• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Football Devotees Gather for Bowl Games: Smoking Ban, Unusual Monday Lineup Have Little Effect on Crowd

Posted on: Tuesday, 3 January 2006, 09:00 CST

By Michelle Theriault, The Bellingham Herald, Bellingham, Wash., The Bellingham Herald, Bellingham, Wash.

Jan. 3--In a lonely corner of the Quarterback Pub & Eatery on Monday, a TV broadcast a spelling bee to absolutely nobody. It was no surprise that all eyes were focused on another, larger TV screen elsewhere in the Sehome Village bar. Would a Quarterback patron watch a kid struggle to spell "platyhelminth" when the Fiesta Bowl was on? Monday's college football bowl games drew a modest but devoted group of spectators to Bellingham sports bars. The main game of the day, according to audiences, was the Fiesta Bowl, which pitted Ohio State against Notre Dame. "This is definitely the biggest bowl game before (the Rose Bowl)," said Evan Leach, 22. Bartenders said that the rare Monday schedule for the games combined with the recent smoking ban had a negligible effect on attendance. "When there was smoking allowed in bars, there was more business," said Claire Boich, bar manager at Meridian Grill. "But this is a really good Fiesta Bowl, it's two of the best coaches," she said. JERSEYS AND BABY NAMES For the devoted, there was no better place to parade their loyalties than the bar. Leach and four friends gathered over a pitcher of Budweiser at the Quarterback. The group was on their fifth hour of football. Leach, clad in an Ohio State football jersey and hat, was supporting his hometown team.

The Columbus, Ohio ,native said that he was sure the Buckeyes would roust the Fighting Irish in the Fiesta Bowl. His friends admitted they were either indifferent or rooting for Notre Dame to rile Leach. "He's got his Ohio State underwear on too," teased Justin Shank, 22. Leach, who is a Western Washington University student, says that Ohio State is a replacement for his lukewarm feelings about his own college's football team. "If we were Division I, I would be a big fan, even if they were bad," said Leach. "But it's not that fun when you're playing schools you've never heard of. I stick with my Buckeyes." A chirping version of the Ohio State fight song came out of a small electronic device that Leach waved. "He plays that thing every time (we watch a game). He has the song on his cell phone ring too," said Shank. Over at the Meridian Grill, patron Bobby Lee Baker, who gave his age as "over 65" was there in Notre Dame fan regalia to support his team. "Oh, I came here for the game," he said. Baker said his love for Notre Dame was the reason he has six children with Irish names, though he is Polish. OHIO STATE VICTORY In the neon glow of the Quarterback's back room, all eyes remained glued to the game, and none to the spelling bee channel. The Ohio State fight song chirped electronically. The beer flowed. And eventually, Ohio State won.

-----

Copyright (c) 2006, The Bellingham Herald, Bellingham, Wash.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

Source: The Bellingham Herald, Wash.

More News in this Category