First let me say that before I went to the Rose Bowl I didn't even know I had a bucket list, it turns out the Rose Bowl was on it. The other thing that worked in my favor was that I took this trip in my late 40's instead of in my 20's.
Arrived to Parking Lot H around 5:45 am and it was a cold 37 degrees. It was after we parked the car and got out that I realized we were about a 100 yards from the stadium and that we could see the Rose Bowl sign lit up. Not a very nostalgic person but this was beyond cool. Like most of you on here I grew up watching the Rose Bowl on tv and it truly is the Granddaddy of them all to me. Almost immediately walked over to the stadium and got a picture in front of the stadium. As much as I didn't like getting up at 3:30 to get to the game, it was worth it. Very few people around and all of them were Iowa fans.
Around 8:00 (the sun was up and temp was moving in the right direction) we walked over to get a cup of coffee and the place was starting to come alive. People playing bags, grills going, and alcohol starting to flow. Must have gotten 20 Go Hawks on the way to get coffee. Checked out the public tailgating area before it was packed and headed back to the car. Was offered a bloody mary from some Iowa fans and gladly accepted. First beer was cracked around 9:00, but wasn't "drinking" today just having a couple before the game to enjoy the pregame with fellow Hawk fans. Vendors were strolling through parking lot selling various items and this was the first time that I heard how glad they were to have Iowa fans at the game.
Around 12:00 we headed over to a friends tailgate for one more beer before heading over to the game. Place was now packed and it was almost like being at Kinnick. Black and Gold everywhere and the Go Hawks just kept coming as we made the half mile walk over to the tailgate. Met some more great Iowa fans and headed into the game around 12:30. Line moved quickly and had no issues with security. We grabbed a couple of waters before heading to our seats and the lady at the concession stand commented on how nice and friendly Iowa fans were. She wished they would come back every year.
We got to our seats 80 minutes before kickoff and it was great to see the stadium almost empty and watch it start to fill up. It hit me then that I was actually at the Rose Bowl to watch Iowa. Excitement of the game was slowly continuing to build. I get the comments from the people who think the stadium is starting to become outdated but I thought it was perfect. Such a quaint setting in the mountains and come on folks it is the damn Rose Bowl!
Went to the restroom with a half hour left before kickoff and it took 20 minutes to get back to my seat. Place was buzzing and Iowa Fans were going crazy. By the time I made it back to my seat the stadium was around 90% full and the Iowa section was fired up. If I was to guess I would conservatively estimate the crowd was 60% Hawk fans.
I won't go into my thoughts about the game, but after the gut punch in the first quarter I was able to sit back and enjoy the day as much as possible. The experience was special and one that I would gladly pay for again. As I mentioned earlier it would have been a much different experience earlier in my life. I felt awful for the players and coaching staff but I took the next three quarters to soak in the experience realizing that I may never make it to another Rose Bowl. For those of you that didn't get a chance to go, if the opportunity presents itself again and you are able to go do it. That was one of the worst bowl losses that I can remember for Iowa on a big national stage and I would gladly sit through it again.
GO HAWKS!
Arrived to Parking Lot H around 5:45 am and it was a cold 37 degrees. It was after we parked the car and got out that I realized we were about a 100 yards from the stadium and that we could see the Rose Bowl sign lit up. Not a very nostalgic person but this was beyond cool. Like most of you on here I grew up watching the Rose Bowl on tv and it truly is the Granddaddy of them all to me. Almost immediately walked over to the stadium and got a picture in front of the stadium. As much as I didn't like getting up at 3:30 to get to the game, it was worth it. Very few people around and all of them were Iowa fans.
Around 8:00 (the sun was up and temp was moving in the right direction) we walked over to get a cup of coffee and the place was starting to come alive. People playing bags, grills going, and alcohol starting to flow. Must have gotten 20 Go Hawks on the way to get coffee. Checked out the public tailgating area before it was packed and headed back to the car. Was offered a bloody mary from some Iowa fans and gladly accepted. First beer was cracked around 9:00, but wasn't "drinking" today just having a couple before the game to enjoy the pregame with fellow Hawk fans. Vendors were strolling through parking lot selling various items and this was the first time that I heard how glad they were to have Iowa fans at the game.
Around 12:00 we headed over to a friends tailgate for one more beer before heading over to the game. Place was now packed and it was almost like being at Kinnick. Black and Gold everywhere and the Go Hawks just kept coming as we made the half mile walk over to the tailgate. Met some more great Iowa fans and headed into the game around 12:30. Line moved quickly and had no issues with security. We grabbed a couple of waters before heading to our seats and the lady at the concession stand commented on how nice and friendly Iowa fans were. She wished they would come back every year.
We got to our seats 80 minutes before kickoff and it was great to see the stadium almost empty and watch it start to fill up. It hit me then that I was actually at the Rose Bowl to watch Iowa. Excitement of the game was slowly continuing to build. I get the comments from the people who think the stadium is starting to become outdated but I thought it was perfect. Such a quaint setting in the mountains and come on folks it is the damn Rose Bowl!
Went to the restroom with a half hour left before kickoff and it took 20 minutes to get back to my seat. Place was buzzing and Iowa Fans were going crazy. By the time I made it back to my seat the stadium was around 90% full and the Iowa section was fired up. If I was to guess I would conservatively estimate the crowd was 60% Hawk fans.
I won't go into my thoughts about the game, but after the gut punch in the first quarter I was able to sit back and enjoy the day as much as possible. The experience was special and one that I would gladly pay for again. As I mentioned earlier it would have been a much different experience earlier in my life. I felt awful for the players and coaching staff but I took the next three quarters to soak in the experience realizing that I may never make it to another Rose Bowl. For those of you that didn't get a chance to go, if the opportunity presents itself again and you are able to go do it. That was one of the worst bowl losses that I can remember for Iowa on a big national stage and I would gladly sit through it again.
GO HAWKS!
