1954 Rose Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1954 Rose Bowl game, played on January 1, 1954 was the 40th Rose Bowl game
. The Michigan State Spartans
defeated the UCLA Bruins
, 28–20. Michigan State halfback Billy Wells
was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game. This was the first year that Michigan State University was counted in the Big Ten Conference
football standings, having been a member since 1950. The 1954 Rose Bowl had the first color television
"colorcast", viewable on 200 sets across the United States.
The Spartans fumbled twice in the first half, which allowed the Bruins the first two scores. Michigan State had only one completed pass and 56 yards in the first half. The Spartans scored a touchdown with 4:45 remaining in the first half.
Victor Postula knocked down four Bruin passes. Coach Biggie Munn instituted a "split line offense" against the Bruins.
The Spartans assembled two long drives in the third quarter to pull ahead 21–-14. The Bruins recovered another Spartan fumble and scored to make the score 21-20. But the extra point kick failed. Billy Wells of Michigan State returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown with 4:51 left in the game.
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
. The Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State Spartans football
The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level...
defeated the UCLA Bruins
UCLA Bruins Football
The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
, 28–20. Michigan State halfback Billy Wells
Billy Wells (football player)
William Prescott Wells was an American football halfback in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Philadelphia Eagles. He also played in the American Football League for the Boston Patriots...
was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game. This was the first year that Michigan State University was counted in the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
football standings, having been a member since 1950. The 1954 Rose Bowl had the first color television
Color television
Color television is part of the history of television, the technology of television and practices associated with television's transmission of moving images in color video....
"colorcast", viewable on 200 sets across the United States.
Michigan State College Spartans
The Michigan State Spartans had joined the Big Ten in 1950, but did not play a full schedule until the 1953 season. They only lost one game, 0-6 at Purdue. The Purdue loss broke a 28-game winning streak, which included two National Championships. The Spartans were co-champions with Illinois. The Illini and Spartans did not play each other. However, Illinois had last appeared in the 1952 Rose Bowl. Clarence "Biggie" Munn announced his retirement before the 1954 Rose Bowl game.UCLA Bruins
In the 1952 season, the Bruins lost only one game, to USC 12–14. USC took the 1953 Rose Bowl berth. Both teams had been undefeated. In the 1953 season, the Bruins again lost only one regular season game, 20–21 at Stanford on October 17. Stanford would later be defeated by USC on November 7. With the Rose Bowl on the line for both teams, UCLA defeated USC 13–0 to win the Pacific Coast Conference outright and gain the Rose Bowl berth.Game summary
This was the first meeting between the two schools. It was the first Rose Bowl appearance for the Spartans. They had previously only played in the 1938 Orange Bowl. It was the third bowl appearance for the Bruins. The weather was sunny. The Spartans wore their green home jerseys and the Bruins wore their white road jerseys.The Spartans fumbled twice in the first half, which allowed the Bruins the first two scores. Michigan State had only one completed pass and 56 yards in the first half. The Spartans scored a touchdown with 4:45 remaining in the first half.
Victor Postula knocked down four Bruin passes. Coach Biggie Munn instituted a "split line offense" against the Bruins.
The Spartans assembled two long drives in the third quarter to pull ahead 21–-14. The Bruins recovered another Spartan fumble and scored to make the score 21-20. But the extra point kick failed. Billy Wells of Michigan State returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown with 4:51 left in the game.
Second quarter
- UCLA — Cameron, two-yard run. Hermann converts.
- MSU — Ellis Duckett, six-yard blocked punt return. Evan Slonac converts.
Third quarter
- MSU — LeRoy Bolden, one-yard run. Slonac converts.
- MSU — Billy Wells, two-yard run. Slonac converts.
Fourth quarter
- UCLA — Rommie Loudd, 28-yard pass from Cameron passes 28 yards to Rommie Loudd. Kick failed.
- MSU — Wells, 62-yard punt return. Slonac converts.
Aftermath
- UCLA went on to win a shared National Championship for the 1954 season. It was the first "split" championship in college football, when the writers selected Ohio State1954 Ohio State Buckeyes football teamThe 1954 Ohio State Buckeyes football team was led by QB Dave Leggett and captains John Borton and Dick Brubaker. They were the second national title team in Ohio State football history. They were coached by Hall of Fame coach Woody Hayes...
and the coaches chose UCLA. The Bruins didn't play in the 1955 Rose Bowl game because of the no-repeat rule in effect then. - Billy Wells died in December 2001.
