The question made sense: Why would UCLA's players want to go to a third-tier bowl game with a losing record and an interim coach?
A big part of the answer: bowl swag. The Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl is giving the Bruins a cool set of speakers for an extra couple of weeks of practice.
While college players can't get paid, they can get cool gifts from the bowl games they play in. Sports Business Journal breaks it down every year, and here's how the Pac-12 bowl games stack up.
MAACO Las Vegas Bowl: Gift suite, cap.
Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl: Best Buy gift card*, Tourneau watch, hooded sweatshirt, FlexFit cap.
Valero Alamo Bowl: $400 Best Buy gift card, Fossil watch, Schutt mini-helmet, panoramic team photo.
Hyundai Sun Bowl: Gift suite, Timely Watch Co. watch, Majestic Pro-Base fleece pullover, VP Sports cap, Ogio Politan backpack, Helen of Troy hair dryer, souvenir coin.
Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl: Soundmatters Personal Audiophile loudspeaker, Fossil watch, cap, Timbuk2 custom messenger bag.
Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio: Gift suite, Fossil watch, New Era hat, Oakley Flak Pack 3.0.
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: Gift suite, Kenneth Cole watch, cap, Ogio Convoy backpack.
* To be spent during the teams’ official store visit. Balance not used that day will be forfeited.
By the way, down go "gift suite that sounds lame." Basically, it's a room full of a bunch of cool things. Doug Haller broke down what it means at the Las Vegas Bowl for the Sun Devils, whose situation is much like the Bruins'.
There, they will have an hour to peruse 38 products and fill out their orders up to a value of $350. Among the items: a Fender Starcaster guitar, a Toshiba 32" HD flatscreen TV, an 8GB iPod Touch, a Sony PSP gaming system, a Nintendo Wii gaming system, a Sony Music system and a Sony DVD 4GB Handycam Camcorder. Also available: Ogio luggage, Lane Oversized recliner and a Trek Mountain Bike.
So you can see how Santa takes a back seat to sugar daddy bowl games.