photo by Edwin Folven

Players on the University of Utah Utes football team arrived at Lawry’s The Prime Rib on Dec. 29 for the Lawry’s Beef Bowl, an annual tradition for teams playing in the Rose Bowl Game.

A marching band greeted the players, who arrived at the La Cienega Boulevard restaurant with a police escort. Per tradition, rival teams in the Rose Bowl enjoy a hearty meal at Lawry’s The Prime Rib on separate days prior to the game. The Pennsylvania State University Nittany Lions visited Lawry’s The Prime Rib on Dec. 30 for the team’s turn in the Beef Bowl.

The fun annual event dates back to 1956 and is considered one of college football’s most legendary bowl game traditions.

“The Beef Bowl is an opportunity for us to celebrate the players and coaches and kick off the festivities of the Rose Bowl Game,” said Ryan O’Melveny, CEO of Lawry’s Restaurants Inc. “It’s a tradition that we look forward to every year as it has been passed down through my family for generations.

R.J. Hubert from University of Utah and Johnathan Sutherland from Penn State were given the Scholar Athlete Award during the Beef Bowl. The Penn State Nittany Lions defeated the Utah Utes 35-21 on Jan. 2 in the Rose Bowl.

Lawry’s The Prime Rib is located at 100 N. La Cienega Blvd. For information, visit lawrysonline. com.