Cincinnati linebacker Joseph Hamilton tries to keep warm as his team goes through a light practice on Sunday, Dec. 28, 1997, in Boise, Idaho. Cincinnati will meet Utah State in Monday's Humanitarian Bowl. AP Photo/The Idaho Statesman, Christopher Butler

Web posted December 29, 1997

Associated Press

BOISE, Idaho - Smurf Turf. A flock of lame ducks. Game-time temperatures in the 30s. Teams with a combined record of 13-9.

Welcome to the inaugural Sports Humanitarian Bowl. If December in Idaho is your idea of college football paradise, you'll fit in just fine with Cincinnati (7-4) and Utah State (6-5).

``This game is just what we wanted,'' Utah State coach John L. Smith said. ``This is the culmination of our dreams.''

``We couldn't be happier to be playing in this game,'' echoed Cincinnati coach Rick Minter. ``We're anxious to make a good showing for ourselves and for our school.''

Two of the most unlikely bowl teams of the year are doing battle in a game that didn't exist even 10 months ago. Cincinnati hasn't been to a bowl since 1950, while Utah State endured a four-game losing streak and gave up 51 points to lowly North Texas in the season's final game.

But Humanitarian Bowl organizers are optimistic that their teams will provide an exciting contest in the season's coldest bowl game.

Early this year, officials with the Boise-based Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame decided they needed a showpiece for their annual inauguration ceremonies.

The Treasure Valley area of Idaho liked the idea of showing off its scenic splendor to a national audience. The city embraced the game and its potential to be a financial watershed for this growing city of 370,000.

Corporate backers arranged a $750,000 payday for both teams. Officials signed a deal with the Big West Conference to showcase the conference champion. Everything came into place shortly before the start of the college football season.

They forgot one thing: It's really, really cold in Boise in December.

``This is pretty brutal,'' said Cincinnati quarterback Chad Plummer, a Florida native, as the Bearcats ran drills in 25-degree weather this week. ``We're staying inside as much as we can.''

Cincinnati didn't expect to draw a huge crowd to a game being played nearly 2,000 miles from campus. The Bearcats are happy to end their 47-year bowl drought in any fashion possible.

Utah State had larger expectations. The school's campus is a six-hour drive from Boise, but the Aggies expect fewer than 1,500 fans at the game. Earlier this week, Smith called his school's ticket sales ``embarrassing.''

``All that most people know is that Boise is cold and a long way away,'' said Minter. Cincinnati agreed to buy 5,000 tickets but could end up eating as many as 3,000.

A less-than-capacity crowd is expected at Boise State's 30,000-seat Bronco Stadium, which is famous for its garish blue artificial grass, nicknamed Smurf Turf.

Legend has it that many a bird has mistaken the field for water and done a face-plant on the field. During Saturday's practice, Minter's Bearcats were forced to dodge both their teammates and the droppings from a flock of geese that circled the field all afternoon.

There are birds on the Utah State sideline as well. Smith and six members of his staff are lame ducks, having been hired last month by Louisville, a Conference USA opponent of Cincinnati.

The staff has been working with Utah State on weekends and recruiting for the Cardinals the rest of the week, but the Aggies say they're ready to take on Cincinnati's vaunted running attack.

``They're a Midwest, grinding type of team,'' said defensive end Ben Crosland. ``We've had success against power teams this year, and we're anxious to try it against Cincinnati.''

The Bearcats have been preparing for the Aggies' pass-happy offense without the help of defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, who left Nov. 23 for the same job at Oklahoma.