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Game
eight:
#14 UCLA VS. #9 Wisconsin
Surrounding the Bruin
statue on UCLA's campus and forcing it to wear a Badger hat.
Tailgating in front of
the famous ROSE BOWL sign.
A red dominated crowd
with the mountains in the backdrop.
Cheering on the
Badgers with our dorky white caps.
Celebrating the Badger victory
with the fifth quarter.
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January 1, 1994
The dreadful tie with Ohio State would not keep the
Badgers from focusing on the Big Ten title. Two weeks after that
game, Michigan clobbered the Buckeyes leaving the door open for
Wisconsin. With wins over Illinois and Michigan State (in Tokyo of
all places), the Badgers completed one of the most improbable runs in
college football history. It took thirty-one years for Wisconsin to
return to the Rose Bowl, so I definitely picked a good year to start
getting excited about UW football.
We made Pasadena, California a
family trip that holiday season. Arriving in California really made
me wonder if there was anyone left in Wisconsin. Look left or look
right, all that could be seen was red. The Rose Bowl is UCLA’s home
stadium, but they were outnumbered 70,000 to 30,000 in the Granddaddy Of
Them All that day. In addition, there were well over 10,000 left
outside the stadium who were unable to get tickets. Thanks to our
connection with Daniel Travanti at the time, we were able to get the entire
family to sit on the fifty-yard line. In addition, we stayed at his
house in Pacific Palicades. It was beyond a dream. My knowledge
of college football was still in its infancy at this point, yet it matured
quite a bit after this game.
UCLA was favored in the game, but with a defensive showing causing five
turnovers and pure determination, the Badgers held off the Bruins in a
heart-stopping finish. Tension beyond capacity drilled thorough Badger
fans as UCLA quarterback Wayne Cook drove his team down the field for what
would have been the winning score. Wisconsin's defense held firm and
proved that strength and power can overcome speed and finesse.
As the final few ticks fell off the clock, flashbulbs began to illuminate
the stadium. Tears and cheers replaced the tension as the Badgers
logged their first ever Rose Bowl victory.
Beyond the contest itself, so many little things made this
trip memorable:
·
When we landed in California, the pilot played “On Wisconsin” over
the sound system.
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My sister high-fived Chris Farley in the line for the bathroom.
·
We watched the Wisconsin Band pounding their way through the tunnel
from ground level.
·
The UCLA band played their fight song incessantly followed by a
chant that still rings in my ears: “U- -C- - -L - -A, U-C-L-A. Fight!
Fight! Fight!” To this day, when I watch a Bruin game on TV, I
shudder to hear that familiar echo.
·
My dad shook hands in passing with a disgruntled J.J. Stokes
(UCLA’s star wide receiver) in the parking lot of the Rose Bowl.
·
Daniel Travanti’s graciousness allowing us to stay with him and
celebrate the victory in high style.
These memories stick well with me and they always
will. Overall, I was thrilled to be a part of what would be my
alma mater’s most memorable football moment.
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