Snyder’s First Opportunity Floated Right On Past Him

Arizona State’s Bruce Snyder, who will be on the Rose Bowl game sideline for the first time as a head coach today, was an even more integral part of the New Year’s Day celebration 40 years ago.

As a high school senior at El Monte High, Class of ‘57, he learned that he could earn a free ticket to the Rose Bowl game between Oregon State and Iowa if he volunteered to drive a float.

There was another motive, he said last week. Knowing that pretty girls often were passengers on floats, he thought he might meet one, perhaps even a Rose princess.

It sounded like a good idea at the time, but Snyder arrived at the start of the route to discover he had been assigned the Salvation Army float. No princesses there. Not

even a Sgt. Sarah Brown from “Guys and

Dolls.”

At least he would still enjoy the pageantry of the parade. Not quite. Able to see to steer only through a small slit, all he saw were two palm trees on the back of the float in front of

him.

At least he could still see the game. Not quite. When he arrived at his car after the parade, the third quarter had begun. He

drove home and watched the rest on

television.

*

An auspicious omen for an arena in downtown L.A.: Inglewood’s float in the Rose Parade is named “Coming Home a Winner.” . . .

The name of the day in college football is Pat Fitzgerald. Northwestern’s linebacker and Texas’ tight end are both All-Americans and Academic All-Americans. Texas’ Fitzgerald is from Agoura. . . .

The Rams and Raiders could find encouragement in the fact that three of the NFL’s four bye teams--Denver, New England and Carolina--weren’t in the playoffs last season. . . .

Tom Brookshier once asked Duane Thomas if he was faster than he seemed. “Apparently,” Thomas replied. My question: Are Michael

Irvin and Erik Williams dumber than they

seem? . . .

“North Dallas Forty” wasn’t a movie. It was a documentary.

*

While bemoaning the passing of the Poulan Weedeater Bowl, I was thinking: The college football winners today and tomorrow will be Alabama over Michigan, Tennessee over Northwestern, North Carolina over West Virginia, BYU over Kansas State, Penn State over Texas, Arizona State over Ohio State and Florida over Florida State.