Friday, It’s Alabama’s Turn to Participate in Beef Bowl

The Rose Bowl-bound University of Alabama football team will participate in Lawry’s Beef Bowl at Lawry’s The Prime Rib Friday, one day after its opponent in Monday’s 110th Rose Bowl, Michigan.

Lawry’s Beef Bowl consists of the teams separately dining on prime rib, with one player each conducting the salad spin and performing the ceremonial first cut of prime rib.

The renowned restaurant chain has deep roots in Pasadena through its founding families. The first Lawry’s, known for its prime rib and tableside service, opened in Beverly Hills in 1938 by Lawrence L. Frank and Walter Van de Kamp.

The family ties to Pasadena extend beyond their restaurant business. Richard N. Frank, son of Lawrence, was an emeritus trustee of the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. Lawry’s Restaurants Inc., the parent company, is headquartered in Pasadena.

“This meal you are about to have is second to none,” Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh told diners Thursday.

Harbaugh participated in the Beef Bowl as a Michigan quarterback in 1982 and 1986.

Senior defensive tackle Kris Jenkins performed the salad spin.

“It’s cool getting the opportunity to spin it,” said Jenkins, a second-team All-Big Ten selection in the coaches’ vote and a third-team selection in the media vote.

Lawry’s Spinning Salad involves the designated server making the salad tableside in a bowl set into a large bucket of ice with the dressing poured on top as it is spun, then served.

Guard Trevor Keegan, a graduate student, performed the ceremonial first cut of prime rib.

“It was cool experience,” said Keegan, a second-team All-Big Ten selection in voting by both coaches and the media. “I was a little nervous, usually don’t get nervous. The chef kind of helped me out. He cut a little slice at first and I just finished her off.”

Since 2018, each portion of the Beef Bowl has included the presentation of the Tournament of Roses Scholar Athlete Award to a player from each team, with senior guard Zak Zinter, a two-time All-Big Ten first-team selection, receiving the honor for Michigan Thursday.

Rose Bowl teams have dined at the Beverly Hills restaurant annually since 1956, except for 2020 and 2021 when the event was canceled because of restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Beef Bowl is older than all but the Rose, Orange, Sugar, Sun, Cotton, Gator and Citrus bowls. It is billed by organizers as college football’s most enduring pre-bowl game tradition.

Lawry’s Beef Bowl has not been a competition since 1970. Coaches are informed that there is a limit of two servings of prime rib per player.

“The Beef Bowl is an opportunity for us to celebrate the players and coaches and kick off the festivities of the Rose Bowl Game,” said Ryan O’Melveny Wilson, CEO of Lawry’s Restaurants Inc.

Changes to the Beef Bowl could come next year because the expansion of the College Football Playoff from four teams to 12 — and two rounds to four — is expected to result in the teams spending less time in the cities the bowls are played.

“While next year’s schedule isn’t finalized, we do anticipate some changes to our bowl week events,” Karen Linhart, the Rose Bowl Game’s director, marketing & media, told City News Service.

“With that being said, The Pasadena Tournament of Roses values its long-standing relationship with Lawry’s and we hope to find ways to keep our Beef Bowl tradition alive even if it looks a little different as the playoff evolves.”