Event 11 – How My Life Came Up Roses on January 1, 2025

Doug at the 2025 Rose Bowl Game
The author realize a dream seeing the Rose Bowl Game and Parade.

The Written Word

Still Images

  • Rose Bowl Stadium Exterior
  • Tim & Doug in front of the logo.
  • Tim & Doug with the Leishman Trophy.
  • The Keith Jackson Statue.
  • ESPN’s Chris Fowler is patted down by security.
  • Roses on floats are in individual vases.
  • Special glue is used to attach flora to floats.
  • The Jackie Robinson Statue.
  • Urban Meyer doing work for the B1G Network.
  • Doug under an balloon Oregon helmet.
  • Doug under a balloon OSU helmet.
  • The OSU band enters the Fan Fest.
  • Colorado Blvd. is where the Parade occurs.
  • Our grandstand the day before the Parade.
  • Vroman’s is an historic bookstore in Pasadena.
  • This logo is found everywhere.
  • Jackie and Mack Robinson are favorite sons of Pasadena.
  • Pasadena City Hall is an icnonic landmark.
  • Trader Joe’s originated here.
  • And the date for proof:-)
  • Billie Jean King was the Grand Marshal.
  • Mark Dantonio and LaMichael James were HoF inductees.
  • The U.S. Army Float
  • The Mini-Therapy Horses
  • The City of Torrance Float
  • The crowd fills the Parade route after it’s passed by.
  • The Archie Griffin Statue
  • The Terry Donahue Statue
  • OSU fans dressed as Coaches Jim Tressel & Earl Bruce. Woody Hayes is not photographed.
  • The Goodyear Blimp floats over the proceedings.
  • Doug & Rose Bowl Superfan Brent Myers pre-game.
  • A wide shot of the Stadium pre-game.
  • The OSU band spells Ohio pre-game.
  • OSU takes the field.
  • Oregon takes the field.
  • No idea what the significance of this skywriting was.
  • Oregon fans were decked out.
  • Tim & Doug enjoy the festivities.
  • Sunset over the San Gabriel Mountains.
  • End of game fireworks.
  • The Rose Bowl sign at night.
  • The Brandi Chastain Statue
  • The California HS Football Hall of Fame.
  • A scale model replica of the Rose Bowl is in the HoF.
  • The Rose Bowl is used for more than just athletic events.
  • A field level view of the Stadium the morning after.
  • Keith Jackson’s work is honored on the press level.
  • ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit is a major benefactor of the Stadium.
  • The view from ESPN’s booth.
  • The Stadium is proud of its National Historic Landmark status.
  • One of the original tunnels.
  • A wide shot of the Rose Bowl Museum.
  • The Archie Griffin helmet & jersey are in the Rose Bowl Museum.
  • Mini-helmets from schools who’ve played in the game.
  • Legacy Foundation VP Brian Brantley & Doug post tour.

Video

NYE 2025 Countdown in Pasadena.
Run with the Roses 5K Start.
Run with the Roses 5K Turnaround.
Run with the Roses 5K Finish.
Budweiser Clydesdales
Visit Illinois Float
Sonic Boom of the South Band
Visit Louisiana Float
Visit Mississippi Float
U. of Oregon Marching Band
OSU Band & Float.
“Float Like a Butterfly”
“Let Your Life Soar”
“Welcome Home”
“Helping Dreams Take Flight”
U.S. Navy Band
U.S. Marine Corps Band
The Poop Patrol
Salvation Army Band
2025 Rose Bowl Opening Kickoff
O-H-I-O Chant
First field view in Rose Bowl Stadium
OSU Band Takes the Field
U. of Oregon Band Takes the Field
Anthem & B-2 Bomber Flyover
Oregon & OSU Take the Field
OSU Band’s Script Ohio
“Shout”
End of the Rose Bowl Game
Rose Bowl Field View

Audio

The VP of the Legacy Foundation.
Chatting with a Rose Bowl superfan.
Reflections of our time in Pasadena.

Fun Facts

  • Traveling Party – Doug and Tim
  • Last Time Visited – I’d previously seen the Rose Bowl Stadium during a family trip to California in 2015, but had never toured or attended an event there. Nor had I ever attended the Tournament of Roses Parade. Likewise, Tim had not been to these events previously
  • Running List of States Traveled To/Through – Alabama, California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, & West Virginia
  • Running List of Countries Traveled To/Through – Canada (Ontario & Quebec), England, Scotland, United States, & Wales
  • Distance Traveled – 3,950 air miles round trip
  • Cumulative Distance Traveled After 11 Events – 21,946 miles
  • Up Next: The College Football Playoff Championship was scrapped thanks to ridiculously high ticket prices and winter weather threats imperiling post-game travel. Following that is a visit to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and a game at historic Phog Allen Fieldhouse on the University of Kansas campus