College Football

College Football 101: The Bowl Games

As it has for the last 120 years, the Rose Bowl will start off with The Tournament of Roses. Originally run by Pasadena’s Valley Hunt Club to showcase their new home’s mild weather and blooming flowers, the parade has evolved into a sell-out attraction with floats, equestrians and marching bands.

In 1916 (after a failed attempt in 1902, when the football game was replaced with Roman-style chariot races!), the Tournament of Roses added to the day’s festivities a football game – the first post season college football game ever held. Nowadays, the parade features high-tech computerized animation and exotic natural materials from around the world. And floats can take up to a year to construct. Now, THAT’s a football game in my book!

College Football: The Heisman Heroes

Yesterday, college football fans across the globe witnessed the annual presentation of the Heisman Memorial Trophy, the most prestigious recognition in college football.

Mark Ingram of the University of Alabama is the 75th winner of the award, voted Most Outstanding College Football Player in the United States for 2009. His victory marks the first time a player from the Alabama Crimson Tide has won the Heisman Trophy.

Susan’s Journey: ‘Cause God Blessed Texas!

It was a cold December Saturday evening in Chicago. I dressed excitedly as I got ready for my “Girls’ Night” with friends from book club #2. Sangria and Cuban food at old Chicago favorite, Café 28, some Foleys, some fun. I had no idea that a football frenzy lay ahead of me…..

After dinner and a (what, $4??) vodka soda at karaoke spot Foley’s, the eight of us rushed over to Brownstone on Lincoln for our next stop. We were welcomed not with red and green as many would expect at this time of year, but Burnt Orange, and I mean everywhere. We stood amongst Texas Longhorn fans as they battled out the last few minutes of the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers (love that name!). You could feel the anticipation, the tension, loud and testosterone-filled. After all, they WERE losing….