Rose Bowl Official Calls Arizona Senator By Wrong Name

Not the smoothest of starts for the game’s officiating crew.

The officiating crew at the Rose Bowl got off to a rough start on Monday when the game’s referee made quite the gaffe when trying to introduce United States senator Mark Kelly. 

Kelly was on the field alongside former U.S. House of Representatives member and 2023 Tournament of Roses grand marshal Gabrielle Giffords, who is also his wife, during the coin toss ahead of the matchup between No. 11 Penn State and No. 8 Utah. Referee Michael Vandervelde had the responsibility of introducing both of them to the crowd and fans watching from home.

Though Vandervelde got off to a strong start when speaking of Giffords, he stumbled when he got to the current junior senator from Arizona, calling him Mark Lewis instead of Mark Kelly.

That time Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) became “Senator Mark Lewis” in front of 100,000 watching at the Rose Bowl and millions more at home on ESPN… pic.twitter.com/ruvtYZ7mK4

— Joe Concha (@JoeConchaTV) January 2, 2023

Given that the Rose Bowl is one of the most-watched games of the college football season, fans and media members watching the game were quick to pick up on Vandervelde’s mistake.

Poor Mark Kelly. Recording the big coin toss moment with his wife and he gets introduced as Mark Lewis

— Dana O'Neil (@DanaONeilWriter) January 2, 2023

Did that ref call Senator Mark Kelly “Mark Lewis”? #RoseBowl

— Timothy Bella (@TimBella) January 2, 2023

The ref just called Mark Kelly by the wrong name

— Dianne Gallagher (@DianneG) January 2, 2023

Gotta love Sen. Mark Kelly being like one of us and filming the coin toss with his phone. 🤣

The referee called him "Mark Lewis" though. 😬 pic.twitter.com/5VI80QV5c7

— Yahoo Sports College Football (@YahooSportsCFB) January 2, 2023

Lol, Sen. Mark Lewis

— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) January 2, 2023

Bad job by the referee at the coin toss of PSU-Utah. Intro-ed Gabby Giffords, then called her husband, the actual AZ senator, Mark Lewis. Oof.

— Mike Missanelli (@MikeMiss25) January 2, 2023

It certainly wasn’t the smoothest of starts to “The Granddaddy of Them All,” especially for Vandervelde and the officiating crew. The referee will look to make up for the now-viral moment on the field on Monday as Utah (10–3) and Penn State (10–2) square off in the latest edition of the Rose Bowl.