Hey Operator



 Hey Operator!

Hey Operator!




Hey operator, hold the line.

I'm calling to be near you.


Please, operator, spend some time

Cause I can't wait to hear you.






I spent all my cash

Just to talk to you,

But it's hard to get you

On the phone.


Feels like stall and crash

Die to walk with you

Cause at home,

On my own,

Feeling alone.





It's her voice in my head

That's so hard to forget

I say hey-oh, hey operator.

Just a voice in my head

That is driving me mad

I say hey-oh, hey operator!




It's her voice in my head

That's so hard to forget

I say hey-oh, hey operator.

Just a voice in my head

That is driving me mad

I say hey-oh, hey operator!





Hey Operator!

Hey Operator!


Hey operator, I'm in love,

You got my fires burning.

Please operator, it's so tough!

Can't stop this dial from turning!





I spent all my cash

Just to talk to you,

But it's hard to get you

On the phone.


Feels like stall and crash

Die to walk with you

Cause at home,

On my own,

Feeling alone.





It's her voice in my head

That's so hard to forget

I say hey-oh, hey operator.

Just a voice in my head

That is driving me mad

I say hey-oh, hey operator!




It's her voice in my head

That's so hard to forget

I say hey-oh, hey operator.

Just a voice in my head

That is driving me mad

I say hey-oh, hey operator!





I spent all my cash

Just to talk to you,

But it's hard to get you

On the phone.





Feels like stall and crash

Die to walk with you

Cause at home,

On my own,

Feeling alone.





It's her voice in my head

That's so hard to forget

I say hey-oh, hey operator.

Just a voice in my head

That is driving me mad

I say hey-oh, hey operator!





It's her voice in my head

That's so hard to forget

I say hey-oh, hey operator.

Just a voice in my head

That is driving me mad

I say hey-oh, hey operator!




Hawaii: 2020 New Mexico Bowl Champions




FRISCO, Texas >> Calvin Turner knew he’d just been given a gift.


Hawaii’s 21-point halftime lead had suddenly shrunk to seven as Houston captured the momentum late in the third quarter of Thursday’s New Mexico Bowl. As he moved up to field a kickoff short of the goal line, Turner’s memory flashed back to the week of film study in preparation for Hawaii’s third appearance in a mainland bowl.


“They just scored a touchdown so I was thinking that we needed a big play,” Turner said. “Their kicker has a leg and he’s been kicking touchback after touchback. There was one time on film where he kicked the ball in the middle of the field on a miss-kick to Cincinnati and had a big return. Coach said, ‘if it’s in the middle of the field, it’s going to be a big return.’


“So when I saw the ball coming in the middle, I kind of knew in my head that this was going to go to the crib.”


After securing the catch, Turner turned his vision into reality, picking his way through the first wave of coverage, breaking to the sideline, then cutting across the field for a game-record 92-yard touchdown return that helped propel the Warriors to a 28-14 Christmas Eve victory at Toyota Stadium.


Turner was named the game’s outstanding offensive player after finishing with 252 total yards — 60 yards rushing, 88 receiving and 104 on kick returns — in Hawaii’s second straight postseason win and the second in a mainland bowl game in the program’s history.


Hawaii quarterback Chevan Cordeiro threw three touchdown passes, including a 75-yarder to Turner, and the Warriors — a 101⁄2-point underdog entering the game — held off a Cougar rally in the second half to cap Todd Graham’s first season as head coach at 5-4.


“We really talk a lot about bringing the energy and the intensity and I thought our energy level and our passion to win was at a very, very high level. Probably played the best game we’ve played all year just top to bottom,” said Graham, who also celebrated the 100th win of his coaching career.


“I can’t give our players enough credit. They really played well, they executed well and we were the most disciplined, physical team on the field and that was the difference in the game.”


The game was moved to Frisco from its usual location in Albuquerque because of COVID-19 restrictions in New Mexico.


Houston quarterback Clayton Tune was without three starting receivers and finished 20-for-38 for 216 yards and two touchdowns for the Cougars. But the Hawaii defense came down with three interceptions and finished with five sacks.


Hawaii shed its tendency for slow starts this season by jumping out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter as the Warriors pressured Tune into two early interceptions that the Hawaii offense converted into scores.


