Why isn’t 2017 Rose Bowl played on New Year’s Day?
The 103rd annual Rose Bowl game will not be played on New Year’s Day this year.
For only the 16th time since 1902, the Rose Bowl will be played on a day other than January 1. Although synonymous with New Year’s Day, the game is forced to switch days when January 1 falls on a Sunday.
It’s common to assume the “never on Sunday” rule has something to do with the NFL. Why would they have the Rose Bowl going head to head in a TV ratings battle? Or, maybe the higher-ups are just doing fans a service by not making them choose.
Well, the true reason is a little more earnest than that. In fact, the initial logic that led to the “never on Sunday” rule, doesn’t even have to do with football. To fully understand, you must first know that the Rose Bowl is actually one event in a series of Rose Bowl events. There is a governing body, the “Tournament of Roses Association” who coordinates the week-long schedule.
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In the days leading up to the football game; events include a showcase of both marching bands and equestrian performers. Also, there is a Rose Bowl Hall of Fame ceremony, as well as the famous Rose Bowl Parade.
So why isn’t the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day?
According to the official Tournament of Roses website, the first decision to never occupy a Sunday came in 1893 (nine years before the first football game). With automobiles still in the distant future, people who were traveling locally did so by horseback. On Sunday mornings, people would ride into town and worship at their local churches. Before going inside, they would all tie their horses up outside, the same way we use parking lots in present times.
Being the chivalrous people they were back then, event coordinators figured the parade would startle the horses outside, thus interfering with the church session. Even after Americans stopped traveling by horse, the “Tournament of Roses Association” opted to stick with the “never on Sunday” rule.
The state of the Rose Bowl has changed drastically over the past 20 years. Historically, the game has featured the champions from the Pac-12 and Big Ten. With the inception of the four-team College Football Playoff, the Rose Bowl alternates as one of the semi-final hosts. The semi-final games rotate each year, with the Rose Bowl getting a game every three years. When it’s their turn to host, the teams competing can be from any conference.
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When they are not hosting the College Football Playoff semi-final game, the Rose Bowl reverts back to the traditional Pac-12 versus Big Ten matchup.
Last year, in the 102nd annual game, the Big Ten West champion Iowa Hawkeyes lost 45-16 to the Pac-12 champion Stanford Cardinal.