Author Archives: ianbethune

2011-12 Bowl Swag

Are you curious to know what your favorite college football team will receive as gifts for playing in a 2011-12 college football bowl game this year. The NCAA allows the bowls to give the players gifts who total value cannot be more than $550. The schools and conferences can also provide up to $350 in gifts each as well.

A full look at what your favorite college team will receive can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the homepage.

Gildan New Mexico Bowl
Temple vs Wyoming
Gift suite, Oakley Eyepatch 2, Oakley beanie, New Era cap, Oakley Flak Pack 3.0, pen with box, Christmas ornament

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Ohio vs Utah State
Gift suite, North End winter coat, Kombi gloves, Nike beanie, Ogio Fugitive backpack, Big Game souvenir football

R+L Carriers
San Diego State vs. Louisiana-Lafayette
Samsung Galaxy tablet

Beef ‘O’Brady’s Bowl
Florida International vs Marshall
Sony PlayStation 3, Oakley Eyepatch 2, Oakley backpack duffel, mini-helmet

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
TCU vs. Louisiana Tech
Best Buy gift card*, Tourneau watch, hooded sweatshirt, FlexFit cap

MAACO Las Vegas Bowl
Arizona State vs Boise State
Gift suite, cap

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl
Nevada vs Southern Mississippi
Oakley sunglasses, Aloha shirt, Pro Athletics custom beach shorts, Oakley T-shirt, performance wear, cap or visor, backpack, beach towels, bowl calendar, playing cards

AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl
Missouri vs North Carolina
Gift suite, Timely Watch Co. watch, New Era cap, commemorative football

Little Caesars Pizza Bowl
Western Michigan vs Purdue
Timely Watch Co. watch, leather duffel bag, commemorative football

Belk Bowl
Louisville vs North Carolina State
Estimated $400 shopping trip to Belk’s flagship store in Charlotte, Fossil watch

Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman
Toledo vs Air Force
Amazon Kindle Fire, Apple iPod nano, Deuce watch, LunaTik wristband (to hold iPod), beanie, Nike backpack

Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl
California vs Texas
Best Buy gift card*, Tourneau watch, hooded sweatshirt, FlexFit cap

Champs Sports Bowl
Florida State vs Notre Dame
$420 shopping trip to a local Best Buy, Timely Watch Co. watch

Valero Alamo Bowl
Washington vs Baylor
$400 Best Buy gift card, Fossil watch, Schutt mini-helmet, panoramic team photo

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl
BYU vs. Tulsa
Sony Gift suite, Timely Watch Co. watch, camo knit beanie, Ogio backpack, Big Game souvenir football

New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Rutgers vs Iowa State
Note: Bowl committee would not disclose details about participants’ gifts

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl
Mississippi State vs Wake Forest
Gift suite, Reactor watch

Insight Bowl
Iowa vs Oklahoma
Gift suite, Fossil watch, cap, Ogio Convoy backpack

Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas
Texas A&M vs Northwestern
Toshiba 32-inch flat-screen television, Fossil watch, belt buckle, T-shirt, backpack

Hyundai Sun Bowl
Georgia Tech vs Utah
Gift suite, Timely Watch Co. watch, Majestic Pro-Base fleece pullover, VP Sports cap, Ogio Politan backpack, Helen of Troy hair dryer, souvenir coin

AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Cincinnati vs Vanderbilt
Best Buy gift card, Fossil watch, Nike training shoes, Nike sport sandals, Nike sunglasses, Nike Air Jordan backpack, commemorative game ball

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl
Illinois vs UCLA
Soundmatters Personal Audiophile loudspeaker, Fossil watch, cap, Timbuk2 custom messenger bag

Chick-fil-A Bowl
Virginia vs Auburn
$250 Best Buy gift card, Fossil watch, Russell Athletic ski cap, Russell Athletic travel bag, $15 Chick-fil-A gift card, commemorative football

TicketCity Bowl
Houston vs Penn State
Gift suite, Timely Watch Co. watch

Capital One Bowl
Nebraska vs South Carolina
$420 shopping trip to a local Best Buy, Timely Watch Co. watch

Outback Bowl
Michigan State vs Georgia
$150 Best Buy gift card, Fossil watch, Jostens ring, cap, $25 Outback Steakhouse gift certificate

TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl
Ohio State vs Florida
Fossil watch, Gator Gear performance headwear, rolling luggage bag, Jostens ring, commemorative football

Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio
Wisconsin vs Oregon
Gift suite, Fossil watch, New Era hat, Oakley Flak Pack 3.0

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
Stanford vs Oklahoma State
Gift suite, Kenneth Cole watch, cap, Ogio Convoy backpack

Allstate Sugar Bowl
Michigan vs Virginia Tech
Gift suite, Reactor watch, New Era cap, Majestic fleece pullover

Discover Orange Bowl
West Virginia vs Clemson
Gift suite, Tourneau watch

AT&T Cotton Bowl
Kansas State vs Arkansas
Fossil watch
Note: Bowl committee would not disclose additional details about participant gifts

BBVA Compass Bowl
SMU vs Pittsburgh
iBeats by Dr. Dre (ear buds), Reactor watch, Oakley Eyepatch 2, Oakley backpack duffel, Big Game commemorative football

GoDaddy.com Bowl
Northern Illinois vs. Arkansas State
Nikon S80, Timely Watch Co. watch, leather luggage bag, commemorative football

Allstate BCS National Championship Game
LSU vs Alabama
Gift suite, Fossil watch, New Era cap, Boxer and Stone shirt

* To be spent during the teams’ official store visit. Balance not used that day will be forfeited.

Most watches, rings, clothing and luggage are custom-made with the bowl logo. Gift suites are set up as private events in which game participants, and often bowl VIPs, are given an order form and allowed to select a gift, or gifts, up to a value that is predetermined by each specific bowl, not to exceed the NCAA limit of $550 per person.

Information courtesy of SportsBusiness Journal

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 12/7

Paw Prints The Daily Roundup

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball teams as well as some of the other sports. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Men’s Basketball links

A Chance to Meet Kemba [David Borges – New Haven Register]

Omar Calhoun Off To Impressive Start [Dom Amore – Hartford Courant]

Dom also answered a question in his mailbag [Dom Amore – Hartford Courant]

Giving Back: Ray Allen on Extreme Makeover [UConn Huskies Basketball]

As it prepares for UConn, Harvard reaching new heights [CT Post]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

UConn forces the issue [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

Jimmy V Classic still a big deal for Geno [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

Impressive Win By UConn [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

UConn Just Keeps On Rolling [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

Huskies Will Host Maryland In 2012 Jimmy V Classic [Rich Elliott – CT Post]

Faris propels balanced UConn to romp over Texas A&M [CT Post]

Defensive intensity Huskies’ strong point [CT Post]

UConn women: What we learned [CT Post]

UConn Defeats Texas A&M, 81-51 [Hartford Courant]

UConn’s Four Guards Set Winning Tempo [Hartford Courant]

UConn Women Notebook [Hartford Courant]

Hayes leads Huskies past Texas A&M [New Haven Register]

Huskies beat A&M with surprising ease [The Day]

Defending champ can’t handle UConn ‘D’ [Graham Hays – ESPN.com]

UConn Football links

Season recap: UConn [Andrea Adelson – ESPN.com]

Other UConn related links

Breaking Down The New Big East [Kevin Duffy – CT Post]

Baseball. Penders Goes the Distance [UConnHuskies.com]

W. Soccer. Women’s Soccer Has Four Named To NEWISA Second Team [UConnHuskies.com]

M. Swimming. Boliek Compete At Winter Nationals [UConnHuskies.com]

W. Swimming. Swimming Competes At Winter Nationals [UConnHuskies.com]

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Pearl Harbor Day 2011

U.S.S. Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii

Please take a moment of your day today to remember the people who gave their lives on this day back in 1941 defending our country. If you ever go to Hawaii, I highly advise going over to Pearl Harbor and doing the tour (I've been twice).

It will leave you speechless.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Video: Highlights of UConn Women’s 81-51 Win Over Texas A&M

Here are the highlights of the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team’s 81-51 win over the Texas A&M Aggies on Tuesday night at the XL Center in Hartford, CT in the Jimmy V Classic.

{flvremote}http://cdn.ianbethune.com/texasamuconn2011.flv{/flvremote}

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Andrew Miller, Big Papi To Return To Red Sox For 2012

MLB player and former Sportsman of the Year David Ortiz attends the 2011 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year award presentation at The IAC Building on December 6, 2011 in New York City.

Good news Boston Red Sox fans. Two familiar faces will be returning to the team in 2012.

