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PASADENA,
Calif. -- On Saturday evening,
The Wisconsin Badgers beat the Michigan State Spartans, 42-39,
to capture the Big Ten title. Then, it became clear that the Badgers
would be playing the Oregon Ducks at the 98th Rose Bowl Game on
Jan. 2. The Tournament of Roses committee held its annual BCS
Selection Show Party last Sunday evening from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
It was an amazing night with gourmet food, drinks, music and even
a silent auction.
“This
has been an exciting finish to a 2011 season,” said Bill
Flinn, interim executive director of the Tournament of Roses.
“The Rose Bowl Hall of Fame recognizes the finest class
of individuals to have played, coached and contributed their talents
on the hallowed field of the Rose Bowl Stadium.”
Ron Dayne,
Dick Enberg and George Fleming are the three Rose Bowl inductees
for 2011. Former ABC Sports announcer Keith Jackson made the announcement.
Those individuals will be honored in person at the Pasadena Convention
Center on Dec. 31 at noon.
“I’ve
characterized the quickness of the Oregon team as going rabbit
hunting barefoot,” Jackson said. “I don’t know
if the Badgers can do that. But I’ll tell you one thing,
they’ll give it a go. If you remember the game the other
night at Michigan State, Wisconsin took the 2nd quarter off. They
all had a nap. They gave up a 21-7 lead and got caught. But when
it came to grind time, they were right there. They will be like
that against Oregon too.“
The former
ABC Sports announcer also commented on the big game known as “The
Granddaddy of Them All,” which will be played in Pasadena,
Calif.
“It
will be good, it will be fun, it will be interesting,” he
added. “It’s the crowning event, as far as I’m
concerned, for a college football player. I would not like to
localize the Rose Bowl. Its history is not that. The [USC] Trojans
made it their second home for a long time. Then, the Big Ten came
in and they beat everybody for so many years. I think it has grown
in stature since that time.”
The Rose
Bowl includes the annual match-up between the Big Ten Conference
champion and the Pac-12 Conference champion. Both Wisconsin and
Oregon finished with 11-2 records this year.
“This
will be the 12th time that we’ve had the game on January
2,” said Libby Wright, Rose Bowl Management Committee Chair.
“Oregon enters for its third straight BCS appearance. They
come in with a 33-6 overall ranking. Wisconsin won its second
straight Big Ten title. It was their second season being undefeated
at home.”
The party
took place just days after the worst Santa Ana winds in 35 years
blew thru Pasadena and left a trail of destruction. More than
300,000 people were left without power across southern California.
Buildings collapsed and trees were uprooted leaving many streets
impossible to drive on.
“The
tournament presents an event that gains international presence,”
said Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard. “Pasadena is so proud
of that relationship. The renovation is scheduled to be complete
by January 2013. It will be the 100th Rose Bowl game and 125th
Rose Parade. We have lots of excitement to look forward too.”
Both the
98th Rose Bowl Game and the 123rd Rose Parade will take place
on Jan. 2, 2012. Iraq war veteran and Dancing with the Stars champion
J.R. Martinez is this year’s grand marshal. Drew Helen Washington
will serve as the 94th Rose Queen. Morgan Eliza Devaud, Stephanie
Grace Hynes, Cynthia Megan Louie, Kimberly Victoria Ostiller,
Hanan Bulto Worku and Sarah Nicole Zuno are this year’s
Rose Princesses.
Other
significant bowl games
Western
Michigan will take on Purdue in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl
on Dec. 27. That game will be played at Ford Field in downtown
Detroit. It will be aired live at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Michigan
State will face Georgia in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 2. That game
will be played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. It will
be aired live at 1 p.m. on ABC-TV.
Michigan
will take on Virginia Tech in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan 3.
That game will be played at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New
Orleans. It will be aired live at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN.
For
more information on The Rose Bowl Game and The Rose Parade, visit
www.tournamentofroses.com.
Related
Story: 2011
NCAA College Football Bowls Schedule announced
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com
Attendees
were mingling inside one of the big tents at the 2011 BCS Selection
Sunday Party.
