1962 Rose Bowl

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DateJanuary 1, 1962
Season1961
StadiumRose Bowl
1962 Rose Bowl
48th Rose Bowl Game
1234Total
Minnesota 770721
UCLA 30003
DateJanuary 1, 1962
Season1961
StadiumRose Bowl
LocationPasadena, California
MVPSandy Stephens
QB - Minnesota
FavoriteMinnesota by 8 [1]
National anthemUCLA Band
RefereeR.E. Meyer (Big Ten)
(split crew: Big Ten, AAWU)
Halftime showUCLA Band, University of Minnesota Marching Band
Attendance98,214
United States TV coverage
NetworkNBC (first color broadcast)
AnnouncersMel Allen, Braven Dyer
Nielsen ratings31.0
Rose Bowl
  1961  1963  

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.[1][2]

Big Ten Conference champion Ohio State declined the invitation to play in the Rose Bowl. Days after the conclusion of the regular season, the university's faculty council voted 28–25 against participation in the Rose Bowl.[3][4][5] They were under no contractual obligation to accept the invitation following the demise of the Pacific Coast Conference after the 1958 season. Minnesota, the runner-up in the Big Ten, was then offered the "at-large" invitation, and accepted.[6]

Minnesota quarterback Sandy Stephens was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game.[7] It was broadcast on the NBC television network and was the first national color television broadcast of a college football game.[8]

The 1962 Rose Bowl

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, but because of a faculty council decision to emphasize academics over athletics, the Buckeyes turned down the Rose Bowl berth.[3][4][5][9] 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 of Washington & Jefferson, forty years earlier in 1922).

UCLA Bruins

In the regular season, UCLA had lost at both Michigan and Ohio State earlier in the season. They also lost to Washington, but managed to beat USC during one of the few rainy games in the rivalry.[10]

Game summary

The weather was sunny,[2] and Minnesota wore their home maroon jerseys, with white helmets and white pants, while UCLA also wore their home powder blue uniforms with gold pants. Using the single wing offense, UCLA struggled against the Gophers, netting only one field goal to open the scoring in the first quarter. Minnesota had 21 first downs to UCLA's 8, and the Gophers held the Bruins to 107 total yards, while gaining 297 yards on 66 plays. Stephens rushed for 46 yards on 12 carries, including two rushing touchdowns, and was 7 for 11 in passing for 75 yards.[2]

Large number of busses delivering staff, players, students, and fans for the 1962 Rose Bowl

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 scoring

Fourth quarter

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

Statistics

Team statsMinn.UCLA
First downs218
Net Yards Rushing22255
Net Yards Passing7552
Total Yards297107
PC–PA–Int.7–11–05–8–0
Punts–Avg.3–40.75–37.2
Fumbles–Lost3–22–2
Penalties–Yards6–701–5

Aftermath

Game facts

References

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