The Red Sox and Andrew Miller avoided arbitration on Tuesday when Miller agreed to a one-year deal with the club. According to Alex Speier of WEEI.com, the deal is worth $1.04 million.

Miller made $1.3 million last year.

If that news isn’t big enough for you, then this ought to really make you happy.

According to Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes, David Ortiz has decided to accept the offer of arbitration from the Red Sox. He made $12.5 million last year and should get a raise from that number.

It is quite possible that the Red Sox and Big Papi could work out a multi-year deal.

There have been rumors out there that teams interest in Big Papi waned when the new CBA was announced and that teams that signed him would lose their first round draft pick.

With the exception of right field, the starting nine is almost intact from last year as of now. Hopefully Ben Cherington can get some quality pitchers and the team can overcome how the season ended and make 2012 a special season.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Photo credit: Getty Images

2012 NCAA Women’s Basketball Rankings – Week 4 (Dec. 6)

AP & USA Today Coaches Polls

The UConn Huskies women’s basketball team will enter their game against the No. 8/7 Texas A&M Aggies on Tuesday night as the No. 2 team in the latest polls that were released.

The Baylor Lady Bears are still the No. 1 team in the land and are followed by UConn, Notre Dame, Stanford and Maryland in the AP Poll. In the ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll, it’s the same top four with Duke as the No. 5 team.

Joining the Huskies and Fighting Irish in the top 25 from the Big East are the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (11/11), Louisville Cardinals (15/13), Georgetown Hoyas (19/20) and DePaul Blue Demons (20/21).

There are no teams from the Big East among the others receiving votes in the AP Poll. The Syracuse Orange received one vote in the coaches’ poll.

For a complete look at the 2012 NCAA Women’s Basketball Rankings for Week 4 (Dec. 6), click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

AP Top 25					ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll
RK	TEAM	REC	PTS	PVS	RK	TEAM	REC	PTS	PVS
1	Baylor (39)	8-0	975	1	1	Baylor (29)	8-0	773	1
2	Connecticut	7-0	928	2	2	Connecticut (2)	7-0	745	2
3	Notre Dame	7-1	895	3	3	Notre Dame	7-1	711	3
4	Stanford	6-1	855	5	4	Stanford	6-1	681	5
5	Maryland	9-0	792	6	5	Duke	6-1	630	6
6	Duke	6-1	750	7	6	Maryland	9-0	602	7
7	Tennessee	4-2	729	8	7	Texas A&M	6-1	578	4
8	Texas A&M	6-1	698	4	8	Tennessee	4-2	567	8
9	Miami (FL)	6-1	671	9	9	Miami (FL)	7-1	539	9
10	Kentucky	8-0	597	12	10	Kentucky	8-0	520	10
11	Rutgers	8-0	595	11	11	Rutgers	8-1	421	12
12	Purdue	7-1	554	13	12	Georgia	7-1	418	14
13	Ohio State	7-0	449	17	13	Louisville	7-2	367	11
14	Georgia	7-1	430	15	14	Purdue	7-1	366	16
15	Louisville	7-2	428	10	15	Ohio State	7-0	313	18
16	Texas Tech	7-0	395	19	16	Green Bay	7-0	292	17
17	Penn State	6-2	324	16	17	North Carolina	5-1	272	13
18	North Carolina	5-1	287	14	18	Penn State	6-2	257	15
19	Georgetown	7-2	267	20	19	Vanderbilt	9-0	198	22
20	DePaul	6-1	211	22	20	Georgetown	7-2	196	20
21	Green Bay	7-0	194	23	21	DePaul	6-1	182	21
22	Delaware	6-0	156	24	22	Texas Tech	7-0	136	25
23	Vanderbilt	9-0	155	25	23	Oklahoma	3-2	128	18
24	Oklahoma	3-2	154	18	24	Texas	5-2	69	22
25	Texas	5-2	87	21	25	Delaware	7-0	59	NR
Dropped from rankings:					Dropped from rankings:
None					Gonzaga 24
Others receiving votes:					Others receiving votes:
Michigan 17, Nebraska 14, USC 13, LSU 12, Virginia 9, Florida State 9, California 8, Arkansas 5, Arizona State 3, Tulane 3, Georgia Tech 2, Gonzaga 2, Northwestern 2					Michigan 16, Gonzaga 15, Georgia Tech 12, Kansas 3, California 2, Florida 2, Princeton 1, Syracuse 1

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Friday is First Whale Trading Card Giveaway Night

HARTFORD, December 6, 2011: Fun is in the cards this Friday, as Whalers Sports & Entertainment announced today that December 9 is Connecticut Whale trading card collectible night, presented by Webster Bank.

