What harm would there have been? San Jose State and South Florida had to go through five overtimes in the Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve. The Bulls eventually won, 41-39.
It was just a middling bowl game. So rather than risk injury and stretching the season out beyond reason, why not just end the game in a tie?
The deadlock has become a dreaded in conclusion in football. It was perfectly fine for decades. Now there are bizarro rules in both the NFL and college football how to settle the decision.
In a game on Christmas Eve that is basically meaningless, would there have been any harm to call it a draw?
Not a necktie, Not a Bolo tie. Just a tie game for a holiday gift.