This is the big one for me. I grew up in one stadium and am still growing older in it. The other older stadium, we have been reminded, is the one I dreamed about and eventually made it there.
The Indiana Hoosiers take on the UCLA Bruins today, or this evening depending on your Big Ten time zone. The game is to be played at The Rose Bowl Stadium. I hope the team bus driver knows that. If he is getting driving directions from Coach Cignetti, he might end up at the LA Coliseum. You know, the one that is the other old stadium out there, as Coach Cig calls it.
“The mansion at the end of the yellow brick road.” – Keith Jackson
What I remember the most about spending part of a day there in that empty stadium was the sense of hush that surrounded us. Just me and my dear wife, Carrie, along with the field superintendent and the guys painting the brand-new field on a Thursday morning before the USC-UCLA game that Saturday. In my mind, all I ever knew were bands playing fight songs, fans roaring as their favorite tailback in a scarlet or cardinal red jersey left a defense behind, and the sound of the voice of Keith Jackson. A voice that amplified the game of college football like no other without having to yell about it. The Rose Bowl game between the winner of the Big Ten and the winner of the PAC-8/10/12 was the football game I looked forward to the most each and every year.
Tradition is what then field superintendent Will Schnell and I were talking about. He too is a midwestern guy. He was so glad that I “got it”. That I understood the place. That I knew so much of the game history. And he was glad I did not a plant a cleat in that field on a Thursday. I’ll never forget it. In that old gym bag, a few of you out there once had one or still do, I had a proper left footed football cleat, as well as a cleated kicking shoe. I was ready to uncork some kicks from a long way out. When I walked on that new field that was yet to be completely painted, I looked at Will Schnell, who had agreed to let me bring my cleats, and I said, “Will, no, I am not going to plant a cleat in this field. There is no way I am going to mess this up.” Will look at me, nodded his head respectfully and said, “I appreciate that.” And away we went. I kicked in my Brooks from extra-point range and was 2 for 2. That was enough. I was not used to kicking in those shoes. But I was true and the picture of that ball heading for the goal post framed by a blue sky and that stadium will always be precious, and it will remind me I was there. In earnest, it didn’t seem real. I felt a twinge in my upper right quad after the second kick and I did not want to miss. That was more than enough.
Today is my January 1st. The real Rose Bowl will never be again. Those of you tired of hearing me harp about it, I give you solace. I won’t mention it again. He said to many eyerolls.
Let’s get to this week’s picks. You know I don’t make a habit of ever picking against the Hoosiers. If that is the case, I just won’t write about that.
Alabama beats Wisconsin… Bucky’s offense is eating too much cheese up there. They can’t get going. Milroe will eat that cheese up!
LSU beats South Carolina… Playing in Columbia is not an SEC favorite. Look for LSU to score many points.
Mizzou beats Boston College… I don’t remember the BC Eagles ever playing a regular season game against an SEC school. I suppose we can start calling Missouri that. They are highly ranked!
Minnesota beats Nevada…Goldy goes home happy.
Notre Dame beats Purdue…They have to, right? If not, they have new coach next week.
Oregon beats Oregon State… The Civil War played in September. Another tradition sullied in the name of conference realignment, aka greed.
Florida beats Texas A & M….see the Notre Dame reference.
Washington beats Washington State… Another displaced game. The Apple Cup is for November. It is not for whenever we can fit it in.
Oklahoma beats Tulane…And lights up the scoreboard.
Iowa beats Troy… The Hawkeyes might score more than 30.
Ole Miss beats Wake Forest… This one is at Wake. Carrie and I saw these two teams play there sixteen years. The place is quaint. The people are friendly. I will get an hour of this and probably no less than 28 Rebs points before I look at Indiana at UCLA.
Colorado beats Colorado State… This is a rivalry that really is underrated. These guys have great disdain for each other.
Georgia beats Kentucky… UK kept this respectable last year. This year I just hope they can finish the game with a quarterback on the field at the end of the game. Kentucky’s O-line was awful last week.
Pitt beats West Virginia…Anything to shut Pat McAfee up for all of seven seconds.
Week one I was 13-1. Week two 8-6. I don’t think it has ever been worse. 21-7. I have been on the wrong end of that before.
I have to give a shout out to Coach Williamson and the North Harrison Cougars for dismantling the Charlestown Pirates last night 35-6. If there is a place you want to go and take a victory from the homefolk, Chucktown is high on that list! The Cougars are on a three-game winning streak at 3-1. Keep up the good work!
There is a great deal of good football today. If you get a chance, enjoy it.
Speaking the rights.
Danny Johnson