OK, so I am gloating. But only a little. And not in bad winner sort of way.

The Rose Bowl is almost always a fun game to watch, but it was especially entertaining in the Holland house this year. Y'all know that I am a proud 'SC alum, but what you don't know -- you wouldn't have any reason to until now -- is that my father is a proud alumni of ... wait for it ... the University of Illinois. Like you didn't see that one coming.

Yes, my friends, I was raised by a Fighting Illini (pronounced Ill-EYE-in-eye). That's him hiding behind my USC hat. I'll explain that one in a minute.

So, now you know why yesterday's game was so ... um ... interesting ... for my family.

While my father and I were clearly on opposite sides of the gridiron, my mother (ASU, two Rose Bowls, 1 win) and my sister (U of A, NO Rose Bowls ... ever), were firmly planted on the fence. They very diplomatically -- and carefully -- rooted for the offense.

This was not Illinois' first trip to Pasadena. It was their fifth, and they won their first three outings. The last time they were there -- 1984 -- my father took the fam. The Illini had their butts handed to them by UCLA, 45 to 9. Funny what you remember.

Despite the loss, we had a great time. I hadn't even thought about going to USC yet. I was all of 10.

Fast forward 24 years.

A few weeks ago, my dad e-mailed me about the Bermuda Triangle of events that would have to occur for Illinois and USC to meet in the "Granddaddy of 'Em All." Possible. But very unlikely.

"Never happen," we agreed.

Yeah. We were wrong.

When Heather Moore, also a Trojan, told me about the matchup, I had had only one response.

"Seriously?"

Enter the Twilight Zone.

For Christmas I got my dad an Illinois Rose Bowl T-shirt -- decorated with a pretty little cardinal and gold "Beat Illinois" button. Which he later threw at my head. Good naturedly, of course. He thought the pin would go better with the USC Rose Bowl cap he had gotten me.

After several days of talking smack, game day arrived.

The original plan was for the whole family to go to an alumni game-viewing party. Let me rephrase that ... an Illinois alumni game-viewing party. Yes, I -- Trojan girl in all my cardinal-and-gold glory -- was going to be dropped smack into the vipers' nest.

I would have been well armed, though, as I had loaded up my BlackBerry with game-appropriate music like Tribute to Troy (the one the band plays ALL the time), Conquest, the SoCall Spellout and, of course, the Fight On!

I was also prepared to get beaten up.

We ended up not going. I'm not sure why my dad changed his mind. Perhaps it was the wicked stomach flu I had been cursed with Monday night. Either way, I was spared.

We had a little family party at my parents' house instead.

The drive across town was interesting.

I was minding my own business, happily car dancing to the Trojan Marching Band when I noticed this guy in the next lane flipping me off. Rude much? He kept pointing at his shirt. That's when I tumbled to what was happening. He was one of THEM. My father's brethren. A Fighting Illini.

I was decked out in my 2003 National Champions polo, my Christmas cap and the "Beat Illinois" button my dad beaned me with. Not exactly subtle, I admit.

I pointed at my hat. "What? This?"

The Illini nodded and laughed.

We continued down the street. I slowed down, he slowed down. I sped up, he sped up. It was kinda of a race that topped out at 45 mph.

I looked back over and the Illini was pounding his fist into his hand. I did an exaggerated eye roll and shook my head -- no way.

I arrived at my parents' place in true Trojan fashion, with the Spirit of Troy blasting -- as loud as possible -- from Bella's CD player. Startled my mom, but the resident Illini was napping. It almost wasn't fun.

My sister arrived soon after and said I was obscene in my Trojan gear.

Up from his nap and not to be out-spirited, my dad put on his Rose Bowl T-shirt.

Everybody was properly attired, the bet was in place and we were ready to roll by kickoff time.

Did I mention the bet? Dinner, of course. But if Illinois won, I had to wear Dad's shirt to work. If USC won, he had to wear my hat out and about.

Game on.

While my mom and sister, both from Pac 10 schools, diligently rooted for Illinois at the appropriate moments, their true colors came out every now and then.

