Thirty-five years after playing in the fourth Holiday Bowl, Patrick Lynch was back in San Diego, again wearing crimson.
The sun shone on WSU fan Dan Ujita, who awaited seeing his daughter Sarah in the Cougar Marching Band. Photo by Ken Stone
He recalled his Cougars of Washington State losing to the Cougars of Brigham Young 38-36 at Jack Murphy Stadium, now Qualcomm.
Future two-time Super Bowl champion Jim McMahon was the BYU quarterback that day in 1981. Lynch, who played defense, put a big hit on McMahon in the game’s first play.
McMahon lobbed an F-bomb at Lynch, the Spokane resident said before the start of the Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade.
Things didn’t go so well for the Cougs on Tuesday afternoon either, falling to the underdog Minnesota Golden Gophers 17-12.
But among thousands of Minnesota fans on Harbor Drive for the famed balloon parade was a family from Chicago with sophomore twins playing for the Gophers — Jacob and Julian Huff.
“I wasn’t confident it was going to be resolved,” Sam Huff said of a team boycott of football activities after player suspensions in a sex-assault case. “I’m glad it was.”
Paul Fahning would agree. His son, Chad, also plays for Minnesota. Paul took in the parade with his doctoral-student daughter, Heidi.
Color guard members of the Golden Gophers Marching Band prance for crowd between music routines. Photo by Ken Stone
A lawyer and St. Paul resident, Fahning is a 1971 Minnesota graduate who says he’s been to four bowl games.
On the about-to-be-disappointed side were Becky Grinch, Jeri McGuire and Mackenzie Odom of Pullman — wives of three Washington State football assistant coaches. While the hubbies prepared for the National Funding Holiday Bowl, the moms brought their five young children to the waterfront for marching bands and big balloons.
Wearing a T-shirt saying “No more Minnesota nice” was Nita Luis of Little Canada (a suburb of Minneapolis), who once helped lead the school’s alumni association.
But very nice was the climate here, with temperatures in the mid-60s under sunny skies. Fans of either team (even those traveling from Los Angeles, Arizona and Florida) considered themselves weather winners Tuesday.
It was mid-30s with snow showers in Eastern Washington. In Minneapolis, it was in the low 20s.
San Diego Councilwoman Myrtle Cole waves to crowd at the 2016 Holiday Bowl Parade. Photo by Ken Stone
San Diego Councilman David Alvarez and his wife, Xochitl, wave to crowds at Holiday Bowl Parade. Photo by Ken Stone
San Diego Fire & Rescue staff shook hands with spectators along parade route. Photo by Ken Stone
The sun shone on WSU fan Dan Ujita, who awaited seeing his daughter Sarah in the Cougar Marching Band. Photo by Ken Stone
Sheriff Bill Gore waves to crowd at the Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade. Photo by Ken Stone
Washington State Cougar Marching Band Color Guard was all smiles at the Holiday Bowl Parade. Photo by Ken Stone
Parade brochure served to provide shade at the Harbor Drive event. Photo by Ken Stone
A sideways Cougar cap did the trick for shade in the east-facing stands of the Holiday Bowl Parade. Photo by Ken Stone
Smart phones captured parade action as Minnesota fans watch the Holiday Bowl Parade. Photo by Ken Stone
Patrick Lynch of Spokane played in the fourth Holiday Bowl — in 1981 — when BYU prevailed 38-36. Photo by Ken Stone
Looking forward to the game were dads and former WSU Cougar football player brothers Patrick Lynch and Dan Lynch, with family members Liam, Stacy, Nikki, Octavia and Karolina. Photo by Ken Stone
Sam (left) and Dee Huff of Chicago brought daughter Mya and sons Micah (gray shirt) and Jaden to the Holiday Bowl Parade. Two other sons play for Minnesota. Photo by Ken Stone
Linda and Max Lawrence (she’s a retired high school math teacher and he a retired lineman) hold season tickets to Minnesota games, but also join snowbirds in Arizona. Photo by Ken Stone
Carolynn and Roger Bettin live in Florida but were dressed for Minnesota success at the Holiday Bowl Parade. Photo by Ken Stone
