The BearInsider went down to the entry plaza to speak with some BearBackers
as they entered the gates, and we got a nice sample of different folks. Here's
what they had to say about being at the 25th annual Pacific Life Holiday Bowl
in San Diego.
JOYCE MEBANE
If the name looks familiar, it's for a reason - the first Bear
fans we ran into were none other than Brandon Mebane's mother and aunt.
"We're all excited to be here today because this is Brandon's
last game, as a senior for Cal. We've been following his career
for the entire four years he has been here.
"It's kind of a bittersweet game, because this is his last and
final game. We thought the Stanford game was a little bit sad. He
got pretty emotional, and we all got a little emotional.
"This one, I think, is probably going to be icing on that emotional
cake."
Asked what it was like being down on the field receiving a rose from her son
prior to Senior Day, Joyce added, "It was quite exciting. Being
right down there in it, with them fully dressed with all the gear on. It
put everything into perspective, because the gear is quite heavy, and when
he reaches around to hug you with that stuff on, it kind of hurts, actually.
"And, it's really a different thing to look up at 70,000 people
instead of being among 70,000 people. I have to take my hat off to him - being
in that type of arena and environment, I'd get kind of nervous."
"We hope they win today, go Bears."
DONNIE MEBANE, Aunt
"I'm too giddy, just being here, to talk. I don't
know what to say."
Next, we found an older couple with a little bit of Cal bowl experience. They
had attended games in the early 1950s, and a couple of recent ones.
ROBERT ZANUSSI
"We just got into the stadium area. It's great so far - not
too much of a line to get into the parking lot. We arrived yesterday.
"We're looking forward to a win. We definitely expect it
to be a close game, a good defensive game."
ERIN ZANUSSI
"I'm looking for a win, of course - go Bears! "We
attended 1950, 51, 52, 56, 58, and then last year in Las Vegas."
"We think this is better than Las Vegas. I'm feeling like
there's more Cal fans here tonight than there were in Las Vegas. We
were very outnumbered in Las Vegas."
Finally, we spotted a young family coming in - mom had a really young
Bear Backer on her hip, about 2 years of age. Dad and his friend did
all the talking:
SCOTT CARPENTER (Class of '93)
"Being at the Holiday Bowl is great, because we get to see, one last
time this year, our Bears take the field and win a good one."
CHUCK MONIAK
"It's been a great season, and we're happy to be here.
"Ever since we qualified for the Holiday Bowl, we circled it on the
calendar and this guy bought our tickets and we've been ready to be here. We
just arrived this morning; we have not hit the Gaslamp Quarter yet, but look
out tonight! When the Bears have that Holiday Bowl trophy in their hands
and Jeff Tedford is walking the Gaslamp Quarter, we will be there supporting
our Bears."
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