Happy New Year from all of us at Conversations with Sports Fans and The Sports Fan Project. We hope you enjoy listening to this archived episode featuring Brian Brantley, the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation’s VP for Advancement.
I was first introduced to the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation‘s Vice-President for Advancement, Brian Brantley, by a mutual acquaintance. We were able to connect late in 2024 for an episode that originally published shortly before the 2025 Rose Bowl Game featuring The Ohio State Buckeyes and Oregon Ducks.
As my regular Conversations with Sports Fans publication day is Thursday and this Thursday happens to fall on January 1st and my home state’s Indiana Hoosiers are appearing in the Rose Bowl for the first time since my birth year … well, I figured I should 1.) Give myself the day off to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime moment, and 2.) Pull out Brian’s 2024 Conversation from the archives to allow listeners who’ve only recently discovered the show to benefit from his knowledge about both the game and the Rose Bowl Stadium itself.
Along the way, I’m sure you’ll enjoy learning about Brian’s journey from sports fan to working in the industry (from coast-to-coast and places in between) as well as many of the factoids he offers about the venue affectionately known as “America’s Stadium.”
Happy New Year and … GO HOOSIERS!!!
Brian Brantley from the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation is an interesting fella.
This was my first full year on the road in pursuit of my Around the World in 80 Sporting Events goal of reaching 80 iconic venues and/or events by the time my biological clock hits 60 in June 2027.
As such, I saw a lot in 2025.
In total, I traveled 53,982 miles, set foot on two new continents (Asia and South America), witnessed 26 events, and spent many nights not in my own bed.
Here are my highlights from the year that’s about to have been.
Number 5 – A December Sunday at Green Bay’s Lambeau Field
Packers’ fans celebrate a score during their 28-21 victory over the rival Chicago Bears.
My final event of 2025 was just about everything I could have hoped for.
The visiting Chicago Bears and host Green Bay Packers were playing for the NFC Central Division lead, both had winning percentages of over .700 this late in the season (the first time that’s happened since December 11, 1932), the skies were clear, and the temperatures felt like single-digits by the time the late afternoon game concluded.
The fact that the game came down to the penultimate play, a Caleb Williams pass to the end zone was intercepte by Keisean Nixon sealed the Packers’ 28-21 victory.
The only things that would have made this a game 10-out-of-10 would have been that final Bears’ drive heading into the endzone we were seated in and an occasional snowflake falling to create a total commemorative snow globe moment.
All the Content from Event No. 34 Still Needs to be Created. Stay Tuned:-)
Number 4 – Lionel Messi’s (Likely) Final Competitive Home Match for Team Argentina
This sums up, perfectly, the adoration the Argentine fans have for Lionel Messi.
It’s widely assumed that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the final international go-round for Argentine soccer legend, Lionel Messi.
If this in fact remains true, then I’m able to say I was among the 77,000 spectators in Buenos Aires’ Estadio Mas Monumental for one of the game’s greatest of all-time’s final competitive home match when Argentina defeated Venezuela, 3-0, in CONMEBOL’s Matchday 17.
I understood next-to-nothing the public address speaker said throughout, but what I did understand the unmitigated affection that crowd had for Messi. From the standing ovation he received as he stepped off the bus in the loading dock, to his first appearance on the pitch, to the two goals he scored (and even the one that was disallowed by an offsides call), to his exit from the pitch following post-match media.
That no one in the stadium considered leaving until he was off the field is a visual I’m unsure can ever be erased from my mind.
Check Out All the Content from Event No. 24 at this link.
Number 3 – Arkansas Pitcher Gage Wood No-Hits the Murray State Racers in the MCWS
Arkansas pitcher Gage Wood celebrates a big out during his 19 strikeout no-hitter of Murray State during the Men’s College World Series in Omaha.
Like so many, I walked into Omaha’s Charles Schwab Stadium that steamy June 16 afternoon pulling hard for the Cinderella team of the Men’s College World Series, the Murray State Racers.
By the fifth inning, however, allegiances were subtly shifting.
Arkansas Razorback starting pitcher Gage Wood was DEALING! It looked like the Racers’ batters were swinging wet lasagna noodles against Wood as the strikeouts mounted.
By the seventh inning, I’m fairly certain everyone in the park knew what was happening.
That it happened was too cool for school.
Wood threw the first no-hitter in MCWS play in 65 years. His 19 strikeouts were the most in a 9-inning MCWS game … ever.
That I was there and, through the generosity of a stranger, had seats behind homeplate, is truly remarkable.
