After 34 games over a three-week span, the 2008 college bowl season came to an end  when Florida beat Oklahoma in the FedEx BCS National Championship game in Miami.

While the record number of bowl games in the 2008 season may have taxed the limits of even the most rabid football fan, I can't wait for the first college bowl game of 2009.

It's not that I'm that crazy about football, although I'll admit to watching my share of bowl games this holiday season. It's because my favorite college football team has already been offered and accepted a bid to play in the first bowl game of 2009.

On Oct. 17, 2009, Mansfield University will meet Army in the fifth annual Allegiance Bowl in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Sponsored by Adirondack Trust, the Allegiance Bowl is the only college bowl game featuring teams from the Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL) ... (click here to read full story)

RELEASE DATE: 1/28/09

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL) elevates Mansfield to full-member status

AP Transactions: Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL) elevated Mansfield (PA) University to full membership for the 2009 season.

ITHACA, NY – The Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL) will expand to six teams with the addition of Mansfield (PA) University as a full-member for the upcoming 2009 season.

The announcement was made today by CSFL Commissioner Stephen Erber of Cornell.

“The CSFL is excited to have Mansfield University become a full member of the League and compete for the League championship,” said Erber. “Mansfield’s rich and long standing football tradition will add to the already significant history and traditions of Sprint football. We are very pleased to have them join the CSFL.”

Mansfield was a probationary program in 2008, playing a modified four game schedule against CSFL teams.

The CSFL, which traces its existence back to 1934, is a varsity collegiate football league, like all NCAA and NAIA collegiate football leagues, with the exception of a 172 pound weight limit for players.  CSFL teams are classified as varsity sports by each institution’s athletic department ... (click here to read full story)