Like the first time 'SC sacked the Illinois quarterback.

"Sacked 'em!" my mom exclaimed gleefully -- a little too gleefully in one opinion. She immediately put on a contrite face and apologized. She got a glare in return.

After 'SC's second touchdown -- the score now 14-zip less than halfway through the first quarter -- my sister leaned over to where I was sitting.

"I hope you let them score," she said in an exaggerated stage whisper as Illinois set up for a field goal.

It went wide.

"We tried," I said.

The Illini were on fire at the start of the third with Rashard Mendenhall making an amazing (yes, I can admit it) 79-yard touchdown run. No Trojan was even close to him.

My sister was on her feet.

"Go, go, go, go, go!" she yelled, way too excitedly.

"You suck," I responded.

My dad just sat back and smirked.

"Doesn't your butt hurt perched on that fence?" I asked my beloved sibling.

"It was a good run," she said defensively. "I'm just sayin'."

It was a good run, but it wasn't THAT good. OK, it was, but still.

The score was 21-10. Things were getting interesting until Illinois fumbled in the end zone and the Trojans recovered.

That fumble led to a series of plays in which a live ball bounced beautifully into the waiting hands of tailback Joe McKnight. It was like the ball wanted to be there. It really was a thing of beauty. A fluke, but a very cool one. Four plays later the score was 28-10. And it started with that fumble.

Illinois kind of fell apart after that, and they never quite recovered.

At one point later in the third quarter, my dad looked up to find all three of us doing the Trojan victory thing while the band played "Spirit of Troy" (again).

But Illinois wasn't giving up. There was the play when McKnight was on his way to what was sure to be a touchdown, when No. 1 Vontae Davis came out of nowhere -- literally -- to bring him down. Man, that is one fast Illini.

In the end 'SC came out on top. Way on top.

But that's not to say Illinois played poorly. They're just young and inexperienced. And 'SC is, after all, 'SC. (I know how that sounds, but you know what I mean.) Over all, though, they did a good job, and it was a great learning experience for next year.

ESPN's Lee Corso had it so right. "Illinois is hoping to win this ballgame," he said. "USC is expecting to win it."

Any way, now that I was saved from having to wear Illini gear to work (fellow 'SC grads Heather Moore and Tess Rafols would have had a field day with that one), I threw my dad a bone. He could take a picture in my hat for this blog (see above or click here) and get out of wearing it in public. He agreed, but refused to show his face. Man's gotta draw the line somewhere.

He blames the loss on the fact that the Illinois mascot Chief Illiniwek, which had been a source of controversy for years, was officially retired on Feb. 21, 2007. He pointed out that while the Illini fans were mascotless, 'SC had Traveler.

You keep telling yourself that, Dad.

Then there was 12th man on the field -- the inimitable Trojan Marching Band.

The 'SC Band specializes in psyching out the opponent. And playing "Tribute to Troy" every 30 seconds or so, they're good at. They're kind of obnoxious ... and I say that lovingly. Anyone who's ever heard the band at a game knows exactly what I'm talking about. They're not mean or anything, just ... relentless. In a good way ... at least good for the Trojans.

They got to at least one of the Illini players, who picked up a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct when he smarted off to the band after scoring what would be Illinois' last touchdown.

Of course, 'SC earned a couple of those penalties, too. One for No. 22 doing a front-flip into the end zone. It was the guy's first touchdown reception. And another for excessive celebration. A Trojan who had been injured all year scored a big TD.

The only bad thing about the game is that it while did give 'SC its third Rose Bowl win in four appearances over the last five years (We won't talk about that 2006 loss to Vince Young the Texas Longhorns. Please.), it didn't give the Trojans a National Championship, which they really might deserve.

I just have one question left.

How much do I torment my father? And for how long?

OK, that's two questions. We 'SC grads might not be able to count, but we sure can spell.

S-O-U-T-HERN.... C-A-L-I-FORNIA.... SOUTHERN.... CALIFOOORRRRNIA!