Andrea, Kevin, Jeremy and Rachel came to root for the Cougs of Washington State. Photo by Ken Stone
Ph.D. student Heidi is daughter of Paul Fahning, a lawyer from St. Paul here to cheer his son, Chad, in the Holiday Bowl Game for the Golden Gophers. Photo by Ken Stone
King County Engineer Tim Homann and his son, Matthew Cory, are WSU fans from Auburn, Washington. Photo by Ken Stone
Washington State alumni Terri and Mark Wagar hail from Spokane. Photo by Ken Stone
Polly and the Pirate of the Port of San Diego returned to the Holiday Bowl Parade. Photo by Ken Stone
A panda bear balloon helps mark the 100th anniversary of the San Diego Zoo. Photo by Ken Stone
Sign-bearers for Washington State University Cougar Marching Band get rousing welcome along parade route. Photo by Ken Stone
Clarinet line marches with other woodwinds in Washington State University Cougar Marching Band. Photo by Ken Stone
The Washington State University Cougar Marching Band during the 2016 Holiday Bowl Parade. Photo by Ken Stone
Two-fisted flag-waver marches with Washington State sign at Holiday Bowl Parade. Photo by Ken Stone
Washington State University cheerleaders accompany Butch T. Cougar, the school mascot on float at Holiday Bowl Parade. Photo by Ken Stone
Bearing Cougar fans and cameras, members of the Washington State alumni marching unit signal during parade. Photo by Ken Stone
Ready for the game were members of the Washington State University alumni marching unit. Photo by Ken Stoe
A Cougar fan rode a motorized chair as part of Washington State alumni marching unit. Photo by Ken Stone
Five children of three Pullman moms gathered for photos — the kids of WSU defensive coordinator Alex Grinch (with Becky), offensive line coach Clay McGuire (Jeri) and defensive quality coach Brian Odom (Mackenzie). Photo by Ken Stone
Goldy Gopher, the Minnesota mascot on float, follows sign at Holiday Bowl Parade. Photo by Ken Stone
Car-window flag is waved as part of Golden Gophers marching unit at Holiday Bowl Parade. Photo by Ken Stone
Striped farmer coveralls are uniform of choice for Minnesota band sign-bearers. Photo by Ken Stone
Color guard members of the Golden Gophers Marching Band prance for crowd between music routines. Photo by Ken Stone
Drum major of the Golden Gophers Marching Band gives high-five to youngster between music sessions. Photo by Ken Stone
Members of the Golden Gophers Marching Band dance for crowd between music sessions. Photo by Ken Stone
Members of the Golden Gophers Marching Band chant for crowd between music sessions. Photo by Ken Stone
Members of the Golden Gophers Marching Band chant for crowd between music sessions. Photo by Ken Stone
Members of the Golden Gophers Marching Band dance for crowd between music sessions. Photo by Ken Stone
Members of the Golden Gophers Marching Band chant for crowd between music sessions. Photo by Ken Stone
Lawyer Paul Fahning of St. Paul, Minnesota, waves at military unit. His son Chad is an offensive lineman for the
Jim Erickson of Minneapolis, Class of 1969, is a state Senate-appointed member of the Regent Candidate Advisory Council. He also travels sharply in his “Never Leave a Fan Behind” T-shirt. Photo by Ken Stone
Washington State Cougar fans show their fan in Holiday Bowl Parade bleachers. Photo by Ken Stone
Nita and Rick Luis of Little Canada, Minnesota — both alumni of the university — show off her “No More Minnesota Nice” football T-shirt. Photo by Ken Stone
Minnesota Golden Gopher fans of all ages watch Holiday Bowl Parade from bleachers on Harbor Drive. Photo by Ken Stone
Princess Leia of the 501st Legion’s San Diego Squad keeps a brave face on day Carrie Fisher, the original “Star Wars” princess, died in Los Angeles. (File photo by Ken Stone)
Dance squad performs at stands in front of the Maritime Museum of San Diego during Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade. Photo by Ken Stone
A youngster marches with a “Star Wars” costume club, the 501st Legion’s San Diego Squad. Photo by Ken Stone
Mayor Kevin Faulconer and his wife, Katherine, wave to crowd at Holiday Bowl Parade. Photo by Ken Stone
