The Rose Bowl is dead, killed by our winner-take-all culture
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Going to my first Utah Bowl game ever, I’m a Utah grad (95) but I’m also an Aggie (first, graduated in 93) so I cheer for them first but we live close by so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity like I did last year (opted for the LA Bowl instead). Is there an Alumni event before the game where I can buy my kids some Ute Swag?? Thanks.
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There is a tailgate sponsored by the Alumni association, which last year had a swag shop, but I believe it is already sold out (and it is expensive).
Last year, there was a Utah Gear shop outside the stadium on the north side, (probably others on other sides) that had a good selection of stuff.
Enjoy the game!
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There was a pop up Red Zone shop in the team hotel last year. They were in the JW Marriott down near the Staples Center last year. I haven’t found out where they are this year.
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The tailgate last year was terrible. Ran out of food, very expensive and disorganized. The Utah gear there was very limited and became picked over very quickly. I’d look elsewhere for Utah Rose Bowl gear. It looked like the shop outside the stadium and even one inside the stadium had more product available.
There are about a dozen officially licensed apparel pop up stores along Colorado Blvd all week long. I was impressed with what they had last year.
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That’s too bad about the Alumni tailgate, the USU Alumni tailgate before the LA Bowl last year was a blast, even came with a few drink tickets as I recall (cash bar after). Yea I figured it would probably sell out, but good to know there will be some pop-up-shops around the stadium. Thanks again.
Great to know!
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From what I can tell, the tailgate is not yet sold out but I’m sure it will as the day approaches. Yeah it’s pricey but we bought tickets again this year. It was a cool part of the overall Rose Bowl experience last time around.
Maybe. Anyone who’s interested in going should arrive as early as they can. Otherwise, food and gear will be gone (if the organizers learned nothing from last year’s event).
Bravo!
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Pro tip: Don’t stand in the merch line for over an hour outside the stadium like we did (because we thought it was the only merch location). Just Walk into the stadium and there will be two or three additional merch shops selling the exact same gear with almost no line at all.
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The team is at the intercontinental downtown. PSU is at the JW Marriott where we were last year. Got a notice for a pep rally downtown at noon on Sunday, but I got one last year too and then it was cancelled.
Josh Newman has an article out today on Kirk Herbstreit’s impressions of Utah
Why ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit loves Utah football
Herbstreit can remember 20-plus years ago, coming out west to call Thursday night games on ESPN with Mike Tirico and later Chris Fowler. Utah was a member of the Mountain West. Ron McBride was still the head coach, and Urban Meyer after him, with Kyle Whittingham as the defensive coordinator. Those days left an impression on Herbstreit.
“I’ve tried to stand on mountain tops and tried to explain to people about their brand of football and how consistent it’s been over the years,” said Herbstreit, who will call both the Peach and Rose Bowls in the coming days alongside Fowler. “I feel really good that they’ve been able to get to the Rose Bowl the last couple of years and show who they are. I don’t think it’s the last two years, I think it’s the last 20 years or longer of who they’ve been."
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I suppose Herbstreit learned.
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This culture really does go back to Ronnie Mac, who quickly got our teams to be much more physical. That was the biggest noticeable difference when he took over from Fassel.
The Poly Pipeline has been integral to the brand. Guys like Pene Talamaivao, Filipo Mokofisi (both generations), the entire Kaufusi family, Kautai Olevao, Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala, Wes Tufaga, Sione Po’uha… too many to mention, let alone try to remember.
That infusion of physicality fit hand-in-glove with what Kyle wanted to do, and Meyer was smart to capitalize while he was here.
Now that the Poly Pipeline is nation-wide, we’ve made a nice transition to diversify talent coming from all over the country, in addition to keeping that crucial part of our culture strong.
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I recall Meyer saying as much when he took the job here. He said something about how he was very familiar (partially from his time at Colorado State) with the culture and toughness of the Ute’s under McBride, and he knew that McBride’s recruiting and development meant that he would be walking into a program ready to move forward.
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