Hawaii defensive lineman DJuan Mathews batted Tune’s second throw of the day, and linebacker Penei Pavihi snagged the loose ball to set up the UH offense at the Cougars’ 8. Two plays later, Cordeiro found freshman running back Dae Dae Hunter flaring out of the backfield for a 3-yard touchdown pass.


“Our whole deal was to push their quarterback off his spot and to pressure and to mix it up and try to confuse him,” Graham said.


“We talked about batting the ball, we brought pressure on that third down, we knew what they were going to run, we knew they were going to throw the slant route, it gets batted and Penei makes a big interception.”


Pressure from cornerback Cortez Davis led to an interception by Michael Washington later in the opening period. On the next play, Cordeiro fired a dart over the middle to Turner, who broke loose from a defender then burst away from the rest of the Cougars secondary for a 75-yard touchdown.


The quick strike matched the Warriors’ longest play of the season, also a Cordeiro-to-Turner connection against San Diego State. Turner finished the season with a team-high 11 touchdowns and said last week he would wait until after the bowl game to decide whether to return to the Warriors next season.


“That man, he’s a beast,” Hawaii linebacker Darius Muasau said. “He does it every week. Day in, day out he proves that he’s the best at what he does.”


Muasau was named the game’s outstanding defensive player after finishing with nine tackles, raising his season total to 104, including a sack, and an interception. Linebacker/safety Khoury Bethley finished with 14 tackles (including nine solo and three for losses) and tipped a pass leading to Muasau’s interception. Linebacker Jeremiah Pritchard also had nine stops with two sacks.


The Rainbow Warriors had a winning record for the third season in a row, the first time they’ve done that since 2001-04. Houston (3-5) has consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 2000-02.


Hawaii raced to a 21-0 lead in the first half with Cordeiro’s third TD pass going to Jonah Laulu, a defensive tackle who lined up at tight end, for a 4-yard score in the second quarter.


An energized Houston offense rallied with two touchdowns in the third quarter, with Tune throwing a 7-yard scoring pass to Nathaniel Dell and a 26-yarder to Christian Trahan.


After Trahan’s score, Turner returned the kickoff 92 yards to cap the scoring.


“We just came off of a big play and that was almost like a dagger,” Trahan said. “We tried to fight back, but that was definitely a big play in the game.”


Said Houston coach Dana Holgorsen: “I was sick to my stomach. We played spurts of good football, but that’s not going to get it done. I’m glad 2020’s over.”


———


The Associated Press contributed to this story.


--

Memphis: 2020 Montgomery Bowl Champions



MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Brady White passed for 284 yards and three touchdowns to lead Memphis to a 25-10 victory over Florida Atlantic on Wednesday night in the Montgomery Bowl.


The Tigers (8-3) built a big halftime lead, withstood a third-quarter rally and ended coach Ryan Silverfield’s first season with a second straight win. They also snapped a five-game bowl losing streak.


Meanwhile, Willie Taggart’s debut season with Florida Atlantic ended at 5-4 after the offense sputtered much of the way.


The game was created to replace the canceled Fenway Bowl. Cramton Bowl will also host the Camellia Bowl on Christmas Day. This one ended in a driving rain.


White, who was named game MVP, completed 22 of 34 passes with three short touchdowns while also throwing an interception, having a big game even with a quiet night from star receiver Calvin Austin III. Tahj Washington and Javon Ivory both have big games.


Washington caught eight passes for 105 yards while Ivory gained 126 yards on seven catches with a TD. Austin had 28 yards on three catches, with a TD.


Auburn transfer Asa Martin ran for 96 yards on 15 carries for Memphis.


Nick Tronti completed 16 of 32 passes for 146 yards with a touchdown and an interception for Florida Atlantic. Charles James ran for 82 yards.


Memphis capped the first half with a big man touchdown and a sizable lead — that would shrink in the third quarter.


The Tigers took an 18-0 lead with 22 seconds left in the first half on White’s 2-yard pass to moonlighting defensive lineman Joseph Dorceus. It was the 277-pounder’s first touchdown catch and was followed by a two-point conversion.


White completed all 10 of his pass attempts on the first two touchdown drives.


