Washington State beats Miami in extremely snowy Sun Bowl

Washington State beat Miami, 20-14, in the Sun Bowl to get its first bowl win since the 2003 Holiday Bowl, but this Sun Bowl defied its name and then some. It wasn’t sunny at all. It was snowy as can be in El Paso, Texas, and that made for a lot of fun, sloppy football.

This game was, predictably, a mess. Washington State games are always wild, back-and-forth affairs, while Miami isn’t used to playing in the snow. This isn’t what you sign up for when you accept a bid to the Sun Bowl.

The first half mostly had flurries, but in the second half, the snow picked up to the point that the camera man even lost the ball at times. Essentially, the game became a big, messy snowball fight.

The first half started with a bang, but it didn’t quite last like some thought it would. Both teams started the game with touchdowns on their opening drives, but the points didn’t keep flowing after that. Both teams turned it over once in the first half, and neither team was especially efficient converting third downs. The Cougs started to pick it up late in the second quarter, though, racking up 13 points in the final six and a half minutes to roll into halftime with a 20-7 lead as the snow flew in El Paso.

The second half was more of a tug of war as the snow came down harder. It felt like Washington State was one score away from really putting the game away, but repeated unsuccessful fourth down attempts kept Miami in the game. Wazzu moved the ball a bit more, but its end results were no better than Miami’s.

Then came the fourth quarter, which started with a 60-yard run from Miami to bring the Hurricanes within six points. Then, with the chance to take the lead late in the game, the snow struck again, as Miami fumbled at Washington State’s five-yard line.

But wait! Life! After forcing a punt from the Washington State end zone, the Hurricanes got the ball back on the Cougars’ 28-yard line and called a halfback pass into a dang snowstorm. It did not work, and the ensuing interception essentially sealed the game for Wazzu, as players gave Mike Leach a double Gatorade bath.

For Miami, this game mercifully draws the Al Golden era to a close. There’s been a lot of excitement about Mark Richt coming back to his alma mater, and for good reason, but that had the side effect of making this game feel like an afterthought.

And Miami’s time playing in the snow is likely done, as well.

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