ATHENS — In the midst of finals, Georgia students got a chance to win two tickets to the Rose Bowl, a rare opportunity for students considering only around 500 students were awarded tickets for the game.
All they had to do was be the first to reach a secret location on Georgia’s campus, which according to Jack and Carter Glenn — the two Georgia students who won the tickets — was a lot harder than anticipated.
The official Rose Bowl Game Twitter account arrived on Georgia’s campus on Dec. 13 to give one lucky student two free tickets to the game. Multiple students, like the Glenn brothers, waited patiently around the campus for the account to tweet out the secret location of the tickets.
“All over North Campus you could tell that people were waiting for the clue,” Jack said. “You know, people are always on their phones, but you could tell people were just constantly updated Twitter.”
“They all didn’t have backpacks, too,” Carter added with a laugh, noting the lack of school supplies for students in the midst of finals.
But the Glenn brothers, who recently were accepted into Terry College’s marketing major, had strategy on their side.
“Our strategy was that we thought North Campus would be the best place to go because just about every time they have promotions on campus, they do them there,” Jack said. “So, [Carter] took the Chapel Bell area, and I went to the [Founders] Garden because I thought, you know, Rose Bowl … rose … flower.”
Once they had their positions, the waiting started.
“We were there for about an hour just walking around,” Jack said. “Then all of a sudden I see people running through Herty Field, so I was like, ‘OK I guess I better start running.’ ”
Jack took off for the Chapel Bell, but Carter was already well ahead of him, ready and stationed about 75 feet away from the bell. The perfect spot for when the clue went out telling ticket-hopefuls the tickets would be at the place where you go to celebrate a Georgia win. The winner had to yell “Rose Bowl” while ringing the bell to get the tickets.
“I sprinted up there and yelled ‘Rose Bowl,’ but I didn’t really see anyone else,” Carter said. “I mean, there were other people tackling each other trying to get up there, but I got there first. Then, all of a sudden a camera crew starts running up.”
At the same moment his brother made it to the bell, too.
“I see Carter ringing the bell, and then WSB comes around the corner with their news crew and I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, Carter just won,’ ” Jack said, recalling the moment.
And just like that, Carter and Jack Glenn were holding two tickets to the Rose Bowl and making plans to head out to Pasadena.
The brothers, along with their parents, will leave for California on Dec. 30 and spend the next two days running a 5K and visiting Griffiths Observatory on New Year’s Eve. The brothers said it will be a short trip but worth it to see Georgia play at such a historic venue — the Rose Bowl against Oklahoma.
“I am beyond excited,” Jack said. “I think this is so historic for UGA. It is something where even an SEC team hasn’t been in decades. The stars aligned for this game. … It’s almost a miracle for Georgia, but hey, it’s miracle season.”
But the Glenn brothers, who witnessed Georgia get revenge against Auburn in the SEC Championship Game, believe in the Bulldogs and are expecting good things to come from their trip to Rose Bowl.
Both brothers are predicting a Georgia win.
“I’m saying 24-17, Georgia,” Carter said. “Everyone expects it to be high scoring, but I don’t think it will be. [Oklahoma] hasn’t faced a defense like Georgia’s, and you hear that this team really likes playing with each other, and I think that helps.”
Working together seemed to work out for Jack and Carter Glenn, so maybe it will work out for Georgia, too.