2013 Rose Bowl: Stanford could get $1 million donation boost

The Stanford Cardinal will be making their third straight appearance in a BCS bowl game when they face the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2013 Rose Bowl, but this year carries special significance with alumni.

The Orange and Fiesta Bowl trips in 2011 and 2012 provided the obvious extra national exposure that comes with playing in an elite game, but for West Coast alums who have always held the Rose Bowl in high esteem, this year's BCS bid is special.

The excitement generated in the alumni base will mean a bump in donations to the school. The appearance could mean as much as a $1 million boost in donations, according to Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News.

That extra donation money is important, as the Pac-12's revenue sharing ensures that all teams in the conference are paid the same amount from the pool of BCS money. Money from fans and alums is where the real financial impact comes from. That money allows Stanford to keep up with some of the top fundraising schools in the conference and maintain top-level facilities to draw coaches and recruits.

Winning the game would create even more excitement, and Stanford will try to do that on New Year's Day at 1:30 p.m. PT.