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10:31: People offering between $50-$75 to park on their front lawns. (The Rose Bowl itself is $30. Good for tailgates, bad for traffic.) Some of us in the car are skeptical about the valet parking services offered at these houses.
10:40: Now parking at the golf course adjacent to the Rose Bowl where they rope off the greens. We got a nice spot in the rough under a tree.
10:45: The unpacking ensues: tables, chairs, BBQ’s, TV, food, beer, and a football.
11:30: I am now awake after a Bloody Mary breakfast, complete with horseradish. Thanks to Jeff (although he was an Illinois fan) for the splendid first drink.
11:37: After some toying with the rabbit ears, in which I helped by staying far far away, the TV was set up. Right now we have Michigan and Florida going in the Capital One Bowl. Good back and forth action in this game thus far.
12:07 p.m.: Playing catch with Nick. There are some open areas as you might imagine on a golf course but the game of catch still requires some accuracy to stay away from windshields and other tailgaters. Just hit a car as we look around to see if that person has already made the trek to the Rose Bowl.
12:30: Getting ready to depart to the game as a group of us find a row of port-o-potties. Nick, Neal (A Scotsman who Nick and I were showing the difference between kicking footballs and soccer balls), Illinois fan, and my uncle Alex are the last to go the bathroom before we leave.
12:40: Long lines for every port-o-potty in sight. Woman at the front of the line is doing an awkward pee-pee dance with her legs crossed. Obviously bursting at the seams, she barely waddles to the next available port-o-potty.
While standing in line, Neal, who coaches girls’ soccer, explains the difference between coaching girls and guys soccer:
“When I sit my team down after a game we lost and explain to them how terribly they played, each girl thinks I am talking specifically to them and takes it personal. With guys they always think you must be talking about some other player. Girls are much more coachable.”
1:40: After some last minute beers by everyone, a long walk to the stadium entrance, and a long line to get in. We have arrived at the game!
1:43: Illinois is well represented here as it’s their first Rose Bowl since 1984. The fans are loud and passionate and do this cool thing where they put their hands over each of the neighbors’ shoulders and hop around, not to mention the militaristic overhead clap.
1:46: The countdown on the video board shows 23 minutes till kick-off. Just enough time to go brave one more bathroom line before the game starts.
1:57: We have a converted women’s restroom at our section as there are only stalls, zero urinals… and a tampon machine.
2:01: 8 minutes till kickoff as the great USC marching band plays the national anthem. USC fans love their band, but does every other school get sick of our hearing our fight song every other play?
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