It finally happened. The stars aligned for the first time this season in favor of the Illini. Thanks to a season marked with upsets, the Big Ten slide up the rankings yet again to place Ohio State in the National Championship. As second place in the Big Ten, the Illini were next in line for the Rose Bowl. As just announced on national television, the Illini will face the University of Southern California in this year’s Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California on January 1, 2008.
Despite having two conference losses, Southern California clinched the Pac-10 with a victory over UCLA and will be headed back to Pasadena. With the Rose Bowl’s other selection, it will replace Ohio State with Illinois to give the Rose Bowl its traditional Big Ten vs. Pac-10 matchup.
Illinois’ last visit to Pasadena was in 1984 when they lost to UCLA. The Illini have made a total of four appearances in the Rose Bowl with three wins. With this year’s Rose Bowl, the Illini snapped a five-year bowl game drought. The 2007 Illini finished the regular season with a 9-3 record. If you forgot by now, let me reiterate: Illinois is playing in Pasadena… January 1st… USC… ROSE BOWL!
Congratulations Coach Zook and the rest of the team, this honor is much deserved. To show your Illini pride, I encourage all students and fans to wear orange as often as possible from now until game time (it’s alright, laundry is not important right now). Go Illini!
So you want to get tickets and watch the Illini in Pasadena? From ticket to travel info, let The Quad be your guide! Look for our Bowl travel special tomorrow, Monday 12/3.
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