USC's Magic Kingdom

After winning the Super Bowl, a lot of football players proclaim, "I'm going to Disneyland!"

You may not hear that from a Rose Bowl winner, since they've already been. As part of a Tournament of Roses tradition, both teams and the members of the Rose Court kicked off pre-game festivities with a press conference at Sleeping Beauty Castle, then launched into a full media onslaught. It's the year of 1,000,000 dreams at Disneyland, but Wednesday felt more like the day of 1,000,000 photo ops.

Early on, Sedrick Ellis decided to get a churro. Then he got four more. He admitted he usually prefers corn dogs and also digs funnel cakes. We're pretty sure you shouldn't get between him and his theme park food. Sam Baker started talking about Rice Krispies, and Keith Rivers wasn't sure if he could fill up with the park's prices -- but a team dinner at ESPN Zone probably did the trick. Tomorrow, USC heads to Lawry's to continue their health regimen with slabs of prime rib, creamed corn, and creamed spinach.

The Fighting Illini raved about the obvious (weather and facilities at the Home Depot Center) and not-so-obvious (free entertainment centers shipped to them back home as a gift from the Tournament of Roses), and pretended not to notice when a park spokesperson repeatedly pronounced the "S" in "Illinois." For the most part they seemed really excited about going on the Teacups.

The Trojans had more of a mixed reaction to the famous kid's ride, with some looking forward to it but at least one rolling his eyes. Several USC players grew up just a few miles from the park. Sam Baker was more interested in hanging out in Downtown Disney, and Lawrence Jackson couldn't even recall how many times he had been.

While Baker wandered towards the retail district with a crystal replica of Sleeping Beauty Castle that had been presented to the team, other players also got to enjoy the Matterhorn and a number of other iconic Disney attractions. USC has been to Disneyland three years in a row, but Pete Carroll said it was still exciting -- especially for the younger players.

Both teams enjoyed an afternoon of fun and distraction from practice and, fortunately, nobody lost their churros on the Teacups.

Brady MacDonald has more on the LA Times Travel Blog, along with more tips on travel deals at theme parks.

Comments

[PK-IN-THE-MESA]

ROLL CALL

24-23
28-27
28-21
CARDINAL AND FOOLS GOLD
ETC.

NOT MAMBA 24
BUT THE OWNER OF PIZZA KITCHEN

[Gerrrg]

When kids are in the teacups, those teacups look huge. When the football players are in them, they look like they can barely fit two to a cup.

I remember being on the field at the Hula Bowl years ago, and the linemen were like towers...or giant boulders.