A bucket list checked with an overtime thriller!!
Sing it! It’s great. To be. A Michigan Wolverine!
It’s great. To be. A Michigan Wolverine!
The Rose Bowl. A magnificent stadium hosts a game for the ages.
The Tide stopped rolling on the three-yard line. The final yell of “Roll Tide” died on the lips of all the red and white wearing Alabama fans.
The navy and gold clad Michigan fans outnumbered their Alabama counterparts in a roughly 60:40 split. Every single one of them let out a massive sigh of relief and started to celebrate. Jumping, high fiving, screaming, dancing and chanting. Pure jubilation as fireworks boomed overhead.
I live for this. There is nothing more exhilarating than witnessing an incredible sporting event live. There is nothing like being there.
On our walk to the stadium, both groups of fans were notably excited, confident and nervous all at once. The smell of bacon-wrapped hotdogs and sizzling peppers and onions filled our nostrils from the many vendors lining the streets and parking lots. Tailgating fans were putting away their barbeques and heading for their seats.
After a crazy hour in line to get into the stadium and through security, we walked around to our section. All the vendors are outside the stadium. Since we were sitting in row 75, it was best to get our beer and food before making our way to our seats.
Row 75? That’s a thing? I thought for sure we would need binoculars to see the field. But no. The view was great, even from the second highest row. I was not expecting to be so close to the field.
Credit the age of the stadium for that. It was built at a time when row 1 was closer to the playing surface, and luxury boxes had yet to become a place for the privileged to avoid the masses.
The stadium was built in 1922 and hosted the first Rose Bowl game the following January. I am so glad that this magnificent stadium has not been replaced by some gaudy monstrosity. May it live forever.
The game itself was very close, never more than a touchdown separated the 2 teams. Incredible theatre. Early jitters were evident with a pair of 3-and-outs. These teams were built on their defense, and it showed. Michigan was all over Alabama’s quarterback and sacked him several times. Alabama did not allow Michigan much either.
At the end of the first half, Michigan led 13 -10. Plenty of good-natured smack talk in the crowd. The game was clearly going to come down to the final minutes. Turned out that overtime was required.
With the short field of the overtime rules, Michigan scored a touchdown with a run to the left side. Alabama now had their chance to score. They did earn a first down and set up a first and goal. Three plays later they were on the 3-yard line. 4th and goal.
The 96,000 in attendance were clearly divided. Michigan fans making as much noise as they could to try drown out the play call. Crimson Tide supporters were quiet, for the opposite reason. Alabama elected to run the ball, but the Michigan defense held firm.
Cue the celebration.
When you buy a ticket, you just don’t know how an event will unfold. On a rare occasion, there is magic. This Rose Bowl was magic. An incredible game, never to be forgotten.
Live sports. Nothing else gets my heart pounding, my pulse racing, the same way. The atmosphere is unmatched.
I did not attend an American college. I do not follow college football to a great extent and cannot name players. I keep tabs on the standings and enjoy a close game in the regular season between a couple of ranked teams.
I love the pageantry of it all. The marching bands, the cheerleaders, the chants and the singing. Attending a bowl game has been on my bucket list for decades, and I finally checked it off. In style.
