Ty Jordan, Aaron Lowe Will Forever Be A Part Of Rose Bowl Lore

SALT LAKE CITY- Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe made an incredible impression on Utah football in their short time with the Utes. Now a piece of their legacy will forever be enshrined at the legendary Rose Bowl.

Two markers have been installed at Gate A with both players names on them and the message, “In loving memory, He lived his legacy.” The “Grandaddy of them All” has never lacked a certain mystique, but the Utes, Jordan, and Lowe have certainly added to the recent lore of the prestigious bowl game.

Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe will forever be enshrined at the #RoseBowl. @Utah_Football made it to their first Rose Bowl last season after having to process their shocking deaths in just a 9 month span.#GoUtes #22Forever #LLTJ #LLAL https://t.co/DfP7nV73EP

— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) December 14, 2022

22 Forever At The Rose Bowl

Utah football faced a tough decision last season as to whether to continue playing after the vicious murder of Lowe at a house party in September– right in the midst of their season. Jordan had already been gone due to an accidental, self-inflicted gunshot wound nine months earlier. Both players wore No. 22.

Ultimately, with the encouragement of Lowe’s mother, Donna, the Utes forged on in a whirlwind of a funeral, several beatdowns of Pac-12 opponents, a jersey retirement ceremony and many, many “Moments of Loudness” to reach their third Pac-12 Championship.

Utah would go on to win their first Pac-12 Title in convincing fashion, 38-10 against Oregon and subsequently stamp their first-ever invite to the Rose Bowl where their story fully captivated the nation.

 

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While the Utes put on an impressive show in their first showing at the “Grandaddy of them All” against Ohio State, they ultimately came up three points short against the Buckeyes, 48-45.

Later this summer, because of the story surrounding Utah and how they honored their brothers throughout the 2021 season, the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation inducted a replica of the helmet the Utes wore in their first Rose Bowl appearance into their museum.

A Little 22 Magic Left In The Tank

Admittedly, Utah appeared dead in the water for the 2022 season which they dedicated to Jordan and Lowe because of the number 22.

There were certainly some highs, like beating No. 7 USC at home by one point off a last-minute Cam Rising two-point conversion while wearing hand painted helmets honoring Jordan and Lowe.

There were also some incredible lows like failing to finish the job in Eugene against Oregon in a three-point, 20-17 defensive battle. In fact, it was this game that it felt like marked the end of Utah’s 2022 campaign.

What felt like Devine Intervention had other plans for the Utes.

A series of four events fell Utah’s way during Rivalry Week– only one of which the Utes had control of, beating Colorado. By midnight on November 26 there was a mad scramble in Salt Lake City to book flights, hotel, credentials/tickets for the Pac-12 Championship six days later in Las Vegas.

Initially, the outlook of the Pac-12 Title Game was not looking great for the Utes when No. 4 USC jumped ahead 17-3. A little “unwavering belief”, a “Moment of Loudness” and 22 completed passes later and Utah had beat the Trojans into the ground 47-24 on their way to their second straight title and Rose Bowl appearance.

 

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Ask anyone associated with Utah football and they’ll tell you Jordan and Lowe always believed the Utes were Rose Bowl bound. It was all they ever talked about. Through their brothers, they lived their legacy.

Michelle Bodkin is the Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of both the Crimson Corner Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and The Saturday Show (Saturday from 10 a.m.–12 p.m.) on The KSL Sports Zone. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @BodkinKSLsports

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