Breakfast Crumbs: Friday

Notes and thoughts compiled at the breakfast table ...

* Today, we say good-bye to the Cotton Bowl at the Cotton Bowl.

* With the way USC played in its 38-24 win over Penn State in the Rose Bowl, we'll never know for sure who the No. 1 team in college football is.

* The Dallas Stars are feeling good after going 8-4-1 in December. They are only two points behind the eighth-place Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference, but there are one of six teams within three points of the final playoff spot.

* Thursday's NHL highlight: Detroit Red Wings 6, Chicago Blackhawks 4 -- I've never played hockey, but watching that game at Wrigley Field made me want to play outside once.

* Today is National Run Up the Flagpole and See If Anybody Salutes It Day. Think I'll stick to watching bowl games.

* Even in a new year, Friday is '80s music day in CrumbsLand. Today, we're offering up Hall & Oates with "Maneater." Back in the hallways of Hooks High School, we used to sing this as, "She's a Spam eater."

TUBE TOPPERS

The best of what to watch today ...

* AT&T Cotton Bowl: Texas Tech vs. Mississippi. The Red Raiders willturn the Cotton Bowl's final Cotton Bowl into a salute to the forward pass. 1 p.m, KDFW/Ch. 4.

* Philadelphia 76ers at Dallas Mavericks. If the Mavs fall behind by 29 points early in the third quarter, DO NOT turn off the television! 7:30 p.m., FSN Southwest.

DISCUSSION QUESTION OF THE DAY

Today is a great day for waxing nostalgic about the Cotton Bowl. What is your favorite Cotton Bowl memory?

-- David Thomas