Sunday was tabbed "Sunday Funday" at the Rose Bowl for the two teams competing in the 106th edition of college football's oldest postseason game.

We took a queue from the Oregon Ducks and Wisconsin Badgers and wandered across the street from the stadium to the Rose Bowl float-staging area. I've watched the Rose Bowl for generations and know all about the ground rules of using primarily organic matter to decorate the entries, but have never seen the process up close. Most of my experience is with Mardi Gras floats and hurricanes.

You develop a quick appreciation for the hard work involved in this process when you see the dedication and detail that goes into each one. 

For us, however, Sunday was a work day.

Just 24 hours after completing the paint job on the field for the 2020 Rose Bowl game, the entire team was back at it Sunday afternoon to cover the playing surface and protect it from the rain.

Initially, the forecast included a 90 percent-plus chance of rain, which was good enough to convince superintendent Will Schnell to cover the playing field and the sideline areas. 

Schnell checks the weather first thing in the morning and constantly throughout the day. That's especially true in the run-up to the Rose Bowl that always includes a new field a month or so before game day. 

On Sunday, he checked the weather at about 4 a.m. By then, that 90 percent chance of rain had been ratcheted down and eventually dropped to about 10 percent. It was enough relief that it convinced Schnell to grab a few more Z's before heading to the stadium.

It also convinced him not to cover the sidelines.

After a quick mow on Sunday, the covers went on. With about 20 people on hand, six tarps go on pretty quickly. Once it began, the process didn't take much more than an hour. They'll have to come off just as quickly. 

The field has spent about nine days under cover since installed in early December as the team here tries to preserve a firm-and-fan surface for the players from both teams.  With no rain in the forecast throughout the rest of the week, the covers will come off first thing Monday morning just in time for the Oregon football team around 9 a.m. and then Wisconsin about 11 a.m. 

Since they're under cover only for about 18 hours, Schnell is not so concerned about creating an air layer under the tarps. In the event the field ever is covered for two days - or more - he uses a pair of turbine blowers to create a cushion of air and promote air movement.