Rose Bowl Institute Awards ROSI at Annual Turkey Tussle

The Rose Bowl Institute announced the awarding of its second Rose Bowl Sportsmanship Initiative (ROSI) award at last week’s annual Turkey Tussle, a match-up between local Pasadena cross-town rival football teams.

This year’s award was presented to two PUSD students, Torriq Brumfield from Pasadena High School, and Jachai Pulley from John Muir High School for outstanding sportsmanship during the game. Brumfield and Pulley were selected for the award after exemplifying what it means to be a good sport and displaying a real zest for the game with respect for others.

For the second time, the Institute presented its Certificate of Sportsmanship to the players who best exemplified the values of sportsmanship seen throughout the annual Turkey Tussle football game at America’s Stadium. The Institute is proud to give back to its local community while continuing to grow, reaching thousands with its programming on a local, national, and international scale.

Last year, Ahmad Jolley from Pasadena High School received the inaugural Rose Bowl Institute Certificate of Sportsmanship.

“For 73 years, we recognize that student athletes from John Muir and Pasadena High Schools have left it all on the field at the Rose Bowl Stadium during the annual Turkey Tussle,” said City of Pasadena’s Mayor Victor Gordo. “Thank you to the Rose Bowl Institute for starting this new tradition and recognizing the importance of sportsmanship to the game at the high school level.”

The sportsmanship values recognized and encouraged with this award includes appreciation for the game, commitment to the team, respect for others (particularly opponents and referees), playing by the rules, and personal integrity; Brumfield and Pulley both exemplified these values from the beginning to the end of the game last Wednesday evening.

“We are grateful to the staff at the Rose Bowl Institute for providing such an impactful and well-deserved sportsmanship award to an important local community staple at the Rose Bowl Stadium,” added Dedan Brozino, Chief Development Officer of the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation.

A selection committee, comprised of business professionals, worked together throughout the game to review the student-athletes and ultimately select the players who would be awarded the Certificate of Merit. Committee members included Mayor Victor Gordo, Councilmember Tyron Hampton, Councilmember Steve Madison, Councilmember Justin Jones, Sports Agent and TV Producer Aloni Ford, and Director of Major Gifts for the Legacy Foundation, Brian Brantley.

“The annual Turkey Tussle has been a longstanding Rose Bowl tradition and one we take pride in hosting for our local community,” said Jens Weiden, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of the Rose Bowl Stadium. “The opportunity to combine the Institute’s mission and the Legacy Foundation’s enhancement of educational opportunities makes it a unique and special pairing.”

The Rose Bowl Institute’s mission is to “champion sportsmanship and leverage the power of sports to unite people everywhere. Its three pillars, sportsmanship, leadership, and citizenship were reflected in the recipient of this award at the Turkey Tussle. It is the goal of the Rose Bowl Institute to continue this tradition by recognizing the sportspersons of the game in years to come.

For more information, please email rosebowlinstitute@rosebowlstadium.com or visit www.rosebowlinstitute.org.