In all its splendor…the sun rises over the magnificent scene of Wednesday’s 111th Rose Bowl. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
A compilation of thoughts that came out of Press Pros’ trip West for the 111th Rose Bowl, which turned out to be much more than a Buckeye win. It was a eye and mind-opening experience, as well.
Short and sweet…I hadn’t been to the Rose Bowl since 1974, prior to Wednesday and the 41-21 Buckeyes win over Oregon. And like life itself, you learn – observe – a lot of things along the way.
For instance, In 1971, and ’73, when I went as a member of the OSU marching band…and in 1974 when I went for kicks with a pair of Ohio State friends…it was a much simpler, and affordable, trip to make.
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I remember that when I bought my plane ticket in 1974 the round trip fare to Los Angeles and back was $154.00. Hotels were very competitive back then, and there were a lot more independent operators – flea-bag motels! My part of a three-day stay amounted to just $75. I spent another $50 on food.
Air fare for Jeff Gilbert and myself, this time, was a little over $600 each, the media rate at the Los Angeles Sheraton Grand was about $250, Uber to and from the airport was $100, and we didn’t have that much time to eat…outside of media work spaces. All told, we spent a little over $2,500 to cover the Rose Bowl. In 1974 I spent $300 to see it as a tourist. It happens, as we all know.
But in 1974 there was no security to speak of – police officers in official uniform and some California state patrol cars that escorted the Ohio State buses. And if you looked for one back then I’m guessing there weren’t fifty in the entire stadium of 100,000 people – one for about every 2,000 people. Thanks to what happened in New Orleans overnight, prior to Wednesday’s Rose Bowl, the number for this year’s game felt like one for every one hundred.
I’m sure that in 1974 media people weren’t stripped-searched for an extra typewriter ribbon. And I’m sure that photographers weren’t asked to take lenses off cameras to prove that a 500mm lens wasn’t a disguise for an explosive device. And as I stood in the line to be checked Wednesday, I’m sure that back in 1974 army trucks didn’t pass by with anti-terror forces aboard. All of it happens now, all except the typewriter ribbon.
Wednesday’s attack in New Orleans was a horrible reminder that no one is safe in America, anymore. That there isn’t anything, or any event, innocent enough now to be overlooked by that someone so motivated as to kill as many people as possible.
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And there doesn’t seem to be any way to prevent it, even with all that security…army trucks…troops…and technology.
Every Saturday in Columbus, when I drive over the bridge spanning the Olentangy River to get to the stadium, I drive through a Homeland Security checkpoint. Between that bridge and a parking garage, where I park, state patrolmen are swarming, on the lookout for the safety of tens of thousands of partying, unsuspecting people. Being the intrepid soul that I am, I asked one this fall if there was any possible way to prevent someone bent on detonating a bomb…or from driving a truck at high speed into a crowd. Is there anyway to be 100% sure that something like that doesn’t happen? He’s a familiar man, and one that I see on the same beat every weekend. He hesitated with his answer, and then said quietly, “I try not to think about it. You do the best you can.”
Like it or not, we are doing the best we can, and I don’t see how we can do better. There are people out there who want to do harm to Americans, and for no other reason than they hate the United States of America. And in the case of this weekend…two individuals that actually served in the United State Army, according to reports.
And there are so many soft spots – any given college, or even high school football game. And who would suspect in a place as small as Hay Wagon, USA?
You could tell on Wednesday, that it was in the minds of many of those at the Rose Bowl even though no one talked about it, particularly, unless they were asked. And when they were the answer was little more than “I hope it doesn’t happen.”
And worse, what happened in New Orleans will fade with time as we get comfortable enough to again become unsuspecting.
Think about it. The difference…between 1974 and now.
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There was so much made over Ohio State losing to Michigan a month ago – so much talk about firing Ryan Day because he couldn’t beat TTUN – that it seems ridiculous, in hindsight.
And I know, personally, a lot of those people who wanted his head – spouting gibberish over how life’s not worth living if you don’t beat Michigan. That said, if the Buckeyes go through Texas this week, and Atlanta next week, and win the 2024 national championship in football, I want those people to come out of the shadows, or their basement, and answer the following questions.
Think about it…would you rather be in Michigan’s shoes or have a chance to beat someone in Atlanta for the NCAA National Championship?
One, justify your priorities.
Which would you rather have? A win over Michigan…or a win over Texas, Notre Dame, or Penn State for the national championship?
If your answer is Michigan I’d love to hear your justification.
Let me guess: “There’s no reason we can’t have both.”
However, it’s written that pride cometh before the fall…and I don’t mean football season.
And…I really want to hear who you’d hire to replace Ryan Day.
Nick Saban? Why do you think Saban retired. Reports are that he left because he said NIL and the transfer portal will kill college football as we know it, and he wanted no part. There was a time when colleges recruited eight offensive four-star linemen so they could have four in reserve if someone graduated or got hurt. Now the ‘reserves’ are leaving through the portal because they want to play now, and they can play if they leave for another school.
Columnist Sonny Fulks writes OHSAA sports and Ohio State baseball for Press Pros Magazine.com.
There was a time when players were recruited, knowing that they weren’t ready to play. But they would be in a couple of years when they had developmental time to get ready. But no way, Jose’. Not any more.
The other name that I hear is Mike Vrabel, because….he’s an Ohio man. He played here. He’ll recruit Ohio high school football as a priority. And he knows what it means to beat Michigan!
But, is there any guarantee that he can beat Texas? And that’s who Ohio State opens with next fall. And is a game of that national magnitude, big picuture, any less important than beating Michigan?
And, if you’re hell-bent on replacing Ryan Day you’re in good company. Because a lot of SEC fan bases sound like you this morning. Tennessee…crushed by Ohio State. Alabama…lost to Michigan…Georgia…embarrassed by Notre Dame…Texas A&M…lost to USC…South Carolina…beaten by Illinois.
I’m guessing that most of them would want Ryan Day.
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