Florida Atlantic cut it to 18-10 in the third quarter with help from a fumbled kickoff return. Tronti passed for 38 yards in the first half and 46 on his initial drive of the second.


White answered right back with a 7-yard touchdown to Austin. Then the Tigers defense stuffed Tronti on a fourth-down run from the 1 to effectively put the game away.


THE TAKEAWAY


Florida Atlantic: Lost for the first time in a bowl game after coming in 4-0. Couldn’t muster much offense at all in the first half with either quarterback, Tronti or Javion Posey.


Memphis: Got its first bowl win since a double-overtime victory over BYU in the 2014 Miami Beach Bowl. ... Riley Patterson drilled a Cramton Bowl-record 53-yard field goal to cap the Tigers’ opening drive.


FLAGGED


There was a little scuffling in the game, with Florida Atlantic starting left guard Desmond Noel ejected for fighting in the final seconds of the first half with a shove to a Memphis player’s face mask. Silverfield was also called for unsportsmanlike conduct.


UP NEXT


Florida Atlantic gets its quarterbacks back but loses key players like outside linebacker Leighton McCarthy, running back James Charles, receiver TJ Chase and cornerback Zyon Gilbert. Scheduled to visit Florida on Sept. 4.


Memphis must replace White, the school career leader in passing yards and touchdowns and wins as a starting quarterback, but Austin is only a junior. All-conference defensive lineman O’Bryan Goodson is also a senior.


Georgia Southern: 2020 New Orleans Bowl Champions



NEW ORLEANS — Georgia Southern quarterback Shai Werts kept his team in suspense until pregame warmups.


That’s when he started getting geared up emotionally the way he normally does on game days — which teammates and coaches understood to mean that their offensive leader wasn’t going to let his shoulder injury sideline him for what was likely his final game with the Eagles.


“It really energized our team,” coach Chad Lunsford said. “The guys fed off that for sure.”


Werts had three touchdown runs and threw a 65-yard scoring pass to help Georgia Southern beat Louisiana Tech 38-3 Wednesday in the New Orleans Bowl.


“Going into the week, I really didn’t know if I was going to be able to play,” insisted Werts, who missed Georgia Southern’s previous two games. “When the time came for me to make a decision, I felt good.”


Werts scored one of his touchdowns on a designed QB run that covered 37 yards. His two other rushing TDs came from a yard out.


“It definitely feels good to go out on top with my guys,” Werts said. “You’re only as good as your last game, and if this is my last game, then I feel good about it.”


Georgia Southern (8-5) came up with four interceptions — including two near its own goal line in the first quarter. Safety Justin Birdsong intercepted two passes — the first against Louisiana Tech starter Aaron Allen and the second against reserve JD Head in the third quarter.


“It was a big game for us,” said Birdsong, noting that his team was motivated by hearing that Louisiana Tech (5-5), which is in Conference USA, had won 18 straight against current Sun Belt Conference members. “It was definitely a statement to go out there and do what we did.”


The Eagles came in averaging 262 yards rushing and finished with 322 against Louisiana Tech.


Malik Murry broke off a 43-yard run on the opening drive to set up Werts’ first short TD run. Gerald Green’s 55-yard run in the fourth quarter highlighted his 108-yard, one-TD performance. Werts finished with 71 yards rushing.


“I didn’t want Shai to have to go out with an injury and I don’t think he wanted to either,” Lunsford said. “Super proud of him, proud of how he was able to end his career here.”

Brigham Young: 2020 Boca Raton Bowl Champions


No. 16 BYU wasted no time making a statement with its final performance of a memorable 2020 season, rolling through UCF in a 49-23 win in the Boca Raton Bowl on Tuesday. The Cougars jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and rolled to an easy victory over the Knights (6-4) to cap an 11-1 season.


BYU was the talk of college football for much of the season, jumping out to a 9-0 start before falling literally 1-yard short of an undefeated season in a 22-17 loss at Coastal Carolina on Dec. 5. The circumstances of that game, scheduled just days before the game, and the epic finish were turning points of the season. Unfortunately for the Cougars, being on the losing end meant a drop in the selection committee's rankings and the independent status left no conference championships to play for on Dec. 19. 


Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Zach Wilson finished with 425 yards and three touchdowns on 26-of-34 passing with another two scores on the ground. Wilson set a Boca Raton Bowl record with his passing yards and BYU set a Boca Raton Bowl record with 656 yards of total offense, breaking the previous record set by Western Kentucky (598) in 2016.  


Racking up impressive offensive stats comes a little bit easier when all the bowl season trick plays are hitting, like when BYU pulled off the handoff, lateral and toss back to the quarterback on a Wilson touchdown pass to tight end Isaac Rex. 



Rex finished with a team-high 96 yards and two touchdowns on five catches for the game. 


What the win brings into focus is how the Cougars have been one of the best teams in college football in 2020. The selection committee downgraded BYU based on its strength of schedule but this was the only FBS team in the country ranked in the top-10 in scoring offense, total offense, scoring defense and total defense. When it comes to lining up against the opponent, few teams can say they dominated competition like BYU and that seemed to be the statement all the way until the final moments of the lopsided win. When Wilson was kneeling the clock out inside the 10-yard line to close out the 11-1 season, the team was able to celebrate the conclusion of one of the best seasons in program history. 


For UCF, the loss is the first double-digit defeat of the Josh Heupel era. All seven of the previous losses under Heupel have been close and mostly to other top teams in the American Athletic Conference. It's been a while since UCF has been blown out like it was in the Boca Raton Bowl and the fallout from that will be the first item to address in the preparation for 2021. 

Nevada: 2020 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Champions



Boise, Idaho – The Famous Idaho® Potato Bowl (FIPB) has become one of the most anticipated college football games of the season. From helping to launch the careers of NFL great like Josh Allen and BYU’s Zack Wilson who threw 18 for 18 in 2018 beginning his historic rise as a must watch quarterback, to the French Fry bath tradition that has been recognized by Yahoo! Sports “as one of the best traditions in all of sports,” the FIPB is exciting, unpredictable and entertaining.


Just seconds before the Nevada Wolf Pack defeated the Tulane Green Wave (38-27) at the 24th Annual Famous Idaho® Potato Bowl, the pumped-up players doused head coach Jay Norvell with Idaho® potato fries and Gatorade. However, when the fries landed on the playing surface the Wolf Pack were penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct. The Green Wave took advantage and ran for a 65-yard touchdown. It wasn’t enough to change the outcome of the game but it surely generated headlines. And, it’s 2020 so nothing surprises us. 


“With so many changes and cancellations surrounding college sports, we are more than grateful the Famous Idaho® Potato Bowl could be played this year on the blue turf in Albertsons stadium. Even though fans weren’t allowed, millions of folks around the country who tuned into ESPN radio and/or television were treated to an exciting game between two very talented teams,” explained Frank Muir, President & CEO, Idaho Potato Commission (IPC). “Both the Wolf Pack and Green Wave should be extremely proud of themselves. Playing football at this high level is a huge accomplishment especially during this very unpredictable time of our lives.”  


The IPC’s sponsorship rate was reduced since fans were not allowed in the stadium and all the pre-game festivities were cancelled. Despite a restrictive environment due to COVID-19, it was still clear to the game’s 2+ million ESPN viewers and ESPN radio listeners who the naming sponsor was. The IPC logo, the “Grown in Idaho®” seal and a cut-out of Spuddy Buddy, the IPC’s mascot, were visible throughout most of the game. Additionally, the IPC received nine ESPN television and radio ads and multiple mentions by the sportscasters.


Those who watched the commercials were treated to the debut of a social media video starring BYU alum, pro-football player and Idaho native, Taysom Hill proudly promoting Idaho® potatoes. 


About the Idaho Potato Commission

Established in 1937, the Idaho Potato Commission is a state agency that is responsible for promoting and protecting the famous “Grown in Idaho®” seal, a federally registered trademark that assures consumers they are purchasing genuine, top-quality Idaho® potatoes. Idaho’s growing season of warm days and cool nights, ample mountain-fed irrigation and rich volcanic soil, give Idaho® potatoes their unique texture, taste and dependable performance. These ideal growing conditions are what differentiate Idaho® potatoes from potatoes grown in other states. For more information, visit www.idahopotato.com.

