Images from Columbus

On the next to last day of the Iowa Football regular season, the Hawkeyes travelled to Columbus, Ohio for a date with Ohio State with the Rose Bowl on the line.

Upon arrival to Friday's walk through at Ohio Stadium, the Hawkeyes were met with a Rose on the 50 yard line. The team from Iowa knew the importance of the match-up, but the Buckeyes seemed to think a reminder was in order.
Members of the Iowa and Ohio media met the team on Friday afternoon.

The Iowa cheerleaders snap up a few pictures of the empty stadium

On her last day on the job, Celia Eckerman of the University of Iowa Foundation was leaving her position to take on the Development position with the Neuman Catholic Center in downtown Iowa City. Celia has been the person behind the organization of the Huddles at all bowl sites as well as regular season road trips.

Associate Athletic Director, Mark Jennings chats it up with the members of the Florda Citrus Association. The winner of the Hawkeye - Buckeye match-up automatically had the rights to the Rose Bowl. With Iowa in the top 14 of the BCS, a second possible to the BCS is a possibility.

Celebrating with Celia are many of the associates she worked with for huddles. Celia sits next to Iowa play - by play man, Gary Dolphin as well as colleague Scott Brown.

Ohio Stadium sits on the banks of the Olentangy River.

Morning rises on Ohio Stadium

The Buckeye campus.

Ohio State Head Football Coach, Jim Tressel escorts his team to the home side locker rooms.

My favorite sideline announcer, Holly Rowe of ESPN on ABC. Holly was a constant on Hawkeye Football games in 2002 as Iowa steamrolled through the Big Ten schedule. This was her first Hawkeye football game since 2004.

Very few care for the Iowa Student Athletes than John Streif. Streif is part trainer, part travel coordinator for the Hawkeye football program. Without a doubt the most respected person in the Iowa Athletic Department.

Many Buckeye fans in attendance were already smelling Roses. Up to four travel agencies advertised Rose Bowl tours in the morning newspaper, touting they would be open immediately following the Iowa game.

Setting the scene from Columbus is Iowa play by play man, Gary Dolphin and his analyst, Ed Podolak.

The Hawkeyes take the field, although the Ohio State Marching Band provides an obstacle.

Along with Holly, Matt Millen and Sean McDonough set the picture on ABC.

Sun begins to set on Ohio Stadium.

Big Ten Commissionaire Jim Delaney watches the OT from the Ohio Stadium photo deck.

Ohio State to the Rose Bowl

With the Rose Bowl bid on the line, the Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes in overtime 27-24. The win allowed the Buckeyes the conference BCS bid, which most likely will be Pasadena, but the sole possession of the conference title is still to be contested in one week. An Ohio State loss and either Hawkeye, Badger or Nittany Lions win will cause the Buckeyes to share the conference title.

BCS on ABC?

(Doesn't this look GREAT!)

Word is spreading that Fox may be willing to hand over the BCS to ABC / ESPN this year rather than after this bowl season when the contract is up. ABC holds the rights to the Rose Bowl, and since this year's National Championship game is also at the Rose Bowl and will be shown on ABC, Fox may be willing to sell the rights to the Disney Family of Networks.

We Can Only Hope.

Interesting how College Football's version of March Madness is heading to pay tv while CBS is willing to show all games free over the air as well as to anyone with a high-speed internet connection, regardless of whether the game should be blacked out. ESPN / ABC definitely knows how to televise college football. ABC has been doing it since the 60s, but it would be nice that the premier college sport would also be willing to be shown free to everyone in the country.