It&8217;s the holiday season &8230; time for family, friends, good food, exchanging gifts, spreading Christmas cheer, and of course time for the college bowl games.

For Bama fans and Auburn fans too, this bowl season is less than spectacular. And before you Crimson-and-White bleeding fanatics get up in arms &8230; Hey, I&8217;m one of you!

But look at the facts. We are coming off a disappointing 6-6 season. We have an interim coach at the helm while every coach of any caliber in the country is turning us down publicly in press conferences saying they don&8217;t want the head coaching position at Alabama.

And we are playing Oklahoma State in the Independence Bowl on Thursday, Dec. 28, a workday evening for most folk.

To make matters worse, the Tide is the underdog.

To be sure Auburn has drawn a much better bowl playing in the Cotton on Jan. 1. But the Tigers were supposed to be competing for a national title this year.

Now with the attitude of old-time Bama fans like me, Auburn folks feel that if they don&8217;t play for a national title, it was a lost season.

And excuse me while I yawn, the Tigers are playing Nebraska, a team that did not even finish the season in the top 20.

So what about the rest of the bowl picture? I have to say, at best, some games are interesting.

But other than Florida and Ohio State, I don&8217;t see much to get excited about this holiday season.

This year what I am looking forward to instead is good the food, seeing my favorite relatives and breaking out the double 15 dominos to play new versions of the old game like Mexican Train.

Of course a bunch of Italians playing dominos is hilarious in itself. We argue over the rules, which seem to change with every game and every time we get together.

We have to juggle the game in between trips to the kitchen for snacks and wonder if someone is making plays for us that are not in our best interest.

And of course, don&8217;t take anyone&8217;s advice on which domino to play. Our domino games are cut throat.

Oh well, happy holidays &8230; Roll Tide and War Eagle.