1966 Rose Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1966 Rose Bowl, played on January 1, 1966 was the 52nd Rose Bowl Game
. The UCLA Bruins
defeated the #1 ranked Michigan State Spartans
by a score of 14–12. UCLA defensive back
Bob Stiles was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game.
that Michigan State won, 13–3. Unknown Gary Beban had a long touchdown pass play nullified by a penalty in that game. As it turned out, UCLA gave MSU one of its toughest games of the season in its home opener, a fact that was forgotten when the 14-point odds came out favoring MSU for the Rose Bowl re-match. The two previous meetings also were won by Michigan State, the 1954 Rose Bowl and 1956 Rose Bowl
.
that ultimately decided the Big Ten Conference
title as the Spartans finished one game ahead of the Buckeyes. The Spartans featured Bubba Smith
and George Webster.
and Penn State, tied at Missouri
14–14, then won four straight. Going into the 1965 UCLA–USC rivalry football game ranked #7, the conference championship and 1966 Rose Bowl were on the line. #6-ranked USC, led by Heisman trophy winner Mike Garrett
led 16–6 until UCLA got a touchdown on a pass from Gary Beban to Dick Witcher
with four minutes to play. After the 2-point conversion made it 16–14, UCLA recovered an onside kick. Beban then hit Kurt Altenberg on a 50-yard bomb and UCLA won, 20–16. Los Angeles Times
columnist Jim Murray
did not like the Bruins chances.
UCLA then faced Tennessee
in the newly built Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
in Memphis, Tennessee
, Prothro's native city. On the last play of a wild game, Tennessee defensive back Bob Petrella intercepted a UCLA pass to save a Volunteer win by a score of 37–34. Coach Prothro, was uncharacteristically upset. He criticized a pass interference call, a phantom holding call on end Byron Nelson that nullified a key UCLA play, claimed that the clock had been wrongly stopped twice on Tennessee's winning drive, and said that a dropped pass was a lateral and a fumble. He stated, "For the first time in my life, I am ashamed to be a Southerner."
The 1965 team was nicknamed the "Gutty little Bruins" as the defensive line was small with John Richardson
at 225 pounds, Steve Butler at 220, and 200-pound defensive tackles Al Claman and Terry Donahue
.
eventually took it in from one yard out to give the Bruins a surprising lead over the stunned Spartans. Then UCLA coach Tommy Prothro
went into his bag of tricks and called for an onside kick. Kicker Kurt Zimmerman executed it perfecty and Dallas Grider
fell on the ball. Beban then threaded a pass between three Spartan defenders to Kurt Altenbeg, who made a great catch that put UCLA on the 1-yard line. Beban then scored on a short run to make it 14–0. UCLA's undersized defense continued to play well, but the larger Spartans were beginning to wear them down and began picking up bigger and bigger chunks of yardage on the ground. Midway through the 4th quarter, Michigan State finally broke through for a touchdown, but failed on the try for a 2-point conversion and UCLA led 14–6. Michigan State go the ball back and began to march down field in the waning moments. With under a minute to play the Spartans scored again, and trailing 14–12, lined up for a two point conversion attempt. They pitched out to their large Samoan fullback Bob Apisa, and as he turned the corner, it appeared he would fall into the end zone to tie the game. But UCLA defensive back Bob Stiles ran full speed and threw himself into Apisa, keeping Apisa out of the end zone and knocking himself out in the process.
and with a record of 8–1–1, handed undefeated and #2 ranked Nebraska a 39–28 loss in the Orange Bowl; the Crimson Tide was then voted #1 in the AP. UCLA ended up ranked #4 AP, #5 UPI.
In a 1995 vote of the greatest moments in Los Angeles sports history, Bob Stiles' stop of Bob Apisa on the goal line ranked #26. The defeat of USC in the UCLA-USC rivalry
game to get to the Rose Bowl ranked #35.
Prothro would never be able to bring the Bruins to the Rose Bowl again. In 1966, the USC Trojans were voted in ahead of the Bruins despite UCLA's 14–7 win over USC. In the 1967 USC vs. UCLA football game
, a spectacular run by O.J. Simpson would give USC the bid and the National Championship. In the 1969 USC-UCLA football game, a battle of undefeated teams, USC would again prevail, 14–12.
Kurt Altenberg died in 2005.
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 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...
defeated the #1 ranked Michigan State Spartans
1965 Michigan State Spartans football team
The 1965 Michigan State Spartans football team represented the Michigan State University in the 1965 college football season. The Spartans won the Big Ten Championship and competed in the 1966 Rose Bowl...
by a score of 14–12. UCLA defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
Bob Stiles was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game.
