December 5, 2010
Categories:
Rose Bowl Game,
Press Releases
WISCONSIN AND TCU TO PLAY IN THE
97th ROSE BOWL GAME PRESENTED BY VIZIO
PASADENA, Calif. – The No. 5 BCS ranked Wisconsin Badgers, co-champions of the Big Ten Conference, and the No. 3 BCS ranked TCU Horned Frogs, the Mountain West Conference champions, have earned berths to play in the 97th Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO at 2:10 p.m. PT (5:10 p.m. ET) on Jan. 1, 2011, at the Rose Bowl Stadium.
“The Tournament of Roses is thrilled to welcome the University of Wisconsin and Texas Christian University to the Granddaddy of Them All,” Tournament President Jeff Throop said. “It is certainly a historic moment for the Rose Bowl Game as we welcome just the fifth team since the BCS outside our conference partnership with the Big Ten and the Pac-10 to play in our game. Both Wisconsin and TCU have had tremendous seasons and we look forward to a great match-up on January 1.”
Wisconsin finished the year with an 11-1 overall record (7-1 in conference) and shares the Big Ten Conference championship with Michigan State and Ohio State. The Badgers earned the Big Ten Conference BCS automatic qualifier as the highest ranked BCS team. They are making their sixth appearance in the Rose Bowl Game, and first since 2000. Wisconsin is 3-3 in its Rose Bowl Game appearances. The Badgers will be making its ninth consecutive bowl appearance and first BCS bowl game since the 2000 Rose Bowl Game.
TCU closed out the season at a perfect 12-0, (8-0 in conference) winning the Mountain West Conference and represents the BCS non-automatic qualifier. The Horned Frogs are making their first appearance in the Rose Bowl Game. They are the first team from the Mountain West Conference to ever play in the Rose Bowl Game. TCU has posted two consecutive undefeated regular seasons, will be making its sixth consecutive bowl appearance and second consecutive BCS bowl game.
January 1 marks only the second meeting all time between Wisconsin and TCU; the last contest took place in Madison for the Badgers home opener during the 1970 season in which the game resulted in a tie, 14-14.
The Tournament of Roses has a long standing partnership with the Big Ten and the Pac-10 Conferences and since 1947 remains the oldest bowl agreement in the country. Beginning with the 2011 Rose Bowl Game, all parties entered into an agreement with the BCS that should the Rose Bowl Game lose one of its conference anchors to the national championship game and a non-automatic qualifier was available, the Rose Bowl Game would select that team. With Oregon clinching the Pac-10 Conference championship as well as the No. 2 BCS ranked position, the Rose Bowl Game selected TCU as its replacement.
Pregame festivities for the 97th Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO begin at 1:30 p.m. PT (4:30 p.m. ET) and include musical performances by the university bands as well as the official coin toss by 2011 Rose Parade Grand Marshal, Paula Deen. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN with Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit and Erin Andrews calling the action.
Prior to kickoff, the Argonauts of Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-147 will fly over the stadium as a salute to the thousands of men and women serving America throughout the world. The Argonauts are based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif., and operate the F/A-18 Super Hornet, the Navy’s premier day and night Strike Fighter.
The 97th Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO is sold out.