Unlike most bowls that offer up to a week's worth of activities, Nashville's Music City Bowl is basically short, sweet and to the point.
The two participating teams, West Virginia and Mississippi, arrived late Christmas night, practiced Tuesday and today and play Thursday.
Most West Virginia players like the setup.
"No, I don't feel cheated at all," said WVU middle guard David Upchurch. "I just want to play in a bowl game.
"That's one of the main reasons you come to play college football."
Sophomore safety Shawn Hackett put if further into prospective.
"After the Pitt game (a 38-28 loss), we didn't think we were going to any bowl," Hackett said. "So I think it's a blessing we're going, and I'm not going to worry about anything but the game."
Some schools, such as Cincinnati this year at the Motor City Bowl in Detroit, arrive a few days before the bowl itinerary starts and visit local landmarks, museums and the like, and try to acclimate the team to its surroundings.
But Mountaineer quarterback Brad Lewis believes that would be a bad idea.
"If we would have came last Friday and been here awhile, our minds would have started to drift onto the other things," Lewis said. "Two years ago when we went to Arizona (for the Insight.Com Bowl), I think all the activities kind of wore us out. So there's a chance we would lose our focus, and that should be on the game.
"Specifically, we want to win this game, and that's where all of our focus and concentration belongs."
Most Mountaineers have come to Nashville with winning on their minds.
"Our main focus is redemption," Hackett added. "It's time for us to start finishing. We're not down here to play around. We're down here to take care of business.
"We're going to come out and win this game."
Added center Rick Gilliam, "A win in this game would be like icing on the cake. Coming to Nashville is a great thing, but winning the game would be better.
"That's where our focus is."
Retiring West Virginia coach Don Nehlen has tried several methods over his 21-year career at WVU when preparing his team for a bowl. He too likes the get into town, play the game and split scenario.
"We've tried killing them and we've tried kissing them," Nehlen, who has a 3-9 mark in bowls at WVU, said. "But I like the fact that the focus is on the game."
Nehlen brings an eight-game bowl losing streak into the matchup. Maybe Bowl No. 13 will turn out to be a lucky one.
Sports writer Greg Talkington can be reached at 626-1444 or via e-mail at gtalkington@exponent-telegram.com.