Teams
The game was a rematch of the season opener in East Lansing, MichiganEast Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...
that Michigan State won, 13–3. Unknown Gary Beban had a long touchdown pass play nullified by a penalty in that game. As it turned out, UCLA gave MSU one of its toughest games of the season in its home opener, a fact that was forgotten when the 14-point odds came out favoring MSU for the Rose Bowl re-match. The two previous meetings also were won by Michigan State, the 1954 Rose Bowl and 1956 Rose Bowl
1956 Rose Bowl
The 1956 Rose Bowl game, played on January 2, 1956 was the 42nd Rose Bowl game. The Michigan State Spartans defeated the UCLA Bruins, 17–14. Michigan State halfback Walt Kowalczyk was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game. The game was played on January 2, because New Year's Day was a Sunday...
.
Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State was undefeated and ranked #1 in the nation. Their key victory was a 32–7 win over Ohio State1965 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1965 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1965-1966. The Buckeyes compiled a 7–2 record.-Schedule:-1966 Pro draftees:-References:Win/Loss statistics*...
that ultimately decided 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...
title as the Spartans finished one game ahead of the Buckeyes. The Spartans featured Bubba Smith
Bubba Smith
Charles Aaron "Bubba" Smith was an American professional football player who became an actor after his retirement from the sport. He first came into prominence at Michigan State University, where he twice earned All-American honors as a defensive end on the Spartans football team...
and George Webster.
UCLA Bruins
UCLA lost the season opener at Michigan State 13–3, upset highly regarded SyracuseSyracuse Orange football
The Syracuse Orange football program is a college football team that represents Syracuse University. The team is a member of the Big East Conference, which is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I conference that is part of the Football Bowl Subdivision...
and Penn State, tied at Missouri
Missouri Tigers football
The Missouri Tigers football team represents the University of Missouri in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The team has competed in the North Division of the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996...
14–14, then won four straight. Going into the 1965 UCLA–USC rivalry football game ranked #7, the conference championship and 1966 Rose Bowl were on the line. #6-ranked USC, led by Heisman trophy winner Mike Garrett
Mike Garrett
Michael Lockett Garrett is a former American collegiate and professional football player who won the 1965 Heisman Trophy as a tailback for the University of Southern California Trojans. Garrett also played professional football for eight seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers...
led 16–6 until UCLA got a touchdown on a pass from Gary Beban to Dick Witcher
Dick Witcher
Dick Vernon Witcher was a former professional American football player. Witcher was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the 8th round of the 1966 NFL Draft. At 6'3" Witcher was a wide receiver who first played two years at Bakersfield College, then graduated from UCLA...
with four minutes to play. After the 2-point conversion made it 16–14, UCLA recovered an onside kick. Beban then hit Kurt Altenberg on a 50-yard bomb and UCLA won, 20–16. Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
columnist Jim Murray
Jim Murray (sportswriter)
James Patrick Murray was an American sportswriter at the Los Angeles Times from 1961 to 1998.Many of his achievements include winning the NSSA's Sportswriter of the Year award an astounding fourteen times...
did not like the Bruins chances.
UCLA then faced Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
in the newly built Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium is a football stadium, located at the Mid-South Fairgrounds, in Midtown Memphis, Tennessee, United States. The stadium is the site of the annual AutoZone Liberty Bowl, and is the home field of the University of Memphis Tigers football team...
in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, Prothro's native city. On the last play of a wild game, Tennessee defensive back Bob Petrella intercepted a UCLA pass to save a Volunteer win by a score of 37–34. Coach Prothro, was uncharacteristically upset. He criticized a pass interference call, a phantom holding call on end Byron Nelson that nullified a key UCLA play, claimed that the clock had been wrongly stopped twice on Tennessee's winning drive, and said that a dropped pass was a lateral and a fumble. He stated, "For the first time in my life, I am ashamed to be a Southerner."
The 1965 team was nicknamed the "Gutty little Bruins" as the defensive line was small with John Richardson
John Richardson (American football)
John Edward Richardson is a former professional American football player who played defensive tackle for seven seasons for the Miami Dolphins and the St. Louis Cardianls John was a graduate of Kearny High School . He was a member of the 1966 College Football All-America Team....
at 225 pounds, Steve Butler at 220, and 200-pound defensive tackles Al Claman and Terry Donahue
Terry Donahue
Terry Donahue is a former American football, player, coach, and executive and, currently, a football analyst. He served as the head football coach at the University of California, Los Angeles from 1976 to 1995, compiling a record of 151–74–8. From 2001 to 2005, Donahue served as...
.
Game summary
The weather was sunny and 65 degrees. Michigan State was a two touchdown favorite and the consensus #1 ranked team, but the undersized Bruins held their own through a scoreless first quarter. In the second quarter, UCLA recovered a muffed punt inside the Michigan State 5-yard line. Quarterback Gary BebanGary Beban
Gary Joseph Beban is a former American football player. Son of an Italian-born mother and a first generation Croatian-American father, Beban won the 1967 Heisman Trophy, the most prestigious award in college football, and the Maxwell Award, while playing quarterback for the University of...
eventually took it in from one yard out to give the Bruins a surprising lead over the stunned Spartans. Then UCLA coach Tommy Prothro
Tommy Prothro
James 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...