Appalachian State: 2020 Myrtle Beach Bowl Champions



Camerun Peoples ran for a bowl-record 319 yards and tied a record with five rushing touchdowns as Appalachian State beat North Texas 56-28 Monday in the inaugural Myrtle Beach Bowl to start college football’s pandemic-affected bowl season.


Peoples, a sophomore, surpassed the 307 yards rushing of Georgia Tech’s PJ Daniels in the 2004 Humanitarian Bowl. Peoples also became the seventh player to run for that many scores in a bowl game, a list that includes Oklahoma State’s Barry Sanders and Toledo’s Kareem Hunt, as the Mountaineers (9-3) remained a perfect 6-0 in bowls since joining the Sun Belt Conference in 2014.


North Texas (4-6) of Conference USA fell behind 28-7 and had no answer for Peoples or the App State rushing attack, which finished with 508 yards.


It was a powerful performance by App State and a somewhat normal start to a bowl schedule with few guarantees about how things will play out.


Most years, the Mean Green, who came in with a losing record, would’ve had their lockers cleaned out until spring practice. But this isn’t most years.


The NCAA waived victory minimums for bowl eligibility — how else could 2-8 South Carolina be playing this time of year? — because of COVID-19. The Frisco Bowl, set to start bowl season last Saturday, was canceled when the virus struck SMU, one of the scheduled participants.


So instead, it was the Mountaineers returning to Coastal Carolina’s teal-colored field for the second time this season after losing to the Chanticleers 34-23 in November.


This time, Appalachian State was in control from the start.


Tight end Henry Pearson had first-half TD catches of 22 and 11 yards before the Mountaineers put things out of reach with a 70-yard touchdown run by Marcus Williams Jr. and Peoples’ 64-yard burst to the end zone to lead 35-14 at the half.


Peoples piled on with a 62-yard scoring run in the third quarter. He finished the period with a 76-yard run, but was caught just shy of the end zone. No matter. Peoples went in from a yard out, then added an 11-yard touchdown run around the left side in the final period.


Peoples was still running hard with a 7-yard gain midway through the fourth quarter that moved him atop the NCAA record book for bowl rushing yards.


App State senior running back Marcus Williams, Jr., recorded 101 rushing yards and one touchdown on six carries, including a 70-yard TD run.


Peoples and Williams combined for 420 rushing yards, the second-highest rushing total by a pair of teammates in NCAA bowl history. Baylor’s Johnny Jefferson (299) and Devin Chafin (161) combined for 460 rushing yards against North Carolina in the 2015 Russell Athletic Bowl.


“That’s our bread and butter on offense to set up the play-action pass,” ASU coach Shawn Clark said. “That was a good defense. The offensive line blocked well. Our receivers blocked well. We got a lot of key blocks that produced some long runs.”


North Texas (4-6) had success on the ground as well, rushing 59 times for 242 yards. Tre Siggers had 17 carries for 120 yards, while teammate Oscar Adaway added 26 carries for 97 yards and one touchdown.


ASU (502) and North Texas (242) combined for 742 rushing yards, the fourth-most combined rushing yards in NCAA bowl history. North Texas played the game without six offensive weapons, including receiver Jaelon Darden, who opted out for the NFL Draft. Darden led the FBS with 19 touchdown catches this season.


THE TAKEAWAY

Appalachian State: The Mountaineers are at their best in the postseason. Throw in Sun Belt title game victories the previous two seasons and Appalachian State is 8-0 following the regular season since moving to the conference in 2014.


North Texas: The Mean Green didn’t have their usual firepower against Appalachian State. They were already without their best player in receiver Jaelon Darden, who entered the NFL draft earlier this month after having 74 catches for 1,190 yards and 19 touchdowns this season. Before the game, North Texas announced leading rusher DeAndre Torrey and second-leading receiver Deonte Simpson would not play against the Mountaineers.


UP NEXT

Appalachian State, which won four Sun Belt titles from 2016-19, will open at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, facing East Carolina on Sept. 4, 2021.


North Texas: The Mean Green, who open with Northwestern State in September, won nine games in both 2017 and 2018, but just four in each of the past two seasons. Coach Seth Littrell will look to turn that around in 2021.