1962 Rose Bowl

The 1962 Rose Bowl, played on January 1, 1962, was the 48th Rose Bowl Game. The Minnesota Golden Gophers defeated the UCLA Bruins, 21–3.

Big Ten Conference champion Ohio State declined the invitation to play in the Rose Bowl. They were under no contractual obligation to accept the invitation following the demise of the Pacific Coast Conference after the 1958 college football season. Minnesota, the second-place team in the Big Ten, was then offered the "at-large" invitation, and accepted.

Minnesota quarterback Sandy Stephens was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game.^[1] It was broadcast on the NBC television network and was the first national color television broadcast of a college football game.^[2]

Teams

University of Minnesota Golden Gophers

The Gophers had gone to the Rose Bowl the previous year as the #1 team in the nation and lost to the Washington Huskies. In 1961, the Gophers actually finished in second place in Big Ten Conference play. Minnesota had a loss to Missouri, and a Big Ten loss to Wisconsin in their rivalry game. Ohio State was the Big Ten Champion. However, because of a faculty council decision to emphasize academics over athletics, Ohio State turned down the Rose Bowl Berth.^[3] Ironically, Minnesota would not have received the Rose Bowl invitation if they had, in fact, been the 1961 Big Ten champion and the conference had a formal agreement with the Rose Bowl for the 1961 and 1962 games, since the Big Ten had a "no-repeat" rule in effect until 1972. The Gophers were led by Sandy Stephens, the first African American All-American quarterback. However, he was not the first African-American starting quarterback in a Rose Bowl (this distinction goes to Charles Fremont West playing in the 1922 Rose Bowl).

UCLA Bruins

UCLA had lost at both Michigan and Ohio State earlier in the season. They also lost to Washington. They managed to beat USC during one of the few rainy UCLA-USC rivalry games.

Game summary

The weather was sunny. Minnesota wore their home maroon jerseys, with white helmets and white pants. UCLA also wore their home powderkeg blue uniforms with gold pants. Using the single wing offense, UCLA struggled against the Gophers, netting only one field goal. Minnesota would get 21 first downs to UCLA's 8. The Gophers would hold the Bruins to 107 total yards, while going 297 yards on 66 plays. Stephens would rush for 46 yards on 12 carries, including two rushing touchdowns. Stephens also went 7 for 11 in passing for 75 yards.

Scoring

First quarter

• UCLA — Bobby Smith kicks 28-yard field goal. UCLA 3-0
• Minnesota — Sandy Stephens dives over from one-yard line. Tom Loechler kick. MINN 7–3

Second quarter

• Minnesota — Bill Munsey goes over from three-yard line. Loechler kick. MINN 14–3

Third quarter

• No score

Fourth quarter

• Minnesota — Stephens runs over from two-yard line. Loechler kick. MINN 21–3

Aftermath

This is Minnesota's only Rose Bowl win. It was also the last appearance for Minnesota in the Rose Bowl game. As of the 2012 season, Minnesota has gone the longest in the Big Ten conference without playing in the Rose Bowl game. Sandy Stephens was named the Most Valuable player, and became the first African American to get the award.

Game facts

All-American defensive tackle Bobby Bell played in both the 1961 and 1962 Rose Bowl games for the Gophers. He later played in the 1967 and 1970 Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs, winning in 1970.

References