Rose Bowl trip wasn’t full of thorns

While the Rose Bowl had a rotten ending for the University of Wisconsin football team and its fans, it was an experience Tyler Beach will never forget.

Beach, a backup offensive tackle and Port Washington High School alumnus, got in on a few plays, including a key fourth-and-one that the Badgers converted. He was an extra tight end on the play.

He played on a second-and-five play as well, and he helps hold down the left side on field goals and extra points.

“It was pretty cool getting in there. I was pretty jacked,” he said.

Beach holds the same sentiment that many fans expressed about the 28-27 loss to Oregon — there were a lot of bad calls.

But, he said, the stadium in Pasadena, Calif., was beautiful.

“You can see the mountains right in the back,” he said.

At the end of the third quarter, Beach said he looked up to see a gorgeous sunset, along with fans participating in the “Jump Around” tradition.

“The atmosphere was like a home game. I was pretty pumped up,” he said.

The team left Wisconsin on Christmas Day. The Badgers practiced each morning and had events scheduled on several days.

One excursion was to Disneyland. Beach’s favorite ride was the Incredicoaster, which didn’t live up to its name for some of his teammates.

While Beach rode with a small group, a larger group of Badgers tried to ride the 19-year-old steel roller coaster later but didn’t get far.

“As it starts climbing, the whole roller coaster shuts down. There was too much weight,” Beach said.

“They had to wait for, like, 20 minutes  until they came and got them. It was funny.”

The group then had to hightail it out of the park.

“They had to run to the buses. They were trying to make it back,” Beach said.

The Badgers participated in the traditional Lawry’s Beef Bowl in which each player could eat as much as they wanted.

“Everybody sits down and it’s unlimited prime rib. It was incredible,” Beach said.

Beach downed two pieces, after which “I was very full,” he said. Two teammates, sophomore offensive linemen Blake Smithback and Josh Seltzner, each gobbled up five pieces.

The Badgers also got a private screening of “Bad Boys for Life,” the third movie in the “Bad Boys” trilogy that doesn’t come out for a couple of weeks.

“It was pretty good. I would recommend it,” Beach said.

The team came home last Thursday, one day after the game. Beach is at home recovering from the season and lifting weights. In the offseason, the Badgers do winter conditioning and work with their strength coaches.

“It’s nice to get a break,” Beach said.

Beach said he expects to be a starter next season.

He hopes for the best for star running back Jonathan Taylor and speedy wide receiver Quintez Cephus, who have declared for the NFL draft.

“Those guys gave us a ton of opportunities this year. They’ve given everything they’ve got since they’ve been here. I’ve got nothing but respect for those guys,” Beach said.