Pregame Notes
January 04, 2012 06:18 PM | General
Sun Life Stadium has a pretty interesting setup and is much different than what I recall when it was Joe Robbie Stadium and West Virginia was playing Georgia Tech in the 1997 Carquest Bowl.
Back then, the press area was where the suites are now along midfield. For tonight’s Orange Bowl, West Virginia’s press contingent is stationed near the west end zone where home plate is located for Florida Marlins games.
Clemson’s media is positioned on the other side in another enclave, and upstairs are the secondary writers and radio booths.
The Mountaineer end zone is painted navy blue with gold West Virginia lettering and white trim, while the Clemson end zone immediate across from us is painted orange with white Clemson lettering and purple trim.
… A funny story from my first trip to this stadium back in 1994 … West Virginia was playing South Carolina in the Carquest Bowl and the next day the Miami Dolphins were hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in a playoff game, so midway through the third quarter, work crews began washing the windows of the press box while the game was going on.
As fate would have it, the first window workers began cleaning was Mickey Furfari’s. Old Mick didn’t take too kindly to the interruption and he began beating on the window explaining as politely has he could that it was impossible for him to follow the game with a big squeegee going past him.
Mick gave a good fight but lost that battle.
I also seem to recall work crews impatiently waiting for the end of the game to repaint the end zones. Seeing how insignificant the game was to the workers there took a little of the sting off West Virginia losing to South Carolina and its mullet-haired quarterback Steve Taneyhill.
I believe that was South Carolina's first bowl win - ever.
More pregame notes …
- A Big Ten officiating crew has been assigned to tonight’s game.
- Tonight’s entertainment includes a halftime performance by the musical group Train and DJ Irie.
- Among those being inducted into the Orange Bowl Hall of Fame is former Clemson coach Danny Ford, whose Clemson team defeated Nebraska in the 1981 Orange Bowl for the school’s only national championship.
- Honorary captains for tonight’s game are Jeff Davis for Clemson and Darryl Talley for West Virginia
- Expected temperature at kickoff is 60 degrees
- West Virginia is wearing white on white for tonight's game
- Be sure to check out @WVUsportsBuzz on Twitter for updated team notes during the game. I will also be tweeting notes at @JohnAntonik.
- After tonight’s game, some of the Miramar guys - including quarterback Geno Smith - plan to walk home with their families. They say they can easily watch what is going on inside with the giant Jumbotron overlooking the stadium and after riding in I can see why. That thing is the Titanic of Jumbotrons.
Back then, the press area was where the suites are now along midfield. For tonight’s Orange Bowl, West Virginia’s press contingent is stationed near the west end zone where home plate is located for Florida Marlins games.
Clemson’s media is positioned on the other side in another enclave, and upstairs are the secondary writers and radio booths.
The Mountaineer end zone is painted navy blue with gold West Virginia lettering and white trim, while the Clemson end zone immediate across from us is painted orange with white Clemson lettering and purple trim.
… A funny story from my first trip to this stadium back in 1994 … West Virginia was playing South Carolina in the Carquest Bowl and the next day the Miami Dolphins were hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in a playoff game, so midway through the third quarter, work crews began washing the windows of the press box while the game was going on.
As fate would have it, the first window workers began cleaning was Mickey Furfari’s. Old Mick didn’t take too kindly to the interruption and he began beating on the window explaining as politely has he could that it was impossible for him to follow the game with a big squeegee going past him.
Mick gave a good fight but lost that battle.
I also seem to recall work crews impatiently waiting for the end of the game to repaint the end zones. Seeing how insignificant the game was to the workers there took a little of the sting off West Virginia losing to South Carolina and its mullet-haired quarterback Steve Taneyhill.
I believe that was South Carolina's first bowl win - ever.
More pregame notes …
- A Big Ten officiating crew has been assigned to tonight’s game.
- Tonight’s entertainment includes a halftime performance by the musical group Train and DJ Irie.
- Among those being inducted into the Orange Bowl Hall of Fame is former Clemson coach Danny Ford, whose Clemson team defeated Nebraska in the 1981 Orange Bowl for the school’s only national championship.
- Honorary captains for tonight’s game are Jeff Davis for Clemson and Darryl Talley for West Virginia
- Expected temperature at kickoff is 60 degrees
- West Virginia is wearing white on white for tonight's game
- Be sure to check out @WVUsportsBuzz on Twitter for updated team notes during the game. I will also be tweeting notes at @JohnAntonik.
- After tonight’s game, some of the Miramar guys - including quarterback Geno Smith - plan to walk home with their families. They say they can easily watch what is going on inside with the giant Jumbotron overlooking the stadium and after riding in I can see why. That thing is the Titanic of Jumbotrons.
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