1969 Rose Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1969 Rose Bowl was a college football
bowl game
played on January 1, 1969. It was the 55th Rose Bowl Game
. The Ohio State Buckeyes
defeated the USC Trojans, 27–16. Rex Kern
, the Ohio State quarterback
, was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game.
Heisman Trophy
winner O. J. Simpson
rushed for 171 yards and an 80-yard touchdown run, but USC had five turnovers, including an interception and a fumble by Simpson. It was only the second #1 vs. #2 matchup in the Rose Bowl, the 1963 Rose Bowl
being the first. It was the first time in the history of the Rose Bowl Big 9(10) – PCC/Big 9(10) – AAWU agreements that two unbeaten teams faced each other.
It was the first of four Rose Bowl matchups featuring Ohio State coach Woody Hayes
and USC coach John McKay. It was the first of two with the National Championship on the line for both schools.
played and only the third time in a bowl game: the 1963 Rose Bowl
was the first and the 1964 Cotton Bowl Classic was the second. It was the 12th time overall that the #1 and #2 team faced each other since the inception of the AP Poll in 1936. The Bowl Championship Series
was created later to make at least one matchup of the top two teams in the nation.
, Leo Hayden
, Rex Kern
, Jim Otis
, Jim Stillwagon
and Jack Tatum
.
winner O. J. Simpson
.
A number of celebrities were present, including 1968 President-elect
Richard Nixon
, Bob Hope
, and Oklahoma football coach Bud Wilkinson
. First Lady Pat Nixon
was a graduate of USC, but President Nixon spent time on both sidelines. Richard Nixon called the Rose Bowl Game, "the prize game of all bowl games."
A USC fumble at the Trojans' 21-yard line set up a Rex Kern pass to Leo Hayden for the final four yards, then a fumbled reception cost Southern Cal the ball again at its own 16. USC had five turnovers, including two by O. J. Simpson. Simpson, besides having a fumble and interception, also underestimated the speed of John Tatum, the Ohio State cornerback. This happened on a swing pass that should have been a touchdown, and then on the same series when Simpson overthrew a touchdown pass to Ted DeKraai. Ohio State had one fumble, but managed to keep possession.
, one of the most notable in the Michigan – Ohio State football rivalry. They would appear in their senior season in the 1971 Rose Bowl
where they lost to a Stanford team led by Jim Plunkett
.
The 2002 Rose Bowl
was the third Rose Bowl game matchup between the #1 and #2 teams.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
played on January 1, 1969. It was the 55th Rose Bowl 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 Ohio State Buckeyes
1968 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1968 Ohio State Buckeyes football team is considered one of the strongest in OSU history, fielding 11 All-Americans and six first-round NFL draft picks...
defeated the USC Trojans, 27–16. Rex Kern
Rex Kern
Rex William Kern is a former American football player. He played quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 1968 to 1970, and played professional football in the National Football League at defensive back for the Baltimore Colts and Buffalo Bills...
, the Ohio State quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
, was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game.
Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winner O. J. Simpson
O. J. Simpson
Orenthal James "O. J." Simpson , nicknamed "The Juice", is a retired American collegiate and professional football player, football broadcaster, and actor...
rushed for 171 yards and an 80-yard touchdown run, but USC had five turnovers, including an interception and a fumble by Simpson. It was only the second #1 vs. #2 matchup in the Rose Bowl, the 1963 Rose Bowl
1963 Rose Bowl
The 1963 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1963 at the end of the 1962 college football season. It was the 49th Rose Bowl Game. The USC Trojans defeated the Wisconsin Badgers, 42–37...
being the first. It was the first time in the history of the Rose Bowl Big 9(10) – PCC/Big 9(10) – AAWU agreements that two unbeaten teams faced each other.
It was the first of four Rose Bowl matchups featuring Ohio State coach Woody Hayes
Woody Hayes
Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Denison University , Miami University , and Ohio State University , compiling a career college football record of 238–72–10.During his 28 seasons as the head coach of the Ohio...
and USC coach John McKay. It was the first of two with the National Championship on the line for both schools.
Teams
This was only the second time in the Rose Bowl where the #1 and #2 teams in the AP PollAP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
played and only the third time in a bowl game: the 1963 Rose Bowl
1963 Rose Bowl
The 1963 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1963 at the end of the 1962 college football season. It was the 49th Rose Bowl Game. The USC Trojans defeated the Wisconsin Badgers, 42–37...
was the first and the 1964 Cotton Bowl Classic was the second. It was the 12th time overall that the #1 and #2 team faced each other since the inception of the AP Poll in 1936. The Bowl Championship Series
Bowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
was created later to make at least one matchup of the top two teams in the nation.
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes featured a group called "The Super Sophomores" playing in their first varsity season: John BrockingtonJohn Brockington
John Stanley Brockington is a former American football running back. He was the National Football League's Green Bay Packers' 1st round draft choice out of the Ohio State University, and was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1971.-College career:Brockington played halfback and fullback for...
