Special Thank you to:

Thank you very much to Barrys Ticket Service for helping us out to get Rose Bowl tickets. It was our first trip to Pasadena to see the Rose Bowl and getting to watch the USC Trojans take on the Fighting Illini. The seats were great and also a great price. Thank you guys very much for helping a dream come true.

USC Vs Illinois (January 1)
The Trojans ended the 2007 season by participating in the 2008 Rose Bowl, held on New Year's Day in the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, California; their fourth Rose Bowl game and sixth BCS Bowl in six years. Although it traditionally hosts the champions of the Big Ten and Pac-10 conferences, the 2007 Big Ten Champion, Ohio State, was ranked #1 in the final BCS poll and instead participated in the 2008 BCS National Championship Game. The rules governing BCS bowl selections allowed the Rose Bowl to select a BCS "at-large" team from the top fourteen teams ranked in the BCS Standings that have at least nine wins. Keeping with its traditional bowl ties, the Rose Bowl selected #13-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini (9-3), under third-year head coach Ron Zook.

The Illini entered the Rose Bowl after a Cinderella season where they won nine games, including an upset victory over at-the-time #1 Ohio State, after winning a total of four games the previous two seasons. It was Illinois' first bowl game since winning the 2001 Big Ten Championship and playing in the 2002 Sugar Bowl. The Illini offense was led by sophomore quarterback "Juice" Williams, who in the regular season passed for 13 touchdowns and ran for seven, junior running back Rashard Mendenhall, who averaged 127 yards rushing per game and scored 18 touchdowns, and freshman receiver Arrelious Benn, who caught 49 passes and had 158 yards in 32 carries. For taking Illinois to the Rose Bowl a year after going 2-10, Zook won both national and Big Ten coach of the year honors. The Illini entered the game 13.5-point underdogs, the biggest of any of the season's 32 bowl games.

The Trojans routed the Illini 49–17 before a sold out Rose Bowl crowd. USC set a Rose Bowl-record of 633 offensive yards and tied the record for points scored. John David Booty completed 25 of 37 passes for 255 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Seven different Trojans rushed the ball, led by running back Joe McKnight who had 125 rushing yards and touchdown (McKnight totaled 206 yards for the game). Tight end Fred Davis led the receivers with seven receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown. Mendenhall led the Illini, rushing 17 times for 155 yards and one touchdown, with 214 yards overall. Williams had 245 yards passing, completing 21 of 35 passes with two interceptions and was sacked five times. The second Trojan touchdown was a trick play thrown by walk-on receiver-quarterback Garrett Green, who caught a ball thrown backward by Booty and then threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to running back Desmond Reed, who backflipped into the endzone resulting in an excessive celebration penalty. The fourth quarter included a touchdown by sixth-year senior and one-time starter Hershel Dennis, his first score since 2004, that resulted in a bench-clearing celebration that also gave USC an excessive celebration penalty. USC's 32-point victory was the largest margin of victory in the Rose Bowl since 1984, when UCLA defeated Illinois 45-9. The lopsided score led to criticism of the Tournament of Roses for scheduling the lower-ranked Fighting Illini as the at-large team.

Booty was selected the Rose Bowl Offensive MVP, and set a Rose Bowl record with seven career touchdowns. USC linebacker Rey Maualuga was selected as the Defensive MVP with three sacks, an interception and a forced fumble. It was USC's fifth victory in six consecutive appearances in a BCS Bowl.

USC ended the season as #2 in the final Coaches Poll and #3 in the final AP Poll with one first-place vote

ROSE BOWL NEWS



Surrey take charge at Rose Bowl (BBC News) Hampshire struggle to 204-7 in reply to Surrey's 278 on day two at the Rose Bowl.

Rose Bowl Development Gets Green Light (CricketLine.com) Rose Bowl - set for £45million development. Hampshire can press on with plans for the £45million development of the Rose Bowl, after receiving a final official go-ahead.

Rose Bowl Clash Ends In Draw (Sporting Life via Yahoo! UK & Ireland Sport) A review from Saturday's action in the LV County Championship.

Mango, rose-water and lime sorbet (Independent) 4 ripe mangoes 120g/4oz caster sugar 240ml/8fl oz water The juice of 11/2 limes 11/2 tbsp rose-water 40ml/2fl oz double cream A small pinch of salt

Hants & Surrey in thrilling draw (BBC News) Hampshire have to settle for a draw against Surrey, despite an exciting run chase at the Rose Bowl.

Hampshire v Surrey (Sporting Life) Michael Brown's battling 94 and a five-wicket haul from Saqlain Mushtaq both proved in vain as Hampshire and Surrey had to settle for a draw in a thrilling match at the Rose Bowl.

County Round-Up (CricketLine.com) Goodwin - secured the draw for Sussex. Michael Brown's battling 94 and a five-wicket haul from Saqlain Mushtaq both proved in vain as Hampshire and Surrey had to settle for a draw in a thrilling match at the Rose Bowl.

BROWN PRAISES BUTCHER FORESIGHT (Sporting Life) Hampshire's Michael Brown swallowed his disappointment at having to settle for a draw to praise Surrey captain Mark Butcher for the declaration which set up a thrilling finish at the Rose Bowl.

BROWN KEEPS HAMPSHIRE HOPES ALIVE (Sporting Life) Michael Brown continued his impressive form to keep Hampshire in with an outside chance of a first LV County Championship Division One win of the season, against Surrey at the Rose Bowl.

Hampshire v Surrey (Sporting Life) Matt Nicholson and Jimmy Ormond completed unlikely half-centuries as Hampshire endured a dispiriting first hour against the Surrey tailenders at the Rose Bowl this morning.