CHAD HANGING....

Chad Henning is hanging out in the press box. Former Air Force All-American linebacker, former Dallas Cowboy. Military veteran, of course. He looks like Dolph Lundgren's bigger, tougher brother. In a battle of celebrity alums, I'll take Henning over Adam Duritz...unless Simon Cowell is judging.

If these jokes seem lamer than usual, I'm working on two hours' sleep. If they appear just as lame as normal, maybe I'll just keep getting two hours' sleep. After last night's Independence Bowl I drove from Shreveport to Fort Worth ("Where The West Begins" is the motto). Arriving at 3:45 a.m., I attempted to check into a hotel.

"You're going to check in now just to have me check you out at 11 a.m.?" asked the desk clerk, clearly not happy to be signing someone in.

"Unless my rental car has a shower that no one told me about, I believe I will."

He handed me a Vingt card with a grunt.

Finished writing the story at 7:10 a.m., slept for two hours and here I am. And the good news is that tomorrow's Cotton Bowl begins at 10:30 a.m. local time. I plan on being asleep when the ball drops in Times Square this evening, but I doubt too many ticket-holders for tomorrow's game will be. If Cotton Bowl officials are smart, there will be an Advil concessions stand.

You would love Amon T. Carter Field here on the campus of Texas Christian. At least I think you would. I do. It's just the right size, with both end zones open, and right on campus. Natural grass, too.

By the way, Air Force is pulling an Alabama here in the second quarter. The score was 21-0 when Jeff Tedford yanked Nate Longshore, a junior, in favor of freshman Kevin Riley. Cal is driving and about to make it a 21-14 game shortly before halftime (note to self: these games go much faster when you oversleep and arrive after one quarter; of course, it's tough to explain oversleeping on those 8 p.m. starts.

Riley just hit LaVelle Hawkins for a 7-yard TD pass. Da Bears' gifted wideouts (Hawkins and DeSean Jackson) are playing up to their capabilities and now it's a game.

21-14, Falcons.