The 97th Rose Bowl has arrived-the University of Wisconsin Badgers face off against Texas Christian University (TCU) Horned Frogs. And if you can Teach Me How to Bucky, or feel that Bucky is your Homeboy, you better be wearing red and rooting for Bucky Badger, the Wisconsin mascot who hopes to help drive home the prize.

There are thousands of people swarming Southern California, wearing the red shirts and rooting for the home team for the Jan. 1, 2011 Rose Bowl Game. We caught up with some on Balboa Island on New Year's Eve. The day before the game spirits are high and the opponents are meeting up in all sorts of odd places such as the Balboa Ferry Boat, Universal Studios New Year's Eve Celebration, and who knows where else.

At University of Wisconsin 5,800 tickets for the game sold out in 20 minutes, and along came the scalpers posting their booty on Facebook at great marked up prices. The student newspaper, Badger-Herald published the names of those selling their tickets on Facebook, trying to shame them. Those who came to Southern California for the Pasadena Rose Bowl game are just GLAD to have tickets.

It's no wonder there are so many people trying to get tickets. It has been 11 seasons since Wisconsin played in the Rose Bowl, and some college students attending the 2011 game were only 7 years old when Wisconsin made its last appearance.

TCU is the first team from a non-AQ league in the BCS era to play in the Rose Bowl. Wisconsin racked up 201 points in its final three regular-season games. Both teams scored 520 points, tying for fourth nationally.

Texas Christian versus Wisconsin is not traditional or conventional-Stanford would have played Wisconsin if not for a loophole in Bowl Championship rules that put TCU in Pasadena.

TCU (12-0) is ranked No. 3 and is the only undefeated team not playing for the BCS title. Wisconsin (11-1) is No. 4.

TCU hasn't been there before, but things could change — the Horned Frogs are joining a league with automatic access when they move to the Big East Conference, starting with the 2012 season.

TCU's board of trustees unanimously approved an invitation in late November to join the Big East in football and all other sports. The move from the Mountain West Conference becomes official July 1, 2012. TCU athletic director Chris Del Conte said gaining automatic-qualifying status would give the Horned Frogs the greatest opportunity to compete for the national championship.

The Big East has one of six automatic BCS slots and is made up of eight football teams.

The Rose Bowl is part of the Tournament of Roses celebration with a huge Rose Parade.