Kevin Warren discusses Big Ten's relationship with the Rose Bowl

With the Rose Bowl traditionally being a Pac-12 versus Big Ten matchup, many are curious how the conference realignment set to send USC and UCLA to the Big Ten will impact the ‘Grandaddy of them All’. At media day, Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren talked about the future of the conference with the Rose Bowl.

“I’ve had a couple conversations with the Rose Bowl leadership. I’ve made it very clear to them we’ve had a partnership with them for a long time, Rose Bowl’s been in existence for over 100 years and my exact quote is I’m willing to sign a 100-year contract with them, that’s how much I believe in the Rose Bowl,” Warren said.

Warren is clearly a believer in the Rose Bowl, as he elaborated on what the game means to him and the Big Ten conference.

“It’s part of the fabric of the Big Ten conference and what it stands for so I’m really excited, even through all of this kind of turmoil and all of the issues we’re dealing with, it’s an incredible opportunity to be able to look at it from a different way, but I love the Rose Bowl, I love their leadership and working with them,” Warren said.

Warren’s own personal experience and nostalgia with the Rose Bowl clearly plays a factor in his feelings towards the game, as he plans on having the Big Ten as a part of the Rose Bowl for many years to come.

“I was able to go to the Rose Bowl even when I was a graduate student at Arizona State as a fan and even in the NFL that’s a game that I never missed and now to be able to work in the Rose Bowl,” Warren said. “And all you have to do is go there one time, and to be able to be there last year when Ohio State had that thrilling victory against the University of Utah, and you see that sunset over those San Gabriel Mountains and the weather and just the panache on it, I’m honored to have them as a partner. I’ll look forward to having another 100 years with them together.”