around value for bowl travelers. The Best Western Airport Innsuites Hotel is the perfect option for those on a tight budget. Guestrooms are cheap and the property is close to the airport and the stadium.

Restaurants: A little driving may be necessary to enjoy the best food the city has to offer, but it will be well worth the trip. Albuquerque is worth exploring because of its rich culture and beautiful scenery. Scalo has a reputation for beginning the pioneer of fine dining in Albuquerque.

They offer fine Italian cuisine and excellent desserts. El Pinto has great Mexican food and the sopapillas are out of this world. For a cheap and hearty meal, head to Padilla's Mexican Kitchen. The local favorite offers melt-in-your-mouth enchiladas and delectable carne adovada, but be advised; they don't take credit cards.

Nightlife: Make sure to spend a day wandering through Old Town, the city's main historic district features great shops, restaurants and art galleries featuring the work of local artists. For a night out try Billy's Long Bar. It's popular with the younger crowd, has dart boards, pool tables, and a reputation for having the best-looking waitresses in town.

All travel related information and content provided by Professional Travel Guide.

Turkey Legs to Go: New Mexico Bowl Travel Guide, Colorado State vs. Fresno State originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 08 Dec 2008 09:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Will BrinsonMon, 08 Dec 2008 09:20:00 EST