The Grandaddy of Bad Bowls...

Bowl disappointment comes in many different flavors. The Purdue and Central Michigan players at the Motor City Bowl partied at a bowling alley. Fresno State and Georgia Tech players traveling to the Humanitarian Bowl are playing a game sponsored by a series of truck stops.

And for Memphis and Florida Atlantic players looking for events at the New Orleans Bowl -- events like parades -- well, sorry: There were no events listed or provided. (Even the Meineke Car Care Bowl had a street fair and pep rally for UConn and Wake Forest players and fans. If they can do it, anyone can.)

The original recipe for bowl disappointment, though, comes from Shreveport, La.: The Independence Bowl, better known to you and me as the former Poulan/Weed Eater Independence Bowl. The GMAC, the Motor City, the Meineke Car Care Bowl ... they all owe a debt of gratitude to the Independence Bowl, which came along in 1976 and innovated the bowl scene by removing the requirement of being "a destination city" from the criteria.

By Spencer Hall - SportingNews