Check Out All the Content from Event No. 19 at this link.
Number 2 – Indiana Class 4A High School Sectional Final in Historic Muncie Fieldhouse
The opening tip between Greenfield-Central (white uniforms) and Mt. Vernon in the Indiana Class 4A High School Sectional Championship at Muncie Fieldhouse.
I was born and raised in Indiana and, as such, have a special fondness in my heart for high school basketball.
It was a fairly regular part of my weekly life as a youngster before my family moved to Michigan before sixth grade.
So, of the many events I planned to witness in 2025, I eagerly anticipated taking in some Indiana high school tournament basketball action. The first round is known as Sectionals in the Hoosier state and I was underwhelmed by the competitiveness I saw at the first two sites visited.
But on Saturday of Sectional Week … well I saw a gem.
I went with my cousin, Brandon, and his daughter, Calah, to see the Class 4A Sectional Final at historic Muncie Fieldhouse on a warm March evening. That there was a line to get in boded well and that the favored team, Greenfield-Central, was a among the top five teams in the state also provided optimism.
What none of us knew until the game began is who, exactly we were seeing.
Greenfield-Central’s star, Braylon Mullins, would go on to win Indiana’s coveted Mr. Basketball honor a few weeks later. He was a 5-star recruit who was destined for Storrs, CT, and the then 2-time defending NCAA Champion Connecticut Huskies. Mt. Vernon’s standout was a junior who’d already committed to Purdue named Luke Ertel.
The two duked it out all night, Mullins scored 38 and Ertel 36, but the upstarts from Mt. Vernon came away with an 83-76 double-overtime win. A thriller to be sure and a terrific way to cap off my week feasting on basketball in hoop-crazed Indiana.
Check Out All the Content from Event No. 14 at this link.
Number 1 – Witnessing the Setting Sun at the Rose Bowl on January 1
The golden hour at the 2025 Rose Bowl. What a view!
Odd, isn’t it, that I traveled nearly 54,000 miles in 2025 and my most memorable moment came on the very first day?
Never mind the football game (which The Ohio State won in a rout over Oregon), I was there for the environment, the pagentry, and the sunset.
I got it all!
The Tournament of Roses Parade shortly after dawn, the B-2 bomber flyover at the conclusion of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the ceremonial coin flip featuring the Grand Marshal (Billie Jean King), the Goodyear blimp hovering overhead throughout, and, of course, the sunset that was appointment viewing for me during my youth and – who am I kidding?!? – adulthood.
I won’t lie, it was a long day – especially considering I participated in the Run with the Roses 5K at midnight – but it was the best day of the year by a long shot.
Check Out All the Content from Event No. 11 at this link.
What’s happening in this college football image from yesteryear?
Back in 2005, before a 12-team College Football Playoff created so much consternation, there was the Bowl Championship Series. It too had flaws but it produced one whale of championship showdown in the 2006 Rose Bowl Game, pitting the top-ranked – and defending National Champion – University of Southern California Trojans against the second-ranked University of Texas Longhorns.
Texas trailed 38-26 with 6:42 remaining in the game when All-American quarterback Vince Young (along with a stout defense) rallied the Longhorns.
Texas Longhorns quarterback, Vince Young, scampers past a Southern California defender and into the endzone for the winning score of Texas’ 41-38 victory in the 2006 Rose Bowl Game in Pasadena, CA. This Rose Bowl, played January 4, 2006, served as the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game. (Photo by Mark J. Rebilas/US Presswire)
The image from this week’s Fan Teaser is that of Young scrambling in from eight yards out on a fourth and goal with under 30 seconds left in the game. The ensuing 2-point conversion (another Young run) gave the Longhorns a 41-38 lead and, ultimately, victory.
Young, who was named the game’s Offensive MVP, finished with 467 yards total offense (200 rushing on 19 carries and 267 passing on 30 completions) and three touchdowns.
Young went on to become the third overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans.
Also of note – and not impacting the outcome – this game was later vacated (as was the entire seeason) by USC due improper recruiting violations regarding star running back and Heisman Trophy winner, Reggie Bush.
Vince Young and some fellow Longhorns reflect on their National Championship Rose Bowl victory over USC.
Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.
Who belongs to these broad shoulders and what did he accomplish while wearing this particular jersey?
Tyrone Wheatley was a schoolboy phenom in suburban Detroit. A quarterback, point guard, sprinter, and long jumper at Dearborn Heights Robichaud High School, it seemed there was nothing he couldn’t accomplish. He was considered by many to be the greatest prep athlete in the state of Michigan’s history.
