To get everyone in the Bowl Season mood (which begins on December 18th, 2011), TicketCity will be running stories from our team members whose bowl memories live on. Today, Rafael Rivas, TicketCity’s Chief Strategy Officer, talks about when he realized Vince Young was going to bring a title to the University of Texas.

As proud UT alums, our Chief Energizing Officer Randy Cohen and I decided to go with a couple of co-workers to the 2005 Rose Bowl. It was such a great time, even before the opening kickoff. The night before, we all went to a huge New Year’s Eve block party in Downtown Los Angeles that was catered by Wolfgang Puck. But that couldn’t prepare me for the Hollywood ending the game the next day would have.

 Pasadena had great football weather that day–mid-50’s and slightly overcast. Randy, being the super Longhorn fan he is, was able to get us seats together on the 50 yard line and 15 rows up. It was the perfect setting for the show Vince Young was about to put on. His amazing runs—especially the 60-yard romp that kicked off the third quarter—just blew us away. The game was a nail-biter through-out, and then came the kicks. Garrett Rivas hit one for Michigan that put them up by two, but it gave Vince enough time to come down the field. It took him 10 plays to collect 47 yards, but with time running out, Dusty Mangum kicked a partially blocked field goal through the uprights as time expired.

At the Rose Bowl, they have confetti bombs and fireworks that go off when the game ends. So when the clock ticked down to zero, the ball wobbly ball landed as the explosions went off. It was perfect. After the game, we all predicted a return for Texas and made a vow to come back the next year to watch them play for all the marbles—which, of course they did and won.

If you’d like to create your own college football bowl memories, check out our great selection of seats for games all across the country. Alternately, you can call 1-800-521-8788 and speak to one of our helpful sales representatives.