SMALL

SPORTS Sick of the big city? Take a short trip to a small ski townsometimes they offer bigger charm... and shorter lift lines and an Im-so-glad-no one-else-knowsabout-this-place smugness. BY PHILIP ROSS

IS

BIG
LA

FANTASTIC FINISH
DETROIT

YOU HAD TO BE THERE

As part of the 2010 bowl, Little Caesars announced a national buy one pizza, get one free coupon.

NOTABLE NUMBER

DEC. 26 FORD FIELD

LITTLE CAESARS PIZZA BOWL

114 MILES FROM

Purdue 51, Central Michigan 48 Chris Summers won it for the Boilermakers with a field goal at the gun in front of the largest crowd (60,624) in game history. 1971, Auburn 35, Mississippi 28 Quarterback Pat Sullivan rolled up nearly 400 yards to outduel injured Ole Miss quarterback Archie Manning.

passing yards for Curtis Painter of Purdue in the 2008 game, the fourth-highest total in NCAA bowl history at the time. The Gator Bowl has been a New Years Day game since

546

Population: 3,819,702

Population: 5,019

JACKSONVILLE

BEAR MOUNTAIN, CA Just a few hours from Sunset Strip but worlds apart, this charming town surrounded by pine forests has all the trimmings of a quaint mountain getawaydespite the fact that the weekend population of this Southern California-favorite can reach 100,000 visitors. bigbearmountainresorts.com
198 MILES FROM SAN FRANCISC O

TAXSLAYER. COM GATOR BOWL

JAN. 1 EVERBANK FIELD

Population: 812, 826

Population: 12,803

TRUCKEE, CA With wooden walkways in its historic downtown and an active clapboard train station, this old logging and railway town exudes all the character of the Old West. With eight different ski areas (like popular Northstar) within 15 miles and some of the highest average snowfall totals in the country, youre guaranteed to find a favorite slope. truckee.com
132 MILES FROM NEW YORK

Bowling Ball
SPORTS

Ohio State coach Woody Hayes slugged a Clemson player on the Ohio State sideline in the 1978 game. The morning after his teams 17-15 defeat, he was fired.

1996.

BY CLAY LATIMER

For college football fans, the holidays are synonymous with bowl games. Here are the best, the most obscure and the ones with free pizza.
PASADENA

ROSE BOWL
JAN. 1 ROSE BOWL 38 MILES FROM LA

Population: 8,244,910

Population: 2,732

HUNTER MOUNTAIN, NY Located in New Yorks picturesque Catskill Mountains, Hunter is renowned for its consistent snow (manmade and natural) and prime conditions, and offers some of the best overall terrain in New York. huntermtn.com

2005, Texas 41, Southern Cal 38 Texas quarterback Vince Young scored on an eight-yard run on fourth down late in the fourth quarter to stun USC. 1984, Miami 31, Nebraska 30 Underdog Nebraska coach Tom Osborne chose the twopoint conversion with less than a minute left... but the gamble failed. 2007, Boise State 43, Oklahoma 42 Boise State went into OT with a hookand-ladder play. They then won with a two-point conversionthe Statue of Liberty play.

In 1929, California center Roy Riegels picked up a fumble and made an incredible 65-yard run. Trouble was, Riegels ran the wrong way.

1952

The Rose Bowl game that became the first college football game broadcast nationally.

49 MILES FROM

LAS VEGAS

MIAMI

DISCOVER ORANGE BOWL

Population: 357

Population: 589,317

MOUNT CHARLESTON, NV This is the ideal place to shred some snow before hitting the Strip for some evening gambling. To escape Sin City entirely, check out Mount Charleston Lodge, which offers log cabins complete with fireplaces and spacious outdoor decks for a true one-withthe-mountain experience. mtcharlestonlodge.com
129 MILES FROM BOSTON

JAN. 1 SUN LIFE STADIUM

In 1985, Oklahoma received a 15-yard penalty when a covered wagon pulled by two Shetland ponies raced onto the field. OU went on to lose the game. In 1987, the Miami Hurricanes walked out during a team meal with Penn State. Jerome Brown: Did the Japanese have dinner with Pearl Harbor before they bombed them?

1965

The first time the Orange Bowl was televised in primetime.

PHOENIX

TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL

Population: 268

3,622

Population : 625,087

WATERVILLE VALLEY, NH Horse-drawn sleigh rides, panoramic mountain views and great skiing make Waterville akin to a blast into the pastinto a simpler, better time almost. Nestled in New Hampshires White Mountain National Forest, Waterville is bursting with restaurants and shopping within walking distance of the slopes. waterville.com
= 100 miles

JAN. 3 U. OF PHOENIX STADIUM (GLENDALE)

Estimated steps it takes for a tuba player to walk the route of the Fiesta Bowl Parade.

DECEMBER

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G O M AGA Z I N E

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