CT Whale The first five-thousand fans at this Friday’s game at the XL Center vs. the Hershey Bears will receive the first of three special five-card collectible sets, consisting of Whale mainstays Wade Redden, Mats Zuccarello, Kris Newbury, Chad Johnson and Carl Hagelin, who is currently on recall to the parent New York Rangers club.

This is the first of three trading card giveaway nights that Webster Bank will be sponsoring throughout the Whale’s 2011-2012 season. The other trading card nights are January 27 and March 16. Each of these nights will include distribution of a five-player set to 5,000 fans.

Tickets to Friday night’s game, and all 2011-12 Whale home games, are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, as well as on-line at www.ctwhale.com and through TicketMaster Charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000.

Save on your tickets, and get the best seats, with a ticket plan for the Whale’s 2011-12 AHL campaign, which are on sale now. For information on season seats and mini plans, visit www.ctwhale.com, or call the CT Whale ticket office at (860) 728-3366 to talk with an account executive today.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Webster Bank Announces Sponsorship Of Connecticut Whale Telecasts

HARTFORD, Conn., December 6, 2011 – Whalers Sports & Entertainment and Webster Bank today announced that Webster has entered a three-year agreement to be the official presenting television sponsor of the Connecticut Whale.

CT Whale In addition to in-arena signage and hospitality, Webster will receive promotional exposure across various forms of media. Webster Bank will be the presenting sponsor of the “Whale TV” Connecticut Whale telecast package for the 2011-2012 season on Connecticut’s CW affiliate, WCCT-TV. This five-game slate of televised games represents a return of AHL action to the local TV airwaves for the first time since the 2006-07 Season.

“Webster Bank is pleased to share all the excitement of the Connecticut Whale hockey games with families and sports fans in the greater Hartford area. This venture is an important investment in the future economic growth of our region and state, and we look forward to this valued relationship,” said Jerry Plush, vice chairman and chief operating officer of Webster Bank.

“We are excited to have Webster Bank on board for this major partnership package,” Whalers Sports & Entertainment President and COO Howard Baldwin Jr. said. “Our television schedule on WCCT, along with our new radio presence on WCCC-FM, is extremely key exposure as we strive to restore Hartford’s status as a premier hockey market, and Webster Bank’s support of the telecasts is invaluable to showcasing our great product.”

The televised home games are all prime, Saturday night dates, starting with a major-rivalry contest against the Providence Bruins this Saturday, December 10. The full schedule is as follows (all games face off at 7:00 PM):

Saturday, December 10 vs. Providence Bruins

Saturday, January 28 vs. Springfield Falcons

Saturday, February 18 vs. Worcester Sharks

Saturday, March 10 vs. Norfolk Admirals

Saturday, March 31 vs. Adirondack Phantoms

Tickets to all 2011-12 Whale home games are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, as well as on-line at www.ctwhale.com and through TicketMaster Charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Video: Francona Talks About What Red Sox Need For 2012

Fresh off of being hired by ESPN on Monday night, former Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona made his ESPN debut on Baseball Tonight.

In one of his first pieces in his new job, which ironically enough was new skipper Bobby Valentine’s job, Tito talked about what the Red Sox need to do in 2012 to right the ship.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 12/6

Paw Prints The Daily Roundup

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

It’s game day for the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team as they’ll host the Texas A&M Aggies in the Jimmy V Classic at the XL Center in Hartford, CT. Tip is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and the game will be nationally televised on espn2.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Geno not look at Texas A&M as the defending champions [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

Doty benefits from time off [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

Blair Finally Knows The Feeling [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

Doty Still Keeping Her Head Up [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

Geno Feels Bad For Caroline Doty [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

Reigning National Champions In Town Tuesday To Face UConn [Rich Elliott – CT Post]

Doty Back In Practice, Back In The Starting Lineup For Huskies [Rich Elliott – CT Post]

Husky Fans Asked to Bring New, Unwrapped Toys to Basketball Games This Week [UConnHuskies.com]

UConn women brace for national champions [CT Post]

Texas A&M’s Gary Blair Says Program Has A Way To Go [Hartford Courant]