Weather is a big factor in bowl games

by Spartan turned Razorback

I'm no Ohio State fan - grew up in Michigan, attended the University of Arkansas - but bowl geography is a valid point. Whenever a Big 10 team played an SEC or SWC (remember them?) team in a bowl, it was much more a home game for the southern team.

Until you've spent a winter up north, I don't think you can appreciate how much the bowl games are about escaping winter. While the folks at home are surrounded by snow and ice, the team is playing in short sleeves amongst the palm trees. Even if the game is out west, for a southern team the bowl game is much more about just football.

Question - can a game played in a dome be called a "bowl"? Shouldn't it be a "covered dish"?