BRAINERD — Years ago, my cousin in California invited me to visit the Minnesota Gophers if they ever returned to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
Little did he know it would take 62 years for that to happen.
Minnesota hasn’t played in a Rose Bowl game since January 1, 1962, when it defeated UCLA 21-3. This October, the Gophers returned to the Rose Bowl, but not for a bowl game. It was for a regular-season game against UCLA, a freshman member of the Big Ten, which currently has 18 schools.
When Creative Charters in Stillwater offered us a trip to the game, my wife and I jumped at the chance. As it turns out, we were among hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Minnesotans who thought similarly.
Opened in October 1922, Rose Bowl Stadium is recognized as a National Historic Landmark. With a capacity of 89,702 people, it is the 16th largest stadium in the world and the 11th largest stadium in the United States.
It is best known as a college football venue, especially as the site of the annual Rose Bowl Game. It has been UCLA’s home stadium since 1982. Additionally, there have been five Super Bowls, including the Vikings’ lopsided and embarrassing loss (32-14) to the Oakland Raiders in 1976. The stadium is also a famous soccer venue, hosting the 1984 Summer Olympic soccer tournament.
As you enter the stadium, you’ll be treated to spectacular views of the San Gabriel Mountains. As fans enter through the stadium’s iconic main entrance, a large, sparkling red rose will be displayed above the stadium’s nameplate. The grounds include statues of legendary figures such as Jackie Robinson, the first black player in Major League Baseball history who played football and baseball at UCLA. Hall of Fame broadcaster Keith Jackson called the Rose Bowl Game “the granddaddy of them all.” Brandi Chastain and the 1999 U.S. Women’s World Cup Soccer Team. and former UCLA football coach Terry Donahue.
Ronald Martinez / TNS
Just like in 1962, Minnesota defeated UCLA again. This time, Gophers quarterback Max Brosmer threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to running back Darius Taylor with 27 seconds left for the win, 21-17.
The company was headquartered at the Godfrey Hotel Hollywood, just blocks from Hollywood Boulevard and the landmark Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Walk of Fame includes the names of more than 2,700 stars of film, television, music, radio play, and sports. My favorite star was Andy Griffith.
As I was walking down Hollywood Boulevard, I came across the nondescript entrance to the TV show “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” We put our names on the standby list to attend the show, but were unable to make it. Walking down Hollywood Boulevard, I encountered people dressed up as Jesus, Spider-Man, Darth Vader, and more.
We visited Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank to see the sets of the television sitcoms “The Big Bang Theory” and “Friends.” We saw the fountain from the beginning of the “Friends” episode, the “Big Bang” couch, and the lunch room.
Other Warner Bros. attractions include the jungle where scenes from “Jurassic Park” were filmed, the iconic Gotham City buildings used in the 1960s “Batman” television series, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney; There were things like the bat suit worn by Christian. Bale, Ben Affleck and Robert Pattinson appear in the Batman movies and various Batmobiles.
His induction into the Minnesota State High School Hall of Fame last April was a career highlight. I heard that I am the first sportswriter to be appointed. can’t believe it!
Other inductees include Basketball Hall of Famer Lindsay Whalen and former Apple Valley football and wrestling standout Trevor Laws, who played football at Notre Dame and in the NFL. and Cretin-Durham Hall three-sport star Chris Weinke, who first played minor league baseball and later won the Heisman Trophy as a quarterback at Florida State University before playing seven years in the NFL. Many other notable coaches, administrators and executives were also inducted.
As I said in the Hall of Fame event video, why on earth would an ink-stained scumbag like me be included in such a group of prominent individuals?
I am still involved in the high school sports world. When I retired in 2019, I thought I was going to step away from high school sports and sporting events, but they are just a part of me.
In the fall, I will be the statistician for the football team, thanks to Brainerd Warriors head coach Jason Freed and offensive coordinator Troy Nelson. This spring, I will begin my sixth year (excluding the year of COVID-19 in 2020) as an assistant for the Warrior baseball program. It’s an honor to coach alongside people like Tom Fairbanks, Bryce Flanagan, Randy Heidman, Todd Vanek, and Jeremiah Piepkorn.
Last spring, I served as a college baseball assistant for the first time. My previous coaching was with first and second year students.
It was an eye-opening experience to work with a team that has been writing in sports journalism for over 40 years. Unless you’ve coached before, you may not understand what goes on behind the scenes to prepare for a game. Buses need to be scheduled, practices planned, equipment purchased, and fundraising events coordinated. Fundraising, which was an unheard of option when I was an athlete, is now a necessity. Today’s high school programs likely would not be successful without the support of fundraising efforts.
Through coaching, I have come to increasingly appreciate the decades-long tenure of former Warrior leaders such as Ron Strski in football, Dave Maras in gymnastics, and Lowell Scarsey in baseball. All three have coached for decades and achieved continued success in their respective sports. All three sacrificed countless hours of family time to make a difference in the lives of their children.
Merry Christmas, everyone, and a Happy New Year.
Mike Bialka can be followed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/mikebialka or by email at bertsballpark@gmail.com.