Game facts
In their first official season in the Big Ten, the Spartans led the league in the number of black players. Michigan State's eight black athletes represented nearly a quarter of all African Americans in the entire conference.Players
- Bruce Ballard
- Warner Benjamin
- Bob Bergdahl
- Sam BoghosianSam BoghosianSam Boghosian is a former American football player and coach.Boghosian played Guard for coach Red Sanders at UCLA from 1952-1954. He was a member of the Bruins team that won the 1954 Rose Bowl and was named that year's FWAA & UPI National Champions...
- Doug Bradley
- Richard Braunbeck
- Jim Brown
- Sam Brown
- Hardiman CuretonHardiman CuretonHardiman Cureton is a former American football player.He played high school football for the Monrovia Wildcats. He played the tackle position....
- Bob Davenport
- Terry Debay
- Jim Decker
- Preston Dills
- Chuck Doud (co-captain)
- Jack EllenaJack EllenaJack Duane Ellena is a former American football player.Ellena played offensive tackle for coach Red Sanders at UCLA from 1952 to 1954. He was a member of the Bruins team that won the 1954 Rose Bowl and was named that year's FWAA & UPI national champions...
- John Farhood
- Rudy Feldman (co-captain)
- Russ Hampton
- Johnny HermannJohnny HermannJohn William Hermann is a former American football player and coach. Hermann played running back, tight end, and defensive back for coach Red Sanders at UCLA from 1953-1955...
- Bob HeydenfeldtBob HeydenfeldtBob Heydenfeldt is a former American and Canadian football player.Heydenfeldt played Tight end and Punter for coach Red Sanders at UCLA from 1952-1954. He was a member of the Bruins team that won the 1954 Rose Bowl and was named that year's FWAA & UPI National Champions...
- Bob LongBob Long (linebacker)Robert Wendell Long is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League in the 1950s and 1960s. He attended the University of California at Los Angeles. His eight year pro-career was spent with the Los Angeles Rams, the Detroit Lions, and the Dallas Cowboys...
- Rommie LouddRommie LouddRommie Lee Loudd was a former American football player, coach, and executive. He was the first black assistant coach in the American Football League and the first black majority owner of a major league sports team.-Playing career:Loudd played tight end for coach Red Sanders at UCLA from 1953 to 1955...
- Gerry McDougallGerry McDougallGerry McDougall is an American Football League and Canadian Football League running back from 1957 through 1967. McDougall was named a CFL Eastern All-Star for 1957 and 1958 while playing for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats....
- Jack McKay
- Gil Moreno
- Clarence Norris
- Gerry Okuneff
- Steve Palmer
- Doug Peters
- Dave Peterson
- Joe Ray
- Mike Riskas
- Jim Salisbury
- Don Schinnick
- Tom Thaxter
- Primo Villanueva
- Roger White
Coaches
- Red SandersHenry Russell SandersHenry Russell "Red" Sanders was an American college football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Vanderbilt University and the University of California at Los Angeles , compiling a career college football record of 102–41–3...
- Head Coach - William BarnesWilliam F. Barnes-Post coaching:He resigned after the 1964 season after learning that Athletic Director J.D. Morgan was not going to renew his contract. After leaving UCLA, he became an NFL scout. He later became a Real Estate developer.-Death:...
- Deke BrackettDeke BrackettHerbert Benjamin "Deke" Brackett was a College football player and coach.Brackett played quarterback at Tennessee from 1931-1933. He played in the same backfield as College Football Hall of Famer and NFL All-Decade Team running back Beattie Feathers. After graduating, Brackett remained at...
- George DickersonGeorge W. Dickerson-References:Bibliography* UCLA Football Media Guide...
- Johnny Johnson
- Jim MyersJim Myers-References:...
- Tommy ProthroTommy ProthroJames Thompson "Tommy" Prothro, Jr. was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Oregon State University from 1955 to 1964 and at the University of California, Los Angeles from 1965 to 1970, compiling a career college football record of 104–55–5...