went into his bag of tricks and called for an onside kick. Kicker Kurt Zimmerman executed it perfecty and Dallas Grider
Dallas Grider
Dallas Grider is an American football player and coach.Played two seasons as linebacker for the UCLA Bruins, including the 1966 Rose Bowl victory over Michigan State...
fell on the ball. Beban then threaded a pass between three Spartan defenders to Kurt Altenbeg, who made a great catch that put UCLA on the 1-yard line. Beban then scored on a short run to make it 14–0. UCLA's undersized defense continued to play well, but the larger Spartans were beginning to wear them down and began picking up bigger and bigger chunks of yardage on the ground. Midway through the 4th quarter, Michigan State finally broke through for a touchdown, but failed on the try for a 2-point conversion and UCLA led 14–6. Michigan State go the ball back and began to march down field in the waning moments. With under a minute to play the Spartans scored again, and trailing 14–12, lined up for a two point conversion attempt. They pitched out to their large Samoan fullback Bob Apisa, and as he turned the corner, it appeared he would fall into the end zone to tie the game. But UCLA defensive back Bob Stiles ran full speed and threw himself into Apisa, keeping Apisa out of the end zone and knocking himself out in the process.
Second quarter
- UCLA — Gary Beban, 1-yard run. Kurt Zimmerman converts.
- UCLA — Beban, 1-yard run. Zimmerman converts.
Fourth quarter
- MSU — Bob Apisa, 38-yard run. Jimmy Raye’s pass failed.
- MSU — Juday, 1-yard run. Apisa run failed.
Aftermath
Back in 1966, the final UPI poll was taken before the bowl games so Michigan State retained its #1 ranking in the UPI. Alabama, led by quarterback Steve SloanSteve Sloan
Stephen Charles Sloan is a former American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He played college football as a quarterback at the University of Alabama from 1962 to 1965 and then played for two seasons in the National Football League with the Atlanta Falcons...
and with a record of 8–1–1, handed undefeated and #2 ranked Nebraska a 39–28 loss in the Orange Bowl; the Crimson Tide was then voted #1 in the AP. UCLA ended up ranked #4 AP, #5 UPI.
In a 1995 vote of the greatest moments in Los Angeles sports history, Bob Stiles' stop of Bob Apisa on the goal line ranked #26. The defeat of USC in the UCLA-USC rivalry
UCLA-USC rivalry
The UCLA–USC rivalry is the American college rivalry between the UCLA Bruins sports teams of the University of California, Los Angeles and the USC Trojans sports teams of the University of Southern California ....
game to get to the Rose Bowl ranked #35.
Prothro would never be able to bring the Bruins to the Rose Bowl again. In 1966, the USC Trojans were voted in ahead of the Bruins despite UCLA's 14–7 win over USC. In the 1967 USC vs. UCLA football game
1967 USC vs. UCLA football game
The 1967 USC vs. UCLA football game was an American College Football game played in the 1967 College Football Season on November 18, 1967. The University of California at Los Angeles, 7–0–1 and ranked Number 1, with senior quarterback Gary Beban as a Heisman Trophy candidate, played the University...
, a spectacular run by O.J. Simpson would give USC the bid and the National Championship. In the 1969 USC-UCLA football game, a battle of undefeated teams, USC would again prevail, 14–12.
Kurt Altenberg died in 2005.
Game facts
- Future UCLA head coach Terry DonahueTerry DonahueTerry Donahue is a former American football, player, coach, and executive and, currently, a football analyst. He served as the head football coach at the University of California, Los Angeles from 1976 to 1995, compiling a record of 151–74–8. From 2001 to 2005, Donahue served as...
was a 195 pound defensive lineman for UCLA. - Dallas Grider, who recovered the 2nd quarter onside kick that led to UCLA's second touchdown in the Rose Bowl, also recovered the onside kick in the UCLA - USC game that led to the Bruins' winning touchdown.
- Tommy Prothro became the first coach to take two different schools to the Rose Bowl, and he did it in successive seasons. Prothro guided Oregon State to the 1965 Rose Bowl. It was also Prothro's last Rose Bowl appearance. The AAWU conference voted 7–3 USC (a team 9–1 UCLA had beaten 14–7) in over the Bruins in 1966.
- Prothro was a quarterback for Duke University in the 1942 Rose Bowl1942 Rose BowlThe 1942 Rose Bowl was the 28th Rose Bowl game. Originally scheduled to be played in the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California, it was moved to Durham, North Carolina, due to fears about an attack by the Japanese on the West Coast of the United States following the attack on Pearl Harbor...
. - This was UCLA's first Rose Bowl win after five losses. It was Michigan State's first loss after two wins, both over UCLA.
- This game began a streak of West Coast dominance in the Rose Bowl as Pac-8/Pac-10 teams would win all but four of the next 22 Rose Bowls, often as the underdog.
- Both teams wore their home color uniforms, Michigan State in green jerseys, and UCLA in powder blue jerseys.
External links
- Summary at Rosebowlhistory.org
- 1966 Rose Bowl - Pictures and summary