, Leo Hayden
Leo Hayden
Leophus "Leo" Hayden, Jr. is a former National Football League running back who played from 1971 to 1973 for the Minnesota Vikings and St. Louis Cardinals...
, Rex Kern
Rex Kern
Rex William Kern is a former American football player. He played quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 1968 to 1970, and played professional football in the National Football League at defensive back for the Baltimore Colts and Buffalo Bills...
, Jim Otis
Jim Otis
James Lloyd "Jim" Otis is a former college and professional American football running back.-College career:Otis was a fullback for the Ohio State University Buckeyes from 1967-69. He led the team in rushing every year of his college career...
, Jim Stillwagon
Jim Stillwagon
Jim Stillwagon is a former all star American college football player and Canadian Football League player.Stillwagon was a three-year starter with the Ohio State Buckeyes. He was a consensus All-America selection as a junior and senior, and won the Outland Trophy and was the first-ever winner of...
and Jack Tatum
Jack Tatum
John David Tatum was an American football defensive back who played ten seasons from 1971 through 1980 for the Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers in the National Football League...
.
USC Trojans
The Trojans finished undefeated with one tie at the end of the season against #9-ranked Notre Dame. They had been ranked #1 since October 19, but the 21–21 tie put Ohio State in the top spot. They were captained by Heisman TrophyHeisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winner O. J. Simpson
O. J. Simpson
Orenthal James "O. J." Simpson , nicknamed "The Juice", is a retired American collegiate and professional football player, football broadcaster, and actor...
.
Game summary
The 1969 Rose Bowl was also the beginning of a celebration of a century of college football. Later during the 1969 college football season, many teams would wear uniform patches or helmet stickers with "100" to signify the anniversary.A number of celebrities were present, including 1968 President-elect
United States presidential election, 1968
The United States presidential election of 1968 was the 46th quadrennial United States presidential election. Coming four years after Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson won in a historic landslide, it saw Johnson forced out of the race and Republican Richard Nixon elected...
Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
, Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
, and Oklahoma football coach Bud Wilkinson
Bud Wilkinson
Charles Burnham "Bud" Wilkinson was an American football player, coach, broadcaster, and politician. He served as the head football coach at the University of Oklahoma from 1947 to 1963, compiling a record of 145–29–4. His Oklahoma Sooners won three national championships and 14...
. First Lady Pat Nixon
Pat Nixon
Thelma Catherine "Pat" Ryan Nixon was the wife of Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United States, and was First Lady of the United States from 1969 to 1974. She was commonly known as Patricia or Pat Nixon.Born in Nevada, Pat Ryan grew up in Los Angeles, California...
was a graduate of USC, but President Nixon spent time on both sidelines. Richard Nixon called the Rose Bowl Game, "the prize game of all bowl games."
A USC fumble at the Trojans' 21-yard line set up a Rex Kern pass to Leo Hayden for the final four yards, then a fumbled reception cost Southern Cal the ball again at its own 16. USC had five turnovers, including two by O. J. Simpson. Simpson, besides having a fumble and interception, also underestimated the speed of John Tatum, the Ohio State cornerback. This happened on a swing pass that should have been a touchdown, and then on the same series when Simpson overthrew a touchdown pass to Ted DeKraai. Ohio State had one fumble, but managed to keep possession.
Second quarter
- USC - Ayala 21 field goal, 9:40
- USC - Simpson 80 run (Ayala kick), 6:38
- OSU - Otis 1 run (Roman kick), 1:45
- OSU - Roman 26 field goal, 0:03
Fourth quarter
- OSU - Hayden 4 pass from Kern (Roman kick), 13:52
- OSU - Gillian 16 pass from Kern (Roman kick),10:05
- USC - Dickerson 19 pass from Sogge (Sogge pass failed), 7:32
Aftermath
The super sophomores would be stunned in defense of their national title in the 1969 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game1969 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game
The 1969 edition of the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry is considered one of the best-known games of the series, as well as one of the biggest upsets in college football history. The Buckeyes of Ohio State University went into the game as the top-ranked team in the country, with a 22-game winning...
, one of the most notable in the Michigan – Ohio State football rivalry. They would appear in their senior season in the 1971 Rose Bowl
1971 Rose Bowl
The 1971 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1971. It was the 57th Rose Bowl Game. The Stanford Indians defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 27-17. The MVP was Heisman Trophy winner Jim Plunkett.-Ohio State:...
where they lost to a Stanford team led by Jim Plunkett
Jim Plunkett
James William "Jim" Plunkett is a former American football quarterback who played college football for Stanford University, where he won the Heisman Trophy, and professionally for three National Football League teams: the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. ...
.
The 2002 Rose Bowl
2002 Rose Bowl
The 2002 Rose Bowl, played on January 3, 2002, was a college football bowl game. It was the 88th Rose Bowl game and was the BCS National Championship Game of the 2001 college football season...
was the third Rose Bowl game matchup between the #1 and #2 teams.