History of the Alamo Bowl

The Alamo Bowl, headed into its 13th year, has spoiled college football fans with an abundance of classic games. At the 2004 game, Jim Tressel's Ohio State Buckeyes sent Oklahoma State's Les Miles packing for LSU after a 33-7 shellacking. R.C. Slocum's Texas A&M Aggies used a late field goal to best the Michigan Wolverines in the 1995 game. But no team has been involved in as many classic Bowls as the Purdue Boilermakers.

In 1998, the Kansas State Wildcats marched into San Antonio as the nation's fourth-ranked team. Boasting an explosive offense, few teams could keep up with Bill Snyder's Wildcats. Meanwhile, Purdue had survived a brutal Big Ten schedule to earn an invitation to the Alamodome. Adding to the hype, both quarterbacks - Kansas State's Michael Bishop and Purdue's Drew Brees - were Texas natives. What transpired is simply the best game San Antonio has ever witnessed.

More than 60,000 fans bought tickets and packed into the Alamodome to witness a piece of history. After a tight first half, the Boilermakers seemed to take command when Travis Dorsche's field goal put Purdue up 30-20 with six minutes to play. K-State quarterback Michael Bishop answered on the Wildcats' next possession, connecting on an 80-yard bomb to cut the lead to three. Bishop soon struck again, this time hooking with his tight end Justin Swift from 27 yards out. Less than five minutes after falling behind by 10, the Wildcats had the lead again at 34-30.

But 54 seconds was a lot of time. Time enough to give Brees the chance to orchestrate the Boilermakers' high-octane attack. It proved to be way too much for the Kansas State faithful. Brees capped off a furious 80-yard drive with a 27-yard, game-winning touchdown to Issac Jones. Altogether, Brees accounted for 68 yards on the dramatic drive and finished the game 25 of 53 for 230 yards and three touchdowns.

Conference bragging rights will on the line again, as the top teams from the Pac-10 and Big 12 clash January 2, 2010. Last season, the Missouri Tigers took on the Northwestern Wildcats in a shootout that went to Missouri 30-20.

San Antonio's southwestern style combined with big-time college football creates a spectacular holiday atmosphere.