And on January 1, 1993, in the Rose Bowl against the University of Washington, the Huskies discovered firsthand what Wheatley was capable of. He rushed 15 times for 235 yards and scored three touchdowns on runs of 56, 88, and 24 yards. He also ran away with the MVP Award following UM’s 38-31 win.
The Wolverines and Huskies meet again on the national stage in Houston Monday night in the College Football Playoff Championship Game.
University of Michigan running back Tyrone Wheatley carried just 15 times against the University of Washington Huskies during the 1993 Rose Bowl, but amassed a whopping 235 yards and three touchdowns en route to earning the MVP Award during the Wolverines’ 38-31 victory. (UM Football Photo)
Highlights of the 1993 Rose Bowl.
Just to review, The Fan Teaser comes courtesy of longtime buddy, Pat Schutte. The cropped photo below and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.
He capped it with a an interception and four pass break ups during the Wolverines’, 21-16, Rose Bowl victory over Washington State to secure a share of the National Championship.
University of Michigan defensive back signals to the 1998 Rose Bowl crowd who he believes the national champions should be.
ABC’s telecast of the 1998 Rose Bowl. Enjoy some Keith Jackson on the call.
Just to review, The Fan Teaser comes courtesy of longtime buddy, Pat Schutte. The cropped photo below and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.
Chastain then promptly removed her jersey and began swinging it wildly overhead as on-rushing teammates mobbed her. The photo – and many similar from various angles – has become iconic.
American soccer player, Brandi Chastain, celebrates her World Cup-clinching penalty kick in 1999 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. (Photo by Mike Blake, Reuters)
Brandi Chastain talks about her World Cup-clinching PK in this piece.
What’s sometimes is lost to the memory banks is the save by American keeper, Briana Scurry, in the third round of PKs that allowed Chastain’s goal to prove decisive. Enjoy this recent powerful piece by CBS Mornings in which Briana reads aloud a “Note to Her Younger Self.”
Just to review, The Fan Teaser comes courtesy of longtime buddy, Pat Schutte. The cropped photo below and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.
A trip to SoCal in June 2015 got the author this close to the Rose Bowl.
New Year’s Day 2023 occurred on a Sunday. This fact meant a couple of things.
First, the National Football League flexed its billion dollar muscles and, along with the television networks, collectively pressed the pause button on any NYD traditions that might ordinarily occur.
Tournament of Roses Parade? Good news! You now have an additional day to build your floats and you can also sleep in following your New Year’s Eve festivities because the Parade doesn’t step off until 8 a.m. PT on January 2.
Tournament of Roses Bolw Game? Again, let’er rip on NYE, you’ve got an extra day in SoCal before any teams take the field Monday afternoon.
Sugar Bowl Game? Yeah, about that. You’re going to play at 11 a.m. CT on New Year’s Eve as opposed to your typical 7:30 p.m. CT New Year’s Day time slot. Why you ask? Hey, the four-letter network (ESPN) has a Monday Night Football tradition to worry about.
Second, the federal government recognizes Monday, January 2, as the day to observe the January 1 Federal Holiday. That means no banking, no mail, and, for many a day off.
Which is good for me (though, full disclosure, the school district I work in is off this entire week:-) because I’ll be able to do what I’ve done the majority of my 50-plus years on the planet.
When the aforementioned Tournament of Roses Parade steps off around 11 a.m. my time, I’ll have the television on to marvel at the creativity of the float builders, see what ordinarily is a gorgeous early California morning (overcast and a chance of rain this year, though), and generally feel wistful about one day being there to take it all in in person.
And, later this afternoon, the same scene will play out as the football game prepares to kick off. I have zero rooting interest in either Penn State University or the University of Utah, though my buddy Rudy lives in State College, PA, and I did spend 36 hours in Salt Lake City last month, but I’ll have the television on to catch a glimpse of the pageantry that is the “Granddaddy of them All.” Unfortunately, the best part for this midwestern fella may not come to pass as the sun is likely to be hard to find so the iconic sunset over the San Gabriel Mountains may not be part of the equation. That said, I’ll still look on longingly that hopefully one day I’ll be able to take in this scenery in person.
Happy New Year, er, January 2 everyone!
Bowl Bonanza Pool Update
With five games remaining, I trail my friend Jud, 21-17, in our annual bowl pool. (Read about it here.) Some questionable play calling by Ohio State Coach Ryan Day down the stretch and the missed Buckeyes’ 50-yard field goal as the clock expired prevented it from being a more manageable 20-18 margin. C’est la vie.
