Turkey Tussle Tradition Pits Muir Against PHS on Rose Bowl Gridiron Wednesday Night

The annual Turkey Tussle, a homecoming tradition between Pasadena High School and cross-town rival John Muir High School, is set for the Rose Bowl on Wednesday, October 25 at 7:00 p.m. The event, which began in 1947, sees the two schools vie for the honor of their institutions.

The Turkey Tussle initially featured games between Pasadena Community College and John Muir Junior College in a  series that lasted until 1953. The rivalry shifted to its current participants, Pasadena High School and John Muir High School, in 1954.

The coveted prize for the winning school is the Victory Bell, a gift from the Santa Fe Railroad presented in 1955. The bell, which once rang atop an old steam locomotive, was procured through the efforts of Scott Fitzwater, then Student Body President, and Jim Shelton, then Senior Class Vice-President. Raymond Shelton, General Manager for Santa Fe in Los Angeles and Jim’s father, facilitated the acquisition.

The Victory Bell serves as a perpetual trophy, rotating between the two schools based on the outcome of the homecoming game. The winning team celebrates their victory by ringing the bell in the end zone.

In a dramatic turn of events in June 2005, the Victory Bell was stolen during a burglary at John Muir High School. However, it was recovered near a road in the Angeles National Forest on February 7, 2006.

The record between Pasadena High School and John Muir High School is 46-20-2 in favor of John Muir High School. The record includes games played between Pasadena Community College and John Muir Junior College from 1947 to 1953. 

In 2022 PHS beat Muir 47-0.

The Turkey Tussle will be broadcast live by KRLN at goPUSD.com/livesports. 

For more information and updates on tickets, go to https://www.pusd.us/domain/2503

Link to purchase tickets PUSD.US/MUIRGOFAN PUSD.US/PHSGOFAN

Please note that the Rose Bowl is a cashless venue and their clear bag policy will be enforced.