Military flyovers at sporting events, like these aircrafts appearing during the National Anthem at a Tigers-Athletics 2012 playoff game, could be a ritual of the past because of looming budget cuts by the federal government. (Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Military aircrafts that have flown over stadiums during sporting events as part of an American tradition might soon be a ritual of the past if the federal government implements a budget sequestration of $1.2 trillion over 10 years.

According to a USA Today Sports interview with Wendy Varhegyi, chief of the engagement division for Air Force public affairs, the Thunderbirds, which have become a part of the pre-race celebrations for NASCAR races, might be the last of the flyover tradition when the planes take to the skies on March 10 to make an appearance above a NASCAR race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway:

“The Thunderbirds are expected to stand down effective April 1. (Las Vegas) is pretty much going to be, I think, the last flyover you’ll see for a while from us.”

In January, a B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber flew over the Rose Bowl and the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in July. The Navy Blue Angels, which have also been a part of the tradition, were scheduled to perform at Navy’s graduation in May but would also likely see an end to their appearances over stadiums.

“It’s no additional cost to the government for support of any public events. Typically, if you see a unit fly over a football game, that is 90 seconds out of a several hour training sorte that they’re flying.”

But she noted that the government would curtail the number of required training hours as part of the proposed budget cuts.

In total, the Air Force conducts approximately 1,000 flyovers each year above sports venues and other events. Varhegyi said the situation would be reevaluated at the end of the fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30.

The Rose and Sugar Bowls will double as semifinals for the nation’s first NCAA Division I college football playoff, according to a report from CBSSports.com.

According to the report, the two bowls will host the semifinals together four times over the course of the 12-year playoff deal. When not serving as semifinals, the bowls will go on with participants from their usual conferences.

The deal gives the first indication of the order of rotation for bowls in the playoff era. With the pairing of Sugar and Rose bowls, the Fiesta and and Orange Bowls will likely be paired together as semifinals, as well as two additional venues to make for a three-year rotation.

Barry Alvarez will coach Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. (Jeff Gross, Getty Images)

Barry Alvarez will make a dramatic return to coaching, after agreeing to take charge of the Wisconsin Badgers for their appearance in the Rose Bowl.

Former Badgers coach Bret Bielma announced he would be leaving the team yesterday, leaving his status for the Rose Bowl in doubt. According to a report in the Madison State Journal, Badgers football team captains approached Wisconsin Athletic Director Alvarez requesting that he coach the team in the bowl game – an offer Alvarez accepted.

Alvarez previously coached Wisconsin football for 15 years before leaving to become Athletic Director in 2005. The Badgers won three Rose Bowls in that span.

The NFL could be coming back to Los Angeles soon after Pasadena, Calif. officials approved a measure that allows more games to be played the 90-year old stadium. (Getty Images)

Pasadena, Calif. officials approved a measure that allows an expansion of the permissible number of annual events at the Rose Bowl from 12 to 25 a year, a stepping stone that could bring the NFL back to the Los Angeles area, reports the Pasadena Sun.

Renovations to the Rose Bowl, once budgeted at $152 million, have grown to almost $200 million. Allowing a NFL team to play at the 90-year-old stadium for up to 13 Sundays a year could mean big dollars to the community.

“We have a fiduciary responsibility to the whole city to take the next step,” Councilwoman Margaret McAustin said.   I’m not excited about the NFL, and clearly [the Rose Bowl’s neighbors] are not excited, but it’s the responsible thing to do.”. Barrett Sports Group, a Manhattan Beach consulting firm hired by the city, projects an NFL lease could raise from $5 million to as much as $10 million for the venue each year.

Pasadena City Council members voted 7-1 to increase the number of events allowed at the Rose Bowl from the current 12 a year to 25 if a deal is struck with an NFL team.

The NFL has not had a Los Angeles based team since the end of the 1994 season when the Raiders moved back to Oakland and the Rams moved to St. Louis.